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Berlin for Beginners
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Greg Kiep Beverly Hills, CA Luxury Travel Agent
(9 reviews)
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Agency
Protravel International Beverly Hills
Destinations
Europe, Germany, Berlin
SPECIALTIES
Arts & Culture, Food & Wine, LGBTQ+ Travel, Luxury Hotels, Private Escorted Tours

Greg Kiep

Beverly Hills, California Travel Agent
Berlin for Beginners

I’ve been to Berlin several times, so I know how to make the most of your time there, see the main sites and get off the beaten path a bit and to have some unusual experiences. On my most recent visit, I made my home base the beautiful Ritz-Carlton Berlin at Potsdamer Platz in the city center. The location is convenient to many visitor sites like Sony Center, Tiergarten (a lovely park), the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate.

My room was spacious and wonderfully appointed with a bathroom that screamed, “take a bubble bath!” I also took the time to check out the spa and pool area, which were predictably lovely.  I chose a room on the 10th floor Club Level which I recommend to all of my clients because you receive a ton of amenities. These include continuous culinary offerings throughout the day, complimentary wine, beer and a variety of other alcoholic beverages,  a 24-hour “grab and go” station for soft drinks and coffee, a 24-hour Business Center and a dedicated concierge staff on hand to personalize your stay. 

Plus, I can arrange for additional perks for my clients at Ritz-Carlton hotels, including upgrade on arrival, subject to availability, daily buffet breakfast, $100 USD equivalent Food & Beverage credit, complimentary Wi-Fi, and more.

There is so much to see in Berlin, it is hard to give recommendations without knowing your interests. I tell clients to concentrate on the aspects that are important to them - history, art, etc. Berlin is large, so it is a good city to do a Hop-On, Hop-Off or private tour to get an overview of the sites. 

For first timers, here are some general ideas for a nice sampling of the city’s attractions. Start with a guided Street Art Tour. I have done them in a variety of cities and they are always different, depending on what artists have been doing. The art is almost always interesting, and the guides usually have a unique perspective of the city and take you off the beaten-tourist path. 

In Berlin, the East Side Gallery, a 1.3km long section of the former Berlin Wall is an interesting focus, and nearby there are a ton of great places to eat or grab a drink nearby with cool spots near the river. Alexanderplatz, often the jumping off point for the Street Art Tour, is a shopping area but also home to interesting art projects, restaurants, and the famous Fernsehturm, a TV tower offering great views. 

Another great spot is Museum Island, a cluster of five museums. It is one of the most famous areas of Berlin and a great place to spend a day. If touring museums is not your thing, it is still a beautiful place to walk around and see from the outside.

Located very close to the Ritz-Carlton, the Holocaust Memorial is something I always revisit. It is a visually powerful remembrance and there is an information center located on the grounds. Even if you just take a few moments to walk through, I recommend adding this to your Berlin trip. 

This is a quick look at Berlin and there are so many adventures to be had in this city - culinary, LGBT, etc. I have spent a lot of time here and can help you plan a specific adventure. If you are planning a trip to Berlin, let’s chat and put together an itinerary that works for you!

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Reviews

149 of 230 people found this review helpful
Reviewed By April-Marie - Boston, MA | Traveled to Iceland ~ Europe
Incredible Family Vacation
Greg was very professional and always available. He gave me great information and was open and honest. He was not trying to sell me anything but gave us great advice. I really enjoyed working with Greg and would recommend him to my family and friends.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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40 of 61 people found this review helpful
Reviewed By Ken - Sherman Oaks, CA | Traveled to Trans-Atlantic ~ Other
There's a real reason to have a Travel Agent
Besides being very easy to deal with, Greg is incredibly knowledgable and stayed involved on a vacation that took over two years (thanks, pandemic) to actually take. I went to Greg in order to make sure a credit that had been applied to us would go to our next trip. he achieved that, then the pandemic came and two years later we worked to have the credit applied which the cruise lines first denied. On the cruise we finally took (two years after the original) Greg kept his eyes opened and found us the best cabin we've ever had although we had been fine with what we had. It made all the difference that we were on an aft corner, with a huge veranda on the top floor of the liner. It was AMAZING. Thanks Greg, we're forever grateful.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
Greg Kiep responded:Thank you for the kind words and I am so glad you had an amazing vacation (after two years!) I can't wait to work with you more in the future :) -Greg
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90 of 167 people found this review helpful
Reviewed By Brad - Los Angeles, CA | Traveled to Nice ~ France ~ Europe
Simply the Best
Greg was top notch from start to finish. He created a smooth, luxury experience that my friends and I will remember for years to come. Go with Greg if you want to go in style!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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34 of 57 people found this review helpful
Reviewed By Jill S-F - Rancho Mirage, CA | Traveled to Alaska ~ USA
The most AMAZING trip!
Greg knew the exact trip for us after speaking with him once. He knew the perfect cruise line for us too. He was always available for questions and for a super speedy response back as well.
Will most definitely book with Greg over and over for our travel!! A true knowledgeable and professional in his field.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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35 of 60 people found this review helpful
Reviewed By Brad Loekle - Los Angeles, CA | Traveled to Rome ~ Italy ~ Europe
I only #GoWithGreg when I travel.
I've used Greg for all my travel needs for a few years now and I couldn't be happier. I travel a great deal for both work and play. An average year can see me travel to 15+ countries and a dozen or so trips within the US. Greg has made my travel a seamless experience. I can't remember the last time I've had such amazing service, consistently, for such a prolonged time. He's my travel guru and I really can't rave about him enough.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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86 of 169 people found this review helpful
Reviewed By Saurabh - New York, New York | Traveled to Greece ~ Europe
Summer trip to Greece
Simply put, Greg works efficiently to get the job done. He will make sure to get you exactly what you are looking for and always in a timely manner. He is very well connected and very well traveled so you know you can trust him!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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2 of 3 people found this review helpful
Reviewed By Stephen - Bogota, NJ | Traveled to Europe
Super Friendly and Responsive
Greg was very quick with responses and gave some great suggestions for our trip and planning our itinerary. His contact with one of the hotels resulted in a great room upgrade upon arrival which was a wonderful treat. He was incredibly friendly and responsive throughout the entire process - even when we'd send him a hundred questions and "what about"s.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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1 of 2 people found this review helpful
Reviewed By Travis - Los Angeles | Traveled to Sydney ~ Australia ~ Australia & New Zealand
Will always book with Greg
BEST TRIP OF MY LIFE! Greg cared for all my accommodations and made traveling to Australia very easy. He was prompt in his response times and was professional and personable when I met him to go over the plan. He answered all my questions and even checked on me before the initial flight to ensure I had all my documents and paperwork in check. Thankfully, he did. I almost missed filling out a visa for my travel without his notice. Since I booked with Greg, I was impressed with my immediate upgrade to the top floor at the hotel and had VIP status the entire stay! Walking into a gorgeous hotel room, I was surprised to see balloons and a slice of delicious chocolate cake in my room with a personalized “Happy Birthday” note from the manager of Capella Hotel. I had the same VIP treatment at Hyatt Melbourne with a slice of birthday cake and another Happy Birthday welcome from the staff. This experience has been top-tier, and I will always book my future trips with Greg and Protravel!
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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1 of 2 people found this review helpful
Reviewed By PM - Los Angeles | Traveled to Londonderry ~ Ireland ~ Europe
The Traveler's Super Agent
Besides being an extraordinary professional, Greg set forth with heart and grace to insure every facet of our journey had meaning and memories.
I would recommend this agent to my family and friends
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