Period of Stay: 1 Week (November 28 through December 4, 2010)

The Parkview Suite Sepia is a studio apartment (no separate bedroom) located in the District of Mitte in Berlin. The apartment had a modern and simple decor and was clean. The furnishings are in good condition and the photos posted on their website is very accurate. The Sepia unit is located on the 5th floor and there is a lift (elevator). The kitchen is well equipped with all the basic appliances, dishes and pots and pans for cooking. There were some spices available. There is a queen sized bed that was very comfortable to sleep on. The bath is large with a full bath (and shower head) and is very clean. There is a flat screen TV (with CNN) and free Wi-Fi. There is a private balcony with two chairs and a table which has a beautiful view of the famous Fernsehturm (TV Tower) located in Alexanderplatz and also overlooks the Weinsbergspark. I visited Berlin in late November, early December so it was too cold to sit out on the balcony but I enjoyed sitting at the dining table by the large glass door for an equally enjoyable view. The apartment is located in a warm and family oriented neighborhood and I felt very comfortable and safe. One of the best features of my apartment was the beautiful view I had. It was so enjoyable to wake up each morning with a view of the park below and watching the families and their children playing. Although it is next to a park the noise level was minimal and at night it was very quiet. I rarely heard my neighbors on the side or above me and when I bumped into them in the elevator I found them to be friendly.

The apartment does not have a washing machine but my stay was for only a week so it was not an issue for me. If I were to stay in Berlin for a more than a week, I am told by the apartment representative that there is a nearby laundry mat. The apartment is also within close walking distance to several stores and restaurants. The Rosenthaler Platz U-Bahn (U8) Station is located only minutes away from the apartment on Brunnenstraße. From there it is only two stops away from Alexanderplatz which is a big public square and a central transportation hub for catching the U-Bahn, S-Bahn and the Metro lines. During my visit there was a very beautiful Christmas Market in Alexanderplatz with food, drinks and several vendors selling a variety of items.

The agency representative was Stefan Hiller and he was very responsive to my e-mails both before and during my stay. From Amsterdam I e-mailed him to arrange a time to meet him at the apartment. He replied very quickly and when I arrived he was very nice, professional and thorough in showing me how everything worked in the apartment. He took the extra time to pull out a map and show me how to get around with instructions on how to purchase my ticket for the U-Bahn so I could visit the Christmas Market the first night I arrived. He e-mailed me a couple of times during my stay to see if I needed anything and on the night before I left he offered to call and reserve a taxi for my early flight out. Stefan was very helpful and made me feel very welcomed.

If I were to return to Berlin, I would totally stay here again and I would recommend this apartment to others.