Archive for the Berlin category
Monday, Sep 11th, 2006
Categories: Berlin
We meet Nizar, owner and manager of the Meininger City Hostel Hallesches Ufer, and told us why the Hostel is called Meininger. Being in Berlin, they needed a traditional German Name for the Hostel, so they choose Meininger because their first hostel is on Meininger Strasse. He showed us around and then we went to the Meininger City Hostel.
Meininger City Hostel Tempelhofer is very small and on the other side of Hallesches Ufer. He showed us some different rooms and then he told us where to go on a Saturday night to see Berlin’s night life. He then took the car for a ride to Berlin International Youth Hostel. And he was always very funny 
At Berlin International Youth Hostel Hans Schwarz was very nice and a bit dry He showed us how big the Hostel was and that you could choose different menus every day at their restaurant. They also had a big back yard where the guests can BBQ, playing football etc. after a few drinks we went to Hostel Adler.
Mr. Khac, at Hostel Adler, was not there and his assistant told us he was at another Hostel outside of Berlin. Francois was a bit angry because he called hem about 10 times the last few day’s to make sure he was there. The assistant showed us around the Hostel, which was in need of a bit of a clean up and after seeing all rooms We went then to the Eastern Comfort Hostelboat.
Edgar, at Eastern Comfort Hostelboat, was a bit grumpy because he wasn’t expecting us, due to our delays in our appointments. After a beer, he was ok:) He told us how the boat is fixed to the river and how he had to cut the boat in half to transport it from Sweden to Berlin. He is an architect too and I have to say the boat is very nice designed, well done Edgar. He was showing us then the nice cozy rooms and the 6 bedroom dorms.
The Generator Hostel Berlin is a party hostel – one of the biggest in the world with around 900 beds. We had a room right on top of the bar, that had a Party every night until 3am. So we didn’t have to much sleep the whole time. Sabine invited us to a coffee and she told us about the hostel history of Berlin.Top spot for a party, but be sure to ask for a quiet room if you’re there looking for some sleep!
Comprehensive list of Berlin Hostels
For more information on getting around Berlin go to BVG
Monday, Sep 11th, 2006
Categories: Berlin
Our contact at Citystay Mitte Hostel Franck arrived a bit late and made us the best Coffee in Berlin, drunk in the beer garden. After a history lesson in the politics of Berlin hostels he showed us the rooms and they really look like a 5 star hotel. Situated in the centre of Berlin, this place has a very nice cozy lounge and a bar next to the reception. We went soon then to Heart of Gold Hostel.
The Hear of Gold hostel got it’s name from the famous Sci-fi comedy series spaceship in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and they have some freaky stuff in there too Thomas was very nice and he is the web designer of Gomio. He showed us some rooms, the same here, every room was different designed and then we went to Helter Skelter.
The Helter Skelter Hostel has some nice apartments which they rent out to groups, with a roof garden, nice designed furniture etc. One of the oldest clubs in Berlin is right next to it too and they offer a special price fo all hostel guests. After that, we had to rush to get to Amstel Hostel.
At Amstel House Hostel, Alexander Licht invited us to lunch to sample some excellent Indian food. He told us that he rents the kitchen out to an Indian caterer who works mostly with parties, but also serves hostel guests if they’re a group. After seeing some rooms (a bit like hospital rooms, lots of light in the room and very clean ) we went to the Circus.
The Circus @ Rosa Hostel opened its doors in 1997. Andreas, the owner, was not there so we met Lorenz; the Manager. He offered us a drink at their lovely bar. He told us their story, how they had first just the hostel and now the big nice bar. He showed us some rooms and they are really designed like a Circus. He also told us that the most guests come directly from the street, have first a nice cold beer and then check-in at the Hostel. After a chat we had to rush to the next one.
EastSeven Berlin Hostel is a very nice cozy and small Hostel. You really feel like you are at home and every one was talking to each other, even they never meet before. They have nice rooms, 2 beer gardens and a BBQ era. They have a shared Kitchen where every one offers you to share their meal. Pierre gave us a Beer and gives us some tips how we get to Hostel 4 Youth.
On our way to the Hostel 4 Youth, we asked one police woman how to get there. She mentioned how nice the Hostel is Alberto Enrique, the owner and manager was very happy to see us and very proud to show his framed HostelBookers Award He showed us around and told us that he is changing the whole design of the Hostel. He showed us there training rooms, TV rooms etc. and he invited us for a couple of beers. He also told us why Berlin has 64 Hostels. The reason is that people don’t find any work, and empty spacious buildings in the city are easy to take on so they open an Hostel.
Comprehensive list of Berlin Hostels
For more information on getting around Berlin go to BVG
Monday, Sep 11th, 2006
Categories: Berlin
We woke up at 7:30 am, enough time to take a shower, enjoy the generous free breakfast and pack our bags. We left the Generator Hostel Berlin who had given us complementary rooms for the length of our trip at 9 am to take the S Bahn at the station just next door to the Hostel. We took the wrong exit at the station but managed to find our way to the Hostel, thanks to our maps. On our way we went without to know it through the remains of “the wall” which made look Berlin look like the war only stopped yesterday.
We arrived at the A and O Berlin Mitte Gmbh Hostel just on time. Lorenzo and I started our meeting with Thorsten Lemke, sales and marketing manager for all the “A and O” hostels, very nice and dynamic guy who loves London and big parties. We introduce ourselves, go sitting in the Bar area and start to talk around drinks about Hostelbookers and the main reasons of our visit. After completing our checklist we get to learn a bit more about their 3 hostels’ history in Berlin and the origin of the company. “A and O” is the abbreviation for Oliver and Andreas. Andreas is out of the business now…The Building in Mitte is divided in 2 parts, one 2 stars Hotel (440 beds), one Hostel (440 beds).We started the tour by having a look at the extra rooms in the hostel, pool room, empty room…more than enough extra space on the ground floor next to the bar, just in case a group would require any. Thorsten showed us the teacher’s lounge, sort of VIP lounge for Teachers, the breakfast room, some private rooms and dorms. ….This hostel is quality because of the central location, all rooms are ensuite with TV cable in it and so clean. After a quick check up, exchange of flyers and T shirts we took the car for a ride to the A and O Hostel am Zoo.
The A and O Hostel am Zoo Hostel is located in the Centre of Berlin, next to the Tier Garten Park, some of the rooms are ensuite with cable TV in it ( just from 1 to 4 Bedrooms ) and so clean. It opened in 2002. All A and O Hostel rent bikes for 10 Euro a Day. They have a beergarden on the roof and next year they will have a sauna too for guests. After a quick check up and exchange of flyers and T shirts we took the car for a ride to the A and O Hostel Friedrichshain. On they way to Friedrichshain he showed us a bit of Berlin and the explained a bit of Berlin history by car.
The A and O Hostel Friedrichshainl is located in the East Berlin next to an area full of bars and clubs area. Some of the rooms are ensuite with cable TV in it (just from 1 to 4 Bedrooms) and so clean. It opened in 2000 and was the first A and O Hostel. It is for groups 100 beds and has a beer garden next to the reception groundfloor.They have a one bar and dancing Lounge. We finally left the A and O hostel Friedrishain, a bit late so Thortsen offered us a ride and dropped at the All in Hostel by mistake.
It took us a wile to realized that we where at the wrong Hostel. The Manager was called Peter too and they try since a year now to work with us!
Peter from Globetrotter is one of the GOMIO.COM Owner and we discuss some stuff about it. He also is the Publisher of the Independent Hostel Magazine Germany.Globetrotter Hostel opened in 1998 and the reason why he did a Hostel was, he couldn’t find a job in Berlin so he opened a Hostel and it is a Party Hostel.
He also got some Partnership with Sunflower, Helter Skelter and Heart of Gold. They got 100 beds and each room is different designed (Hand Painted).All rooms have shared bathroom. After a quick check up and exchange of flyers and T shirts we took the car for a ride to the Sunflower Hostel and then to BaxPax Hostel.
Then BaxPax Hostel is owned by Anke, though we met with Sabine Siebert, the Manager, who offered us a tea or coffee again in the meantime we had already had 5 coffees and teas. The rooms are different design again like different countries: Italy, England etc. and in one room you could even sleep in an old VW Beatle! The Hostel is located on east Berlin and it is not far away from the Original Berlin Wall, that part of it is still standing. We took the tube to Mitte’s Backpackers.
Mitte’s Backpackers Hostel is owned by Anke again, and there we meet Lasse. The hostel opened in 1994. Lasse showed us a load of different bedrooms, all in a 80’s/90’s styles…but best of all there’s an old Ballroom there where you can phone from one table to the next to chat with a completel stranger. Lasse offered us some more drinks and had a chat. Then we walked then him to the BaxPax Hostel Downtown – their new project.
What a great hostel! They have 2 swimming pools (one on the roof and the other in the beer garden). The rooms have different lighting for your different moods, a club downstairs, lounge with big screen for football and a one restaurant. After showing us the whole Hostel, He invited us to dinner…the first time in the day we had something to eat. We will rate the BaxPax Hostel Downtown a 4* Hostel.
Unbelievable nearly every Hostel in Berlin has a pool table and bar or restaurant and we had about 30 coffees or tea the whole day
Comprehensive list of Berlin Hostels
For more information on getting around Berlin go to BVG
