In Hotel Berlin

A calm, safe setting where I could relax and study, and the university is close by. I had a great stay and would say it's a very good option if you want somewhere quiet.

Getting the security deposit back was a nightmare for me. Refunds took a long time, and they took out extra costs that seemed unreasonable and weren't properly explained. There were hidden fees and surprise charges too. The apartments felt far too small for what they charge, and the rent went up every year without any justification. Communication was poor and slow, with little sign of professionalism. If your money, time, and peace of mind matter to you, stay away.

I liked living here overall. The house had new furniture and was furnished for my needs. I also liked the neighborhood, one of Berlin's nicest, and the S-Bahn was about a five-minute walk away. I had no problems with the accommodation itself. The management was harder to deal with. Email replies often came late, so it was difficult to reach anyone promptly when something came up. After moving out, I waited more than three months for my full deposit, even though on inspection day I was told there were no issues. I had to explain the situation again and again by email. Some replies took ages and some of my messages got no response. Fixing those communication and deposit problems would make the experience better for future residents.

The rooms are pretty and practical, groceries are right next door, and it's a lovely area for walks. S1 is right beside the property, so getting to the center takes about 20 minutes. Just know it's a residential neighborhood, with not much nightlife. I was disappointed by the lack of transparency about the price. The ad said everything was included, but the contract mentioned that I had to register and pay for TV separately. For international students, that should be explained more openly to prevent confusion. I also had to chase them by email to get my deposit back, and waited over six months. Those were the downsides.