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How to enjoy Berlin in the Heart of Winter

Though the German capital might not be your first idea for a winter getaway, it is actually magic under the snow and culturally exciting during the winter months, with film, dance and food festivals, Bauhaus celebrations, and even a fashion week! Here is a list of must-sees and dos in the German capital currently.

Photo: Berlin Partner GmbH/FTB-Werbefotografie

Berlin is today a young and active international city, offering lively nightlife, many cafés, clubs, bars, street art, numerous museums, palaces, and other sites of historic interest, and the month of February is particularly sweet for art lovers: from Feb 7th to Feb 11th is held the Berlin Independent Film Festival, which offers plenty of screening and business opportunities for up-and-coming filmmakers. The exciting programme of films, workshops and networking events combines the commitment to indie filmmaking ideals with a solid understanding of their potential in the marketplace. All films are screened at the Babylon Cinema in Berlin-Mitte and are in English or with English subtitles. Extra tip: this movie theatre offers midnight movies every Saturday, with a live music orchestra!

Photo: DPA

Held around the same time – Feb 7th to Feb 17th, the Berlinale is the city’s most glamourous event. With more than 400 films shown it attracts the elite of the film industry as well as the largest audience of any film festival in the world. But the festival has much more to offer than just the screening of films. For two weeks, workshops, panel discussions and joint projects encourage collaboration between all the participants. And at the exclusive Berlinale parties, people, art, glamour and business meet.

Dance is also promoted: each year young people aged between 10 and 21 from around the world meet in Berlin to share their love for dancing at the Tanzolymp, a dance event with workshops, seminars and competitions. The main aim of the festival is to support and increase the popularity of dancing, and also provides insight into the variety of dance aesthetics and artistic styles. Another festival, The Days of Dance or Tanztage, is a contemporary dance festival focusing on the discovery and support of up-and-coming choreographers and dancers based in Berlin.

 

Design and architecture are not left out, since 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Bauhaus design school. For the centenary, many galleries, museums and other institutions in Berlin make the ideas of the Bauhaus visible and tangible, such as “Bauhaus – Modernism around the globe” at Willy Brandt Haus (16 January – 14 March 2019), which exhibits the works of photographer Jean Molitor, who has traced Bauhaus architecture all over the world for over 10 years. He found it not only in Berlin but also in Saint Petersburg, Havana, Casablanca und Guatemala City. The city and its periphery offer a lot of examples of this very recognizable architectural style, especially the Berlin Modernism Housing Estates, a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2008.

To enjoy all these festivities to the fullest, Commendable Rentals has selected three extremely elegant apartments, perfect for families traveling together but also great for business travel. Located in the same chic building on Winterfeldstrasse in the Schöneberg area, you can choose the 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom or 3-bedroom apartment, depending on who you travel with!

The rooms are spacious and very tasteful, with lots of light, deliciously comfortable bedding and fully equipped marble and mosaic bathrooms as well as state of the art kitchens in each property. These apartments are perfect for those who crave space and comfort, in an excellent, central location, next to Potsdamer Platz. The building itself dates back to 1900 and has been lovingly restored to its former glory. It is within walking distance to a great variety of bars, restaurants and shopping, where you can experience the best of this dynamic city. Commendable Berlin offers both the comfort and ease of a hotel and the familiar feeling and facilities of the best home away from home.


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Celebrating the start of the cold season in style!

Ah, transitioning into autumn… The ups (putting on your winter coat), the downs (putting away your swimsuits) … Going back to school is always an opportunity to reflect on a busy summer, to make good resolutions … and to prepare for your next holidays! All Saints’ Day is almost here, and let’s not mention Christmas… To give you a little taste of what the colder seasons are all about, we have chosen several destinations, already available for booking throughout Fall & Winter!


We first visited the south of Bavaria (a DRASTIC change after Tuscany!), an hour from the Austrian border, in the region of Traunstein. I can hear you already: Bavaria? During the fall? No, “Oktoberfest” should not be your sole motivation, Traunstein has a few aces up her sleeves!
A discreet destination just a half hour from Salzburg, Austria, Traustein has it all for a mountain holiday – picturesque wooden cabins, sunny peaks, and of course alpine skiing – and it is a very pleasant region as well during the Indian summer, especially if you’re staying in our magnificent chalet… Once settled, you can enjoy the wonderful space our chalet has to offer, take a dive in the swimming pond, or even relax in the sauna!

Our chalet in Traunstein

Fancy a visit? Discover the “Hofbräuhaus”, a famous Traunstein brewery: this year their Open Day is held on October 28, and you can of course visit the brewery and enjoy their beers. Make time as well for Lake Chiemsee, the largest lake in the region -also known as the “Bavarian Sea”- for a pedal boat or boat trip and a visit to the Herrenchiemsee, the magnificent castle of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, who built it as a twin to the Palace of Versailles. We will of course take care of all your reservations on site!

For a ski vacation before, during or after Christmas, our chalet-style apartment in Kitzbühel in Austria or our chalet in Chamonix in the French Savoy are waiting for you: both ski resorts and trendy destinations in the Alps, Kitzbühel and Chamonix have not only the most beautiful ski slopes in the area but many of the treats of great cities as well.


With a dynamic nightlife and very up to date in terms of fashion and shopping, Kitzbühel has certainly taken advantage of its urban and natural assets. In the heart of the historic center, the beautiful shops will lure you into a window-shopping session, and the skiing area counts no less than 170 kilometers of slopes, spread over 60 runs of all levels of difficulty, including the famous Streif on the Hahnenkamm summit, considered by professional skiers and by amateurs as the most difficult, technical and prestigious downhill race in the world. It is certainly not by chance that the Ski World Championship is held there every year! Off-piste and free-ride enthusiasts are also welcome at Hanglalm Park, an extensive Snow Park that hosts competitions several times a year. You can access all of this with just a 10 min walk from “Kitzy”, our beautiful apartment.

French cousin of Kitzbühel, Chamonix is a charming little mountain town, with a historic centre, beautiful boutiques, starred restaurants and of course a great skiing area: 108 kilometres of slopes and off-piste for amateurs: we recommend at least a day in the Vallée Blanche with a guide starting with a hike at Aiguille du Midi if the conditions and your ski level allow it, it is a unique experience!

Another noticeable skiing area is Les Grands Montets, especially for the off-piste. To end on a high note, enjoy the surroundings at the “Hameau Albert 1er”, a grand and romantic 5-star hotel which shelters a splendid spa and a marvelous 2-star restaurant, or visit the Casino in the heart of the city. You can then go home to “Le Chalet”, our beautiful property just a few minutes from the city centre: breath-taking mountains views, terraces, fireplace and even a sauna, Le Chalet has it all for an unforgettable vacation.

Our chalet in Chamonix


Sound of Music landscapes, skiing, relaxation and gastronomy, choose now your favorite winter destination!

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