Small Hotels in Berlin

Q: We are going to travel to Berlin, Germany in August this year. We would like to stay at a small hotel near the "Kaufhaus des Westens", which I seem to remember to be quite central. Can you recommend any hotel which is moderately priced and in that area? - Maren Booysen

A: There are plenty of hotels in the vicinity of this superb department store (regarded as the "Harrods of Berlin" and commonly referred to as KaDeWe), but its very central location means that bargain deals at the major hotels are not easy to come by. One of the best choices for a mid-range hotel would be the 29-room Comfort Hotel Auberge in Bayreuther Strasse, perfectly located just around the corner from KaDeWe. Very comfortable, it offers perks such as free Internet, breakfast, coffee-makers in rooms and free local phone calls. Rooms start at 87 Euros, with one double bed, to 147 Euros for a room with two double beds (www.choicehotels.de). Even closer is the Pension Classic in Wittenbergplatz, a 15-room bed and breakfast-style hotel located across the road from the store. Comfortable double rooms with breakfast range from 60 Euros to 129 Euros (www.classic-hotel-berlin.de). Another guest house within walking distance is the Pension Nuernberger Eck. Charmingly old-fashioned, its' eight rooms all have their own character. Double rooms range from 70-92 Euros (www.nuernberger-eck.de).