Kolo 77

It's really a student residence, but not a good one. Students keep changing rooms, which makes it hard for them to settle in and do their work properly. Bad place.

It's a nice warm place to come back to after a day out in Berlin, especially in January when it was usually around 0°c. The heating seemed automatic. The apartments are perfectly fine for a cheap holiday, and the price was low enough to make this four stars instead of three. Beds were comfortable enough, though the foam mattresses and synthetic pillows were a bit lumpy. The towels were sometimes ragged but clean, and the bathroom grout could use a scrub, though everything else was clean. It took about 10 minutes to walk to the station, then another 10-15 minutes by train to get to the central station. Not bad, and I'd come back for another budget break.

The area is quiet and conveniently close to an S subway. Our room and bathroom were spacious, with enough space for a table and two chairs, plus a mini fridge, kettle, cutlery, and dresser. Breakfast was okay, with meat, egg, bread, tea, and cereal, but it depended on who was cooking, so our experience was hit and miss. The hotel seems best for short stays. WiFi costs an extra €6 per night, and from other reviews it sounds like the signal may not be very strong. The shower head has to be held, and the water temperature was unreliable. There's no lift, so the hotel isn't suitable for people with disabilities. The property also felt eerie, very dark inside and cold in the common areas, though not in the rooms.

We stayed in July, and the tube station was about a 10-minute walk away, with great service into central Berlin. There's no air conditioning, but there were few mosquitos, so we could keep the windows open. The room had a fridge, coffee machine, and toaster. Supermarkets took 15 and 20 minutes to reach on foot. Internet costs 6 euros per week, and online food delivery is available. Hand towels were provided, and larger towels could be requested.