Review: the excellent Berlin Marriott hotel revisited

This is my review of the Berlin Marriott hotel where I stayed last week for the huge ITB travel fair.

I first reviewed this hotel in 2018, when I was also there for ITB. I returned in 2019 and 2023, and indeed this review is heavily based on what I wrote last year.

The reason I’m covering it again is that I do believe that Berlin Marriott is one of the best Marriott hotels in the world, especially if you have lounge access.

This is not a full review because I had a very busy schedule and didn’t see much of it. Despite four stays here, I have yet to make it to the swimming pool or eat in the restaurant.  I should say, though, that Berlin Marriott is still – without a doubt – the poshest Marriott hotel I have ever stayed at.  No contest.

It is directly behind The Ritz-Carlton in Potsdamer Platz, also operated by Marriott.  I have stayed at The Ritz-Carlton twice in the past but, due to the modern decor, I actually preferred the Marriott.

Getting around from the Berlin Marriott is a dream.  Many places are walkable and you have the S-Bahn, U-Bahn and Potsdamer Platz mainline trains just a few seconds away.  There is usually a line of taxis outside the door or you can get an Uber or Bolt within a couple of minutes. As an entirely new-build office and entertainment area post 1989 you are surrounded by shops and restaurants.

It has always been my preferred area to stay (I can also recommend the Grand Hyatt Berlin, reviewed here) and if you want historical connections, the wall used to run directly through the hotel site.

I paid for the suite I was upgraded into last year!

When I stayed here in 2023 it was on a Marriott Bonvoy redemption. I used two Suite Night Awards to upgrade myself to an Executive Suite.

I thought it was a fantastic room, with lots of light due to its corner position. For 2024 I decided to remove the risk of my upgrade not clearing and paid cash upfront for the suite.

It cost €411 per night. This was exceptional value during a trade show which takes out virtually every decent hotel room in Berlin. Suites also come with lounge access, which makes them even better value if you have no status as the lounge has a good breakfast and dinner selection as you will see.

I was on the 3rd floor out of 10 this year (the lounge is on the 10th).  Here is the view down into the lobby:

There is something very comforting about this hotel.  It is difficult to put my finger on exactly why, but everything clicked.  My room was suitably large and well furnished, the staff were welcoming, the public areas were impressive and the executive lounge clearly was not running under budgetary constraints.

The Executive Suites all seem to be in the same corner of the building, with one per floor, so you effectively get wrap around windows. These are big spaces – possibly the first time I’ve ever had a suite which is bigger than implied by the photographs on the website!

Here is the bedroom which is not exactly short of space:

Here is the living area which has a table / desk and a large sofa (there is a TV in both rooms).

Standard rooms, at least back in 2019, have a proper desk. Suite guests get the round table, although it is properly served by sockets.

You can see how they connect here:

In terms of amenities the suite came with a number of books on the Bauhaus, a Nespresso machine and kettle. The minibar was filled (but chargeable) last year – this year it was empty.

The free full size bottle of Marriott Berlin sekt (sparkling wine) I got as a welcome gift last year did not reappear, although it is on free flow in the lounge. I did still get a selection of chocolates.

There is only one bathroom, which is unusual for a suite but did mean that no space was wasted. You can access the bathroom via the bedroom or living room, so this wouldn’t stop you hosting a meeting in the suite if necessary.

Toiletries are fixed full size bottles of this works products. You only get a single sink.

Let me tell you what was cool. The shower has a digital display. It works like a room thermostat – a numerical display shows the current water temperature and there is a ‘+’ button and a ‘-‘ button next to it. It turned out that 43 degrees c was my preferred level! I’m not sure why more showers don’t have one of these as, if nothing else, it is pretty idiot proof.

If I need to complain about anything, it is that the towels are a bit thin and low on number.

The Berlin Marriott executive lounge

This is how the lounge works:

• Breakfast is served from 6.30 to 10.30 (7.00 to 11.00 at weekends)
• A hot and cold buffet is served from 17.30 to 20.30 (alcohol available until 23.00)

The ‘sweet snacks’ which used be available between 12.00 and 17.00 are no longer listed on the door. I wasn’t there during this time to see what is actually on offer, although there were a lot of sweets and biscuits in jars on a shelf.

Here is a PR picture of the lounge which is 100% accurate although the picture doesn’t really do justice to how pleasant I found it. There is another small seating area with sofa chairs around the corner at the back.

In the evening there are typically three hot options plus a decent sized buffet and lot of drink options, alcoholic and soft. I had no problem finding enough to eat on both nights to count as a full evening meal, allowing me to get back to work.

Here is part of the breakfast buffet – cereals, pastries and hot items are elsewhere.

Here is an evening set-up. The hot items, sat elsewhere, included chicken and ravioli, and the bread, cheese etc is also not pictured.

The lounge even has real newspapers available, including the Financial Times and New York Times.

Other eating and drinking options

Whilst I’ve never got around to trying them, there are obviously other F&B options:

• Midtown Grill – the main restaurant serving steak and ‘American classics’
• Lobby Lounge – which you can see on the ground floor in my photo of the atrium above
• The Big Dog Berlin – hot dogs, fries and beer

Whilst there is an entrance from the hotel lobby to the latter, as well as from the street, it is essentially set up as a ‘standard’ restaurant and I suspect most of its customers are not hotel guests.

Leisure options

There is a swimming pool which I didn’t use but which looks good.  One of these days I will make it down there. This is a stock photo:

Conclusion

If every Marriott-branded hotel was as good as this they would be unstoppable.  The truth is that Berlin is probably in the top five globally – I can’t think of a better one in Europe.

It raises questions about what the new JW Marriott Berlin can do to compete given that this is a refurbishment of a huge older hotel. I popped in to take a look and the recently updated public areas look OK (albeit no better than the Marriott) but it is only just starting on the 500+ dated rooms. I would give it a miss for a couple of years until the work is done, and even then you will be in a monster of a hotel compared to the modest Marriott.

Berlin Marriott is a lovely hotel in a great location and if you have access to the executive lounge then you’ll be well fed and watered too. The ability to get a very light and bright suite for about 50% more than the cost of a standard room, with lounge access included, is even better.

The Berlin Marriott hotel website is here if you want to find out more. I’m likely to be there again for ITB next year.

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How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (April 2024)

There are various ways of earning Marriott Bonvoy points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

The official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card comes with 20,000 points for signing up, 2 points for every £1 you spend and 15 elite night credits per year.

You can apply here.

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points by converting American Express Membership Rewards points at the rate of 2:3.

Do you know that holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Marriott Bonvoy Gold status for as long as they hold the card?  It also comes with Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.  We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:

• American Express Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Rewards Credit Card (10,000 bonus Amex points)

and for small business owners:

• American Express Business Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Business Platinum (40,000 bonus Amex points)

The conversion rate from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy points is 2:3.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Marriott Bonvoy points. 

(Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from the major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.)