View from the Room: Living Hotel, Berlin Mitte
For this trip to Berlin, we decided to stay in a new neighbourhood, especially as it’s a longer 6-night trip. Usually, it’s a short one or part of a multi-location adventure. Living Hotel was located right next to Märkisches Museum station on the Museum Island and the bus stop so excellent to get out and about and for walks along the Spree River but also within walking distance to the shops at Alexander Platz, which, as it turns out, was essential.
As detailed elsewhere, we arrived at the hotel for an almost week-long Christmas stay without luggage. That is to say, without any of the festive treats we always bring to keep the Christmas spirit with us and, of course, no change of clothes or toiletries. To say the response from the staff member on hearing this was lacklustre probably overplays this; it was non-existent.
Upon receiving our keys, we verified that our room had a bathtub, which we desperately needed. Too many times before, we had forgotten to check and had to switch rooms by trudging down to reception. Sometimes resulting in a downgrade or even an upgrade. I never understood why a room with a bathtub was only "subject to availability" when it had already been booked and paid for.
We were informed that the room only had a shower, which caused us to feel extremely overwhelmed and upset, especially after the day we had already had, worrying about our missing luggage. We had a teary conversation and then anxiously waited for about five minutes (it felt much longer) while colleagues were consulted.
Fortunately, it turned out that the room did, in fact, have a bathtub.
As we had no luggage, we took the steps up to the second floor. I suggested we continue doing this until our luggage was returned to us. Our room had a wonderful bathroom with a good shower.
We had the usual 2 beds/2 duvets combo that I have gotten used to throughout Europe, but always look forward to our kingsized set-up at home. Two bedside shelves provided plenty of space, and curiously, there was an inbuilt radio on my side.
Next to the window, we had a comfy chair and coffee table, plus a desk that had so much shelf storage around it, that when we did get all of our belongings back, I started to forget where I put everything. We didn’t have to worry about needing storage for 4 days. Yes, it took FOUR days to retrieve it and for the room stopped looking like a stranger’s. It became our home for the final 2.5 days.
Other storage is via a large cabinet which housed the fridge, 2 sets of glasses and what appeared to be a laundry cupboard. I couldn’t make out if the bits inside it were broken shelves or some laundry drying shelves that needed to be put together. The large double wardrobe came with a side of shelves although, the doors were light and I regularly trapped my fingers as they closed quicker than my hand could keep up with.
Vitally, there were two coat hooks by the front door. I usually take photos of hooks in hotels, such is their rarity, but clearly, my mind was too frazzled when I first walked in.
Lighting came via the bedside lamps, a floor light behind the chair, which I eventually figured out how to switch on, good spotlights and fantastic strip lighting around the desk area. There were plentiful power sockets and USB points and mirrors where you need them.
Bathroom
The bathroom is also well-lit and has 2 hooks for bathrobes or towels and, rather crucially, a radiator. It is essential for drying towels to reuse but also to dry the one set of clothes I had after washing.
hairdryer
shaver point (although we still had to plug in an adaptor to charge our toothbrush. Much needed after eeking out the battery for 4 days)
magnified shaving mirror
tissues
spare toilet roll
bidet (unused) with its towel on a rail
2 small bath towels
2 hand towels
bath mat
sanitary bags
moveable full-sized shampoo, shower gel and body lotions that were kept plentiful.
I did have to get inside the tub to detach the shower head to rinse the bath as the room had a fixed shower screen.
Amenities
The hotel had a good washing machine and dryer in the basement. Something we never thought we’d need for a 6-day winter break wearing jumpers but we were so fortunate they did. We were informed the dryer was free but the washing machine was €2 to use. In fact, it was all free. I think the cost was for the washing detergent, which we bought when doing yet another shop for toiletries that were locked away in a storage room in Berlin airport.
The safe worked first and every time and robes and slippers available (by request, twice in our case).
Food and refreshments
Fridge
2 wine glasses
2 tumblers
2 mugs
instant coffee, a couple of teas , milk plus one packet of hot chocolate. As all the good coffee bags and our refreshments (and what was left of our Christmas panettone, which tasted even nicer when we got it back) were in our luggage, I was grateful to at least have a peppermint tea. More sachets could be picked up in reception anytime.
We didn’t partake in breakfast, which was extra and didn’t seem to be of great value. It will be hard to match the excellent spread in Athens and there are plenty of places to eat the first meal of the day in this city.
Service was a little lacking again when we enquired about the expected bathrobes and slippers, which was especially essential when we arrived with just the clothes on our backs. There was nothing in the room to tell us these were available (no QR codes that took us to a menu of what we could request), so I checked the website and they were, indeed part of what we paid for. I called down to request them. Then half of the items arrived. Apparently, I have to now go down to reception to collect the rest. Good job we were only 2 floors up.
The hotel couldn’t tell us when and iff the restaurant in their building was open. Instead, we had a peek inside and booked a table online for the 31st Dec, the one evening I did not want to be out. (Find out why here).
Otherwise, housekeeping was good and the rooms were cleaned and tidied and replenished pretty well, except for the hot chocolate.
Overall, the memory of the trip and the initial service will prohibit me from staying at Living Hotels again. At least not for a long time. A little smile, empathy and/or offer of help and things could have been very different.
December 2023
