Hi-
In october we are touring Germany. Visiting Berlin, Dresden,Prague,Bavaria and Frankfurt. We will be traveling by train. As our train connections are early in the morning, we plan to stay by the Hauptbahnhof. Any advice on the following hotels that we have chosen?
Berlin--Intercity hotel or Park inn by Radisson by Alexanderplatz,
Dresden--Intercity hotel,
Prague--Boutique hotel seven days,
Garmisch Partenkirchen-- Gastehaus Brigitte,
Frankfurt-- Hotel Bliss
Thanks
Shelia
The Intercity Hotel by Berlin Haupbahnhof is in a kind of no-mans-land. Alexanderplatz would be more with-it. Alexanderplatz is just 2 or 3 stops from the Hbf on frequent S-bahn and regional trains.
Dresden would be OK by the Hauptbahnhof. Prague you're about a half-mile from the main station. There are buses and the Metro nearby that go there. Gasthof Brigitte is about a half mile from the station. Hotel Bliss is just a couple of blocks from the Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof.
As noted, Berlin's Hauptbahnhof is in the middle of a large construction zone. There's almost nothing to do in the immediate vicinity. Alexanderplatz offers more, and it's any easy ride from the Hauptbahnhof anyway.
Dresden's Hauptbahnhof also is not in heart of the rebuilt historic Neumarkt district but about a 20 minute walk away at the end of an ultra-modern shopping quarter. But it's any easy tram ride away.
I can picture the general vicinity of Gästehaus Brigitte, although not the lodging itself. You're probably about a 10 minute walk from the Hauptbahnhof.
I looked at the Intercity hotel in Berlin, but chose Motel One instead. Just was nicer, with better reviews about noise and construction. The short walk to the HBF made it easy to get anywhere in Berlin I wanted to go.
In Dresden, I did choose the Intercity hotel. Location was perfect, you get a free transportation ticket which was useful and they had bikes to rent too. Room was comfy and quiet.
Haven't spoken to anyone who has stayed at Hotel Bliss in Frankfurt, but it looks like it is getting good reviews on Trip Advisor. Location is ok. Have a look at the Intercity in Frankfurt or Hamburger Hof too.
I agree with Jo regarding the InterCity Hotel in Dresden. It's right across the street from the station, so it doesn't get any more convenient than that. As mentioned the hotel provides a transit pass so it's very easy to get around on the frequent local trams (there's a tram stop right in front of the hotel). The Intercity is also within easy walking distance to a large outdoor mall with numerous stores and restaurants.
In Berlin I stayed at Pension Peters which is also in a good location, although not close to the main station. It's about a five minute walk to Savignyplatz S-Bahn station, and that provides an easy connection to the station. There are lots of nice restaurants in the area around Pension Peters.
Alexanderplatz is a couple of stops from the Hauptbanhof, I've been to the Park Inn but did not stay there, it looked nice but lots of foot traffic passing through. There's an open-air market every day in that area, and some clubs that stay open until 4am. Just sayin'. I would rather stay at Potsdamerplatz and take the metro to the HBF.
Hi-
Thanks all for your prompt replies. Advice well taken. I'll give it consideration.
Ssavur
In Dresden we stayed at NH Dresden Altmarkt and loved it! Great location but doesn't include breakfast and don't add it on. We found a buffet for 10.00 ton of food! In Prague we stayed at Hotel Maximillian which was great and breakfast was included! We paid for 2 nights and got the 3rd night free! Sara
In Dresden we stayed at NH Dresden Altmarkt and loved it! Great location but doesn't include breakfast and don't add it on. We found a buffet for 10.00 ton of food! In Prague we stayed at Hotel Maximillian which was great and breakfast was included! We paid for 2 nights and got the 3rd night free! Sara
I can only say something about Berlin.
As already said, the area around the main station is not advisable. A hotel near the S-Bahn line (Berliner Stadtbahn) is a good choise. Pension Peters, this is the old West Berlin. Near the Savigny Platz you can find also other hotels.
Just to say that some places near stations may be slightly interesting but in rural areas of Germany I haven't found that to be the case.
Last week I stayed in a lovely small hotel garni in what was the station building before the station was unmanned, in Ihringen near Breisach on the Badische Weinstrasse just in from the Rhein and 20 minutes west of Freiburg in Breisgau by the little hourly train. Walking distance to the platform from our room was 10 metres down the hall, down a spiral staircase, out the front door, 5 metres to the back, and onto the platform. Walking time 90 seconds, because I'm a little slow on stairs.
It was a lovely place, didn't hear the trains but did hear the church bells ringing for service next day, fabulous breakfast including about 4 different types of liverwurst and also head cheese. Most of the guests at breakfast wore Tracht - well that's not specific enough. My wife and one other lady were the only females. All the other men were wearing lederhosen. I loved it. We were the only people on either the train or in the hotel who spoke English. All the rest, German.
Yet all the staff went out of their way to speak very good English with us.
The Wallyard Hostel in Berlin is quite central to the main train station, while being out of the way of the wild and woolly atmosphere of Alexanderplatz. And it's not really a hostel - it's a "Concept Hotel" http://wallyard.de/?page_id=20272
The rooms are original and funky. The clientele are hip and with-it. And the location is about ten minutes from the train station by bus, about 5 minutes by taxi.
While the downtown area around Alexanderplatz is certainly colourful, then further you get from it, the more comfortable you will be.
You would enjoy Tiergarten, Kurfurstendamm and Moabit a lot better - while still central, they are nowhere near as overwhelming.
Please don't forget to try an excursion to Potsdam for a day - its castle complex (there are 14 altogether!) is a delight to wander around in - and the anecdotes the guides tell about the various kings are so full of villains and bumblers ...
A few blocks from the Park Inn by Alexanderplatz is the Adina Hotel. Better location and nicer hotel, near both Alexanderplatz and Hackescher Markt. That Park Inn looks a little sketch. The other posters are correct about the area right around the Hbf being a no-man's-land. Alexanderplatz or Hackescher Markt are just a few S-bahn stop up but in much better locations for sightseeing and restaurants. [Two of the latter in Berlin to try: Deponie No. 3, and Hans in Glück.] Another fun option: the Bikini Hotel by the zoo (and so a few stops the other direction. You can actually see into the zoo from the hotel, plus lots of shopping, sights, restaurants nearby.
