Salon Bleu

The room was basic but reasonable for the price, and the neighbourhood wasn't too far from town. Still, I wouldn't rush to book here again. When we arrived early, the front desk seemed annoyed that we wanted to leave our bags and insisted they stay out in the open, unsecured. At check-in, they didn't seem to have my booking details even though the website had confirmed it. They spoke no basic English, which made things difficult, and gave us only a room number without explaining where to go. The staff weren't especially friendly or helpful. At night, all I could hear was water dripping through the pipes.

The room was very clean, and the bathroom was nice. But there was no kettle or spare pillow, and the reading light didn't work, so it wasn't especially comfortable. The location is a fair way from the centre, though the area around it has a nice feel and plenty of places to eat and drink. I'd recommend the currywurst place across the street. Fine for a night, although the man at reception was so rude and unfriendly that we got off to a bad start.

The staff were kind and helpful, which was especially welcome when I was trying to check in after a long-haul flight. I booked online without knowing Berlin at all and ended up very happy with the choice. Breakfast was available in the morning, with cheese, cold cuts, tomato, cucumber, granola and yogurt rather than an American-style spread. The hotel sits on a main street with plenty of cafés nearby. The room was simple and had no air conditioning, but there was a fan and the window opened a little to let in a breeze. The bathroom looked recently updated, and the shower had great pressure. Good place for the price.

A good choice for a stay of under two days. The location is wonderful, almost right in the middle of Berlin. Our room was clean, though there wasn't any water or anything like that in it. The staff were really friendly and helped with everything.