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Hotel Review: The Westin Grand Berlin

February 5, 2016 by Jean Holy Smithereens 4 Comments

In today’s world of modern hotels, especially in Berlin where most everything is hip and trendy, it’s truly refreshing to stay in a hotel that embodies all elements of a regal and classic hotel. 

The Westin Grand Berlin not only has an excellent location (10 minute walk from Brandenburg Gate), but also has interiors that will transport you to that age when luxury hotels all exuded a grand and legal vibe.

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Location

The Grand Westin Berlin
The Westin Grand Berlin

It’s not hard to miss the Westin Grand Berlin. It occupies almost an entire block on the corner of Friedrichstrasse and Unter den Linden.

Grand Westin Berlin - ideal location
The Westin Grand Berlin – ideal location

The Westin Grand Berlin, though central, is in a quiet upscale location with lots of high-end boutique shops. From Berlin Central Station, we took a 10 minute cab ride.

Entrance doors of the Westin Grand Berlin
Entrance doors of the Westin Grand Berlin

The doormen were quick to receive and take our luggages from us. Check-In area of the hotel was huge and no lines or guest congestion ever happened as it was always well-attended.

Check-In was done on the desk, and we were escorted to our room by a staff member.

Reception and Check-in area of the Grand Westin Berlin
Check-in area of the Westin Grand Berlin

The concierge staff (to the left of the photo) were brillant , having received and looking after a package that was sent to me days before. They were also very informative and extremely pleasant to deal with whenever we needed tips on how to best get around Berlin – tours, tickets, transportation. They even sell tickets to the main hop-on/ hop-off buses around Berlin.

Reception Area of the Westin Grand Berlin
Reception Area of the Westin Grand Berlin

This is my favourite area of the Westin Grand Berlin. A grand piano, a grand reception – it definitely took me back to the grandeur of luxury hotels in the 90s’ (think ‘Scent of a Woman’- yes that was a hotel in New York, but the Westin Grand Berlin gives off that vibe)

birds eye view of reception , The Westin Grand Hotel Berlin
birds eye view of reception , The Westin Grand Hotel Berlin

The hotel also has a very classic layout, where it is octagonal inside and hallways from each level can see the reception.

Room

Linden Superior Category Room, The Grand Westin Berlin
Linden Superior Category Room, The Westin Grand Berlin

Our room was in a category called ‘Linden Superior’, because it faces the famous boulevard, “Unter der Linden”. It wasn’t an overly busy boulevard, but the balcony had really heavy sound proofing doors so there were no issues with noise at all.

welcome amenity - nuts, chocolates and berries!
welcome amenity – nuts, chocolates and berries!

I love these kinds of welcome amenities – a mix of walnuts, dark chocolates and cranberries. Not only is it a great and healthy combination, but it’s also great to have variety.

working desk / vanity at the Linden Superior Room, Westin Grand Berlin
working desk / vanity at the Linden Superior Room, Westin Grand Berlin

Here you can see that working desk that also doubles as a vanity. I love the office chair. It was comfortable, but at the same time allows you to work many hours in the desk if need be.

Another thing that impressed me with the room are the power plugs.

power plugs on either side of the bed. Excellent!
power plugs on either side of the bed. Excellent!

There was no shortage of power plugs at all and there was an outlet in the bedside table on both sides of the bed. Not all luxury hotels have this feature so I really appreciated this.

Bathroom

Bathroom at the Linden Superior Room , The Westin Grand Berlin
Bathroom at the Linden Superior Room , The Westin Grand Berlin

The bathroom, though not that spacey, had a clean design. There was a rainshower-head too. No bathtub in this bathroom, but I did like their homebrand toiletry.

Bathroom toiletry. Linden Superior Room at the Westin Grand Berlin
Bathroom toiletry. Linden Superior Room at the Westin Grand Berlin

I loved the clean and light scent of this White Tea Aloe line. Especially the shower gel and body lotion. I didn’t mind that the scent and the hotel’s overall grand them didn’t pair that much. (For a grandiose setting like the Westin Grand Berlin, I’m thinking a musky, stronger scent would suit better)

Anyhow, fragrance pairing aside, I did like this toiletry line a lot.

Video

Here’s a mini hotel tour that shows the surrounds, public areas of the hotel and our room.

Indoor Pool

Indoor pool at the spa. Westin Grand Berlin
Indoor pool at the spa. Westin Grand Berlin

We enjoyed the hotel’s heated indoor pool that was part of the spa. There is a separate hallway and lift to head to the spa area for privacy and also in order to avoid those awkward encounters between robed guests and guests who aren’t going to the spa.

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I really enjoyed the convenient location of The Westin Grand Berlin. With the Brandenburg gate being so close to the hotel, a lot of tour buses (the hop-on/ hop -off) had drop off and pick up points surrounding the hotel.

Design-wise, I really did appreciate being in a hotel that certainly was big in smaller details. The lifts also reflected the old-style design of a ‘clock-hand’ level indicator:

the lifts / elevators of the Westin Grand Berlin
the lifts / elevators of the Westin Grand Berlin

It takes great decor and attention to small details for a hotel with this kind of old world style to carry it out tastefully without looking dated, gaudy or over the top.

The Westin Grand Berlin definitely hits all the right notes in this regard.

The Brandenburg Gate is 10 minutes' walk from the Westin Grand Hotel Berlin
The Brandenburg Gate is 10 minutes’ walk from the Westin Grand Hotel Berlin

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Westin Grand Hotel Berlin

Friedrichstraße 158-164, 10117 Berlin, Germany

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Do you like the look of classical luxury hotels? What kind of toiletry scents do you like?

 

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We stayed as guests of The Westin Grand Hotel Berlin for the purpose of a review, 
all thoughts and opinions of this post are mine.
The Linden Superior Room rates begin from EUR 189.00 per night
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Filed Under: Europe, Germany, Hotels, Luxury Travel, Travel Reviews, Travels

About Jean Holy Smithereens

Jean is a lover of luxury travel and adventure, always looking for that "Holy Smithereens"-inducing moment on her travels. Follow the blog and other social media pages of Holy Smithereens to get the ultimate travel ideas for the luxurious adventurer!

Comments

  1. Anna @ shenANNAgans says

    February 5, 2016 at 11:37 pm

    Love the look of the welcome eats, although perhaps not the best if you are late to check in or something. I am more of a quirky hotel enjoyer, not so much the classical kinda joint, and I am obsessed with the toiletry scents that QT Hotels have, they are foodie scents like coriander. Yarm.

    Reply
    • Jean Holy Smithereens says

      February 6, 2016 at 2:50 am

      Oh I’m so bad, I eat most welcome eats immediately no matter what time I arrive! (more so if it was of a nut, chocolate and fruit combo).
      I love quirky/ out of the box styles too..in fact I love all hotel styles haha! 🙂 Ohhh coriander scented toiletry?? I will have to check that one out!

      Reply
  2. Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says

    February 6, 2016 at 10:20 am

    I’m really particular about toiletry scents. I usually bring my own in case I don’t like the scent provided although I will always try it once. I don’t like super cloying or overly fresh unisex aromas!

    Reply
    • Jean Holy Smithereens says

      February 15, 2016 at 8:48 pm

      Same here, I bring my own too , especially for hair-related products! Yes I’m not too keen on the unisex ones too , but one I can’t stand the most are lemony ones.

      Reply

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