Hostel International in Berlin?

Hi, Stacie. I can't help you with your hostel choice as I have never stayed in one. I can comment on the location of the two that you mention and also the use of public transportation in Berlin (and even have some suggestions about how to get comfortable taking it). First, could you give me some additional background? Will you have any chance to take public transportation before switching from your hotel to the hostel? Why do you prefer the Circus to the International? What will you be doing after you move to your hostel (so I can understand where you might be going in the city) and how long will you be there (so I can determine if public transportation makes sense). I have been to most major cities in the US and Europe and have used public transportation extensively after growing up in an area like yours with NO public transportation at all. I love Berlin and its public transportation. I feel like we can get you prepared and give you the chance to love it, too.

Kathy, Most of our travel will be via private bus/train with a group. I will only be in Berlin for 2 days and would like to see Sachenhausen Concentration Camp on one of the days. I'm also open to any suggestions. I'm looking at the Circus as it is recommended by RS. I choose the Hostel International early on as I have stayed in the Washington DC HI and it was pretty comfortable. As far as travel issues go, I will probably not be using a cell phone so if calling for a taxi, I will have to rely on the hostel for local calls. With the buses in Berlin, where do you buy tickets or do you buy a ticket from the driver? Do you need correct change? If you have a ticket for the bus, I'm assuming you show it to the driver or does it have to be inserted in to a machine? As far as subways go, I'm somewhat familiar with Washington DC's but that's it so any suggestions about subway, trains, buses would be very helpful! Thanks,
Stacie

Hi, Stacie. It does appear that you have choices to make. Based on what you have told me, I have investigated both hostels, their locations, and public transportation. The International Hostel is very easy to get to from your hotel and has bus service close by plus subway/u bahn service about .5 mi, but does not seem to offer the range of services that the Circus Hostel does. The Circus Hostel is almost on the doorstep of a u bahn stop and they seem to offer a variety of services including selling you transit passes and meet ups for tours. The areas are both fine and convenient to interesting parts of Berlin. The International is in a "quieter" area and the Circus is close to a "livelier" area (IMO; I am not a native, but have been walking thru both areas just recently). From what you have told me, I would stay at the Circus since they seem likely to be able & willing to give you advice on transit, etc. The "glitch" in my mind with this plan is getting you from the hotel to the hostel. You could easily walk to the International. To get to the Circus, you would need to walk a mile to a u bahn stop, go one stop and transfer to another u bahn line. I don't think you would feel comfortable doing this for your first attempt at Berlin's transit (even the bus which would be closer than a 1 mi walk is not simple and taking luggage on buses is not always fun). I believe that your hotel should be able to call you a taxi to take you to the Circus Hostel and I am guessing it will cost between $10-20. Once you are there, things should be easy.

Addressing your overall questions about transit and going to Sachenhausen. Berlin transit uses one ticket for trams, buses, elevated and underground trains. Tickets are sold in a variety of places and options. I could go into detail, but it is all widely available online plus if you do stay at the Circus it appears to me that they have people on staff who would help you with this. Since you would like to go to Sachenhausen, I would look at a tour. One that I found is berlinwalks.com which has a meeting point within easy walking distance from the Circus Hostel. Their website says that you can buy yout transit tickets from them and since the tour takes 6 hours that would take up one of your days. I cannot make suggestions about what to do with day 2 since I don't know what you might have already done. If you let me know that or what interests you, then I can make suggestions or again the Circus Hostel appears to offer suggestions once you are there. Also, if I know what you want to do (as in Sachenhausen), then I can recommend transit options. Cheers! Kathy

Stacy, I too had never taken public transportation until last summer in German. I visited Sachshausen and it was easy to get to. The stop for Sachshausen is the last stop for the train. I can't remember the exact train #. Then you can walk or take a bus directly to the camp. The bus picks up right out front. I walked as the bus ran every 30 minutes or hour if I remember correctly. Sachshausen was the most moving camp compared to Dachau. The camp seemed more raw and moving to me.

Kathy and Mark,
Thank you so much for your input on the situation! All the advice is welcomed and I cannot wait to put it to use. Mark, I am actually going to be in Germany with a Holocaust Education workshop so the trip to the concentration camp is vital to me!