Garner Hotel Berlin - Checkpoint Charlie by IHG

The only real plus was the short walk to Checkpoint Charlie. The night porters were helpful and courteous, which improved things a little, but overall the stay was poor. The woman who checked us in was rude and offered no help with sights or local transport. She seemed focused on collecting the city tax and promoting a Vietnamese restaurant down the street. Our room was extremely dusty, including under the bed, where it was filthy with dust and grime and looked like it hadn't been vacuumed in months. The bathroom was clean, but only quickly cleaned. The complimentary tea and coffee were provided just once, with no milk or sugar. The pillows looked dirty, and there was no protective cover under the pillowcase. Breakfast was hit and miss. The scrambled eggs had a slimy, pasty gel texture that turned my stomach, and one morning the meat looked like warmed-up packaged sliced chicken. On another morning, while we were getting tea, my wife's phone and my jumper disappeared from our breakfast table. The waitress first said she hadn't seen anyone take them. When I said I would report a theft at reception, she suddenly remembered moving them to the reception area. At checkout, nobody asked about any problems or how our stay was. The receptionist only seemed concerned that we had no unpaid fees.

For the price and location, this was a great deal. The rooms are simple, but clean and comfortable. The lobby can provide things like a comb or toothbrush for free, and the staff were incredibly friendly. They even offered a free late checkout. Breakfast was very good, with the expected hot and cold choices. Drinks and fruit were always available in the lobby too.

The location is really good, and I'd happily stay here again. My room was clean and well maintained, with lovely decor. The staff were polite and helpful, so I had a good experience.

I was very disappointed by the poor service and unhelpful staff. I've been trying to get my invoice for over two weeks. Before checkout, I was told it would arrive by email, but since leaving I've had no reply to several follow-up messages. Ignoring such a basic request for this long shows a lack of communication and professionalism. Based on this experience, I can only give the hotel one star.