Which hotel in Berlin - Mercure Checkpoint Charlie or Adlon Kempinski???
 

I have been looking at Trip Advisor in advance of what will be a 3 day stay in September and keep coming back to these 2 hotels, which are both in the same price range. On the one hand, the 4 star Mercure gets a 98% positive rating and is ranked a couple of slots above the Adlon in the overall rankings; but on the other, the Adlon is a 5 star hotel, although its rating is 92%. Any thoughts from those of you who have experienced either (or both?!)? Thanks!

If you can get them for almost the same price then it is a no-brainer: The Adlon.

As someone (I think it was hsv) pointed out here earlier: The lower rating by the customers is because the expectations of the clientele in the 5star hotels are much higher. It's like comparing apples and oranges. Of those 92% positive for the Adlon I expect only 40% or so rating the Mercure positively.

I think the Adlon might be the most famous hotel in Germany. So if there's no price difference, the Adlon would be my choice for sure.

The Adlon is a recent remake of the original Adlon. I just read abut it in A Night of Long Knives! I would love to know how it compares to the original.

OK, then!!! That was a pretty resounding recommendation for the Adlon! One last question...we could either spend 3 nights in Berlin and 2 in Hamburg (on the weekend prior to start of hubby's conference in Hamburg - I will be coming home on the day the conference starts), or 4 in Berlin and 1 in Hamburg. Given that we will have come from Prague, Dresden, and Berlin prior to Hamburg, I'm wondering whether Hamburg merits 1 or 2 days???

Well, I think I've answered my own question - turns out the Adlon is not available for what would be that 4th day and furthermore, after reading some prior threads about Hamburg, (especially from you, hsv! ;)), looks like Hamburg would be worth spending that second day...thanks, everyone!!! Will be back with more questions as time draws closer!

With such limited time at hand, I'd actually be tempted to spend 4 days in Berlin and just 1 in Hamburg, if the 1 in Hamburg is a full day.