Apartments Rosenthal Residence

"I travel for work all the time, and it has been a very long time since I’ve been this incredibly disappointed in any accommodation, especially in Berlin, where most properties are quite new and of a very good standard. This supposedly 5-star apartment hotel is, in reality, a 2-maximum-3-star accommodation. The only good thing about it was the nice staff (friendly, but did not really help with any issues) Starting with the terrible check-in experience: I received zero instructions from the hotel in advance, so I naturally arrived expecting a normal, open reception at this 5-star property. It turned out that check-in is only available between 3 and 5 p.m. — just a 2-hour window. That means if you don’t arrive exactly during that time, you’re stuck outside, standing on the street, using data roaming, downloading apps. I was also asked to pay a €500 deposit — something that was not mentioned anywhere in the booking confirmation. Again - “5-star property” ?! The apartment itself should not be rated higher than 2 or 3 stars. The so-called “art” in the room is literally cheap plastic tape in super bright colors stuck to the ceiling, some of it falling off, some clumsily repaired with see-through tape. It looks awful and creates a genuinely uncomfortable visual experience. The furniture is the cheapest IKEA basics, including plastic chairs. The pillows are unsleepable — one feels like it’s filled with a few random lumps that rattle when you move, and the other is rock hard, like it’s filled with hay. There isn’t a single element here that feels thoughtful or high-quality. Everything is cheap and basic, and I honestly have no idea how this place was ever rated 5 stars. I used to run one of the first serviced apartment hotels in this neighborhood over 10 years ago, and back then we had far better furnishings — and we were rated 3 stars. Since the reception closes at 5 p.m. and only opens again at 9 a.m., you can’t check out early or even leave your luggage in the morning. And forget about leaving luggage after check-out either — the times simply don’t work unless your travel schedule happens to match theirs exactly. They also allow huge groups of loud teenagers. My entire Saturday night was ruined by yelling and drunken chaos in the hallways. I spent the night either pushing through kids carrying crates of alcohol into the building or listening to them shouting across the hall. It felt like a hostel, not a 5-star serviced apartment. To top it all off: the internet is essentially nonexistent. I measured it, and the speed was literally under 1 kB/s. I couldn’t work or do anything online from the apartment. What a fantastic business trip ;-). Never again!"

"Well presented apartments, but unfortunately a number of factors makes this a one-off visit for me: - Despite asking for a quiet apartment during booking months in advance I was allocated towards the noisy street with trams - even though it was January. - Wifi was generally incredibly slow. When told this, staff gave me a box of some sort to plug in in the room (so they obviously know there is a performance issue). The box didn't work at all. - TV signal reception is incredibly poor across virtually all channels. Attached picture gives you an idea what you might get to see. - The fridge was filled with their idea of a minibar for payment, leaving very little space for your own groceries. Why do you think visitors book an apartment and not a hotel room? - They consistently allocate the absolute minimum that can be justified. One pod of coffee and one teabag of a type, with a few types to choose from, per day. Allocation of towel was the barest minimum I have ever encountered outside of a hostel."

"Our family stayed in a comfort suite at the Apartments Rosenthal Residence for 3 nights between the holidays. The room was prepared for our party of four and still did not feel too cramped with all of us in there. The whole hotel was immaculate and tastefully decorated. The staff at the reception were very friendly and accommodating both when checking in and out. Last, but not least: the location is superb: many great places to eat and shops are all in walking distance and public transport is very close."