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Hedonists Guide To Berlin

2011-05-10T23:34:00.001-07:00

This book is a great book to stick in your pocket for a trip to Berlin. It has recommendations on where to sleep, eat, drink, party, shop and what are the best places to see like the opera, theater, ballet and concert venues. The book contains beautiful photos of many of the locations that are recommended. The book is broken down into easy to use sections so the traveler can easily find what they need to know in a hurry. With this book, the traveler can easily find out where to go, and how much they can expect to spend while there.
All visitors to Berlin need a place to stay and this book lists forty hotels. The style of each hotel is described, along with its atmosphere and exactly where it is located. The book also gives the reader an idea of how much money they can expect to spend when staying there.
All visitors to Berlin will need a place to eat. Depending on the visitor’s mood, they may feel like different cuisines, and this book will tell you where to go to find each one. The book also describes the type of service available and the restaurant’s atmosphere. The book also gives the reader, the idea of how much money they can expect to spend when dining at each location.
Many people love to go to Berlin to shop and this book will give the reader an idea of where to go to buy anything they are looking for. The reader will also find where the great little boutiques are located that might be missed by the normal visitor. The book also gives the location of great markets, where the visitor can get the best bargains.
After all the shopping, many people enjoy a night on the town. This book also lists many recommendations for nightclubs, and where to go do some gambling. This book also lists the best in music facilities, including jazz clubs.
The book also lists tourist tips on seeing the historical attractions. By following its information, the tourists can save money and travel with ease.

Berlin: A Time Capsule of History and Art

2011-05-06T01:01:00.001-07:00

Berlin, a city once divided by the Cold War, has emerged as a city rich in heritage and culture. Boasting over 150 museums, it is the ideal place for a trip to experience the art and history of Europe. There are various museums in the city that will surely feed the minds of the curious travelers thirsting for knowledge.

Admissions for most large museums range from €6 to €8, valid for a day ticket to museums in the city, excluding special exhibitions. Discounts are also available for students and people with disabilities with the appropriate identification cards. To save on museum tickets, Berlin also offers a three-day pass called ‘Museumspass’ or SchauLUST-MuseenBERLIN for €19. Tickets are available for purchasing at any participating museum or at the Berlin Tourismus Marketing offices. However, one thing to note is that most museums are generally closed on Mondays.

A trip down to the city’s archive will give you a rundown of what Berlin has to offer. The Museumsinsel (Museum Island), widely known for its vast Pergamon-Museum, shelters a broad compilation of ancient Greek, Middle-Eastern and Islamic relics on art and architecture. The Museum Island has other museums under its wing such as the Altes Museum, which houses an Egyptian antique collection, and the Alte Nationalgalerie, which has 19th century German paintings on display. Finally, there is the Bode-Museum, a storehouse of Byzantine sculptures.

Another museum of note is the Berlinische Galerie, the city museum concentrating on modern art, architecture and design which is open from Wednesday to Monday 10am to 6pm (closed on Tuesday). Current exhibitions featured this year are Bernard Frize, Angela Bulloch and Art In Berlin: Fine Arts, Photography, Architecture and Artists’ Archives.

For those of Jewish descent or interested in Jewish history, the Jüdisches Museum is a site of interest. A comprehensive history of the Jews in Germany is here, will satisfy your thirst for knowledge of the Jewish experience. This museum also has an impressive display of modern architecture by Libeskind.

Traditional art lovers will enjoy the Gemäldegalerie, a museum that showcases a handful of 13th to 18th century European paintings by artists like Caravaggio, Tizian, Raffael, Dürer, Rembrandt and Rubens. Another art museum of interest is the Neue Nationalgalerie, which houses 20th century art with many special visiting exhibitions. Contemporary lovers will feast their eyes on this visual buffet.

Tourists who are interested to see ancient relics and remnants of the lost world should experience the Museum für Naturkunde. This natural science museum displays a massive display of dinosaur skeletons, fossils and minerals, having been reopened after its 2007 restoration. Ethnological Museum is another charmer on the list of places to see. Located in Dahlem, it is one of the most extensive museums in the world and is a sight to behold for its majestic assemblage of Pre-Columbian archaeology.

From art to archaeology, Berlin is a perfect place for tourists, catering to museum lovers of all interests. There, art lovers and historians will witness many wonders of history and culture. It is a city not to be missed on one's travels.

Europe Travel Guide

2011-05-03T12:13:00.000-07:00

From A to Zed, Frommer's Europe guide has got you taken care of - particularly if you don't quite know where to start in embarking upon a journey to the Peninsula of Peninsulas.

Whether backpacking or luxuriating - or a mix of both - this guide can be both compass, as well as offline Google for: Things To Do in Europe.

Here's a bird's eye view (a Frommer's Europe view, if you will) of the great and could-be-better points:

Pros:
- Lodging options galore, with budget ranges to avoid any obnoxious "if you have to ask..." comments

- For each highlighted site, listings of Must-Sees

- Budget your most valuable resource: Time; Whether a few days or a few weeks in a particular place, get an efficient mapping out of the best way to see what you'll want to see according to a neat little timeframe

- Tips on what will please most your senses: taking in the arts, good eats, good sounds (music), and even how to most effectively get around

- Impress the locals (everyone loves a sycophant) or just wow yourself and/or family with the background information on your destination. Yep, that's in there too

Unpros:
- Little jewels like Poland and Normandy, among a few others, are nowhere to be found, leaving that "I paid how much for this meal, and I'm STILL hungry" feeling

- Rather bland in read-worthy content presentation, making it somewhat difficult to not want to just ditch the book and experience some kind of excitement, even if only the thrill of discovering the country/city/town yourself

- Perhaps only for those interested in seeing the major cities/capitals...Europe newbies, if you will

- Although providing options for various budgets, this guide does not provide options for those on a starving student/shoestring budget

Can't quite call this the Bible of European travel, as it's more a zoomed out version of Europe, and will likely be most useful for those that enjoy that view (i.e., visitors to more "touristy" sites - or, more appropriately: Main Attractions).

For those that enjoy channelling their inner Christopher Columbus and travelling off the beaten path, it may be a more satisfying experience to use a region-specific guide for the desired region.

That being said, there's 1,000+ pages full of little (and BIG) goodies one's not likely to have even thought of trying without Frommer's thorough guidance.

Getting to Berlin

2011-05-01T11:23:00.001-07:00

The Cold War had witnessed the division of Berlin into two parts. This actually bifurcated many important venues such as airports. The span of the airports spread both on the east and the west side. Basically the major challenge was to integrate the previously sundered systems into one single whole that actually contributes towards serving people in the metropolitan Berlin area. As for the prospect of getting to Berlin, one can always opt out for the air route. The city has two airports. The name of the first airport is Tegel International Airport and the name of the second airport is Schonefeld airport. The former has its location in the north-western clime of the city. Basically it is meant for flag carriers such as Lufthansa, British Airways and so on and so forth. There is a center for domestic flights also, where two terminals are built for the Air Berlin flights. As for the other airport it serves the capital of GDR, which is the southeast of Berlin and is meant for the low-cost airlines such as easyJet, Ryanair and Germanwings. Also traffic from Eastern Europe such as charter flights land from Eastern Europe.

Then there are regional trains as well for those who want to come to the city by train. And then there are those people who want to take a trip by road. For such people there are buses that operate between the railway station and the terminal buildings. As for the S-bahn trains that take people to the center of Berlin.

However renovations are taking place at the Ostkreuz station and this has put a surcease to the carriage of services at the station. Of course there are those faster trains that cost the same yet their schedule is somewhat not very regular. But the plus point is such trains stop at all the major train stations. Also a third airport is being built that is known as the Berlin Brandenburg Airport. It is supposed to have its inauguration on the third of June next year after which the Tegel airport is to shut down. All in all, getting to Berlin has a huge array of options to choose from, whichever way anyone would want to reach the city and enjoy its surroundings.

Motel One Berlin-Tiergarten

2011-04-27T12:14:00.000-07:00

This new, comfortable motel is beautifully decorated in contemporary decor and the price is affordable. Located near many restaurants and shopping on Ku'Damm and near the U-bahn station of Wittenburgplatz giving easy transport to all major points of the city. A city bus stop is also not far down the street. A short walk can take guests to the Berlin Zoo. The lobby is spacious with many sitting areas, and the staff at the front desk is friendly, helpful and speaks English. Fabulous for the price, this hotel is not just for travelers on a tight budget, but also for all travelers staying in Berlin.

The rooms are neat, efficient, comfortable, not large, but not as compact as some European hotels that cost even more. The beds are roomy and firm with crisp linens and the bathrooms have spacious showers and all new fixtures. Room amenities include a hair dryer, TV with many channels, desk and chair. No rollaway beds are available, and there are no phones in the rooms, but pets are welcomed and Wireless internet is available, each for a small fee per night. Rooms have insulated walls and they are quiet without excessive noise from the street below or the neighbors in nearby rooms. The hotel offers the top, tenth floor rooms with balconies for a slightly, higher price.

The hotel has complimentary parking, and the hotels, rooms and bathrooms are handicap accessible. A good breakfast bar in the large lobby is reasonably priced. The breakfast buffet offers different breads, spreads, yogurt, eggs, and more. Guests who come early have their pick of the lovely sitting areas. As a further benefit with the breakfast, the hotel provides free WiFi in the lobby, and guests should inquire at the desk for a login ticket, and purchase breakfast to get the service. A bar in the lobby serves snacks, drinks and coffee 24 hours a day.

Motel One Berlin-Tiergarten is a lovely choice for anyone spending the night or several nights in Berlin, Germany. When it comes to accommodations in this city, this new, contemporary hotel has amazing prices for what it provides. All fees are up-front and check out is a breeze. The friendly staff, neat and clean facilities and convenient location collaborates to make this hotel a marvelous lodging experience for people visiting Berlin.

Berlin - Travel Guide recommendation

2011-04-27T01:27:00.000-07:00

Lonely Planet Berlin is an excellent resource to use while planning a German odyssey. It’s also sized to be a practical addition to your luggage. At a little more than 330 pages, this guide contains nearly all the information necessary to plan a successful journey, as it includes sections pertaining to hotels, restaurants, sights to see, and getting around the city.

The guide begins by helping the prospective traveler decide when to go to Berlin. It notes useful information like heavy travel dates, the climate, festivals, and community events so travelers can make an informed decision about when to time their vacation. Throughout the book are also sprinkled several useful tips on local etiquette and customs that can make it possible to navigate the region with ease and decorum.

The book also provides useful information regarding how much things like food and lodging typically cost in Berlin. It also highlights free, and nearly free, attractions that might appeal to travelers on a budget. The lodgings listed in the publication tend toward the cheap, however, the editors have taken the trouble to list several more expensive accommodations for those traveling with a less restrictive budget.

Lonely Planet Berlin is also an excellent guide for those with an environmental conscience. The book stresses the importance of using responsible travel practices and takes special care to note the places in Berlin where visitors can enjoy nature within the city.

If the book has one major failing, it is the maps. The fairly detailed maps of Berlin’s main neighborhoods would be more useful if they were larger scale and foldable. The guide would also benefit from having maps that detail the countryside around Berlin, which would make day trips outside of the metropolis an easier journey. The best remedy to this situation, of course, is to buy other, foldable maps that have better depictions of the city itself and the region as a whole. These are simple enough to travel with and can be used in conjunction with the Lonely Planet guide.

Berlin is a city that lends itself well to the use of public transportation. Luckily, Lonely Planet Berlin provides a section that deals with the transportation system. However, it may not be detailed enough to allow travelers to use it successfully. Before departing for Berlin, it might be best to conduct independent research on how to navigate public transportation.

Overall, it’s a solid guide with plenty of useful suggestions and only one or two issues that can easily be resolved before traveling.

Public transport in Berlin

2011-04-26T06:31:00.000-07:00

The metropolis Berlin has an excellent transportation system that enables people to get around effortless in the city. The fastest public conveyance in Berlin is the U-Bahn and the S-Bahn, which over one million individuals use on a daily bases. Tourists are recommended to buy the Welcome Card because it can be used for all means of public transport. This is, indeed, a benefit, as travelers do not have to buy individual tickets; thus, they can save some money.

Berlin's U-Bahn (subway) was opened in 1902 and consists of a total of 173 stations. Currently there are 10 U-Bahn lines in the metropolis, and the trains run every two minutes; thus, one does not need to wait too long. The entrance and exit points of the U-Bahn are carefully marked. However, it is advisable to get a road map before going on a ride. This helps to determine where the individual trains stop and lead to. The U-Bahn is a remarkable way to get around in Berlin and the ideal transportation for visitors who want to see as many sights as possible.

The S-Bahn is another fancied public conveyance in Berlin, and one can recognize it on its red, and yellow color. Overall, the S-Bahn has 15 different lines, which transport the passengers even to the rural regions outside of the city. The rail network is 206 miles long, and the trains run every 5 minutes during rush hour. On weekends, the S-Bahn is around the clock in use because many people like to go on a get-away.

Berlin also has a well-functioning bus network that makes it possible to reach all districts of the city. Since a few years, Berlin also established a public transportation system for nighttime. This way, everybody who wants to support the environment by taking the bus instead of the car, can still enjoy a night out in town. Berlin provides over 6.000 taxis, which can be found at the airport, at metro terminals and in the city center. However, Berlin's cabs are often used only for short distances.

Another special feature of public conveyance in Berlin is the MetroTram; a complement to the S-Bahn and U-Bahn network. This unusual vehicle can be recognized by the letter X on its front screen, and it runs all day in 10-minute intervals. The metro lines also include the Metrobus, which is identified by the letter M and arrives every 10 minutes, too.

Furthermore, exist long-distance and regional train stations in Berlin, and most visitors enter the city through the new Berlin Central Station. The metropolis offers a wide variety of public transportation, and it is up to the tourist to decide which type of conveyance suits him best. Although the public transportation in Berlin is safe, a tourist should always be extra careful when in a foreign city. Therefore, it is best to use the public lines in company of a friend or family member.

Berlin - a brief overview

2011-04-26T06:13:00.000-07:00

Berlin is the urban capital of Germany. Berlin is one of the largest cities in Germany and boasts 3.4 million people. The city attracts people nations all over the world with its temperate climate and culture.

Nightlife
The city has over 300 clubs, 7,000 bars and restaurants. Visitors will have entertainment nearly 24 hours per day. Clubs such as Adagio have some of the most incredible architecture. Each club specializes in a variety of music and vibe in the club. The clientele varies depending upon the preference of the party-goer. Visitors desiring to party in Berlin will be assured to have a good time whether they enjoy R&B, Rock or Country.

If you are seeking a cosmopolitan experience, consider The Cascade Club, Club 23, or the Reich and Schon. For glamour and luxury, the Goya Club might be the venue for a perfect evening. Berlin has numerous transportation options that will allow partiers to get from one location to another safely.

Museums
For visitors that enjoy contemporary art, as well as, the classics Berlin museums have a lot to offer. At Museum Island, visitors can view some of the most intriguing and compelling art collections in the world. Many of the collections offer an accompanying historical collection to help patrons understand the climate of the nation where the work of art was created. The museums have unique character that interest thousands of tourists around the world.

Some of the most popular museums include: Schloss Charlottenburg, Altes Museum, The National Museums in Berlin, Alte Nationalgalerie, Neue Nationalgalerie, Pergamon Museum, Ramones Museum and others. Archaeology, glass exhibits, photography displays and others are on display at given times in the year.

Shopping
Shopping sprees are some of the most coveted events in Berlin. Tourists enjoy everything from designer stores to antique markets. Shopping is available for all budgets. Shopping malls, bargain stores and flea markets are at the tourists’ disposal.

Luxury designer stores may be found at the Kurfurstendamm or Friedrichstrasse. Small boutiques may be found at the Mitte. Berlin labels can be found at this boutique shops. Shopping in an art deco atmosphere can be found at the Friedrichstrasse. These clothes are mostly high end.

The Potsdamer Platz Arcades is known for its variety. Shoppers can find fashion items, as well as, electronic devices. This particular location has over 130 shops, including cafes. The Italian ice-cream parlor is a popular spot among the locals. Visitors may even catch a movie here after shopping.

The KaDeWe is the single most largest department store on the continent. This is Berlin’s trademark department store and certainly a “don’t miss” attraction in Berlin.

Most Famous Berlin Attractions
Some of the most famous attractions in Berlin range from Alexanderplatz to the Checkpoint Charlie. Tourists will enjoy a variety of events that will keep them interested. The Fernsehturm is currently the tallest building in the Berlin area. This attraction draws numerous people from around the globe.

The Holocaust Memorial is also a popular location for those who desire to learn about one of the most atrocious events in worldwide history. This monument commemorates the people that lost their lives during the Holocaust.

This Siesgessaule celebrates the gay community and is popular with tourist. This was also the location of the Prussian military victory. The Victory Column signifies the center of this popular destination.

Tiergarten is one of the area’s most popular and most visited inner city parks. Visitors learn of parliamentary government and diplomatic district. This particular park is animal friendly. Many people jog or cycle through this area for exercise and camaraderie.

Events in Berlin The MaerzMusik 2011 is a festival for people who enjoy contemporary composers. The festival lasts for 10 days and is a favorite of visitors from all over the world. The Carnival of Cultures is also a favorite among the visitors of the area. The four day festival usually occurs in June and involves a variety of parties throughout the city. The costumes are bold and vibrant. It is a memorable event for all who participate.

Welcome!

2011-04-26T03:20:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the best place on the web to get all the insider information you'll need for your travels. Here, you'll learn where the best hot spots and sightseeing locations are, all of the hotels you need to know about as well as how to get around. As an English speaking traveler with your sights set on Europe, we'll be a diamond in the rough to you. Come here to find out about resorts, restaurants and other local eateries, cultural events, historical sites, recreational activities and sports.
We know all of the ins and outs for those traveling with kids, business travelers, honeymooners, luxury travelers and travelers with disabilities and just generally planning your trip to or within Europe. New articles are added here frequently, at least every other day. You'll always have access to search our older archives, too. Whether you're looking for new special deals, travel ideas, or simple information for practical use, here, you'll find all you need to plan your trip to Europe and experience the rich culture, history and landscapes.