Stay Smart at SMARTHOTELS

It's no big secret that IsraelGuest has a certain, err, fondness/love/obsession with hotels. But if there's anything we love more than hotels, it's brand new hotel chains. Chains usually mean that more hotels will be built, and that hotels in the chain will have to keep up to certain standards to stay in (except for Leonardo Hotels, which has remarkably few requirements for franchised hotels). Chains also help strengthen independent hotels by giving them wider publicity and better poising them against competition. So anyway, we've been stalking the new Smart Hotels chain ever since we spied on their newest property, the 68- room Eyal in downtown Jerusalem. We actually scored an exclusive tour of the hotel, including the lobby, dining room, rooftop deck, and two types of guestrooms. We were really bowled over by the modern and elegant European-style design, and of course we wanted to find out more about the other properties in the chain. Here's what we've got: Smart Hotels currently has four properties and no website. In fact, the Smart Hotels name and logo is only used on the Eyal's individual site. Three of the hotels, the Montefiore, the Eyal, and the Jerusalem Inn are located in... Jerusalem. The fourth property is the fledgling Ramon Suite Hotel in Mitzpe Ramon (not to be confused with its more prominent neighbor, the Isrotel Ramon Inn). All of the properties are renovated or new and pleasant, and each is defined by its star rating. The Eyal is by far the most luxurious option, and claims to be four stars. The Montefiore and Ramon are three stars, and the Jerusalem Inn is categorized as a budget hotel. Reviews for all of the properties are very positive, and it seems that they offer great value. Interested? We found rates for two at the Eyal for $215, $189 at the Montefiore, $165 at the Ramon Suites,and $129 at the Jerusalem Inn.