Mandala Hotel in Berlin

[bobnyc]

We just returned from Berlin after booked two 5 day packages for this hotel. Since each package included a dinner at their restaurant (Facil) I had emailed the hotel to make certain that the reservations had been made and for which nights, as I had requested in March when I booked the stay.



Two days before we left, I received an email stating that the restaurant was closed. After a game of email tag, they wrote that they agreed to book us in another restaurant. Fine.



When we arrived, the staff was very nice and helpful, held our luggage for us, gave us some tips, brought us towels to freshen up, etc. Couldn't have been nicer. Then it all fell apart.



They also did not mention that the hotel was being renovated. Drilling and hammering started at 8:30 a.m. and paint fumes filled the halls to the point of giving us a headache. Also, try getting a newspaper delivered to your room. They finally got it right by the time we left.



The final straw was trying to book the second dinner. The first one they arranged was great - Vox which I highly recommend. I kept asking whether we could book the second dinner for the night before we left. After much hand wringing from the staff let me know that the manager would need to approve it. I kept repeating taht the package included two dinners. They kept telling me that the manager would call. That never happened. Finally one morning there was a note on the desk which I found after coming out of the shower. It indicated that they would allow us a second dinner at Le Forbourg restaurant at 8pm. Nowe the manager's tone of allowing us was annoying since we paid for his as part of the package. Long story to short, the restaurant had no reservation or idea of any arrangement. It was very embarrassing. Sitting down to what was one of the worst meals in Berlin (we never had the chance to order wine), we were out of there in a half an hour.



When I finally camped out in the lobby to see the manager, he basically told me thattyhere's nothing he could do, they'd pay for that meal, not arrange anotherand blamed the entire episode on Luxury Link. Avoid this hotel.

[kyshel]

Sorry to hear of your poor experience.
Since you've had at least one good pkg with LL (the A'jia, Istanbul), I hope you've sent a thorough report to LL customer service. The community needs to know the good-bad-ugly for any property.
The construction issue should have been made clear by the hotel prior to your arrival--absolutely no excuse! Your second restaurant situation and the manager's reasoning was unacceptable. It's a good lesson for us tho, to get the substitution info in writing before arrival. For what it's worth--thanks.
So much for German efficiency?

[bobnyc]

Yep, you roll the dice you takes your chances. This is actually the fourth LL trip I've taken and the other three were just great (Montreal, Madrid and Istanbul the other ones), so not a bad record. Have three more planned so lets see the average go up! Thanks and let me know how the Ajia is for you!



Bob

[kyshel]

sad to say the A'jia package went to another LL customer (the one who outbid me!!) I gave up even after I went over my limit, so I'm zero-ing in something else.
We've done Prague and South Africa trips and everything was exquisite!
Keep us posted on your next trips, please. Glad to have you in the community.