Berlin Day 1 - 30 coffees in a day!
10 am - A and O Hostel Berlin Mitte GmbH
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.
12:00 - A and O Hostel am Zoo GmbH
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.
1:30 pm - A and O Hostel Friedrichshain GmbH
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!
2:30 pm - Globetrotter Hostel Odyssee (+ the sunflower)
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.
4:20 pm - BaxPax Hostel Berlin
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.
6 pm - Mitte’s Backpacker Hostel
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.
7:30 pm - BaxPax Hostel Downtown
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
