Hotel Ostel, a Little Nostalgia in the Former East Berlin

There's a new hotel in Berlin, Germany that not only offers the traveler a bed for the night, but a chance to experience a little time traveling. The Ostel is the latest effort by some former residents of the collapsed German Democratic Republic to take a nostalgic look at the Communist era and recapture some of the benign elements of life in communist East Germany.

Recently opened by proprietors Daniel Helbig and Guido Sand, the Ostel is filled with real memorabilia from the communist era, from portraits of East German leaders to communist era clocks in the lobby which are set to the local times in Berlin, Moscow, Beijing, and Havana, all personally collected by Helbig and Sand at flea markets, antique shops, and even eBay. While the décor is original, don't worry, all of the bedding and linens and plumbing are new and modern and comfortable.

The Ostel is just one part of a larger cultural movement which does not want to embrace the totalitarian communist policies of the past, but views the popular culture of life in the former East Germany as being a breath of fresh air in a world of increasing globalization. Old East German cars, music, television, and even architecture is being looked at with fresh eyes. And there is an increasing fondness for these icons of East Germany's communist past, especially among young people, who may have been born into East Germany, but were to young to appreciate what life in the communist era was really like.

For the visitor to Berlin, the Ostel is a wonderful opportunity to experience something that is a little more than any run of the mill budget hotel or hostel. It's certainly an experience, if a just a tad on the kitschy side. One the high end, there are four room apartments that are designed for five people. They cost $47 per person. There is an additional final cleaning fee of $34 for these apartments. A regular "communist" room goes for $51, while a double costs $79. For the back-packer, there is what is called the Pioneer Camp rooms, which are meant to comfortably replicate the living conditions at a communist youth camp that all young people in East Germany were compelled to attend. The rooms are very simply decorated and feature three sets of bunk beds and cost $12 per person. Bed linens are extra, $4.

The Ostel is conveniently located near the former location of the Berlin Wall, the center of contemporary Berlin, and many bars, restaurants, and retail shopping.

The Ostel also has a gift shop that sells replicas of the kinds of gift products that were available during the communist era in East Germany.