the windows do open -- the street side can be a bit noisy as the casino is across the street -- but I did not find it a problem. As for a "view", it's not a tall (7 stories?)hotel and most ways there just isn't much of great view.

Just got back from a 2 night stay here and have to report (in general) I was very pleased. I was on a cheap internet rate and had hoped to use my Diamond suite cert. Upon check in, I was told none of the suites were clean, but I could have a room on the club floor with a view of the Tiergarten, and when a suite was available, I could move. I was escorted up to the RC to check in, was provided with a beverage and info on the hotel at the RC desk and shown to my room. The rooms are very modern and similar to the ones in Mainz & HKG that I've stayed at. The 2 side windows do open, and the view was great. There was a large platter of fruit & water along with a note from management awaiting me. The RC club is large and has a good variety of snacks/hors d'oeurves/beverages along with a very helpful staff. While in the RC, a staff member came to me to let me know a suite had become available if I wanted it. As it would be facing the inner courtyard (no view), and I'd already unpacked, I declined. The next evening a few friends were joining me for dinner at a local restaurant and the hotel was happy to arrange a table, and as I was meeting my friends in the RC, they escorted them up to meet me, rather than calling me to come down for them. (I had left word that is where I'd be).
Yes, the room can be noisy (especially given the Christopher Street parade on Pottsdamer Platz), but not incredibly so. And I didn't have a problem sleeping with the windows open. I would definately return to this hotel on my next trip to Berlin. Also, it is very close to the SONY center, shopping, restaurants, bars and general nightlife.
PS-for those hoping to use the tube, the U2/S bahn station enterance close to the hotel is closed, so it is quite a hike to the other enterance.

Grand Hyatt Berlin REVIEW - MASTER THREAD
 

Has anyone here stayed in this hotel recently? It has the GRAND title but I would like to know how it compares to other grand or park hotels. Is it convenient to do all the sightseeing sites in Berlin?
Any comments will be appreciated as I am planning to use my FFN to stay there for valentine's weekend.

I've never stayed there since I have my own place in Berlin, but the Hyatt is very well located at Potsdamer Platz. You'll be in a very "new" area of town near shops, fun restaurants, movie theaters, etc.

It's feasible to walk to Checkpoint Charley and a few other sites.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum60/HTML/001160.html

Also look at:
http://www.hotelreview.de.vu/
which has two reviews of the property.

I stayed there last February about the same time and had a great time... very nice property, midsize and well-furnished rooms, some with nice views of the Philharmonie and Kulturforum. Well-located as JohnnyP says, excellent Grand Club with good breakfast and really nice evening spread (including salads which is really a welcome addition!). Nice fitness center and pool as well (overlooking the Philharmonie/Kulturforum). My only small complaint is that the carpeting in the halls is a slightly loud shade of red: you may want to wear some shades. I was there during the Berlin Film Festival which was pretty exciting.

If you've not been to Berlin before, you're in for a treat. It's a very atmospheric city, with a ton of things to do. My favorites include:
* Pergamon Museum
* Concert at the Philharmonie
* Seeing a movie at an old East Berlin theater.
* Walking around the city in the snow, particularly Unter Den Linden, when there are NO other tourists around.
Good restaurants and nightlife as well.


[This message has been edited by kv99 (edited Jan 29, 2004).]

I second kv99's praise for this property. I stayed there in Jan. 2002, using an FFN.

The property has the look, feel and quality of a Park Hyatt rather than a Grand. Pool and club lounge are great. I don't remember the red carpet in the hallways, so my only complaint might be the small and underequipped fitness center.

As others have opined, Berlin is a wonderful, evolving city. I can't wait to return.

Gee, I thought that the fitness center was really quite good. I can remember the lifecycles pointing out the window toward the Sony Center and there being a fairly good selection of weight machines together with an attendent who was extremely helpful when I found something that needed expanation.

ANd the pool and sauna area is very nice there !

Stayed here over the weekend. If you've stayed at Roppongi then this is a clone - similar design, similar location. I can't deny its a lovely hotel, but I had niggles. My room was not ready at 2.45pm when I arrived. They claimed check-in was 3pm, although this was not shown on my hyatt.com confirmation, and in any event is not acceptable in my book.

Beware that there is no proper business centre here. There is a counter where you can hand over documents for faxing or copying, but no PC's. One (admittedly free of charge) internet terminal is available in the lobby, but this is usually tied up - hardly surprising in a 340 room hotel. It is unforgivable not to have one or two PC's in the club lounge, especially when there is a large, empty area behind the fireplace. The TV's have internet access but you need to request a keyboard and they are not suitable for anything more than general browsing.

On the positive side, the room was lovely, especially the huge bathroom. The pool and jacuzzi complex on the roof were fantastic - one of the best I have ever used - and, unlike Roppongi, free. Potsdamer Platz is a great place to stay - walkable to most of the sites. I could see the queue for the MOMA exhibition from my window!

If you are booking for leisure, I would be tempted to take a B&B rate over a Club rate. It is cheaper, and only a cold breakfast is available in the lounge. Amazingly, they won't even serve fresh coffee in the lounge for breakfast - you have to serve yourself from a coffee machine! Perhaps I am getting fussier as I get older, but this is not what I expect from a five star hotel. The afternoon 'cake and buns' turned out to be one cake and three packs of biscuits - again, not quite what I expected. The evening buffet was good.

On my last night, I stayed at the new Ritz Carlton which is a minute walk away. This was lovely - a truly beautiful room and a step-change in service from the Hyatt. If you can get a room there for 195 Euro (less than I paid at the Hyatt, and that was on our corporate rate!) then I highly recommend it. Or even try a couple of days at both.

Strange, when we stayed there, it was nearly impossible to get the coffee by ourselves as they always asked if they should serve you !

IMHO they have one of best GC/RC staff of Hyatt.

The breakfast is very nice in the GC, they offer boiled eggs too and if you really need cooked food (not standard in continental Europe), they order it for you.

Anyhow the Ritz looks nice too.

I'm not sure what their problem is with coffee! I thought they could just have forgotten me, but no-one else had a pot of coffee on their table either. Additionally, the previous night, about 9.45pm, I went into the lounge to get a coffee to take to my room and they had turned the machine off! No staff anywhere, even though the lounge was meant to close at 10.

They clean the machine around that time, these fully automatic machines need a cleaning cycle daily with a use like there.

Beautiful Hotel
 

The Grand Berlin is a very modern designed hotel. I was upgraded to a beautiful corner one bedroom suite. My only complaint was an acrid odor in the room and halls. Almost a "petroleum" type smell. I informed the front desk and they said that was the coating on the wood floors they used in the suite and there was nothing they could do about it. In the mornings I awoke with headaches. I don't think I will be staying there again. I like the Grande Esplanade. White leather furniture with aqua bedcovers and towels.

This is the best Hyatt worldwide according to intern Hyatt surveys, so one can stay at the place without any fear.

Berlin is a desaster for any hotel chain, these days.Way too much supply certainly showing off in very low rates...

Still the Hyatt is on average probably the third most expensive prop in Berlin, after The Regent ( the former FS ) and the Schlosshotel ( a former RC )

Other very good hotels are cheaper, so if there is no FFN around, even as a Hyatt and Hilton Loyalist, I booked the IC in June for nearly € 100 less than the Grand Hyatt and was very satisfied.

The Adlon is more expensive too.