There are more hotels in Berlin that virtually any other city in Europe, making it one of the most tourist friendly vacation choices. You can pick virtually any area in the city in which to stay and you will find there ample choice spanning the range of hotel options. Nearly all hotels in Germany come with breakfast included in the price. The more expensive hotels are located in the west of the city, but that isn't to say that you can't find budget accommodation there also. One of the many joys of Berlin is its cleanliness which in terms of hotel choosing means that even if you choose a less expensive hotel, you can rest assured that it won't be a compromise in cleanliness that has enabled it to offer low price rooms.

Now for shopping: The Departmentstore Quartier 206 situated on Friedrichstrasse is the most distinguished of Berlin's department stores the Harrods of Germany. Not to be entered by those who have difficulty keeping their wallets in their pockets, Departmentstore Quartier 206 provides top end fashion for Ladies, Gentlemen and children as well as personal accessories and home items.

If you are looking for the biggest department store in Berlin however, that would have to be Kaufhaus Des Westens also and better known as KaDeWe. Here you will find the same level of product as you'd find in the Departmentstore Quartier 206, but just more of every thing, and all arranged in shops within the shop. If you are visiting KaDeWe, you must take some time for a meal break at the restaurant on the 6th floor where you will have a wonderful view of Tauentzienstrasse.

Friedrichstrae offes some of the most chic boutiques in the city, intermingled with some of the finest restaurants, whilst the Europa-Centre offers a fabulous modern alternative with restaurants, bars and a huge multi-screen cinema. If you have a whole day to dedicate to wondering around and window shopping, then Charlottenburg must be your chosen destination. Here you will find top-range designers, to one-off pieces. If however, you would like to combine shopping with other activities, or would like to be in the vicinity of family or friends who maybe don't share your retail enthusiasm, why not go to Potsdamer Platz. Here you will find a wonderful example of modern Berlin with something for everyone including museums, parts of the Berlin Wall, the Sony Center, cinemaplexes, and Postdamer Platz Arkaden shopping mall.

A few tit bits of information for the dedicated shopper: the word for "sale" is schlussverkauf and there are big sales at the end of January and the end of July each year. Secondly, if you are really serious, you can employ the services of a "shopping guide" who will be able to direct you to the best deals in the city.