Holiday Inn Berlin City Center East Prenzlauer Allee

This is a nice hotel in a district slightly out of the city centre (unless you're a hardcore walker a bus or a short taxi ride will be necessary to get into the centre). The staff spoke excellent English and were forgiving of my inability to say much beyond hello, thank you, and goodbye in German. The receptionist was also kind enough to lend me a socket adaptor after I left mine in the office (this isn't part of their service but there is a big box of adapters that people have left behind and if they can help you they will) The room and the rest of the hotel were spotlessly clean. The bed was very comfortable and the location of my room meant it was quiet and I was able to get a good nights sleep. There was a big breakfast buffet available and the food was nice.

Staff – I got good impression both on emails and on the reception. But no score for the designer, he put the flushing button behind the toilet cover. Also no score for the management team. They sell breakfast as compulsory item for single occupied room but optional for double occupied room and that’s why I forgot to add the optional breakfast for the other 2 guests so we spent 5 Euro more for the 3 breakfast, totally 30 Euro. This is not very considerable on the hotel side. This is a kind of overcharging by complicating the stuffs for the customers. Facilities – Shower was terrible, you have to keep the water pressure low. When high, it will make a screeching sound like those in the bodysnatcher movies. Also, the shower head holder was broken in room 418. So you have to stand close to the wall to have both hands free while shower. No Chinese TV Channels in an International Chain Hotel in this international metropolis of the planet. Toilet design old and flawed, you have to use one hand to move the toilet cover as the flushing button was behind it ! There was a blockage in the shower tray, and we managed to solve it by ourselves, which is the quickest option. Cleanliness – Gut. Comfort – No soap bar, no bottled shampoo. Environmental friendly, or an excuse for saving money. Also, it was so far away from the wash basin. This is unacceptable in a 4 stars hotel. Rediculous and outrageous. Value for Money – The soap, the shampoo, the toilet design, and the quality of the breakfast. Really awful standard as croissant had different taste one from another. Selection is very limited. Literally no staff managing the restaurant. As the only one in charge is the one checking if anyone forgot to add breakfast to their bill so another extra 5 Euro was earned. Location – After all this impression I had about Holiday Inn, I cannot say if there is anything inspired me or moved me in this city of Berlin. So no score for location as I find the whole city was a mess.

We were greeted very friendly and professionally, staff was always nice and helpful. Our room was of standard layout, with big comfortable bed, window facing inner yard, very quiet. Tram stop is nearby, easy connection to the city center. Very pleased with our stay. Would book again.

Prenzlauer Berg is a suburb in the former communist part of Berlin that has been modernised since reunification in 1990 while retaining its historic flair. Think lots of leafy avenues and period houses with boutiques, cafes and restaurants. The Holiday Inn sits on the edge of it, at a tram stop only 5 minutes from the centre of the city. It's a clean modern hotel with very comfortable beds and friendly staff who were very helpful. I've stayed at quite a few holiday inns and although this wasn't a big one, being quite compact, it was definitely one of the best. We didn't use the restaurant as there are so many places nearby for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast buffet was available for 12 Euros as a IHG member. We booked 1 night originally so we could catch up with a friend who lives nearby but then extended our stay to 3 nights because the hotel was so good. We'd definitely stay again if we go back.

Air Con: was set at 5 degrees but the room was still like a sauna, went to reception and asked for a fan (as it said in the information booklet you can get fans @ reception) and the receptionist looked at me like she had seen a ghost and asked me what a fan was. We had a 'balcony door' but only one side worked and you could not open it as a window if you wanted to let some air in the door had to be wide open. Room: overall the room was nice and clean - exactly like pictures shown, the mattress was a bit hard and there was no pillow menu. The room was very dark so could sleep all day and the bathroom was very clean and new towels were left every day. The only thing the room lacked was plug sockets. There was 2 in the room and one in the bathroom, none next to bed. Location: the location was very good, not too close to the center and all the noise, but not too far. A couple of stops on the tram to Alexanderplatz. Only noise heard was the emergency services. WIFI: Although the wifi was free it was very slow and some times did not work at all, ended up giving up with it and using 4G instead. Hotel Food: Would not recommend eating in this hotel, my friend and I went for breakfast on our first morning and had a bowl of cereal and a slice of toast, only to find out we were both charged 15 EURO FOR!!!!!! 15 euro for a slice of toast and a bowl of cereal!!!!!! Even though the information booklet stated 12 euro for breakfast and 15 euro if breakfast was delivered to your room, we went to the restaurant, however were charged for room service?! Tourist Tax: Although our holiday package said 'All Taxes Included' upon check out my friend and I were surprised with a 13 euro charge for tourist tax - which really should have been charged at check in, if at all. There was no information stating we had to pay tourist tax, luckily we had one 20 euro note left which was for transport to the airport and food. After paying this it left us with 7 euro to get the airport and have dinner. Let's just say we were hungry when we got home.

Rooms are clean and presentable as appeared in pictures shown. Bathrooms nice, only complaint is lack of plug sockets in the room only 2 and none near bed.Air con was put on but seemed not to cool down the room. So my friend and I asked for a fan down at reception as it stated on the information folder that one could be given, the receptionist didn't know what a fan was and therefore we could not receive one. The hotel is in a very good location with a handy Lidl shop across from it. The staff were nice and helpful depending on who was on reception that day. On last day upon checkout we were told that we still had breakfast (which we had only ate one morning) and tourist tax left to pay. We did not pay for bed and breakfast but were told that we could go any morning and sign a sheet that would be added and we would have to pay at the end. Despite the booklet of info saying 12 euros each for breakfast we were charged 15 euros each, my friend and I only has a bowl of cereal and toast !! 15 EUROS. All I can say is check about tourist tax before you go we were charged an extra 13 euros despite when we booked saying all taxes included, luckily we had leftover money, a warning to those staying here or anywhere in Berlin tourist tax is apparently charged, first I had heard of it.

Rooms are clean, but very dated. Air con was set at 5 degrees but failed to cool the room. Curtains let in lots of light so a sleep mask is recommended. Breakfast was poor and in a large room with no windows except a skylight and felt soulless. Very friendly staff and this is the only good thing that can be said about this hotel

If you're looking for a reasonably priced hotel in Berlin this does the job. The location gives you easy access to downtown on public transit and there are a number of good restaurants in walking distance. Stayed one week on business and was very satisfied.Staff were all very friendly and helpful.

My previous visit to Berlin I ended up booking in a far less suitable location but this medium priced property is very comfortable with helpful staff and a good breakfast. It is also only a few 100 meters from the nearest S-Bann and very handy to some very nice and reasonably priced cafes and restaurants. I would definitely choose to stay her again my only suggestion is that you add a safe in each room which is usually standard for this level of hotel.