THE NIU AMITY
ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: I arrived in Potsdam a few days ahead of the world’s largest tourism trade fair, ITB Berlin. About 40 minutes from Berlin and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Potsdam is a quiet and charming area guaranteed to woo even the sleepiest traveler from a long trip across the pond.
I landed in Berlin Brandenburg Airport after an overnight flight and made my way via Uber to the hotel. Although check-in took a bit longer than in most locations, I wandered around the open lobby and noticed a sitting area made to look as if guests were camping. A fake fire, wooden logs for seating and other earthy elements caught my attention and admittedly piqued my curiosity as to what my room might hold.
GUEST QUARTERS: With old-fashioned touches reminiscent of a camping vacation with friends or family, the niu Amity felt as if it were modeled after the Boy Scouts/ Girl Scouts. The main room was decorated in colors of khaki green and orange, and three circular patches painted on the walls resembled a trio of earned Scout badges. The room wasn’t large but offered everything I needed, including two twin beds placed together as one king, a desk and chair combination, and a flatscreen TV.
The bathroom wallpaper was intriguing, and I found myself examining it a few times to catch all the details. It resembled an old photo album like the one my mom crafted after a family camping excursion. Filled with stickers of pine cones, animal tracks, maps and other hiking novelties, the wallpaper was interspersed with Polaroid prints of happy friends and family on outdoor adventures together.
The wallpaper balanced the rather utilitarian feel of the rest of the bathroom, featuring a square sink, black and orange tiles in the standing shower, and minimalistic design.
SERVICES/AMENITIES: The camping theme of the hotel continued in the expansive breakfast area, allowing guests to sit at picnic tables with sprigs of greenery and terra-cotta pots of flowers. The mural along the back wall used the same motif as seen in the lobby area but with more mountains, trees and streams present.
Breakfast itself proved extraordinary. Included with the room, it’s arguably the best spread I’ve experienced since starting to work at Each morning , numerous breads, meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts and vegetables were available alongside warm breakfast items like eggs, sausage and pancakes. I enjoyed choosing my own fresh tea leaves in a variety of flavors, while others created their own coffee concoctions using the large Nespresso machine.
Finally, the hotel has an ideal location next to the area’s main train station, allowing transportation around the city, as well as to and from Berlin, easy to enjoy.