Thursday, December 24, 2015

West Lagoon Resort Netanya

Well, if Bat Yam is having its hotel revival, Netanya's still got it beat. In the past few years, we've seen quite a crop of new hotels popping up in the sleepy seaside town. From the luxurious Island Suites to the Ramada to the Leonardo and the new Modani Resort, it's safe to say that Netanya has become a place to go for hotels. Now, West Hotels, a small chain managed by Tamares Hotels and Resorts with two properties in Tel Aviv and in Ashdod, is planning to open a third hotel in Netanya. The new hotel, called the West Lagoon Resort, is scheduled to open in 2016. According to the website, the hotel will include 273 guestrooms including 50 suites and 'unique concept rooms', a rooftop bar, hammam, spa, fitness center, swimming pool, meeting rooms, function space, and retail stores. Designed by New York based Gal Nauer Architects (which has also worked on the famed Plaza Hotel in New York), the hotel's design is modern yet faintly Middle Eastern, with a Moorish style geometric metal screen covering much of the exterior and warm, beach inspired decor. Rooms feature light hardwood floors, uniquely patterned walls, neutral colors, and sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea. The lobby looks especially beautiful, with glass doors leading out to a large terrace spanning the length of the hotel. Also of note is the infinity edge outdoor swimming pool. We can just see ourselves relaxing by the pool, savoring the calm sea breeze. But we'll have to wait for the hotel to open first. 

Friday, November 27, 2015

Bat Yam Hotels

We've talked before about the hotel revival going on in sleepy Bat Yam, a southern suburb of Tel Aviv. There are at least three hotel projects underway, and the city hopes to add 400 additional guest rooms to its existing four properties which offer a total of 275 rooms. Of the new hotels (with exciting names like the Sun Hotel, the Sea Hotel, and the Beach Hotel...), the most heavily publicized is the Sea Hotel. Designed by Feiglin Architects, the hotel is located along the Bat Yam shore and features a distinctive triangular form with stepped terraces overlooking the sea. According to Feiglin, this was in order to ensure that there are spectacular sea views from every vantage point in the hotel. The 26- story hotel will offer over 400 rooms and one bedroom suites, each with a private balcony. Of the guestrooms, about half will be sold as timeshare residences with the owners collecting fees from renting the rooms to hotel guests, while the other half will function exclusively as hotel guestrooms. Amenities include an L-shaped infinity edged outdoor pool that is partially covered by the building (a design statement Feiglin has used in other projects as well). Other amenities include a fitness center, spa, lounge, meeting rooms, multiple dining options, events space for up to 700 guests, and an adjacent shopping center. HBA, the London-based firm responsible for the interiors, has looked to the hotel's location on the sea shore and to Shirat Hayam, the Song of the Sea, as inspirations for the design. Expect lots of natural elements and neutral colors, with biblical style ornaments and artwork. Or, as the hotel's website puts it, "Sea motifs and biblical texts are expressed in crystals, bronze, unpolished diamonds and golden hues." In another interesting touch, the front desk will be consist of an aquarium "with a selection of fish species and fish creatures". Furnishings are by Italian furniture company Francesco Molon, whose style leans to the ornate, in our opinion. While the hotel is clearly working hard to become "one of Israel's most prestigious hotels," we really hope that they aren't trying to do too much.  Meanwhile, construction is full speed ahead, and a video from earlier this month shows the foundation being laid.

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Kishleh Tel Aviv, Kempinski Tel Aviv, Sir (Benjamin) Tel Aviv

Well. We sincerely apologize if looking at the title got you a bit excited that all of these hotels were open for business. They're not. As far as we know, not a single one has opened its doors to the public, and we'd venture to guess that it'll still be a while till these hotels are good and ready for opening. But what today brings is a series of cool renderings for each, which we thought we'd share with you. First, check out the breathtaking design for Kishleh from Ara Design. First, for those unaffiliated, Ara is a big, big player in the hotel design world. They've done stuff for many major chains internationally, and in Israel, they've worked on some of the best hotels including the InterContinental David Tel Aviv, the Isrotel Royal Beach, the Scots Hotel in Tiberias, and Beresheet Resort. Now, in the Kishleh project in historic Jaffa (here's to hoping for a name change), the designers have embraced the original stone details of the structure, integrating gothic-style pointed stone arches into the lobby design and leaving some stone walls and arches exposed in other areas. If the renderings are any indication, the resulting hotel will feel luxurious and intimate, with a true Middle Eastern quality. But they're not afraid to use color and modern styles, either. Check out the wild turquoise sofas in the lobby bar, the sleek desks in the guestrooms, and the peekaboo bathrooms (oh, no!). Now this is a hotel we'd be happy to stay in. All the renderings can be viewed at http://www.aradesign.co.uk/kishleh.html . Next, and also from Ara Design, we found some great renderings of the Kempinski Tel Aviv. Now, we will first caution that having walked past this property a few weeks ago, we can safely bet that they need to finish digging the foundation before opening up. So it'll likely be a few years for this one. Here it's all about sophistication and showy elegance. Check out the grand chandeliers and the intricately lit feature wall behind the marble front desks. Or look at the airy guestrooms (which aren't really our taste, fyi), with lots of crisp whites and clean beige elements. The huge mirror in the foyer also suggests that these rooms will be smallish. We hope not! Check it out at www.aradesign.co.uk/david.html But anyway, if the guestroom design fails to excite, take a look at the Sir Benjamin! Karim Rashid, the Egpytian designer known for his wild designs, is behind this hotel, and it'll be interesting. The fuschia egg chairs, yellow tables, wavy floors, and curvy lines of the walls suggest that this hotel will be a fun place to hang out. We just can't wait for it to open, so that we can criticize it in more detail. Kidding. Please open soon?

Monday, September 21, 2015

Leonardo Plaza Ashdod

Well, it's that time of year again. In conjunction with Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for Jews around the world (in which Jews ask for forgiveness from the Lord), we've come to ask forgiveness from our readers. You see, sometimes it's tough to be us. Here at IsraelGuest, our job is to stalk the internet and keep our eyes and ears firmly open for any news about hotels. There are websites that we repeatedly troll, and there are insiders that we depend on to do our job well. But sometimes, unfortunately, things fall through the cracks. Big things. Like the second hotel in Ashdod, the Leonardo Plaza. We've written about the ill-fated Crowne Plaza Ashdod extensively here on IG as we followed its vague "opening soon" announcements that seemed pushed off into posterity, but never did we imagine that the hotel was quietly opening under another name. Welcome to the Leonardo Plaza Ashdod. This beautiful, architecturally interesting property offers 183 rooms and suites, a chef restaurant, spa, kids club, three conference rooms and a ballroom with space for up to 600, a fitness center and a gorgeous outdoor pool. Rooms are fairly corporate (someone please kill that ubiquitous pullout couch with the stripes), but we're digging the artwork and the views of the sea and the surrounding area (especially of the wacky sculpture outside). Public spaces are also enhanced by the interesting wallpaper designs and objects d'art. Suffice it to say, whoever designed this hotel was not afraid of a little color. Reviews are fairly positive, with one extolling the unheard of concept of a "free upgrade!" Other travelers love the food, great service, and the free WiFi, too, although the location is a bit far out from Ashdod's attractions (whatever they may be). We found rooms for $170 without breakfast, which seems a touch pricey for the area. (Compare to the equally nice if not nicer West Ashdod, which is offering a one-bedroom suite with breakfast for $195).

Monday, August 17, 2015

The Post Hostel Jerusalem

Occasionally, the good ole' staff here at IsraelGuest (me) feel a little sorry for those whose budgets cannot allow them to spend a night at many of the hotels we talk about on the site (me). As exciting as it is to read about all of these uber-luxurious, new, "international standard" hotels that are under construction and have just opened, it's with a sinking sensation that we find the prices to be in the $400-$500 range. Oh well, we think to ourselves. Maybe one day, prices will fall drastically...But until then, there's always youth hostels and budget hotels. Which have previously been unappealing. Enter the new Post Hostel Jerusalem. Reflecting an international trend in the rise of luxury hostels (yes, that's a thing), the former Central Post Office in Jerusalem is soon to become a high end hostel, complete with quirky design details, themed references to all things post, and bright pops of color. Rooms range from a Double Room with Private Bathroom to a bed in a 10 person dormitory. But don't worry. There's plenty of hanging out space, with a bar, outdoor terrace, lounge, and communal kitchen. A gift shop is also on premises. The hotel promises to open in Summer 2015, but who knows what that really means. More importantly, we found rates for $19 in a 12 person room or $99 for a private double. Now that's competitive pricing. Take that, Abraham Hostel! And King David? Oh, and in other news, we've gotten wind that the Etz Chayim project near Shuk Mahane Yehuda will also include a hotel, along with residential buildings. Perhaps this is the new home of the Marriott?

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Summer Hotels Update

It’s been a busy summer for hotels in Israel. We’ve taken a visit to the W Jaffa to see the work that is slowly, slowly progressing. But it’s there. And what’s more, we’ve began hearing about a W Jerusalem, too! (Watch out, Mamilla…another design hotel is on its way!) Speaking of a little competition, the Isrotel Jerusalem is busily constructing while across the street, The Four Seasons has supposedly broken ground (although it appears that it will only be seven stories, after neighborhood groups scrapped the plans for a fourteens story tower). And what’s this about a Marriott in Jerusalem, near Shuk Mahane Yehuda? Could we venture to guess that the old Isrotel Tower will soon become a Marriott? Either way, as we like to say, the more hotels, the better. Meanwhile, hotels in Tel Aviv must be feeling the pressure because Jetsetter has named the Norman in Tel Aviv the best boutique hotel in the world. (Thanks to dedicated tipster Ruthie for pointing this out to us)! That’s right, in the world. Now, we know that the Norman is popular with the jet set (including Catherine Zeta Jones and husband Michael Douglass and CEOs of major corporations), but this is quite impressive for little ole Israel. And Atlas Hotels, our favorite boutique hotel company, has opened its Yam Hotel and its Market House Hotel in Tel Aviv/Jaffa while their new property on Mesilat Yesharim Street in Jerusalem seems to be coming along nicely. Plus, we’ve been monitoring construction on a building in Tel Aviv adjacent to the Nahalat Binyamin Pedestrian Mall and we’re willing to bet that it’s going to be a boutique hotel. And if it’s going to be a boutique, it’ll either be independent or part of Atlas. Either one is fine with us. Just hope for a hotel!

Elma Arts

Ladies and Gentleman, Elma Arts Complex Luxury Hotel has opened to the public and is looking absolutely stunning (despite the unfortunate mouthful of a name). We’re loving the wonderfully restored Yaakov Rechter building with polished stone floors, eclectic furnishings in bright colors, casual chic design, a truly unique collection of arts and sculpture, and of course, breathtaking views of the surrounding farmlands and sea in the distance. We can just see ourselves sitting out by the outdoor pool, breathing the mountain air and enjoying the scenery. Reviews are as to be expected for a new hotel in Israel, full of complaints about the rocky service, “filthy” rooms and “poor management” while others realizing that this hotel “is a candidate to become of the top hotels in the country.” There also seem to be complaints that the hotel is still not quite ready for its close-up, with painters still working on some walls and a noticeable lack of electrical outlets in the hotel. We also appreciated the management response to a rare positive review on TripAdvisor, “Dear sir, we are glad to read that your experience at Elma Arts Complex Luxury Hotel was successfully different [SIC] than anyone else.” Want to try your luck? We found rates for $301 in September for a Classic Room with a Terrace.

Haifa Bay View

The former Nof Hotel in Haifa has now become the Haifa Bay View Hotel (not to be confused with Atlas’ Bay Club Haifa, which is incidentally the top hotel in the city after a mere year of existence). With nice views of the sea from atop Mount Carmel, the recently renovated Bay View hotel looks quite nice, a solid three star option. We appreciate the pops of color from the decorative pillows and side tables in the otherwise plain guestrooms, and we love the lobby and public areas, which are inviting and welcoming with a fun, unpretentious vibe thanks to the wood flooring, an assortment of retro style furnishings in bright colors, large windows, and subdued lighting. Amenities are a little lacking, with a fitness center and Chinese restaurant but no pool or spa, although at this price ($130 a night, including breakfast or $110 without), this is a great option for exploring the city. The hotel seems to be related to Crowne Plaza in some way, although it’s not part of IHG rewards and it’s not on their website (nor on any English website, for that matter. Maybe that’s still to come). Reviews are actually quite positive, although travelers have been griping about the “cheap” breakfast buffet which could use some more diverse offerings.

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

The Modani Spa Hotel

Here at IsraelGuest, it's not often that we're blown away by luxury hotel designs and news in Israel. After all, we try to keep our pulse on developments worldwide, and therefore, a new hotel in Israel, while noteworthy, is all relative to a new hotel in New York, Paris, or Dubai. We often try to check our jadedness, making sure to sound genuinely excited about these "five star" hotels in Israel, even as we know that elsewhere they would be barely four stars (and likely half the price). It's not hard work when we love hotels, and all hotels. We are genuinely excited. But every so often, we do long for a nice Four Seasons or an Aman or a Mandarin Oriental, a hotel that is five-stars by international standards. [To combat the outcry and jeering looks, we'll just clarify that the Ritz Carlton Herzliya is indeed very nice, but not mind-mindbogglingly so]. Our first reaction from hearing about the Modani Spa Hotel was, well, lukewarm. We expected to see some renderings of a small hotel with a nice pool on the beach (in Havatzelet Hasharon), with no-doubt exorbitantly high rates to justify the "spa" aspect. Reading the description online, "The Modani will be the first of its kind in Israel: a world-class resort known for integrative wellness and unprecedented luxury. With our fresh, local cuisine, restorative treatments, and unmatched level of personal service, it will be a place that brings out the pure potential of our guests, helping them reach a level of vitality they will continue to carry with them long after their stay. And that’s what The Modani is all about—gratitude for life, and the ability to live it fully," we could be forgiven for thinking that we've heard all this before (see a long list of new spa hotels in Israel). But the level of luxury in this hotel, at least as depicted, is second to none. Renderings show a sea front pool with cabanas, a porte cochere with a koi pond and a fountain, oversized guestrooms and marble bathrooms with double vanities and deep soaking tubs, suites with private pools, french country design with herringbone floors, and a public spaces that could just as easily be those of a five star resort in Nevis or Miami Beach. We liked the descriptions, too, including "Start the day with a brisk walk on the beach, accompanied by several professional trainers." We can just see little ole' us strolling on the beach with a bunch of trainers in tow. Interestingly, the hotel also offers guests "the opportunity to be whisked through customs directly to their own limousines. In less than an hour, they pass through the gates of the hotel and are ushered to their room—no check-in, no waiting, just the level of service you expect." Clearly, they're aiming for the jetsetting types. The hotel is being developed by the Silverock Group, a U.S. based investment company that is focusing on real estate in Israel.

A Third Isrotel in Tel Aviv

Isrotel has been aggressively working to expand its portfolio of hotels in Israel. Although the brand has long dominated the market in Eilat, with nine hotels there ranging from the luxurious Royal Beach to the budget Riviera Club, in the past few years the brand has added more and more hotels throughout the country. Its luxury properties, branded under the Exclusive Collection, have been the main focus of this expansion, with Beresheet, Cramim Spa and Wine (as it is now called, apparently), Isrotel Jerusalem (under construction) and the Royal Beach Tel Aviv coming in to supplement the Royal Beach in Eilat and Carmel Forest. But for those fearing that the main brand was being neglected, Isrotel recently broke ground on an exciting four star hotel in Tel Aviv, which will be the third for the brand in the city. The Isrotel Port Tel Aviv, as it is purportedly being called, is located on Hayarkon Street near the Tel Aviv Port, a popular dining and shopping scene. The two dunam lot was previously home to a well-known club, Little Tel Aviv. The hotel is expected to cost 60-70 million shekels and will open in about two years. The 16 story structure will include 121 rooms and 3 penthouse apartments, all designed by go-to hotel architects Feigin Architecture. It will also feature a ground floor restaurant and cafe, and will likely cater to business travelers. For us, while any new hotel is a good hotel, we're a bit disappointed by the bland architecture of this project, which would be at home in any major city. We also hope that being that this is a four-star hotel and not a five star, it will be priced accordingly. Thoughts?

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Marriott Herzliya

Well it doesn't rain but it pours. There we were, excited about the Herods, when we stumbled upon a rendering of a Marriott hotel in Herzliya? After a brief moment in which we nearly had a heart attack thinking that the hotel was already open (note to self, do not google Marriott Herzliya), we realized that the property is still under construction. Here's what to expect: a four star, 160 room hotel (which is pretty small for Herzliya) and will be in the business district of Herzliya Pituach. So if there's any doubt of who the hotel is planning to attract: it's the business people. The company behind the hotel, ISSTA, promises that rates will be 30% lower than nearby hotels! We'll take it. We have to give ISSTA some credit here. Business people like reliability, and there aren't many more reliable brands than Marriott. Plus, it'll be a sister hotel to the Ritz Carlton down the road and to the Renaissance in Tel Aviv.

Herods Herzliya

It's been a long while since we heard of any progress on the Herods Herzliya. But an ad in the local paper pointed our attention to the fact that this hotel might just be open. And so, not too convinced, we flipped over to the Herods site and discovered that -lo and behold- opening day had finally come. The hotel has been open for about a month now, and we thought we'd check in on how things are faring on TripAdvisor. Here's the positive: "beautiful, spacious rooms" (some have sea facing balconies!), an "outstanding staff" and "excellent food" including the breakfast, which stands out "even by Israeli hotel standards." Yet travelers gripe over the "very small pool" which gets little sunlight, the small gym, and the location "far from the beach." If we didn't know any better, we'd say that this hotel is aiming for the business crowd more so than the leisure travelers. Here's our input: despite a utilitarian, bland exterior, we appreciate the location on the upscale marina (wave to the Ritz from your window!). We're almost reminded of the Hyatt Regency Sarasota, which faces the Ritz Carlton just opposite it on the marina. Yes, that was an invitation to Hyatt to open a hotel...please! We also appreciate the playful, modern touches inside the hotel, including a dramatic curving staircase and oversized lampshade lights in the dining room. However, these unique features are few and far between. Perhaps the hotel's designers thought that the business crowd wouldn't notice, anyway. Needless to say, the Ritz Carlton doesn't have much to fear. Even by looking at photographs, there is a clear distinction in the quality of the product. And the most important question? Rates: We found rates for $300 in the first week of May, compared to $450 at the Dan Accadia, $237 at the Daniel, $200 at the Benjamin (our fave hidden secret) and a whopping $625 at the Ritz Carlton. Yep. Forget all that we said. We're going to the Herods! Unless someone wants to sponsor our "research" at the Ritz. Anyone?

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Mendeli Street Hotel

Dare we say that we're sick of the hotels in Tel Aviv? Now, before you lock us up for saying such blasphemy, permit us to explain. It seems like the hotel market in Tel Aviv has become boring. There are simply so many, quaint, boutiquey-yet-luxurious hotels, of which each one tries to one-up the next with its coolness factor. The big stalwart hotels look down on the boutiques, their massive, 80s era concrete facades ridiculing the unique Bauhaus inns with personalized charm and service. We've gotten to the point where we can't even keep up with the launch of new boutiques. But every so often, there's one that catches our eye and merits a mentioning. And this time, that's the Mendeli Street Hotel. The relatively large (66 room!) hotel is notable because it tries to infuse a local Tel Aviv experience rather than that of a generic boutique in a hip city. One way that this was done was by filling the hotel with art from nearby artists. Says the website, "The owners have deepened the Mendeli Street experience by handpicking, for both the private and public spaces within the hotel, the works of local Israeli designers and artists that reflect the ever-evolving character and vibrant spirit of Tel Aviv. Each chosen work or piece, having been inspired by an exclusively Israeli experience, flows the international guest to feel fully immersed in the distinct local characteristics and expressions that make up Tel Aviv. And of course, because cities change and evolve with time, so does the art and the artists showcased. Watch this space for information on the artists and new art & design features consistently taking place within the hotel." Other cool features include a living wall in the restaurant (although honestly it looks fake), which we believe is a first for Israel. Industrial chic design pervades the space, with unique cut out ceilings, raw woods, glass, and metal. Guestrooms look rather petite, but colorful bed scarfs and a textured headboard add interest to the space. Plus, most excitingly, this is a new Brutalist style building, not one of those Bauhaus restorations. Hotel's also got free wifi. Other amenities include "A special, colorful Israeli Breakfast served at the hotel restaurant" which sounds great, honestly. And "Luxurious Dead Sea bathroom goodies." And "Complimentary bottle of water upon arrival." What more do you need? We're on our way! We found rates at $260 a night for next week. Any sponsors?

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Leonardo Plaza Netanya, Brown Beach House, and Sir Hotels

Another month, another new hotel. This time, though, we have some tipsters to thank. HotelChatter (hotelchatter.com) first alerted us to the Sir Hotel in Tel Aviv. And, an anonymous comment on this blog told us about Brown Beach House. Thanks guys! The Leonardo Netanya, though, is all us. And it's the only one of the three that's open. So we'll start with it. Heralded as "the only luxury hotel in the Sharon region", the newly-opened hotel has 151 beautifully decorated rooms, if we do say so ourselves. Headboards are covered with a large scale beach and ocean scenes, while opposite it wood panels and lime green drawers add texture and color to the beige- heavy design. The hotel is located near Independence Square in the heart of Netanya (read: noisy), unlike the Ramada and the Island Suites, which are more removed from the town. Some rooms even have oversized terraces. In addition to amenities like free WiFi (free Wifi!), the hotel also offers a dining room, a fitness center, large sclae meeting facilities, and a drop-dead gorgeous rooftop pool. Reviews seem pretty positive, although apparently the service and the food could use some improvement. Rates are amazingly affordable, starting at $119 for a Deluxe Room. We'll take two. Or actually, we'll take a suite. Moving on, the ever-popular Brown Hotel TLV (winner of IsraelGuest's Best Rooms award) is bringing their hip luxury brand beachside. The hotel will be small, with just forty rooms and suites. Don't fear, because plenty of design will be packed into those rooms. Renderings show wild black and white carpet, retro lighting, mustard accents, and contemporary four poster beds. We're loving the sleek luxury of the marble bathrooms as well. The hotel will also have an "Urban Beach" indoor lounge (we got no idea, either), a restaurant, and a spa. Early opening rates start at $195, but we won't be surprised if they shoot up to the $300+ range like Brown TLV in the summer. And lastly, there's Sir Hotels, a new brand designed for the "new breed of upper class, individuals who have all the trappings of aristocracy but none of the pretensions." Whatever that means. They're opening in Amsterdam, Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, and Tel Aviv, all in central locations. The website is full of taglines, like "social gathering places in vibrant cultural neighbourhoods where travellers meet the locals." But real, useful information (like opening dates) and renderings are disappointingly missing. All of the hotels are designed by the Israeli firm of Baranowitz Kronenberg, meaning that they will likely share the same sexy, rustic-modern look as the Sir Albert in Amsterdam (yes, each hotel has a name. The Tel Aviv one is Sir Benjamin). Even if we don't have the trappings of aristocracy, we're looking forward to this one.

Monday, January 19, 2015

Ibis Styles Jerusalem

Here at IsraelGuest, we tend to think that we have a pretty good hold on things in the hotel world. In Israel, at least. We comb through the internet for announcements and press releases, we search major chains to see if they have anything planned, and we depend a good deal on walking around on foot and seeing what we can see. We even spent a good hour reading a magazine in French to glean details on the upcoming Sea Hotel in Bat Yam (all we figured out is that they are selling hotel rooms for private ownership and that the hotel will be very luxurious and 26 stories high). For all these reasons, when a major hotel opens totally under our radar, it's pretty shocking. Such was the case with the ibis Styles Jerusalem. Granted, we knew that some new hotel rooms from Accor where coming to the capital. We knew that two new hotels were on their way, including an ibis. Yet the fact that it opened unbeknownst to us and even more the fact that it opened in East Jerusalem came as total surprises. But yes, the 91- room hotel in Sheikh Jarrah is now open. And it looks really nice. For those familiar with the low- cost, no frills European brand, Ibis Styles is the funkier sister, which typically offers a heavy dose of, well, style, while maintaining rack-bottom rates. We're loving the colorful interiors and the hints of Jerusalem stone in the rooms, as well as the cutout Jerusalem skyline headboards. Amenities are limited, but include free Wifi, parking, and a children's playroom as well as a dining room. Rates are low, starting at $85 per night. Our only qualm is the location. Although the website claims the hotel is in the "city center," our snobby selves would probably prefer to stay a little closer.