I will be on the RS best of Germany tour at the end of August. We plan on flying to Frankfurt, spending a day, train to Berlin and staying at the tour hotel, Myer's Hotel Berlin. After front loading in Berlin, we will take the train to Hamburg to start the tour. Question: has anyone stayed at that hotel and liked the area? Question: what is a good train app to purchase tickets from? Thanks in advance for any responses.
Posted by
Bend, OR
2013 posts
We are on the Best of Germany at the Myers Hotel right now. It’s an old hotel with dark heavy furnishings but fine, in a quiet neighborhood with lots of different types of restaurants within walking distance.
Posted by
Freedonia
19024 posts
Buy your train tickets from Deutsche Bahn--the company that runs the trains in Germany. They have an app. It's very easy to use. You can set it for English.
In Frankfurt, I suggest taking the Frankfurt on Foot walking tour. It's excellent and a good way to get an overview of Frankfurt.
Posted by
Northwest Arkansas
1110 posts
The DB website or app is the best place to purchase tickets for train travel in Germany. With the app you don't need a paper ticket. Additionally, the app needs WiFi for checking schedules and purchasing, but you do not need WiFi to show your ticket to a conductor. Some conductors will want to see your passport along with your ticket. Suggest a seat reservation from Frankfurt to Berlin.
You may also want the VGF (Frankfurt) and BVG (Berlin) apps for local public transportation. As with DB app, IMO the app is the easiest way to purchase and carry transit tickets.
Posted by
Lexington, KY (formerly Southeast US)
4680 posts
So, if I understand correctly, you are going to arrive in Frankfurt, train to Berlin, stay in Berlin, train to Hamburg, and then do the Rick Steves Best of Germany tour, which ends in Berlin, right?
My encouragement to you would be to stay somewhere different from the tour hotel and taste a different part of the city. I usually stay in the former West Berlin at mittendrin boutique hotel, a little 4-bedroom B&B in a flat near Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church but there is no a/c! I've stayed there in late August, and it wasn't a problem, but it all depends on the weather. I've also stayed at the Motel One Berlin Upper West. It has a/c and a great 10th floor lounge with a terrace that has nice views of Berlin -- it's nice to sit out there after dark. Motel One is a German chain hotel that I love -- it consistently delivers a clean room, cool common spaces, and a good breakfast (mostly organic, but a little pricy at around 20 euro per person per morning). It's very close to multiple U, S, and buslines at the Zoologischer Garten station. Rooms in August are as low as $99 per night. Join the BeOne program (just provide your e-mail to join) and get 10% off on room rate + a free bottle of water at check in.
There are a great number of other areas and places to stay in Berlin. I think you shortchange yourself if you stay in the same hotel where you will stay later during your tour. Even if it is just a different hotel in the same area (which indeed is rather pleasant for walking, restaurants, etc), I think you will appreciate doing something a little different.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Good suggestions, thanks to you all!!! I’m switching hotels tomorrow and staying in a different area.