Berlin is a city of dualities.  A city formerly divided, there are at least two of everything: three airports, three opera houses, two zoos, and two television towers.  So, it seems somewhat fitting that I had two check-ins and two check-outs for a single night's stay at Hotel de Rome, a sleek hotel with compassionate service in Central Berlin. My first check-in was relaxed.  At 11 o'clock in the morning, my room wasn't ready, so the hotel's front desk attendant suggested that I hang out in the hotel bar and lounge. 

This has to got to be one of the weirdest hotels we've ever come across. The Propeller Island City Lodge in Berlin has 30 rooms which have been decorated by artist Lars Stroschen. Each one is completely unique- in the Gruft coffin room, pictured, guests can sleep in the coffins with the lids closed. In case they get creeped out, they can sneak downstairs to a real pad. There's also a green room decorated as a padded cell, and “Grandma's” room which has walls covered in newspaper and a toilet hidden in the cupboard. Or if you want to act out your Siegfried and Roy fantasy, there's the Two Lions room, which features dual cages in the centre of a spacious menagerie. Winter weekday rates start at 69 euros. Propeller Island City Lodge,Albrecht-Achilles-Str. 58, Berlin D-10709, Germany Phone: 030/891-9016

Berlin is famous for its nightlife, and the next time you're in town try the new Bangaluu club, which looks a lot like BED in Miami. Here's the concept. Bangaluu is a combination dinner club and bar, where guests can lounge on white couches and munch on corn fed chicken in a paper parcel or a Mediterranean platter. There's also a VIP restaurant section, where tables are separated by sheer white curtains and everything is softly lit by chandeliers. And don't forget your leather trousers. Bangaluu, Invalidenstrasse 30, Phone: +49 30 80 96 93 077.