CityStay Mitte Hostel

Very poor
There are some fundamental things that I believe a hostel should provide in order to deserve the title of good. This place falls well short of good. Upon arriving at midnight, we provided the necessary identification and booking confirmation to check in. After reaching for my credit card, I was told that they didn't accept any cards debit/credit or otherwise -- cash only apparently! So ducked across the road to draw cash out of an ATM. On returning, he handed the cash to the receptionist who promptly put it in the register and then put a sign on the counter stating that a shift change was taking place and to wait five minutes. In the middle of the transaction. Can you believe it! Fifteen minutes passed and the new cashier couldn't balance the till as the bright spark who had taken the cash from us, but not issued a receipt to us -- therefore putting the register over. After the penny dropped and he realised what he had done, he promptly gave us a receipt and key to the room. In the meantime about fifteen people had walked into to check into their rooms. We went up the elevator to our room, and as the lift doors opened we discovered the wonderful wooden floors in front of us. I knew this would be a problem. We arrived at the room with two stark beds with complementary tinea spray on the beds. That was so reassuring -- not. Then a group of girls walked along the corridor in high heals, which I am sure most people would have been able to hear back in England. Great! After a very broken sleep -- mainly due to late returnees clomping their way down the hallway -- I got up to go to the toilet in the morning. I then went to wash my hands to find that there was no soap dispenser -- in any of the bathrooms. Just water. Disgusting! We decided to try the breakfast (as there was no kitchen to use) and we were completely appalled by the slim offerings of stale cereal, warm milk, and the dregs of coffee and tea for the bargain rip-off of 7.50 euros. We attempted to tolerate another night in this place, but given there was nowhere to cook, nowhere to lounge other than the bar with very loud music, and not a very relaxing atmosphere and a complete disregard for hygiene, we cut our losses and booked ourselves into a hotel elsewhere. Wouldn't recommend staying here if you wish to remain disease free.

We booked for an ensuite double room and we have been accommodated in a double room with only shower and lavabo. The guy at the reception could give no explanation for such mistake. The lavabo was so small that you can't even wash your face or teeth without flooding everywhere. There's no kitchen and no breakfast. Apart from all this it was an hostel with a good atmosphere in the lounge/bar, with clean linens (seemed new ) and a most of all with a great location close to Hackescher markt station. If you have INTERRAIL ticket you can use for free S trains to and from there to go around Berlin.

This hostel was extremely clean and secure. You need a key to access the elevator, your hallway, and your room. There were five or six computers in the lobby for Internet use, so there was rarely a wait to use one. The bar and reception occasionally seemed understaffed at night, but I found the staff to be very friendly, hospitable, and helpful.

Definitely the best hostel that I've been to in all of Europe, and I've been to quite a few. Great location next to Alexanderplatz, clean, spacious, excellent staff and a good atmosphere. Citystay is a must-stay!

I can't believe how good this place was for only 12 euros! I had one of the best weeks of my life staying here! Pros — Fantastic location, close to the train station and within walking distance to many sites. — Rooms are spacious with big windows and nice linen. — Great courtyard to chill in and meet people, with decent dinner specials served each evening. — Elevator. — Clean, hot, high pressure showers (although they are push button) — Separate showers, vanity basins and toilets, and plenty of them! Cons — It's a big and busy hostel and seems rather understaffed at times, often with only one person to serve at the bar and reception. The staff are really friendly and helpful, however. — The breakfast, which costs extra, is not worth it. The bakery around the corner does a huge breakfast for less.

Amazing location, very nice and clean rooms, and great staff.

We stayed in a four-person dorm in May 2005. Excellent hostel. It's brand new so all the facilities are excellent! Funky interiors, crisp white sheets and a fluffy doona [comforter]. Dorm rooms are huge, too and ours came with a balcony. Many showers to the floor but you have to keep your hand on the button to keep the water running (I guess to save water). Location is excellent and near restaurants. I would definitely stay here again.

Excellent in every sense. Lovely staff, fantastic location, very low prices, and very comfortable beds. It couldn't be better.