Novum Hotel Gates Berlin Charlottenburg

The bed was comfortable, but its reading-light switch was built into the headboard right at pillow height. My pillow kept pressing it and turning the light on during the night. The room was stuffy, and although the window opened onto the courtyard, groups often sat there chatting loudly despite the signs asking for quiet between 10pm and 7am. The shower was the worst part. It was tiny and nearly unusable: the curtain clung to me, or I had to push it outside the tray and flood the bathroom. The shower head pointed straight out and couldn't be angled down, so I had to hold it by hand to catch the water. It also took about two minutes for the water to warm up. I asked twice for the coffee sachets to be refilled, but they never were. There were only two for a four-night stay in a double room. Breakfast seemed too expensive, so I ate elsewhere. Staff were neither especially friendly nor unfriendly. Housekeeping also left all the lights on in my room all day, even though I'd turned them off before going out. Such a waste of energy! The hotel was clean and in a great location, but it had quite a few problems. It wasn't the worst place I've stayed, but I wouldn't come back. I'm glad to be home and able to take a proper shower!

Our room was a good size, with a comfortable bed and tall ceilings, though it was a little noisy at the front of the building, so we asked to move. The breakfast room was beautiful, and the hotel is good value for money in a lovely area. The staff were friendly and professional. Recommend.

More than 700 quid for five nights was ridiculous. This felt like a hostel, not a hotel, and we even had to buy lights to give the room some atmosphere. The bathroom smelled of sewage, the curtain didn't really block out the light, and the carpet was filthy, stained, and peeling in lots of places. The lift area was awful too. One of the most depressing and overpriced places I've stayed, in maybe the least cool part of Berlin.

Our Comfort Twin room has plenty of space and a great balcony with a lovely view. The room and bathroom are clean, the beds don't feel worn out, and they're comfortable. The shower has a strong flow and hot water has never been a problem. There are over 40 German TV and radio channels. Coffee and tea are provided, and you can ask for more. A water bottle costs an odd extra 4EUR. You can get an iron at reception for your skirts, but there's no laundry service. The staff are very friendly and always ready to help. We’re here for six nights and would highly recommend it. Very good value for Berlin.