I can’t say enough about Cornelius and his beautiful, sunny, cleverly-designed penthouse flat. Cornelius himself is prompt and extremely accommodating – within 12 hours of my initial message to him, I was dropping off my luggage and chatting with his sweet housekeeper, Linda, before going off to explore the city. This pristine apartment is ideally situated one block from the four S-Bahn lines at Prenzlauer Allee (the S9 gets you to and from Schönefeld Airport – no need to transfer). There are tons of restaurants and shops nearby, and a bio market on the corner. And the sweeping view of Alexanderplatz and the TV tower from the patio is a very rare treat in this relatively low-profile city.

What I loved most about Cornelius’ place is that it felt like I was crashing at my stylish, wealthy friend’s apartment – which, to me, is what the ideal Airbnb should feel like. It has all sorts of luxuries like heated bathroom floors, skylights with automated shades, tons of shelving and hooks to stash your belongings, mood lighting in every room, and a washer/dryer (with instructions in English!). It’s cozy and spacious at the same time, and the perfect place to come home to after a long day. And in the cooler months, if you find yourself in need of a late-night treat, I highly recommend the Quarkbällchen stand next to the S-Bahn station.

Essentially, it was an absolute pleasure to stay at Cornelius’ flat, and I would book it again in a heartbeat!