Ooh, The Dan Carmel Haifa is looking Good

After decades of neglect, the Dan Carmel has recently undergone a complete renovation. The result is a gorgeous upscale hotel worth of being Haifa's best. The new rooms, in particular, are a far cry from the old ones, which featured original furniture and mismatched decor. The new rooms are sleek and elegant, and feature peekaboo bathrooms. Plus, rare for hotels in Israel, all the rooms have been renovated and not just those in higher categories. The lobby and public areas are attractive, and the food is highly praised. However, the gym, spa and pool are critiqued for being "standard" and dated. Most importantly, though, the spectacular views of the bay remain. Overall, we truly like the design of this hotel, and feel that it should be the new benchmark for Dan Hotels and for hotels in Israel in general. Standard rooms are going for a surprisingly affordable $291 USD next week. On a side point, what were the designers of sister hotel Dan Panorama Haifa thinking? Unless they just wanted to encourage people to stay far, far away from the front desk. We feel bad for the poor woman in the picture.