Berlin in general

Advantages: So much character, culture, history, really has an impact on you.
Disadvantages: None

Berlin has got to be one of my favourite cities. It's fantastic, I cannot rave about it enough. I went last October for 5 days/4 nights as part of an A2 History trip. I loved it. We stayed in a cheap, very basic and plain hostel with food so minimal and crap we never ate there, but it added to the experience. Most of our days was spent exploring the city and seeing the sights, and the majority of the nights we were mostly left to our own devices. ...
...shot trying to cross the Berlin wall. There is a wealth of museums...the best is Checkpoint Charlie for eye-opening history about the Cold War including colour photographs of a man being shot for attempting to cross over, really bringing home how recent it all was. The area around this museum is full of high building and narrow roads, making it very intimidating. But I loved it, everything had so much character. As did Potsdamer Platz and the Ku'Damm. ... Read review

Advantages: Busy city
Disadvantages: Remnants of War depressing

I went to Berlin on a school trip as part of my history course a few years back. I found the city to be full of culture and very interesting. On the other hand, it was the nature of my stay that gave me a negative view of this place. I was, of course, studying World War I and II. I think that it is very brave of them to keep some of the war camps and allow us to see them, which hopefully means that they have put it behind them, although I found a ... Read review

Advantages: Good range of culture and entertainment
Disadvantages:

I visited Berlin in October 1998 on a school trip, when the city was undergoing vast amounts of rebuilding as a result of unification of Germany and the knocking down of the wall. The city and surrounding areas contain a lot of history dating from 19th century palaces to the Nazi period to the modern day, with gaffeti sprayed pieces of the wall. The range of museums and exhibitions was brilliant from the grim Plotzensee Memorial Centre and Topography ...
...Checkpoint Charlie museum. Besides the cultural aspect of the city, the enterainment aspect is very good. There are a number of good shopping areas such as the huge KaDeWe, and a good range of nightlife from bars, restuarants to clubs, all of which are linked by a very good underground railway system. The locals are very friendly and generaly know small amounts of English, but anyone with a small amount of German will be able to communicate very ... Read review

Advantages: Cosmopolitan, lots to see, english speaking relatively common
Disadvantages: Large, a bit stoic sometimes

Berlin is a great city to visit. Though much will have changed since I was there, there'll still be the same major sights - Brandenburg gate, the huge park that is on the road to the gate, bullet holes pock marking bridges near the main government buildings. I'm sure that Checkpoint Chrlie will still be represented in some form or other. Shopping was reasonable and resided in a friends house. The clubs there were fantastic, if you're into that sort ... Read review

Advantages: Cheap, Quiet, Lots to See
Disadvantages: Shops not open on Sunday

Last weekend we went to Berlin for a wedding. Got a good deal with www.expedia.co.uk: £700 for 2 from Aberdeen with 2 nights in the Kempinski, one of the best hotels in town. At the airport we bought the Berlin DK Eyewitness Travel Guide which served us well. Flights were with BA and were all on time. Biggest surprise was to see Richard Branson on the first seat in the plane (business class). He was already seated when we boarded and ahead of us ...
...take his own plane to Berlin , etc. Branson took it all with a big smile but I was surprised that he did not wait until the last moment to board the plane! We arrived in Tegel, which is a small airport and not really set up for a packed plane arriving from the UK. Immigration took ages and the whole place was tiny (and hot). The advantage of Tegel is that it is not far from the Center, that it had tons of taxis and that the taxi only cost less than ... Read review

Advantages: friendly people, great nightlife, great history/attractions, great transport system
Disadvantages: some may find Kreuzberg intimidating, Kottbusser crime rate is a deterrent

...This review of Berlin is based on my experience whilst on tour with my band. It focuses on the people in Berlin as well as the city. It is a general overview of my experience, not a restaurant or hotel review. BERLIN FOR PUNKS & BANDS My band have played in Berlin twice now and both times been received with open arms by old friends and strangers. We travelled to Berlin first of all in May 06 originally not knowing anyone or expecting anything. We knew we'd be meeting a friend of a contact from myspace but that was it. The venue 'Wild At Heart' in Kreuzberg it turned out was great with good music, good PA and sound staff and punters. The management there provided us weary touring few with free beer and a decent backstage area and a free meal, with a vegan option if requested. It is here we met our myspace friend's friend. His... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Excellent location
Disadvantages: Stinky (but complimentary) toiletries

...to a Superior room, even though we booked the cheapest rate, which is always nice! One child goes free if sharing with two adults (I've never seen any children stay at this hotel actually, but am sure they are welcome!). Check in time is from 2pm, check out time is midday. I have stayed at the Schweizerhof twice, and have been very pleased on both occasions. While you won't get offered the personal service that a smaller hotel could provide, I enjoyed the style and the ambience of the place. The location is quiet, yet central and I'd really recommend it! Make sure you're hungry when you go for breakfast though… Address : Budapester Straße 25 10787 BERLIN General Website for Sofitel: http://www.sofitel.com/sofitel/gb/reservation/recherchedestination.shtml Thanks for reading. GK... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Good crowd, cool venue
Disadvantages: Pick the right night - or sit on your own

...people come to dance rather than to pull. THE MUSIC Prague Five has a fixed timetable of club nights, which changes on a fairly regular basis. As a club that generally sees itself as being at the credible end of the scale, it does attract some big names – Roger Sanchez, John Kelly, Farley ‘Jackmaster’ Funk and Jim ‘Shaft’ Ryan have all done sets here. Normally, I only tend to come here at the weekends, but this is the current schedule:  MONDAY - VOD-BUL A combined entry with Prague Five and Berlin provides two venues for the night for £4 and you can move between the two as much as you want. The music in Berlin is quite commercial, whilst Prague Five sticks to some good house music. It’s a fairly popular night with students – Vodka Red Bull is £1 all night.  TUESDAY –... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful