Last year I attended ITB Berlin and needed a place to stay so I quickly looked to see if there were any hotels available still available on points. To my delight I found that the Grand Hyatt Berlin (in the heart of the city) is only a Category 4 Hyatt property which means they accepted the annual free night certificates.
It was an absolute no brainer since prices during ITB were well above the $300 mark for hotels in Berlin. And given the central location of the hotel, just minutes away from the Potsdamer Platz and the Brandenburg Gate, it really is the ideal choice for a stay in Berlin.
I arrived via the 10pm train from Hamburg, which cost me an arm and a leg (80 euros) because we booked the train at the station itself. I don’t recollect much of the journey over because I barely made it to my seat before falling asleep.
It was a cold and rainy night in Berlin so we decided to take an Uber from the main train station to the hotel. The total cost of the ride was about 8 Euros. If you were to take the subway it would cost less than a buck.
Check in at the hotel was swift with the receptionist automatically combining my reservations (I had used several free night certificates from my parents’ cards as well). I was given a Twin Bed City View Room, which was much appreciated since I was sharing the room with my cousin.
The Grand Hyatt Berlin is an interesting hotel in that it seems more like a modern art museum than a hotel. There are many open spaces with even furniture being part of the art work.
The art work included some interesting sculptures and metal figures.
The hallways leading to the guest rooms had very interestingly cropped black and white images of Berlin. I have to say I enjoyed the feel of this hotel and I believe hotels should do things more like this to attract attention and highlight local artists.
The room itself was quite spacious and well designed. It featured two twin beds, a desk, a television, and charging ports in the right places. There was also a lounge chair at the foot of the beds.
There was a marble bathroom with both a soaking tub and a very large standing in shower. Water temperature and pressure were among the best I’ve seen at any hotel. I really didn’t want to leave the shower. Toiletries were by Pharmacopia, which were citrus scented.
Wi-Fi in the room was fairly fast for work purposes. I was able to take care of emails and even some file uploads for work. However if you do photo or video uploads, the internet is pretty much a bottleneck.
Getting to ITB Berlin:
The hotel provides a free shuttle service to and from ITB Berlin everyday. There are two shuttles in the morning and two in the afternoon. The Messe where ITB happens every year is actually quite a bit away from the center of town and the Grand Hyatt itself so this was definitely a nice feature.
Bottom Line:
I would say the Grand Hyatt Berlin is one of the finest hotels in the chain. The location of the hotel is among the best in the city. It is right next to the Potsdamer Platz subway station, a few blocks from the Brandenburg Gate, and surrounded by restaurants as well as fast food options. While the rooms are modern and ergonomic, the modern art work which adorns the hallways is definitely a unique touch. I didn’t have much experience with the service at the hotel, but everyone I met was extremely professional and helpful.
This is definitely the place I would stay at when I am in Berlin next time.
