Excitement and Disappointment

It's one of those months. The kind that brings both good news and bad news. Of course, before you get super-worried or super-happy, depending on what kind of person you are, please realize that we are talking about hotels here. Nothing truly life-changing. Breathe. Ahh. And, we're specifically focusing on the hottest city in the Jewish Middle East, the jewel of the Mediterranean-in-Israel, the hyphenated metropolis, Tel Aviv-Jaffa. We're sad because we've been looking forward to the W Jaffa for a very long time, and we had just resigned ourselves to a late opening (no, it didn't quite make the promised May 2017 opening) when the hotel announced a March 2018 opening, which is much, much later than we had anticipated. As a slight appeasement, they did post some more renderings, and the interiors are predictably beachy, airy, and white. Very white. But with the colorful flea market just steps away, and breathtaking views of the sea, perhaps clean, crisp shades are the way to go. Speaking of views, the W's next-door neighbor and future competitor, the Setai Tel Aviv, is progressing quickly and heading towards an October 2017 opening. We're already seeing pictures of finished guestrooms and the outdoor pool, with sweeping sea views, and we're loving what we see. Signage is up, too, and the 120-room property looks just about ready to go, although we are still waiting for rates. Oh, and also from the Orchid Group is a new 50-room boutique hotel in the landmark Opera Tower, to be called the Herbert Samuel Tel Aviv. This hotel will be a sister property to the larger Herbert Samuel Jerusalem. And lastly, we've all but ignored the gala opening of the Isrotel Orient Jerusalem, which we finally toured several weeks ago and found to be gorgeous from top to bottom, with spacious, bright public spaces, a caring, friendly team, and small decorative touches that make all the difference. We are certain that this hotel is poised to become one of Jerusalem's best, if not Isrotel's flagship. Should you want to give it a try, we found rates for $336 for tonight, not including breakfast. A room in the exclusive Heritage Wing will set you back $768, without breakfast. But at least you'll get a nice swim in the rooftop pool (although we can't promise a chaise lounge, as preliminary reviews have noted a severe lack of seating). We'll be willing to take that risk, if anyone's interested in sponsoring.