The George Hotel

The George Hotel Hamburg is an elegant property nestled on the banks of the Alster Lake, Hamburg's most popular area. Named after its location in the St. George district of Hamburg, renowned for its many diverse restaurants, cafes and bars, as well as the eponymous patron saint of England the hotel has used some elements of classical English style to create a feeling of refined and under-stated elegance. After a busy day in Hamburg guests can relax over a drink in the one of the hotel bar's plush leather sofas. Stylish and contemporary air-conditioned guest rooms offer superb comfort and space. The Moroccan style spa on the top floor features a sauna, relaxation room and a terrace during the summer. The George is a hidden gem of Hamburg hotels and a must when visiting the city.

Hamburg

Hamburg is a surprising city with friendly locals who are happy to speak English, a vibrant café culture, magnificent buildings and excellent shopping. The night life is as varied and diverse as any city and the restaurants are top class too. Here - the shopping is second to none with the outdoor shopping plaza of The Spitalerstrasse leading you past big department stores to the ornate golden spires of the magnificent Town Hall (Rathaus) and to the Europa Passage indoor shopping mall. Perhaps visit the futuristic looking Heinrich Hertz Term - the tallest tower and the most iconic structure in Hamburg standing at 204metres high with a restaurant and viewing platform. There are also theatres, opera houses, boating on the Alster and at certain times of the year tall ships frequent the harbour. Visit the Fish Market, Hamburg Dungeon and a whole host of museums with Hamburg being particularly well known for its maritime history and the supremely fascinating U-Boat Museum. For the young and young at heart Miniature Wunderland houses the largest model railway in the world at 1300 sq' metres which even includes an airport with aircraft taking off and landing.

Hamburg HBF - Berlin HBF

ICE or Deutsche Bahn Services in standard  class - the journey takes approx 1 hour 45 minutes from Hambug Hauptbahnhof to Berlin Hauptbahnhof

Sheraton Berlin Grand Hotel Esplanade

Enjoy recreational amenities such as a fitness center and bicycle rentals. This hotel also offers complimentary Wi-Fi, concierge services, and on-site shopping. Dine at one of the two restaurants, including Ellipse Lounge, or take advantage of 24-hour room service. Unwind with a drink at the bar/lounge. Buffet breakfast is available weekdays from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM and weekends from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM (surcharge applies). Business travelers appreciate amenities such as complimentary wired internet, a 24-hour business center, and express check-in. Planning an event in Berlin? This hotel features 4, 822 square feet (448 square meters) of event space, including a conference center and 12 meeting rooms. Self-parking is available (surcharge applies). Stay in one of the 394 guestrooms featuring LED televisions with cable programming, and complimentary wired and wireless internet. Private bathrooms with showers offer designer toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include phones, laptop-compatible safes, and desks. Located near the Bauhaus Archive, Tiergarten Park and Nollendorfplatz, the Sheraton Berlin Grand Hotel Esplanade offers convenient access to Berlin's attractions. The preferred airport is Berlin (BER-Brandenburg).

Berlin

This top Northern European hotspot is simply bristling with sights to see such as the Brandenburg Gate, Potsdamer Platz, the Berlin Wall, Check Point Charlie and the Reichstag. When you add in the myriad of night life venues, cafe culture and restaurant scene - your holiday will cover all bases for a memorable city break. At the end of World War II, both Germany and Berlin were divided into four zones of occupation under the control of the United States, Britain, France and the Soviet Union.

In 1949 the country Germany formally split into two independent nations: the Federal Republic of Germany (FDR or West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany). In 1952, the East German government closed the border with West Germany, but the border between East and West Berlin (located in East Germany) remained open. East Germans could still escape through the city to the less oppressive and more affluent West. On the night of 12-13 August 1961 crossing points between the Western and Soviet sectors were closed and a wire barrier was constructed around West Berlin, dividing neighbourhoods and separating families overnight.

From this barbed wire barricade, the Wall eventually developed into a fortified concrete structure encircling West Berlin and isolating it from the surrounding East German territory. Checkpoint Charlie was the name given by the Western Allies to the best-known Berlin Wall crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin during the Cold War. It became a symbol of the Cold War, representing the separation of East and West where Soviet and American tanks briefly faced each other during the Berlin Crisis of 1961.

Potsdamer Platz is an important public square in the centre of Berlin, lying about 1 km south of the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag. It marks the point where the old road from Potsdam passed through the city wall of Berlin at the Potsdam Gate. This was one of the busiest traffic intersection in Europe and was totally destroyed during World War II and then left in ruins during the Cold War era. Since German reunification, Potsdamer Platz has been the site of major redevelopment projects.