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Berlin: Schlosshotel im Grunewald or Adlon Kempinski

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Berlin: Schlosshotel im Grunewald or Adlon Kempinski

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Old Sep 1, 2010 | 3:12 am
  #1  
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Berlin: Schlosshotel im Grunewald or Adlon Kempinski

Which one would be the best experience and why? I can't decide and I have an upcoming trip to Berlin...

Hope you can help me. Thanks in advance.
hoteleksperten is offline  
Old Sep 1, 2010 | 9:25 am
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Originally Posted by hoteleksperten
Which one would be the best experience and why? I can't decide and I have an upcoming trip to Berlin...

Hope you can help me. Thanks in advance.
Neither is good. The Schlosshotel is way out of town and has suffered from constant management changes. The Adlon is over-corporate and is, at best, a good 4-star.

Better options are Hotel de Rome, Grand Hyatt (Club floor only) and the new Soho House.
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Old Sep 1, 2010 | 9:35 am
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Agree with Vuittons. I have stayed at Hotel de Rome and Grand Hyatt and like both a lot. Hotel de Rome is best for location if sightseeing and/or shopping is on your list. Service is excellent and breakfast really good. A great rooftop terrasse and there is also a very nice pool and spa/gym. For rooms I prefer the style in the Grand Hyatt over Hotel de Rome and I also enjoy their rooftop pool/spa where one can also sit outside in summer (pool is inside, but loungers and chairs outside).

However, next time in Berlin I will definitely try the Soho House which looks like a real experience in between all the business hotels.

Last edited by Musken; Sep 1, 2010 at 1:48 pm
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Old Sep 1, 2010 | 9:58 am
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Originally Posted by vuittonsofstyle
The Adlon is over-corporate and is, at best, a good 4-star.

Better options are Hotel de Rome, Grand Hyatt (Club floor only) and the new Soho House.
Having stayed at both, Hotel de Rome (HdR) and Adlon multiple times I disagree. Adlon is not corporate - if at all, it's touristy.

Spa: The Adlon Day Spa which opened a while back out-does HdR by a large margin.

Pool: HdR > Adlon (both are in the basement though)

Breakfast: Adlon > HdR (service the last time at HdR during breakfast was quite amateurish)

Rooms: This really boils down to personal preference. HdR's rooms are a bit dark, Adlon rooms are a bit small. I don't like the shower gel etc. at Adlon

Service: Adlon = HdR. Had positive and negative experiences at both places.

Location: Adlon definitely has the better location for a first time visitor to Berlin as it's right next to Brandenburger Tor. HdR's location is also very good, just not as memorable for first time visitors.

Exclusivity: Both aren't exclusive. As mentioned before, Adlon is a bit touristy given its history. Luckily doormans sort-out the obvious tourists and stop them from taking pictures of the lobby etc.

Bars: Both are fine, HdR's is "cooler" whereas there is usually life music etc. at Adlon and it's a bit more "grand"

Haven't checked out Soho-House yet as it only opened recently. I don't like the ones in London though. More hype and portrayed exclusivity by "members-only" policy than what it is
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Old Sep 1, 2010 | 1:42 pm
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vuittonsofstyle, ritz carlton club, brandenburger hof, regent?

adlon also has a members-only club that guests have access to.

good to know about pool at GH.
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Old Sep 1, 2010 | 2:27 pm
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Originally Posted by Kagehitokiri
adlon also has a members-only club that guests have access to.
The place is called China Club. It's not part of Adlon, it's independently run but shares the same building complex. My favourite hang-out in Berlin but pricey to join

Last edited by DonJ; Sep 1, 2010 at 2:44 pm
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Old Sep 2, 2010 | 8:39 am
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Schlosshotel is out in the burbs, very tired inside.

Adlon, new GM just arrived, ex Ritz Carlton, service is hit and miss. Rooms are nice. Restaurants over priced for the offerings

Ritz Carlton is a nicer package. Club floor lounge is good as is the service, great doorman and concierge team. Room are nice, comfortable beds not as spacious as Adlon.

Soho, nice concept. Service is a little casual for my liking and lots wannabees or bees around. More atmosphere than real hotel.

HdR, good service, great summer rooftop lounge. Location also a plus.

Regent, similar size rooms to Ritz Carlton 40sqm or there about, good location average service.

Having tried the lot, I use the Ritz Carlton most and maybe not perfect, offers the best ration of service/value/location in town.

Hope that helps
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Old Sep 2, 2010 | 11:42 am
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Originally Posted by Kagehitokiri
vuittonsofstyle, ritz carlton club, brandenburger hof, regent?

adlon also has a members-only club that guests have access to.

good to know about pool at GH.
Ritz Berlin has, IMHO, really gone off, even at club level. Very disappointing service. Food OK, but I miss the fine dining restaurant which is currently closed. Hotel looks tired.

Brandenburger Hof is good if you take a suite, but I really don't like their newish chef's cuisine - VERY pretentious and in some cases inedible. Good breakfasts though and overall good value.

Regent is not Four Seasons, so although this is (or used to be) a lovely property, it has Carlson ethics. It will be interesting to see what Regent's new Formosa owners will do to it, if anything, as if service improved it could regain its once hallowed status.

Although the Grand Hyatt has a dated lobby, it has great staff and the best restaurant in Berlin - Vox. It has an OK rooftop pool, reasonable spa and if you stay at club level, then acceptable junior suites upwards.

Don't care what Adlon offers - I can't stand the place, club or not. Stayed in a top floor suite last time but still hated it. Famous for being famous, I think.
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Old Sep 2, 2010 | 6:52 pm
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club F&B - GH vs RC?

might try both and brandenburger's exquisit (plus soho) next time im in berlin.
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Old Sep 3, 2010 | 10:10 am
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Originally Posted by Golden
Schlosshotel is out in the burbs, very tired inside.

Adlon, new GM just arrived, ex Ritz Carlton, service is hit and miss. Rooms are nice. Restaurants over priced for the offerings

Ritz Carlton is a nicer package. Club floor lounge is good as is the service, great doorman and concierge team. Room are nice, comfortable beds not as spacious as Adlon.

Soho, nice concept. Service is a little casual for my liking and lots wannabees or bees around. More atmosphere than real hotel.

HdR, good service, great summer rooftop lounge. Location also a plus.

Regent, similar size rooms to Ritz Carlton 40sqm or there about, good location average service.

Having tried the lot, I use the Ritz Carlton most and maybe not perfect, offers the best ration of service/value/location in town.

Hope that helps
It helps a lot! I'm in for the Ritz-Carlton!! But I need another one and that's hard to decide.
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Old Sep 3, 2010 | 10:38 am
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Originally Posted by Kagehitokiri
club F&B - GH vs RC?

might try both and brandenburger's exquisit (plus soho) next time im in berlin.
Grand Hyatt's Vox restaurant is by far the best dining option in Berlin, not only for dinner, but also right through from breakfast. R-C does not get near - badly trained staff, so-so food.
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Old Sep 3, 2010 | 11:13 am
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Originally Posted by vuittonsofstyle
Ritz Berlin has, IMHO, really gone off, even at club level. Very disappointing service. Food OK, but I miss the fine dining restaurant which is currently closed. Hotel looks tired.

Brandenburger Hof is good if you take a suite, but I really don't like their newish chef's cuisine - VERY pretentious and in some cases inedible. Good breakfasts though and overall good value.

Regent is not Four Seasons, so although this is (or used to be) a lovely property, it has Carlson ethics. It will be interesting to see what Regent's new Formosa owners will do to it, if anything, as if service improved it could regain its once hallowed status.

Although the Grand Hyatt has a dated lobby, it has great staff and the best restaurant in Berlin - Vox. It has an OK rooftop pool, reasonable spa and if you stay at club level, then acceptable junior suites upwards.

Don't care what Adlon offers - I can't stand the place, club or not. Stayed in a top floor suite last time but still hated it. Famous for being famous, I think.
So which choice would you recommend in Berlin?
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Old Sep 3, 2010 | 12:13 pm
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Originally Posted by hoteleksperten
So which choice would you recommend in Berlin?


Originally Posted by vuittonsofstyle

Better options are Hotel de Rome, Grand Hyatt (Club floor only) and the new Soho House.
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Old Sep 6, 2010 | 7:33 am
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Another vote for Hotel de Rome.
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Old Sep 6, 2010 | 7:41 am
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Just a note for anyone considering the HdR or the Regent for their very close proximity to the Staatsoper Unter den Linden: The Staatsoper building closed in June for a three-year rebuilding project. The Staatsoper will perform in tjhe Schiller Theater (in the West, just down Bismarckstrasse from the Deutsche Oper).
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