Hi all, not that I expect anyone was waiting with bated breath for my report from Berlin, but I thought I would follow up to my earlier messages now that I am back. First of all, many thanks to those who offered advice - in the end I found the location of the Hotel de Rome and Adlon to be perfect, and do not think I would have been as happy at the Waldorf based purely on that. I divided up the stay between the De Rome and the Adlon, and enjoyed both a lot. The Hotel De Rome has probably my favorite location of any hotel I have stayed at in Berlin. I also didn't mind the decor in person - it was a little dark, but everything was beautifully done and it felt very cool. It fit the usual Rocco Forte vibe of not being overwhelmingly luxurious in finish or style but just adding up to an incredibly pleasant stay. The basement pool and spa have just re-opened and they were stunning; I used them every day. That might be enough to tip it up someone's list of hotel options, at least until the Adlon reopens their spa/pool in May (it's currently closed for refurbishment). I also appreciated the rooftop bar which, while not open in February, afforded some simply beautiful views (and nice photo opportunities).

The downside is that the Adlon's service just blew the Hotel De Rome out of the water. Every member of staff was friendly and polished in a way you only find at the very best hotels, and I've never found Rocco Forte properties to quite match up to this. I much preferred the style of the Adlon - and the buzz of the lobby bar - and the vastly superior breakfast (breakfast was mediocre at the Hotel De Rome, with surprisingly poor service) - and the addition of the two star Lorenz Adlon restaurant, which was simply spectacular. The Adlon was to my mind a different league of hotel, although I still enjoyed the De Rome a lot. The De Rome had a great bar, not buzzy like the Adlon but they served excellent cocktails, possibly better than the Adlon. I preferred the location, and again, the pool and spa were simply excellent. Also, my room was extremely quiet (my room at the Adlon overlooked the Unter den Linden and had more street noise) and I slept very well.

The Waldorf looks pleasant to me but I will stick to the other two in the future. I also walked past the Regent a couple of times and was less enticed; I like the location but the external architecture of the hotel is quite unappealing, and while the lobby was gorgeous and very tasteful, it felt completely empty and a little sterile compared to the De Rome and Adlon (although this is based on entering once, on a Saturday night after dinner, so take this with a grain of salt; I know others who have stayed there and loved it).

I don't know if this is of help to anyone, but I know I appreciated all the insight folks offered me, so thought I would do my part and provide my experience.