Express by Holiday Inn Berlin Anhalter Bahnhof
The Express by Holiday Inn was the first hotel of this brand in Berlin and opened in 200. It is located close to Anhalter Bahnhof and Potsdamer Platz. Though the surrounding area is residential one, you are in walking distance to Potsdamer Platz. The parking around the hotel is a bit of a problem, there are not many public places available, but the hotel has a parking garage.
The hotel is built like a U. If you enter the hotel, you are welcomed by the well know interior style of European Express by Holiday Inn hotels. Wooden elements as well as some steel elements and blue and red colour are dominating this area. On the left side is the bar area with an L-shaped bar counter; the bar is open from noon to 01:00 in the morning. This is also the area where in the morning breakfast is served between 06:30 and 10:30. One gets the usual continental breakfast buffet with cheese, sausages,
jam and marmalade, cereals, bread and rolls and orange juice. Tea and coffee are available on the self service coffee machine.
Opposite the entrance is the check in desk, usually staffed with two person or two places to check in guests.
A small business corner is available with two screens showing the departure times of Schönefeld (I hope they have screens showing the times of TXL now, too).
Two elevators are in the lobby. Unfortunately, during peak time one has to wait for the elevators some minutes, esp. since the elevators seems to go to the ground floor if they are not needed. One of the things, I really think is not that good.
Meeting rooms are available.
Stays : 17 March 2006
direct link to hotel
Express By Holiday Inn Berlin City Centre
Arrival Date: 17 March 2006
Departure Date: 18 March 2006
Room type booked: Standard
Rate Plan: Advanced Purchase Rate
Room Number: 130
Room Rate: 69.00 EUR
Status of Guest Program: Platinum / Ambassador
I arrived at the hotel around 20:30. The check in agent was at the phone, while her colleague at the bar had nothing to do at this time, since there were only a few people in the bar, but she did not come to the desk to check me in. She was just looking at me with an impression like “Oh there is a guest.” So I had to wait till her colleague had finished the call. Not the best first impression at this hotel. After some minutes waiting,
she finished the call. She checked me in and told me that she only a smoking room available on the first floor. I pointed out, that I had non-smoking as preference in my online profile and also requested a room on the higher floor away from the elevator. She answered, that they were fully booked. I mentioned that I am PC Platinum and that at least the room preference should be honoured for a guest staying frequently with this chain. The only reaction was “It is nice for you, that you are Platinum but I could
not change it”. No apologising. So the second impression was also not that best.
So I headed to my room on the first floor. One could smell that it was a smoking room, but since I left the room after I changed clothes and a quick shower for dinner, it was not that bad at all. I opened the window to get some fresh air in the room and as I returned around 01:00 in the morning the room had good cold fresh air.
My room was facing the street. The telephone has a data port and there was a small working desk and a couch, which I think could be used as a bed. Tea and coffee facilities were available. The room itself was nice, clean and in good condition.
The bathroom is normal; it had a shower cabin with a curtain and a toilette. The sink was in the corner, but this time there was more space. The hairdryer was placed in the room, which I dislike.
The desk was okay and it was possible to work there with a laptop.
Breakfast in the morning was of good quality, however the breakfast area was really crowded and service had a lot to do to keep up with cleaning tables and restocking items at the buffet. From my impression, the area was quite noisy. I therefore only had a quick French breakfast with coffee and croissant.
Check out was okay. I mentioned that I was not satisfied with the stay, since my room preference was not honoured and the agent during check in was far away from being friendly concerning giving me a smoking room. I am not sure if this was a form of compensation, but my bill showed 20 EUR less than on my confirmation. Therefore I decided not to complain anymore and take this as compensation though I think this was not the intention.
