Review: Three Nights at the Michelberger Hotel in Berlin
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TO THE POINT: The Michelberger is a trendy hotel for those looking for a cool, authentic Berlin experience. The pros: convenient location, sleek design and friendly staff. The cons: very few amenities, small rooms, no air conditioning and it's not connected to any major loyalty programs.
While the Michelberger isn't technically a points-hotel option, it was still a fun place to use as a base for exploring the city on a recent trip to Berlin.
Booking
I booked my three-night stay directly through the hotel's website (rates were from 220 euros or ~$246 per night, plus 5% city tax) and used my Chase Sapphire Preferred, which earned me 2x points on travel and dining and 1x point per dollar spent on all other purchases. If only I'd had my Chase Sapphire Reserve card by then, I would have earned 3x on travel and dining during my time there.
Check-In and Lobby
After arriving at Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF), we hopped in a cab for a 30-minute ride to the hotel. The check-in staff were extremely friendly and immediately offered my partner and me a glass of the hotel's branded Fountain of Youth coconut water. There was a small café as well, which served a mix of coffees, teas, small desserts and alcoholic beverages.
The lobby is designed to resemble a lounge and offers tons of comfortable seating. One standout design element was the thousands of books on shelves around the room, which are free for guests to browse through and read.
There were plenty of reading materials available for anyone who wanted to chill out in the lobby.
The Room
What attracted us to the hotel in the first place was its four Luxus Rooms, all of which have different themes: The Wooden Chalet, The Gold Room, The book-covered "Clever" and "The View." All four rooms feature a large bed, bathtub, shower and TV. Other room types include the Cosy, the Loft, the Hideout, the Band (a large, family-sized room) and The Big One, which comes with six single beds, perfect for larger groups traveling together.
We chose The Gold Room, which, as you can imagine, was entirely covered in gold (although sadly, not real gold). Everything from the walls to the bathroom to the bedding to the light fixtures and the furniture was decked out in gold. While the room was very small, it was certainly one of the coolest ones I've ever stayed in. Gold wallpaper brought the room to a whole other level, as did the golden palm tree bedside lamps.
The gold bed and its coordinating bedding were flashy but super comfortable.
One of my favorite features of the room was the gold bathtub, which was located directly next to the bed (and separate from the bathroom).
The TV was hidden behind a large mirror above a working fireplace, which can be seen on the right, below.
The toilet and sink areas were gold-tiled as well. There was also a separate shower available for those who prefer to use that to bathe instead.
Food and Other Amenities
The bathroom featured shampoo and shower gel products by Orla Kiely, which were very nice.
Our room overlooked the hotel's courtyard, which was filled with a mix of locals and hotel guests enjoying cocktails each night. A wedding even took place while we were there and the hotel encouraged its guests to join in the festivities.
The hotel's restaurant served a buffet breakfast for 16 euros (~$18) per person — meals are not included in the room rate, unfortunately. Offerings were fairly traditional with eggs, yogurt, coffee, salads and pastries. A standout was the rice pudding, which was served with homemade granola.
I opted for some granola with rice pudding, jam, fresh coffee and the Michelberger's Fountain of Youth coconut water.
Overall Impression
The hotel truly captured what I imagined the ethos of Berlin would be like. For those looking for a luxe hotel experience full of posh amenities and the ability to earn major hotel points, this may not be your cup of tea. But for my first trip to the city where my goal was to experience the bustling nightlife and cultural landmarks Berlin is famous for, this was the perfect hotel for me to stay in.
Have you stayed at the Michelberger Hotel yet? Tell us about your experience, below.
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- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.