Motel One Berlin Ku'Damm - Berlin, Germany     

Habe im November 07 geschäftlich eine Nacht im Motel One verbracht. Das Hotel ist recht neu und liegt zentral zum Bahnhof Zoo und dem Kurfürstendamm. Der Bus vom Flughafen Tegel hält 2 min Gehweg vom Haupteingang. Neben dem Hotel ist direkt ein Imbiß und ein Supermarkt. Die Lobby ist modern eingerichtet mit blauen Lounge Chairs und Flachbildschirmen auf denen künstliche Kaminfeuer lodern. Sie dient auch als Hotelbar und am Morgen wird dort das Frühstück serviert. Nach kurzer Wartezeit lief der Check-In reibungslos. Zum vorreservierten Preis (hrs.de) von 59€ ohne Frühstück erhielt ich die Zimmerkarte. Zum Zimmer im 5. Stock gings mit einem der beiden Aufzüge (manchmal etwas lange Wartezeit). Das Zimmer selbst war brandneu und schön designt mit einer großen Fensterfront (bis zum Boden verglast) mit Blick auf die Bahngleise und das gläserne Bürogebäude gegenüber. Nicht jedermanns Sache, aber auch sehr großstädtisch. Highlight war das Bad mit einer wunderbaren Dusche. Klein aber nagelneu. Manko war, dass es im Zimmer kein Telefon gab, sodaß es weder möglich war sich mit einer mitreisenden Kollegin in einem anderen Zimmer abzusprechen noch mal kurz eine Nachfrage an der Rezeption zu stellen. Außerdem könnten die Züge lärmempfindliche Gäste stören. Ich empfand es eher als Hintergrundrauschen. Als ich wieder zuhause war, merkte ich mit Schrecken, dass ich meinen ipod vergessen hatte. Ein unkomplizierter Anruf im Hotel und der ipod wurde mir zugeschickt. Erstaunlicher Service für ein Hotel dieser Preisklasse.

For the price (€100 for a family room) this Hotel seemed fantastic. The reception man was friendly, the bar/reception area and public corridors were very funky, modern and stylish and the whole place looked very new and clean. We were amazed by the size of the room as it was much bigger than we were expecting. Be warned though the standard rooms looked like they were about a third of the size (i.e. not much bigger than the bed) The bathroom was small but functional with very trendy wash basin and one of the best showers I've ever used in a European Hotel. Plasma screen on wall which also seemed to take DVDs which they don't mention on their site. Breakfast was fine. It was Continental with some cereal as well but mainly yoghurt, rolls and cold meat but for €6.50 per adult and free for the children it was great. They allowed us to check out late (1400) which meant we could leave our luggage whilst we went to the Zoo. It is only a maximum of 5 minutes walk from Zoo Station (seemed like a fairly safe area although we did go past some kind of sex shop and Museum. Not too obvious but my 9 year old daughter was definitely wondering what it was). However the proximity to the Station is this hotels undoing. There are trains stopping just outside the windows constantly. Every minute during the day and almost as frequent until midnight and from 0500. I presume at weekends it will be all night as the trains run through the night. Although they say the rooms are soundproofed I doubt this as the squealing wheels were quite clearly heard as well as some announcements. As all of the rooms seem to be on one side of the hotel I think they will all be affected by this to some degree. Some rooms will be near the end of the platform whilst others will be nearer the bridge but I suspect they will all hear trains rumbling past. Almost everything about this hotel was fantastic, especially for the price, but I am afraid none of this will ever save it from the chronic sound pollution and as such I would never be able to stay there again. Also seeing one of their other properties near Alexanderplatz Station I suspect a lot of their properties are the same and in a City where public transport sometimes runs for 24 hours I think this is a major issue. I accept the hotel is very reasonably priced and you can't expect luxury but the basic requirement of sleeping is very important whatever price you pay. Hope this helps someone.