We are thinking ot taking a pre-cruise for 3 nights to Berlin. Wonder if it is worth it? It will be be before our British Isles cruise which leaves from Copenhagen. We did do a pre-cruise trip to Moscow for a few days and loved it. Radissson (at the time) did a wonderful job of getting everything togther. Tours were great. They flew us from Moscow to Stockholm to get the Voyager for the Baltic. Just wondering if any of you have any thoughts on Berlin. Thanx! Judy

Judy,

Isn't river cruising wonderful? We did Bucharest to Amsterdam last year & loved it. Next week we do the the Duoro River in Portugal.

We spent 4 days in Berlin in freezing March weather prior to a WWII trip. We visited a concentration camp just outside Berlin which was used as their training ground for all other camps abd we took a Communist walking tour visiting Stassi sites, the wall, KGB building & checkpoint Charlie. We also took a walking Nazi tour. We also saw many of their most famous landmarks & museums. It is an easy city to get around in (in March) & we really enjoyed ourselves.

Regards, Jackie

Hi Guys:

Yes, Berlin is worth doing.
There is lots of history there (duh!)
& some wonderful museums.
Walking tours are very good & reasonable.
The Radisson hotel is a very nice one. We had a couple of good meals in the restaurants there.

But, be aware that not all Germans love Americans. In all of our travels, the trip to Berlin is the only one (& we have been to other parts of Germany) where we were insulted because we were American.
It is not a big deal & won't happen to you (I would guess), but there is an undercurrent.

That being said, I would still go back.

Best, Doug

Hi Judy and John, I have done Berlin three times..twice without Doug and once with Doug. Three days is perfect for a first time. I found it a fascinating city. Make sure you stay in East Berlin...it is where the history and attractions are. West Berlin looks like any American city and there is nothing there but American style shopping...no history. Feel free to privately email me and I will offer any recommendations. I would return...it is a very large city to navigate and cabs are expensive if you stay in West Berlin. The museums are superb, the walking tours reasonable and interesting and there is the first concentration camp right outside of the city which is worth seeing and leaves you with a lump in your throat.

Accommodations are quite nice...even three stars...food is very good and reasonable and the city is relatively safe. I never felt in danger, while it was a large city.

The Radisson is extremely well located for all sightseeing and is very nice. I've stayed at 4 hotels in the city, three in East Berlin ...the Ritz Carlton, the Adlon, the Radisson and the Ku'damm 101 in West Berlin. All three East Berlin Hotels are well situated and extremely nice, but I think the Radisson and Adlon are the best located. For the price point, the Radisson was my favorite. The Adlon was outrageously priced, but it was a business trip.

I agree with staying in East Berlin and we too had a good experience at the Radisson. We scraped together quite few euros for a high tea at the Adlon which was sumptious.

Regards, Jackie

Thanks for the information. We will go a few days early if we book our own air. We did that in Budapest and really got to see it. Yes, the river cruise was wonderful. Not boring at all. Vantage did a great job. I highly recommend them. We have wanted to see the Bristish Isles for a long time; so I think we made the right choice. We sure do plan ahead, don't we? Doug & Andi, where have you been lately? Judy & John

Judy & John:

if you mean where have we been traveling?
Well, we were on ROAR & MUSH this year. Quite a full plate, I would say! Both were outstanding in very different ways.

As far as business travel (never as much fun as non-business travel!), I've been to Paris & Switzerland earlier this month...London this coming week & back to Switzerland in early Nov.

Judy, I take your traveling as a sign that health issues are well in control, which is a great thing to hear!

all the best, Doug

And I was in Vienna..loved Vienna. We're going out to AZ in December (hopefully, Doug will join me) and on TAP next April. We will stay in Barcelona a few days. Since Doug is doing EU alot now, I will probably go with him a couple of times next year and visit friends.

Then, 2008 brings us ROAR2.

Judy and John, will you be coming to NYC at all. Saw Gil today. It would be great for us all to get together.