Originally Posted by
nenbeely
Just completed a 6 night stay here, on points + SUA into Grand King View Suite overlooking the Philharmonie. Was impressed with basically everything - the suite itself was fantastic (especially the bathroom), the service was top notch, breakfast buffet in VOX was good... and while we were too busy to use it much, the gym + spa + pool area is outstanding. My first Grand Hyatt outside of the US (where I've stayed at 3-4) and it felt like a whole other class of hotel. The location is fairly 'corporate plaza' but was very convenient to specific locations for our trip and also to public transit. Wholeheartedly recommend this property to anybody visiting Berlin.
Just completed four nights here as a superb second stay and my thoughts are quite similar, although it's not just this hotel vs. US Grand Hyatts, it's the whole Grand Hyatt brand that is a bit of a confused mess and the least consistent of the Hyatt brands, I think. In Europe you have Grand Hyatt Berlin which is an excellent five star hotel but also Grand Hyatt Athens which honestly might be more accurately branded as a Holiday Inn. This is how I feel about almost all the brands in this 4.5 star hotel category (JWM, IC, etc.) as they all have ridiculous levels of variation between properties even in the same country and you have little idea what you're getting from just knowing the brand. Conrad is the only one that seems to properly enforce some kind of minimum brand standard and that I feel comfortable booking without spending hours researching if it might be a dump.
My only real complaint with GH Berlin is the made in Malaysia Balmain toiletries feel horrible, does anyone know if you can request an alternative for next time?