Berlin Mark Hotel

The entrance to the Berlin Mark Hotel, a former apartment building, fits in to its elegant surroundings. Inside, the lobby is spacious and open but somewhat dated, with round leather chairs and large, rather sexy paintings that don't entirely suit the more conservative surroundings. Comfortable seating areas have high-backed leather chairs under tiered chandeliers. A painting of the Beatles adds a touch of whimsy, and the fireplace is a cozy touch, but mirrored hallways and wood paneling around the elevators are out-of-date. The Mark aims to be a business hotel, but couples and families on touristy getaways come far more frequently.

The Berlin Mark Hotel is in the elegant Charlottenburg neighborhood, known for Charlottenburg Palace and the grand shopping boulevard of Kurfürstendamm. Despite its proximity to one of Berlin's major thoroughfares, the hotel is in a quiet street of neighborhood restaurants and cafes. It's not very close to most of Berlin's big tourist attractions, however the Berlin Mark Hotel is fairly central and convenient to excellent public transport.- Five-minute walk to Kurfürstendamm U-Bahn

• Nine-minute walk to the Gedächtniskirche (Memorial Church) (six minutes by public transit)
• Seven-minute drive to the Tiergarten (17 minutes by public transit)
• Nine-minute drive to Schloss Charlottenburg (21 minutes by public transit)
• Nine-minute drive to Mitte district (28 minutes by public transit)
• 11-minute drive to Checkpoint Charlie (20 minutes by public transit)
• 11-minute drive to the Jewish Museum (21 minutes by public transit)
• 11-minute drive to the Reichstag (28 minutes by public transit)
• 12-minute drive to the Brandenburg Gate (31 minutes by public transit)
• 14-minute drive to Berlin Tegel Airport
• 17-minute drive to the Pergamon Museum (30 minutes by public transit)

Rooms at the Berlin Mark Hotel are comfortable and spacious -- from 215 square feet for a standard room to 375 square feet for a suite -- but they're a bit bland and dated. Furnishings are standard ‘90s light wood including a large work desk, and beds have simple white linens. Blankets and enlarged photos of flowers add a splash of color. Note that double rooms have two twin beds pushed together instead of one larger bed (which is common in Europe). Some rooms have patterned carpet, while those billed as hypoallergenic have hardwood floors. In addition to the usual standard and superior-class rooms, the hotel offers Business Rooms. These are the same size and have the same amenities but include access to the business lounge, a quiet place to work with computer stations and free beverages. Family rooms include two sleeping areas, but only suites have kitchenettes. All rooms include small flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, minibars, and air-conditioning. Bathrooms in all but the highest-grade rooms are quite small, with tiny showers. They have white tile and chrome fixtures, hairdryers, and soap dispensers. Superior rooms and suites have larger bathrooms with stylish gray tile tubs and heated towel racks. They also come with access to the business lounge.

The signature feature of the Berlin Mark Hotel is its business lounge, a spacious and quiet room accessible to those in higher-grade rooms. It has small work tables, a comfortable seating area around a TV, and three computer workstations with a printer. Fresh fruit and coffee, tea, and soft drinks are included. Three meeting rooms accommodate 45 people each and are equipped with audiovisual equipment. There’s free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel as well. The hotel’s restaurant is really just a breakfast room. For snacks and light meals you’ll have to head to the lobby bar, a stylish space with a wall of horizontal wine bottles and a summer terrace. Room service is available 24/7. Breakfast includes eggs, sausages, bacon, rolls, bread, muesli, and fresh fruit, and the quality is variable. For a fee, pets are allowed and parking, dry cleaning, and ironing service are available. Families can book Family Rooms, and children under 12 stay for free.