In just 48 hours in the German capital, the girl managed to make three embarrassing mistakes.
Recently, Berlin has been complaining about a lack of tourists and is actively campaigning to attract them, so now is the perfect time to visit the German capital.
At the same time, tourists who travel there for the first time run the risk of making a number of annoying mistakes that can spoil their overall impression of this wonderful city.
American journalist Business Insider Joie Hadden said that in two days in the German capital, she managed to make three such mistakes at once.
“My 48-hour trip to Berlin started and ended with exhaustion. I didn’t even make the most of my time. In October 2022, I embarked on a two-week train journey through Europe. Berlin was my first stop, followed by Vienna, three Italian cities, and Zurich. Berlin was filled with historical landmarks, intricate murals, street artists, lush parks, and coastal areas. Unfortunately, I made three mistakes that prevented me from truly appreciating the surroundings and making the most of my short stay, ” the girl complained.
1. Sleeping on a night flight to Berlin
“Lack of sleep makes it difficult for me to concentrate. Therefore, I should have made every effort to ensure that rest was a priority during the eight-hour overnight flight from New York to Berlin,” said Joey.
She admitted that this was her first international overnight flight. However, since her flight departed later than she was used to going to bed, she naively believed that she would be able to get a good night’s sleep.
“Although I was able to lie down on three seats on the plane, I wasn’t comfortable enough to fall asleep. The night seemed so long because I could only manage to doze off for a short time. As the sun rose, I realized that if I had purchased sleep accessories (a blanket, earplugs, a neck pillow, and a sleep mask), I might have been able to sleep for more than half an hour at a time,” the girl lamented.
2. Staying overnight outside the city during a short trip
“When I landed in Berlin, all I wanted to do was relax. However, my journey was not over yet, as I had to take a train to my Airbnb apartment. I stayed in a tiny hotel in Neustrelitz, a small town about an hour away from the center of Berlin. I booked this accommodation for two reasons: to save money and to have a unique experience. I achieved both, but not without making a sacrifice that I hadn’t considered: time,” Joie explained.
Now she realizes that this accommodation would have been great if she had come to Berlin for at least a week. However, since she only spent two nights there, the two hours of commuting each day made her feel like she was wasting her limited time in the city.
3. Wrong night train
“When I booked a 12-hour overnight train from Berlin to my next stop, Vienna, I had two options: a bunk in a shared compartment with three to six other passengers, or a reclining seat in a six-person seating car. I chose the latter for $40. It was the cheapest train ride I’ve ever booked, and as soon as I sat down, I realized why,” the traveler lamented.
She remembers that each car had two rows of three seats facing each other, separated by a narrow corridor and glass doors.
“I found it impossible to sleep while sharing a cramped space with five strangers and their luggage, who kept coming and going all night. Although my seat was reclined far back, there wasn’t enough legroom for everyone. Regret plagued me until I couldn’t sleep until morning,” Joie complained.
Later, after receiving a comment from the Austrian railway operator ÖBB Nightjet that seated cars were not recommended for overnight trips, she was finally convinced that she should have paid more for a sleeping place.
“Next time I go to Berlin, I will make more sensible decisions, prioritizing rest along the way and making the most of my time,” the tourist concluded.
