I'd booked this hotel because of its proximity to Berlin's main station where I was arriving late in the evening and leaving at the crack of dawn the next morning. I booked through Octopus who I regularly use. I'd pre-paid, my room was guaranteed for late arrival and I'd even stated on the booking notes what time I would be there. Having got there as planned at 9.30pm, the reception was packed with a tour party and I was told they had given away my room. No explanation and very little apology was offered but the receptionist brightly told me they had booked a room in another hotel for me, which when I asked to see it on a map turned out to be miles away, not to mention cheaper than the Charite. They said they would send me there in a cab and I could have a complimentary drink in the bar when I got there by way of compensation. Uh, no. Worse still they couldn't given me a cab back to the station the following day. Seeing as I had pre-paid and the hotel admitted they were aware I was arriving late this was shocking and I told them they would have to find me another hotel nearer to the station. Of course by that time of night everywhere was full, at least on the list of other Mercure Hotels or hotels they regularly dealt with. They'd also had full contact details for me on my booking form and could have contacted me at any time that day giving them time to find me a more suitably located hotel but had failed to do so. I had to kick up a huge fuss, which I'm not prone to doing, to get them to even try and rectify the situation. Their main response to anything was to say it wasn't their fault! Eventually they booked me into the Jolly Hotel Vivaldi (which was jolly nice), which took all of two seconds and they could have just done in the first place. Then they took half an hour to get me a cab. I finally got to check in to the Vivaldi at 11pm. I know that the Charite gets good reviews on here and I don't doubt them for a second, it was part of the reason I chose the hotel over others in the area, but their handling of the situation was very very poor and it should never have happened in the first place. Hopefully it was a one off.

We stayed here for 5 nights while my husband attended a conference, but we would not stay here again. Good Bits: Very reasonable price, convenient location (almost next to U-Bahn Stop), safe neighborhood, acceptable food, adequate service Bad Bits: The beds are not intended for 2 people, much too small. Plus, we are both tall people (about 6 feet tall) and our feet hung off the end. The bed was very lumpy and uncomfortable. Plus, the sheets & duvet are 100% polyester. Extremely scratchy and way too warm. It is also near a hospital and there were sirens all night long. If you are someone inclined towards sleep issues, DO NOT STAY HERE! I got next to no sleep on this trip and spent my days wandering about in a daze from sleep deprivation. Meanwhile, my husband slept like a log and lost no sleep whatsoever. I spent my nights wishing desperately for sleep and suppressing an overwhelming desire to poke him for being able to sleep so well!

This was my second stay at the Mercure Hotel Berlin an der Charite, and on both occasions I've found that it met my needs and was generally good value (it was booked for me by a colleague I was visiting). As a woman travelling alone, I also appreciated the fact that I felt safe here. Location: convenient for public transport, for access to the main station (Berlin Hauptbahnhof), and for the Humboldt University of Berlin. The staff are all helpful, efficient, and speak good English and in some cases a number of other European languages. Rooms are spotlessly clean, showers are good, and beds are comfortable for one, though I agree with a previous reviewer that for two tall adults the double beds would be a little cramped. Bedroom lighting: good in comparison with many hotels where it's insufficient. Heating/cooling: when I stayed in early June, Berlin was experiencing 30 deg C temperatures, so I kept the window shut and used the air-conditioning - very effective and quiet, if not very environmentally sound. The breakfast buffet is of good quality and offers plenty of choice. Minor criticisms: 1. I would have appreciated a safety-deposit box in the room, and a kettle etc. to make hot drinks; however I appreciate that this facility is less common on mainland Europe than in the UK or US. 2. Internet access was convenient, fast and reliable, but very expensive at nearly 20 Euros for 24 hours, unless you just wanted a few minutes (0.3 Euros per minute up to 1 hour in any 24 hour period). A budget/mid-range hotel should really offer better deals than this. Otherwise, a good choice for this area of Berlin.

Good standard Mercure hotel; well located within walking distance of the Mitte business and govt district and the restaurant and bar areas of Oranienburger Strasse. Very competetively priced, like most Berlin hotels. A no-frills chain product; can be recommended without second thoughts.