ADLON
(*****L): Opened
on October 24th 1907, by
Kaiser Wilhelm
II, life long supporter who demanded no one set foot inside the
building
before him, the Adlon became
one of the leading palace hotels in the world within less than three
years.
Situated on the Pariser Platz and overlooking the Brandenburg Gate,
this
was the place for kings, maharajahs, statesmen and Hollywood movie
stars:
Charlie Chaplin, Unfortunately, yet part of the history of Berlin, the masterpiece of architects Robert Leibniz and Carl Gause burnt down after the Second World War. On August 23, 1997, integrally rebuilt with art, the Adlon reopened under the Kempinski Hotels & Resorts management. Renewing with the legend, its resurrection had been wished by all Berliners, and by traditional travellers and businessmen visiting the similarly resurrected capital city of Germany. Each of the hotel 286 rooms and 51 suites is designed to reflect such an exclusive luxury image that, in only three years, most of today's super VIPs already visited the hotel: George Bush, Bill Clinton, the Dalai Lama, the Japanese Imperial Family, the Rockefellers, Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Placido Domingo, Pierce Brosnan and Steven Spielberg are just a few of them. Mixing opulent classicism with latest design, they make a generous use of period furniture and precious fabrics. Some suites are actually royales: sometimes equipped with a long tail piano, just like the best apartments in the Hotel de Crillon (Paris) or Imperial (Vienna). The marble bathrooms, with separate shower, bathtub and toilet, have underfloor heating: they are Kempinski style (means simply great!). In-room telecommunication facilities include portable phones which can receive calls anywhere within the hotel, ultra quiet fax machines with private fax number, PC docking capabilities and two ISDN telephone lines with voice mail. Stereo television (CD in suites), room safe, private bar, individually controlled air-conditioning, and extra spacious wardrobe are part of the standard amenities. In such an environment, we advise you to try at least a Superior Deluxe Category room: superb, with a dramatic view over the famous Boulevard Unter den Linden, they constitute a first step to enjoy the super deluxe atmosphere of the hotel. Guests are expected to pay a EUR 300 - 400 rate per night: depending whether they stay high or low season. One step ahead are the suites. The two-room Adlon Executive Suite offers a maximum comfort and prestige for about EUR 500. Big spenders will prefer the Pariser Platz Suite, with a view of the Brandenburg gate: one of the Adlon favourite, it would cost approximately EUR 2000. Larger suites with full view of Brandenburg Gate and Pariser Platz, fitted for movie stars and statesmen, are available upon request. Complementing the Adlon excellent business facilities are two restaurants, two bars, two lobby lounges, two winter gardens and six private dining rooms. The 12 function rooms cater for every conceivable function. We actually enjoyed very much the lavish Adlon Spa & Fitness Center includes a roman swimming pool, surrounded by antique wall frescoes whirlpool, steam bath, separates saunas for ladies and gents, solarium and massage facilities. New standards of quality and efficiency have been set for meetings and conventions in the fully equipped state-of-the-art conference rooms and business centre. Just peep in the sumptuous lobby, and you will love the Adlon at first sight. This Kempinski Hotel is one of The Leading Hotels of the World. A masterpiece of European hospitality, for happy few only.
SOFITEL
BERLIN AM GENDARMENMARKT (*****):
"Boutique hotels" are getting
more and more fashionable. With its unique downtown surrounding, right
in the heart
of Berlin, directly overlooking the Gendarmenmarkt
(Historical Police
Square) and the Berlin Concert Hall, the Sofitel Berlin Am
Gendarmenmarkt,
one of the first boutique designer hotels within the city, illustrates
with The 92 high tech top comfortable rooms, including 22 individually appointed stylish suites, are among the most original and comfortable in Berlin. Each detail makes them unique and remarkable in term of interior design. Highly sophisticated, full equipped with mini bar, individual safe, dvd player, IDD phone with voice mail, e-mail and Internet access, they suit the tastes of an educated upper class clientele, visiting Berlin for its museums, concert halls and other culture resources: the Old National Art Gallery and State Opera House are situated within walking distance. As far as sights like the Brandenburg Gate, the Boulevard Unter den Linden, the Berlin Dome and the Alexanderplatz. Shopping is made extremely easy, due to the proximity of Lafayette department store and Friedrichstrae high fashion boutiques. A single would cost between EUR 150 and EUR 250. Double start from EUR 150 till EUR 300. The large and lavish suites are still reasonable, rated EUR 350 - 600. Garage stands in immediate surrounding. Public transportation are a few meters walk. And after the whole day visiting Berlin, there is nothing more pleasant than enjoying the Sofitel Berlin Am Gendarmenmarkt fitness centre: equipped with sauna, ritzy Roman steam bath, relaxation area, meditation room with colour therapy, outdoor terrace and workout facilities, this is one of the most modern and luxurious in town. The chic "Aigner" restaurant is very reputed among gourmets.
HOTEL
BRANDENBURGER HOF (*****): One of the most fashionable capital
cities in Europe, Berlin received a welcome addition in 1991 with the
opening of the Hotel Brandenburger Hof. A hotel fitting the outstanding
tastes of outstanding guests, the Hotel Brandenburger 
 |
Albert Einstein, Enrico Caruso
and the Vanderbilt dropped
nowhere but in the Adlon when visiting Berlin. Divine
Greta Garbo famous
words "I want to be alone!" were whispered hereby, during the filming
of
"Grand Hotel", based on the Adlon's legend and ritzy atmosphere.
This is where Marlene Dietrich was discovered. Families of the nobility
sold their winter residences in Berlin to live in the suites of the
hotel Adlon...
distinctive comfort and
elegance the success of that new challenging
category of medium size deluxe hotels.
Hof became a
member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World. The hotel is strategically
located in a very central and most elegant area, a stone's
throw from the romantic Tiergarten, the Kurfürstendamm, and the
Memorial Church. Its classical, aristocratic stone façade remained
untouched, and represents the highest
standard of luxury.