Motel One Berlin-Tiergarten

I chose this place because it seemed convenient for the half marathon, but the rooms weren't particularly nice. I've stayed in cheaper places with much better rooms. The bigger problem was the air conditioning. It was advertised as climate control with cooling, but the rude woman at reception confirmed that it was completely switched off. There was no apology or effort to fix it. I was told to cancel if I wasn't happy. The room was painfully hot even with the window open all afternoon. One of the worst hotel stays I've had.

The restaurant staff were the best part of the hotel. They were très sympathique, made a fresh and tasty breakfast, and served a real espresso. They seemed genuinely involved in what they were doing, and that's the only reason I'm giving three stars. The rest was about what you'd expect for the price. The hotel is clean, close to the historic center, and easy to reach by public transport. But the rooms are tiny and face a noisy street, the free Wi-Fi had no internet, and there was no drinking water in the room. The beds were very uncomfortable, and reception staff were unfriendly and unresponsive. I'd consider staying for a short time if the price were reasonable, but it wouldn't be comfortable.

The location is great, and the hotel looks lovely when you first walk in. The staff were exceptionally friendly and polite. The breakfast buffet had a good selection, though a few more sweet options would have been nice. The room didn't feel like the Motel One standard I'm used to. It seemed dated and not very well maintained.

The smart TV was a nice feature since you can connect your phone to it. The room was quite small, though, and there wasn't enough space to open a large suitcase. They don't provide a kettle or coffee in the room.