Berlin Question

I'll be interested to see what other respond. When I visited Berlin a few years ago we stayed in Prenzlauerberg which seemed close to Alexander Platz, but I'm not sure how close it really was. I liked being in the East, but when I was visited Berlin decades ago we stayed, of course, in the west. I checked out the reviews on TripAdvisor for these two places and if I were doing the trip today and didn't get any further feedback, I'd go with Charlottenberg. Good luck with figuring out where you want to stay. I'm sure you'll have a good time in either place. Pam

I stayed in the East two years ago and wanted to try the west and considering staying at Pension Peters (especially with all the good reviews) and proximity to cafes, transportation, etc. Also have heard the Motel One is a decent chain. I'm not much help, but would appreciate your opinion of PP if you stay there. Have fun!!! We will be in Germany in November.

When I went to Berlin last year, tried to get into Pension Peters, but they were fully booked. So, went to the Motel One in Bellevue. This is 1 stop from the Hauptbahnhof and 1 stop from the Tiergarten, which made it perfect for me. The U-bahn was about a 10 min. walk from the hotel, the streets were fairly residential, and the river as well as restaurants, etc. were also just a 10 min. walk away. I found it very easy to get to all the attractions I wanted to visit from this location and I really liked the hotel. Very friendly staff, big beds, and if you order the breakfast for 6.50 a day, you get free wi-fi for the day. Room rates for a double were 59 euro per night, so a bargain.

Jill, Unless you really want to stay that far in the east and be closer to Ostbahnhof, (I know that station well), which has good coin locker facilities that Hauptbahnhof does not, I would suggest staying closer to Hauptbahnhof. There is a Motel One right by the station and also a Meininger Hotel, which is just 2 mins away. As a chain Motel Ones are located near major stations, such as on Kantstrasse near Bahnhof Zoo. I stay in Charlottenburg whenever in Berlin but not at Pension Peters. Both Alexanderplatz and Pension Peters, closest station is Savignyplatz, are connected by the S-Bahn, S-75, S-3.

I LOVED Pension Peters! A great RS pick, and a typical one. Just the sort of place he advocates; small, family run, very clean, good value, frequented by like-minded/independent travelers, good bfast each AM served in a cheery common room, etc. My room was spacious, clean, comfortable and cheery; just a very pleasent room to return to/sleep in after a busy day of sight-seeing. And the windows are double-paned, so I don't recall street noise at night being an issue at all. The owners; woman named Annika and her husband, Christoph; could not be nicer, helpful/more accomodating, etc. Re: the area; I really liked it. From Banhoff Zoo, it was, if I recall, approx a 10 minute (and very easy) walk. I especially liked that on my 1st day b/c I took a Berlin Walks (http://www.berlinwalks.de/) walking tour (which I strongly advise on your 1st day; gives an excellent orientation tour by very knowledgeable guides; starts in front of Banhoff Zoo, ends at Checkpoint Charlie, which is a great time to then go to the Checkpoint Charlie Museum; the Jewish Museum Berlin is also close by); it was so easy to walk to Banhoff Zoo in the morning to buy my ticket (office is inside the station) and meet the group out front for the tour. So....I'm clearly a big fan of Peters.....but enjoy Berlin whichever you choose; it's a facsinating city which so much to see and do. Happy/safe travels.

and, Jill, assuming it's still there and hasn't closed or something, there is a bar/lounge/cafe called Hefner right on the corner, just a few doors down from Pension Peters.
http://www.qype.co.uk/place/27951-Hefner-Berlin/photos/2365315 It's a real neighborhood place; I loved going there for a drink each night before heading back to Peters. Made me feel like a temporary local!

Thank you all so much. I think I will try booking at Pension Peters. I feel like I sort of know Annika and Christoph from Rick's dinner with them on his show! The place looks awesome but I was concerned it was too far out out town...but I'll be buying a transit pass every day most likely anyway so guess it's a moot point. Thanks again...

I felt the same way after seeing them on his show...felt like I was meeting famous celebrities!!

I know Lawrence, it's funny huh? I had dinner with the girl from his Volterra show one night, forget her name now. She was SO nice and had just had a baby. She was tickled that I was tickled to meet her. She is an American who married an Italian over there. So interesting to talk to her to hear the cultural diffs.

Thanks for the Hefner tip too, Lawrence! You can bet I'll be visiting there and I'll remember the name after our American namesake Hugh. :)