Trip Report: Berlin
Among the many lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic for people like Naomi and me who enjoy leisure travel is to hold all travel plans loosely. Originally intended for September 2020, it was last week, in May 2022, that we finally took a trip to Berlin. It was our first trip to Europe together, first trip to Europe for either of us in over ten years, and first time to Germany for both of us. It was worth the wait!
All the Redemptions
I follow handful of points and miles blogs, and was able to leverage that knowledge to book our outbound and return flights as well as our hotel entirely with points and miles, and in style as well!
We flew United Airlines on the outbound, connecting in New York, with our overnight long-haul segment in United Polaris, the carrier’s international business class product. I don’t recall what the sticker price would have been for two business class seats across the Atlantic, but it was a thrill to book them for 60,000 United miles each, which for context is a very good redemption (I booked 10 months in advance, about the only time one could have secured such a good award price).
Our return, meanwhile, was on British Airways, connecting in London, with the long-haul segment in World Traveller Plus, the carrier’s premium economy product. It was very nice to redeem 40,000 AAdvantage miles each (booked eight months in advance) to have a more spacious seat for the daytime ride back across the Atlantic.
As for our hotel, we stayed at the Grand Hyatt Berlin, using a free night certificate I earn each year from holding the World of Hyatt credit card as well as 45,000 World of Hyatt points for the other nights.
For both United and Hyatt, most miles/points were earned directly through previous program activity, including a credit card sign up bonus for United, but I also transferred some Chase Ultimate Rewards points to get to the totals I needed for each redemption.
United Polaris
United launched its new international business class product in 2016, the first of the big three US carriers to re-imagine its most premium product last decade. After reading so much about it as one of the “aspirational redemptions” for points and miles enthusiasts, it was very exciting to finally experience it for myself (and to share the experience with Naomi!).
Our journey began at Washington Dulles International Airport, from which we flew a short economy segment to Newark Liberty International Airport, and then overnight in Polaris to Berlin Brandenburg Airport. Because our itinerary included a long-haul international business class segment, we had access to the Polaris Lounges at both Dulles and Newark. I was frankly a little underwhelmed with the lounges. Perhaps it was due to pandemic cutbacks, but the experience wasn’t all that elevated above what I’ve experienced in the “standard” United Clubs at both hubs and outstations. Still, I appreciated having a quieter and more comfortable place to relax and have a drink and a light meal before each flight.
Then it was time for the main event: it was such a thrill to finally scan my boarding pass and take seat 5A on the Boeing 767-300ER that would be our ride to Berlin. The purser, Andrew, was working my side of the cabin and welcomed me by name when he brought a pre-departure glass of champagne and took my dinner order. Naomi was across the aisle from me and looked equally impressed with the spacious, semi-private seat, comfortable bedding and other amenities, the filling meals, and attentive service.
Hotel
As I mentioned we stayed at the Grand Hyatt Berlin, in Potsdamer Platz (more on the neighborhood below). Perhaps a little mundane on the outside, but they sure do know how to do a lobby! The staff were all-around excellent, our room was small but comfortable, and the daily room service breakfast and Grand Club happy hour (both perks of my Globalist status with Hyatt) were nice treats to enhance our vacation.
Potsdamer Platz
The Grant Hyatt is in the Potsdamer Platz neighborhood of central Berlin. The Berlin Wall used to run right through where this now-busy neighborhood sits. It’s near the Tiergarten (Berlin’s big central park, really nice for a morning run) and plenty of shops and restaurants and walking distance from such famous sites as the Brandenburg Gate and Checkpoint Charlie.
Memorials, Monuments, and Museums
Starting right away on the afternoon of our arrival day, we packed in visits to many of Berlin’s museums and important sites. Among them: Altes Museum on Museum Island, Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, German Museum of Technology, German Spy Museum, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Stasi Museum, Topography of Terror, and the Victory Column,
The Berlin Philharmonic
As a college music major in an orchestral instrument track, I would often hear of this elite ensemble that was at the top of even the upper echelon of the world’s professional orchestras: the Berlin Philharmonic. How exciting it was to realize that our hotel was across the street from the Philharmonic’s home stage at the Kulturforum campus.
They only had one mainstage performance during the dates of our trip, and that was just enough for me. Guest conductor Antonello Manacorda led a program of Beethoven, Mahler, Schonberg, and Schubert to a nearly-full Grand Hall. It was an excellent performance, and I’m glad as a former music major finally to have heard this renowned ensemble in concert.
Return, Recommendations, and Final Thoughts
Our return journey with British Airways went by fairly quickly, and it was a special treat for me as an aviation enthusiast to have my first ride aboard an Airbus A380, with a great cabin crew to take good care of us along the way.
I would highly recommend a visit to Berlin. There’s so much to do there for every type of traveler, from history buffs to foodies to arts enthusiasts to music lovers and more. And it’s okay if you don’t speak German; English is widely spoken by staff at all the restaurants, shops, and attractions (but do try to learn a few basic phrases in advance). Be sure to make time for the many important historical sites and memorials. Naomi and I both enjoyed our time in the city and all that we were able to see during our few days there.
And it was really special for both of us, especially after having to pause our travel destination wish list during the pandemic, to finally get to another destination on our list and have a week to spend together exploring a new city.
