Where to stay in Berlin – Plus Berlin Hostel
Trying to survive the busy days at ITB in Berlin in the beginning of March 2013, I was happy to stay in such a cool place like Plus Berlin Hostel. The vivid atmosphere of the hostel was the best fit for my hectic days in Berlin.
When it comes to facilities, Plus Berlin is definitely one of the best hostels I have ever stayed in. Thinking, it might be the best for sure and definitely the biggest hostel I have ever been to. I was in a nice shock when I entered it for the first time and then even more after I strolled around. It is so huge!
What I loved about Plus Berlin Hostel:
- location – just a few minutes from both U Bahn and S Bahn public transport – it was very easy to use my Berlin Welcome Card I got from Visit Berlin.
- staff – they were all so nice, from receptionists to people working in Opera restaurant during breakfast (e.g. Mario was super sweet and said hi to me every morning from far already)
- hair dryer in the rooms – in such a cold weather we experienced in Berlin, oh yes, it was snowing, and with very limited time, a hair dryer came in very handy.
- wifi – unfortunately wifi was slow in our room but everywhere else worked well so I could upload the photos during my stay on social media.
- free swimming pool and sauna – yes, there is a pool and dry sauna in the hostel, believe it or not! I told you it is the best hostel I have ever spent my days at when speaking about the facilities. With my travel blogger friends we spent 2 hours sweating out the ITB tiredness in the sauna, chatting and jumping into pool with the relaxing bird singing in the background.
swimming pool in Plus Berlin hostel
ready for the swimming pool and sauna
playing with the mirrors
after the sauna – in a towel and boots?!
- towels and soaps – I do enjoy when there are towels in the places I stay at because traveling light means no towels in my suitcase.
- no shared bathroom – every room has its own bathroom and let me give thumbs up for this. Honestly, I am too old for sharing bathrooms with other hundreds of people I don’t know :)
- all you can eat breakfast – I am fed up with unhealthy bread and marmalade breakfasts you get in many hostels, so being able to get cereals with fruit, scrambled eggs, toasts, cheese and mushrooms was a positive change. What I also enjoyed is that the breakfast ends at 11 am during the week days and 12 am at the weekends so I did not have to wake up very early and could just sit, eat and work (right, blogging every day).
delicious breakfast at Opera restaurant
- Opera restaurant – with stunning chandeliers and different lights making it a fancy place to enjoy your dinner, we did decide with some friends (travel bloggers) to get some tasty Italian food here on our last night.
stunning chandeliers in Opera restaurant
Italian pasta for dinner
- heating – I have been to hostels where I was suffering from extreme cold but in Plus Berlin hostel our room was heated up perfectly. I could even do my washing twice and the clothes dried up within a few hours in the bathroom.
- arts – the whole hostel is an artistic place, from many sculptures in the courtyard, art gallery in the quiet Hoffman Saal which we used for blogging, to artist’s studio in the middle of the courtyard where you can observe the artists working every day. I am sure I have never seen a studio like this in any other hostel. So unique! Even the violet painted corridors are full of hippie artworks to get a smile on your face. There were even super cute rabbits in the courtyard :)
reflection of the light in Hoffman Saal
art in Hoffman Saal
Plus Berlin hostel courtyard with the artists’ studio and sculptures
inside of the artists’ studio
one of the art works in Plus Berlin courtyard
a little rabbit jumping around
- life – After staying in so many hotels, villas or apartments where I had my peace and quiet, I almost forgot how it was to stay in a hostel. Plus Berlin will sweep you off your feet with its lively corridors and colourful lobby.
- private rooms – on the third floor which is a lot more quiet than the first where we stayed, the Plus offers private rooms and thus makes it a hostel/hotel. Depends only on you what you choose.
My stay in Plus Berlin Hostel was a press stay.
Chris
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Just stayed at the Plus and can confirm that no nudity is allowed in the sauna or pool. There are some homemade laminated signs, so I guess people have practiced standard German sauna etiquette in the past, as they have a nice professionally made sign about taking a shower before entering.
Giulia
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Hey!
A question about the sauna: Was it an all nude sauna or can you wear your bikini for example?
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Giulia, I believe you can wear bikini as there is no one to check it ;)
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Comment@ Lowell paguirigan:
I am so happy to hear you also had a great time at PLUS Hostel Berlin!
Lowell paguirigan
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Plus berlin hostel and hotel best ever place we stayed from our entire 14days europe tour.all the staff are so warm.. From reception,bar,restaurant even the people from art venue…wishing to come back there soon… Keep up the good works guys….love you all…..
Crazy sexy fun traveler
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Comment@ GGW Colombia:
Happy to give you ideas about new cool places to stay at :)
GGW Colombia
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ahhhh Berlin Berlin Berlin! Such an awesome city! I’ve only ever stayed in Aparthotels and Helter Skelter, I’ll deffinately have to check this place out next time I pass through, thanks!
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Comment@ Aletta:
Aw, that’s a shame! Sorry to hear about your not very comfy place in Berlin, Aletta.
Aletta
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Wow! It must have been such a pleasure to spend some days there! I’ve spent 2 semesters in Berlin during my studies, but unfortunately our student home wasn’t comfortable at all, especially not like this one;)
Crazy sexy fun traveler
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Comment@ Kirsten:
Yeah, the pool was cool. Would be much better in nicer weather though :)
Kirsten
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Looks like it is just as great as I’ve always heard. Especially that pool!
Crazy sexy fun traveler
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Comment@ Simon @ CampTravelAdventure:
Haha Simon, I wore my boots only on the way to sauna and then on the way back to my room, not in the sauna :D
Crazy Sexy Fun Traveler
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Comment@ Hogga:
And there were a few of them :) So unexpected!
Hogga
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what an adorable bunny!
Simon @ CampTravelAdventure
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So i’m curious…did you wear your boots in the sauna? If so thats really random, I like it. haha