which area of Berlin to stay in?

>>>>
>>>>>non-smoking restaurants in Germany
>>>>>http://www.smokefreeworld.com/germany.shtml
>>>>
>>>>Bit behind the times, aren't you?
>>>>
>>>>Non-smoking law came into force on 1st January and applies to cafés,
>>>>restaurants etc. Few exeptions.

I look forward to smoke free Berlin in the spring-some hope.

I was in the museum for crafts a few years back and in the cafe there was a
no smoking sign inside the door.
The patrons could puff to their hearts content in the cafe-but-not in the
museum-lungs expendable artifacts not.
tam
 >> Stay informed about: which area of Berlin to stay in? 

On Jan 11, 2:04 am, dwl wrote:

> I had thought about Charlottenburg or Wilmersdorf (possibly near
> Bundesplatz U-Bahn) - any comments about these areas?
>
> Thanks

There are some nice little 2-3 stars on Oranienbürgerstraße, which is
close to two Metro stations. I like the Hotel am Scheunenviertel,
which is sort of a Pension. But look for an Ibis or a Mercure if you
want something better.

Regards
Rajeev
 >> Stay informed about: which area of Berlin to stay in? 

"dwl" wrote in message

> We're looking to book an apartment for 2 adults & 2 young children in
> Berlin for a few days in April. Our ideal spot would be close to
> restaurants, shops & public transport, not over-run with tourists &
> not too noisy but not miles & miles from the sights. Can anyone help
> with advice?
>
> I had thought about Charlottenburg or Wilmersdorf (possibly near
> Bundesplatz U-Bahn) - any comments about these areas?
>
> Thanks

You really didn't tell us WHY you're going ... siteseeing ? ... peace and
quiet ? Is there a reason that you mentioned that area ? Don't care /
already seen East Berlin ? etc
" The sights" are gonna have tourists.
Would you prefer walking to see the sites ( GREAT walking city but takes
more time), or just handy to bus/train ? Enough questions ...

How about
http://www.ferienwohnung-zimmer-berlin.de/Unterkuenfte-eng/suche.php
http://www.berlin.de/english/accommodation/index.html lists
hotels/apartments.

At
http://wikitravel.org/en/Berlin/Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
How about a former military camp ? ( Hostel)
They mention 6 bed rooms ( 3 bunkbeds) and common areas.
( how cozy do you want to get ?)

http://www.jetpakhostel.de/
(click on the guy in lower right corner to stop the music)
and click on the items up top for info/pictures.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=jetpak+hostel+loc:+Be...n,+Deut
Shows a bus stop nearby. A few blocks from Ku'damm.
If you zoom up a bit on the map, the main train/bus station for West
Berlin is in front of the zoo. So could take busses everywhere or walk.
Locals opinions ?

From an overview of Berlin, take bus 200 and Bus 100 and don't get off
until back at the depot for a "tour of the city".

I've stayed on Budapesterstrasse
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/ic/1/en/hotel/BERHA/whats-nearby
( a few blocks away from Europa center/ Zoo in West Berlin on a map) and
it was handy yet quiet. But not cheap. Their website has good info on
'what's nearby'. If there during nice weather it's fine walking.

In the past few years they've been doing a LOT of construction in the old
East Berlin, so I'll ask for locals input here if anything outdated.

In East Berlin I've stayed on Unter-der-Linden. Walk out the door and
"you're there". If you LIKE walking ( we do) it's a long but pleasant walk
to all the tourist /shopping spots of East Berlin ... Checkpoint Charlie,
Museums ( the Pergammon has a few awesome displays. Grab a snack at the
Opera House cafe ... Hmmmmm), Brandenberg gate, Potsdamer Platz ( another
new main train/bus station) etc

Also stayed at the Radisson on the Spree River ( across from Museum
Island). Walk to all museums, but not easy walking to much else. Would
spend a lot of time commuting from there so I wouldn't recommend that for
anything but the museum area. ( That time we were only there for a few
days after a cruise and only had time for the museums so it worked out
fine). One thing - ALL MUSEUMS there are closed one day per week ( Monday
??) so check before planning.

Also stayed at Hotel Jolly on Friedrichstrasse - next to another main
station for ( old EAST ) Berlin. But it's a LONG walk to most places from
there. So take a train/bus from there. Nice to walk along the river - down
to museum area. Lots of restaurants etc nearby , but BUSY,BUSY.

They were building a station at the Brandenberg gate in 2005. With a
Dunkin' Donuts and a Starbucks in front of it !
If you're "playing tourist" I'd say to stay in East Berlin so less commute
time. If you want modern shopping etc, stay in West Berlin but to see the
sites in East Berlin get up EARLY one day ( check bus schedules at the bus
stop/hotel) to be in East Berlin for at least one full day - and not a
Monday ( or whatever day things are closed)

more info:
http://www.smb.spk-berlin.de/smb/standorte/index.php?lang=en&p=2&objID=3313&n=1
http://www.zoo-berlin.de/en/kids.html

http://www.stadtplandienst.de/spd20/Map.aspx?sid=27A3F7EF6650C3C3BAE73...9EBB9E4
For map you can refine. Slide left/right across top to zoom in/out. Search
for street by typing up top.
 >> Stay informed about: which area of Berlin to stay in? 

On Thu, 20 Mar 2008 23:02:49 -0400, "- Bobb -"
wrote:

[----]
>
>From an overview of Berlin, take bus 200 and Bus 100 and don't get off
>until back at the depot for a "tour of the city".

Be careful with the 200 - it now goes beyond Alexanderplatz and into a
not particularly interesting part of Prenzlauer Berg. Get off at
Galeria Kaufhof at Alexanderplatz if you're coming from Zoo/Potsdamer
Platz just after you go under the railway bridge.

The 100 still ends at Alexanderplatz.

>
>They were building a station at the Brandenberg gate in 2005. With a
>Dunkin' Donuts and a Starbucks in front of it !

Still being constructed, opening (theoretically) later this year. Main
problem is the water-table - the maze of blue pipes takes the
pumped-out groundwater to the River Spree.

http://berlin.barwick.de/travel-transport/u-bahn/u55.html

Another tip when you're in Unter den Linden - excellent shop for
guidebooks, books about Berlin/Brandenburg history, posters,
picture-books etc is "Berlin Story" - spend some time in there
browsing and you'll get even more ideas about what to see and where to
go.

http://www.berlinstory.de/pages/sprachen/english.php





Keith (formerly of Bristol UK)
now moved to Berlin/nach Berlin umgezogen
 >> Stay informed about: which area of Berlin to stay in?