Hilton Berlin
The
Berlin Hilton is located near Gendarmenmarkt in the heart of former
East Berlin. It is easy reachable by public transportation from
either Berlin Hauptbahnhof or Berlin's airports. The hotel is a huge
complex covering a whole block.
The lobby is really big
with a stair case in the center to reach the first floor, where one
of the restaurants, the entrance to the gym and the most meeting
rooms are located. The check-in area is on the right side with six
counters to check-in guest. A dedicated check-in area for Hilton
HHonors Guests is available. There is also another side entrance to
the right side along one of the restaurants and some shops.
The
wellness area is in the first floor. You have to sign in to use it.
The use of gym and pool is free of charge for all hotels guest being
at least HHonors Silver, while the use of sauna and steam bath has to
be paid for by all guests, except guest holding HHonors Diamond
status.
The area is nice with a locker room and showers. The
entrance to the sauna and steam bath area is right behind the locker
room. You have to use your entrance key to gain access. Both, steam
bath and sauna are huge by hotel standards and this area is styled in
a nice Roman / Oriental style combination. Showers (cold / hot) and
an ice fountain are also in this area.
The pool is free form with
some deck chairs available and a juice bar serving also snacks. This
area could become crowded if the hotel is full and many people use
this area.
The gym has a separate entrance. While the equipment
is modern, the number of treadmills, steppers, bikes etc. is limited
and it would be nice to have more of them available. This area is
really small in comparison to other hotels of this seize.
The
Executive Lounge is located on the sixth floor overlooking
Gendarmenmarkt. It's nicely decorated in a contemporary style, not
modern or stylish but comfortable and nicely decorated with some
chairs, tables and lounge chairs. Newspapers and magazines in German,
French and English language are available. Soft drinks are served
during the day while alcoholic drinks are served from 11.00 till
closing of lounge at 22.30. During the day pastries are available and
you can help yourself on the espresso machine which makes also a
Latte Macchiato, a café crème or an espresso. Snacks
and Hors d'oeuvres are served from 18.00 to 20.00 in the evening. The
Lounge is small and often very crowded, esp. in the evening. If you
are early or breakfast, you may get a seat, but as guest booked on
Executive Lounge or at least Hilton Gold you could also have
breakfast in the restaurant on the first floor. The selection in the
Lounge is the usual extended continental breakfast with sausages,
bacon, scrambled eggs, a selection of different cheese, jam and
marmalade, bread and rolls. Cereals, yoghurt and fruit are also
available but in contrast to the selection in the restaurant the
plates are prepared. Tea and coffee are served by a waiter in the
lounge supported by the lounge attendant.
stays 19 Mar 06
Arrival
Date: 18 March 2006
Departure Date: 16 March 2006
Room type
booked: Standard (upgrade to Executive Floor)
Rate Plan: Advanced
Booking
Room Number: 6082
Room Rate: 127.20 EUR
Status
of Guest Program: Gold
I
checked in at 11.30 in the morning. I was greeted and as they found
my reservation asked if I would like to check-in in the lounge since
this was no that busy at check in were several people were queuing
for check-in and check-out and all six counters very busy. I accepted
this offer and was given a keycard for the use of the elevator to the
club lounge. They must have phoned the Club Lounge since I was
expected and greeted by name. Since the lounge attendant was another
guest checking in, I had to wait some minutes. I got a room, which I
did not expect at this time since the hotel was fully booked the
night before and really full during this weekend.
Check in was
fast and very friendly.
The
standard rooms are not that big.
If
you enter the room you are in the small entrance area. Here is the
entrance to the bathroom of the room with WC, sink and bath. The bath
has an average seize and a big mirror behind the sink. Unfortunately
is becomes foggy after you have taken a shower.
The
room was facing the courtyard and therefore very quiet but views are
limited.
Right
at the entrance to the room were the mini bar and the tea and coffee
facilities. On the right hand side was the comfortable king bed with
two bedside tables with reading lamps. Between bed and window was the
working desk. The desk was more of the small side and since telephone
was placed there is was big enough to work on but a bit more space
would have been nicer. A plug for a laptop was available as a lamp
was. On the other side was a lounge chair with a small round table.
Opposite the bed was a commode with the television on it.
In
the wardrobe in the entrance area were an ironing board and an iron
placed. Also in this wardrobe was the safe, which was big enough for
a laptop but had no power outlet.
W-LAN
and LAN were available for a fee (powered by Swissport). Prices of
the mini bar were as following water 3.75 EUR, beer 3.75 EUR, wine
6.25 EUR, peanuts 2.75 EUR and sparkling wine 6.25 EUR.
As
amenities I got a bottle of water “with a touch of lemon grass”.
The
room was nice but more of the small side. If you are alone this is
okay, if you are sharing the room with someone else it might became a
bit narrow. The interior (both decoration and furniture) is okay and
there were only a few stains and scratches if you search for them.
