Pension 1A Apartment Berlin
Many visitors praise the convenient central location with easy access to public transport, cafes, and restaurants, as well as the comfortable beds and good value for money. However, a significant number of guests report extremely rude and unhelpful staff, with some even experiencing overbooking and cancellations shortly before arrival.
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via Stay22About this place Pension 1A Apartment Berlin
Pension 1A Apartment Berlin is a gay-owned budget guesthouse that gives LGBTQ+ travelers a friendly landing spot in Berlin.
Opened in 2002, this place has nine rooms and three apartments. They come in different sizes, and each one feels put together, not just thrown together. It’s that rare thing: cheap but not soulless. You’ll find it on a quiet street in Prenzlauer Berg, about a half-hour north of Schöneberg, Berlin's historic gay neighborhood.
Prenzlauer Berg is walkable. You can get to some of Berlin's gay institutions from here, like the fetish and leather shops Leathers and Black style. This part of town has changed over time, now it’s full of cafes, restaurants, and places to go out. You won't feel cut off from Berlin's LGBTQ+ scene. The Eberswalder Straße U-Bahn station is close by, so it’s easy to get around Berlin—whether you’re heading to Schöneberg, Kreuzberg, or somewhere else.
The guesthouse’s real draw is its approach: it’s affordable, but it doesn't feel like a chain. The gay owners know what LGBTQ+ guests want. Expect real hospitality and good value. Stay a weekend, stay longer. This is the kind of place that lets you put your money towards experiences, not just a bed, while still getting a comfortable, well-run space.
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Customer service simply hangs up when you explain your problem (in our case, 2 beds even though we booked for 3).
Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this company at all and have also had very bad experiences with customer service staff.
Overall, a very comfortable property, equipped with all the necessary cooking facilities and a spacious refrigerator. The property is centrally located, well-served by public transportation, and has a supermarket nearby. The only significant flaw was the initial entry into the apartment. We were given an access code, but there was no way to access the building through the main door. A fellow tenant kindly let us in, but we couldn't leave due to the building being unavailable. After several phone calls and discussions with customer service, we were unable to gain entry. Only the next day did I have the good fortune of meeting with housekeeping, and after explaining the situation, they immediately provided me with the key to the building's main door. At the end of my stay, I reported the problem to customer service and returned the keys via a digital safe. A practical and quick solution that avoids leaving guests (perhaps even with children) stranded on the street.
Excellent public transport connections, but the beds (French style) are very soft and the shower needs repairing.
My relatives have stayed in these apartments many times in the past. We have never had any issues with the previous owner, but we can’t say the same about Arbio, the company now running the business. My family came to Berlin to spend the holiday season with me. Since it was a last-minute trip, most places were already booked out. Therefore, they had to stay in different hotels during that time. I booked a room at 1A Apartments in December 2022 for a 3-night stay in January 2023. It was an online reservation, and I provided all my personal information and credit card details, as stated in the booking rules - the hotel would charge my credit card before check-in. My family stayed in the room, and we kept communicating with the hotel the whole time, and everything was fine. They even sent a message right after check-out, thanking us and asking if my family had enjoyed their stay. So, with such a nice message, we thought everything was okay and moved on with our lives. Until a few days ago, April 2024, when - to my complete surprise - I received an invoice (MAHNUNG!) from a debt collector agency charging me for the hotel fees plus interest rate, postage, telecommunications fees, etc. Arbio never contacted me in all this time (over a year!) to inform me that the room hadn't been paid. They had my phone number, address, email, and the possibility to send me a message on the website where the booking had been made. If they had contacted me, the payment would have been made immediately. Instead, they chose to share my information with this debt collector company without my knowledge. The mistake was absolutely on their side, considering they had my card details but did not charge it. Since my family stayed in several hotels, I also did not realize it. I had never received such a letter before and was absolutely in shock about the way the situation had been handled. I called their customer support several times and was always informed that I was not the only one with the issue, that the accounting team was checking my case, and that they would call me back possibly by the end of the day with a solution. That was their answer for several days, and no one ever contacted me. The issue is not the payment. I am not questioning that, but the fact that they are charging me a fee on top of the hotel rate and that they sent my information to a third company when all they had to do was contact me. Awful experience.
A very nice, spacious apartment... I had number 11 facing the courtyard... very quiet... I was very satisfied for my one night. One star less because everything has to be done via the app... the code only worked on the fifth try... and please be sure to tell guests which door the entrance is through... as there are two entrances to the building 🤪
I have been living in the 1A apartments of Arbio for a year now because I am a commuter. I was thrilled from the very beginning. The location is perfect. Many ways to go out to eat and shop. The rooms are bright and modern. Easy check in via code. The service team is great. Friendly, unproblematic reachable via WhatsApp or by phone and always prompt help. Thanks to the great team. I actually feel at home there. A clear recommendation from me.
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Last updated on 8 August 2026