http://www.ibis.com/gb/hotel-5694-ibis-berlin-neukoelln/index.shtml

Last year, some people booked late and it was full and they had to stay at another hotel.

On Thursday, 2 March 2017 at 02:24:50 UTC, Walter Bright wrote:
> http://www.ibis.com/gb/hotel-5694-ibis-berlin-neukoelln/index.shtml
>
> Last year, some people booked late and it was full and they had to stay at another hotel.

Thanks for the heads up. Any idea when the speaker list will be published?

On 3/1/2017 6:49 PM, Nicholas Wilson wrote:
> Any idea when the speaker list will be published?

I hope soon.

On Thursday, 2 March 2017 at 02:24:50 UTC, Walter Bright wrote:
> http://www.ibis.com/gb/hotel-5694-ibis-berlin-neukoelln/index.shtml
>
> Last year, some people booked late and it was full and they had to stay at another hotel.

Maybe someone could post a description of how to get there from the airport. I remember last year there was a detailed description with pictures etc. And beware of Berlin taxi drivers, you might get fleeced. Make sure they have a taxometer and that the taxi license is on display. If in doubt, get out!

On Thursday, 2 March 2017 at 09:33:42 UTC, Chris wrote:
> On Thursday, 2 March 2017 at 02:24:50 UTC, Walter Bright wrote:
>> http://www.ibis.com/gb/hotel-5694-ibis-berlin-neukoelln/index.shtml
>>
>> Last year, some people booked late and it was full and they had to stay at another hotel.
>
> Maybe someone could post a description of how to get there from the airport. I remember last year there was a detailed description with pictures etc. And beware of Berlin taxi drivers, you might get fleeced. Make sure they have a taxometer and that the taxi license is on display. If in doubt, get out!

Yeah, I believe the pictures are still on the last year's topic. Nothing major has changed regarding transport.

As far as Taxi goes, see the TXL airport plan here: http://www.berlin-airport.de/de/_dokumente/reisende/lageplaene-sxf-txl/2016-12-27-txl-terminals-de-en.pdf

There are two Taxi stations, on the southeast of terminal A, and just in front of terminal C. Usually there's a lot of Taxis there, and in my experience they are all legal. Anywhere else on the airport, you can bet they are dodgy (see http://www.bz-berlin.de/artikel-archiv/die-gierigen-taxifahrer-vom-flughafen-tegel)

This all stands for airport Tegel, I have no experiences with Schönefeld.

On Thursday, 2 March 2017 at 10:08:33 UTC, Nemanja Boric wrote:
>
> Yeah, I believe the pictures are still on the last year's topic. Nothing major has changed regarding transport.
>
> As far as Taxi goes, see the TXL airport plan here: http://www.berlin-airport.de/de/_dokumente/reisende/lageplaene-sxf-txl/2016-12-27-txl-terminals-de-en.pdf
>
> There are two Taxi stations, on the southeast of terminal A, and just in front of terminal C. Usually there's a lot of Taxis there, and in my experience they are all legal. Anywhere else on the airport, you can bet they are dodgy (see http://www.bz-berlin.de/artikel-archiv/die-gierigen-taxifahrer-vom-flughafen-tegel)
>
> This all stands for airport Tegel, I have no experiences with Schönefeld.

The article says that the dodgy fellas wait at gates that are not designated taxi areas (e.g. gates A12-A13, while taxis can only pick up passengers at A6-A9). So stick to the map.

"Flughafen Tegel, Innenring. Zwischen den Gates A12 und A13 warten drei Fahrer vor ihren Autos – verbotenerweise. Denn die offiziellen Halteplätze befinden sich vor den Flugsteigen A6 bis A9. Die Männer quatschen, lachen, lauern – und sind ständig über Handy verbunden, um sich auszutauschen, wo welche Maschinen landen."

Here's some good advice:

https://www.tripadvisor.ie/ShowTopic-g187323-i135-k7931137-Got_ripped_off_by_taxi_driver_at_Berlin_Airport-Berlin.html

On Thursday, 2 March 2017 at 11:37:17 UTC, Chris wrote:
> On Thursday, 2 March 2017 at 10:08:33 UTC, Nemanja Boric wrote:
>> [...]
>
> The article says that the dodgy fellas wait at gates that are not designated taxi areas (e.g. gates A12-A13, while taxis can only pick up passengers at A6-A9). So stick to the map.
>
> "Flughafen Tegel, Innenring. Zwischen den Gates A12 und A13 warten drei Fahrer vor ihren Autos – verbotenerweise. Denn die offiziellen Halteplätze befinden sich vor den Flugsteigen A6 bis A9. Die Männer quatschen, lachen, lauern – und sind ständig über Handy verbunden, um sich auszutauschen, wo welche Maschinen landen."

Exactly.

On Thursday, 2 March 2017 at 12:05:32 UTC, Chris wrote:
> Here's some good advice:
>
> https://www.tripadvisor.ie/ShowTopic-g187323-i135-k7931137-Got_ripped_off_by_taxi_driver_at_Berlin_Airport-Berlin.html

No Ubers in Berlin?

On 3/2/17 4:33 AM, Chris wrote:
> On Thursday, 2 March 2017 at 02:24:50 UTC, Walter Bright wrote:
>> http://www.ibis.com/gb/hotel-5694-ibis-berlin-neukoelln/index.shtml
>>
>> Last year, some people booked late and it was full and they had to
>> stay at another hotel.
>
> Maybe someone could post a description of how to get there from the
> airport. I remember last year there was a detailed description with
> pictures etc. And beware of Berlin taxi drivers, you might get fleeced.
> Make sure they have a taxometer and that the taxi license is on display.
> If in doubt, get out!

I used the bus + train, it was quite easy. Don't remember the exact stops, but I just used google maps to tell me the info.

I recommend before you arrive, to go into google maps on your mobile device, and store the Berlin map as an offline area, especially if you do not have coverage. Also, you can pre-plan your trip if you know when your plane will arrive and figure out what the bus/train schedule is.

For those not used to the transportation system there, you buy your ticket, and then validate it. If you don't validate your ticket, it doesn't count. I was thrown off that nobody really ever checked my tickets, but I guess you get into trouble if you don't have a validated ticket.

The bus terminal had machines that allowed you to buy the ticket with cash or credit card I believe, and the same machines validate your ticket as well.

-Steve