One of the nicest things about Berlin is how affordable the city is compared to most other cities in Europe. Even for a visitor the hotels are very reasonably priced. You can go for dirt cheap budget stays all the way up the scale to the Adalon or Hotel de Rome, or even the Schlosshotel vier Jahreszeiten.
I usually go midmarket, I like comfort, I like amenities, a gym and/or pool is nice, and if they have a spa that's a plus for me. Also, for a short city stay, I don't like to break the bank.
This time around we decided to stay at Ku damm 101. I didn't really do much research. I had read a couple of recommendations of it as a design hotel and then did a cursory glance at tripadvisor and Ku damm's website and we booked.
I was initially impressed as we walked through the public spaces. Minimalistic with a quirky sense of humour. The public spaces are nicely laid out.
Although, I would not have described this as a design hotel. It looked more like a budget hotel with the better designed pieces from IKEA as furnishings.
It wasn't until we started walking down the corridor to our room that I started to worry. The floor throughout the upper levels is uncarpeted and made of a material that I like to refer to as easymop. Slightly glossy, very hard, and oh so horrifically noisy. I was trying to be quiet (it was late) but every step echoed down the corridor and I think I could even hear the rubber wheels of my suitcase reverberating. This wasn't helped by the fact that there is nothing on the walls to help absorb this sound either. I was suspicious but I had no idea just how well I'd be able to hear everyone else walk down the hallway while I was in my room trying to sleep. I'd find out later.
Then the room itself. I don't mind sparse, I don't mind minimalistic, on the contrary, I rather like it. But the rooms at Ku Damm aren't just these things they are also cold and despite their efforts to be stylish, the quality of the materials are cheap. It rather reminded me of dorm rooms.
The door to our room next to the cheap plastic wardrobe.
The tv set. The screen of which was almost the same size as this image of the tv.
But the worst was the bed itself. It looked fine. Low to the ground, bare white linens. However, when we climbed in I realized two things. While the bed was a real double, the sheets and blankets were not. They used two single sized bedsheets and duvet to cover the double bed. This annoyed me, if you are travelling as a couple you most likely want to snuggle under the same covers, not lay in the same bed under two separate sets of bedding. I can only think that this was done to cut costs (so much easier and cheaper to order single sets in bulk than deal with having to manage orders and inventory of bedding for your double beds also).
But that wasn't the worst thing about the bed. The bed was rock hard. The floor might have been less uncomfortable.
We also discovered that there was no minibar in the room (I drink a lot of water. If we've arrived in a city too late to hit a convenience store, then I usually raid the minibar of all its water). Then found that there is also no room service. I'd just have to go thirsty.
The bathroom had a little cubicle of a shower with scratchy towels and these ridiculous packets of shower gel that became impossible to open when your hands are wet.
The next morning as Mr M and I awoke to the noises in the corridor he asked me if I wanted to switch hotels. He called over to the Marriott where we had stayed before and yes they had room.
Its not that the hotel was horrific. Its fine if that is what you are expecting and paying for. But Ku damm 101 is in the same price bracket as the Marriott and many other mid level hotels in Berlin. We paid 113 euros a night at Ku damm. We've paid that rate at the Marriott in the past and at the last minute on this occasion we were able to book a room there for 129 euros. But the difference in quality of hotel is huge. Ku Damm 101 shouldn't be marketed at the same level, it's a budget hotel and it's IKEA esque furnishings ought to be reflected in IKEA esque prices. It's not.
Marriott is not the most extravagant hotel but it is very nice. Comfy, quiet, elegant if corporate style, and all the amenities you expect from a mid level hotel. Great service, king size bed, full bath, mini bar, room service, spa services, gym, etc. Good hotel at a good price.
Very comfortable bed under one lovely set of King size bedding.
I was even more pleased that we moved after Mr. M came down with a cold and we each took a long nap in that fluffy bed every afternoon that we were in Berlin.
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