Hooray for Jerusalem

Well, after months (and years) of complaining over the lack of nice hotels in Jerusalem, we have news.
In the basement of the city hall is a model of Jerusalem, featuring current and future buildings. Included in that plan:

1)The long awaited Four Seasons Jerusalem, resplendent with a grand porte cochere, elevated pool, and majestic Middle Eastern architecture. Keep dreaming- the likelihood of this being built soon is low.
2) Just across from the Four Seasons, the Colony Hotel. The Colony will be built by the same company as Brown TLV, Leopard Group. The hotel will be comprised of four existing buildings on the site.
3) By the entrance to the city- an enlarged conference center, urban park, and of course plans for new hotels.
4) Right in the heart of the city center, in the Russian Compound- plans for a new area of shops, boutiques, cafes, galleries, and more adjacent to the new Betzalel Art School. Also in the plans is a boutique hotel.
5)The Mount Zion Hotel, with an expansion almost doubling the size of the existing hotel, with an enlarged entrance and a second full circular entrance on the side of the hotel- perhaps for events?

Not on the model, but in reality-
1) The Waldorf Astoria is progressing nicely, with all the floors in the new building built. They are now working on the Jerusalem stone exterior, and will begin the interior soon. The original name for the hotel, The Palace Jerusalem, Waldorf Astoria Collection has seemingly been replaced with the generic Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem.
2) The legendary King David Hotel has completely gutted its top two floors- the executive levels, which were long in need for an upgrade.

Hooray for Jerusalem! (not that we're biased, or anything...)

Isrotel Luxury Collection

Isrotel has now introduced a new brand of hotels, Isrotel Luxury Collection. The collection includes all of Isrotel's top properties: The Isrotel Royal Beach, Beresheet, Carmel Forest Spa Resort, and the all new Sea One Hotel. We predict that the chain will not grow very much and will be limited to about 7 exclusive hotels, perhaps some acquired from other chains. Last week in Eilat, we noticed that the Isrotel Royal Beach has received an ugly new logo, under which is written " The Royal Beach". No more Isrotel. All the hotels in the collection feature a simple nature related logo, and are not branded as Isrotels. While we like the idea of bringing more luxury hotels and essentially starting a new chain of hotels, we feel like the Luxury Collection is just an excuse to charge higher rates.
All we can say is that we hope the Isrotel Royal Beach, excuse us, The Royal Beach, will get some renovations to keep it in line with the others.
Oh, and how about a new hotel in Jerusalem, instead of yet another one in Tel Aviv?

The Second Ritz Carlton

It's our lucky day. Not long ago, we were brooding over the lack of good hotels, more specifically American chains, and now we received word that not one, but two Ritz's will be opening. The first, as we mentioned a few months ago, will be in upscale Herzliya. The second, in the heart of Tel Aviv:
"The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company plans to open a hotel on Tel Aviv's Rothschild Boulevard, becoming the latest in a number of hotel chains to show interest in the famous city-center street.
Ritz-Carlton signed a $50 million deal with Tidhar, and Migdal Insurance and Financial Holdings to buy a block of buildings at 10 Rothschild Boulevard.
The buildings stand on five lots at the southern end of the boulevard, and are currently occupied by buildings slated for preservation. Ritz-Carlton will renovate these buildings and also build a 28-storey high rise for residential and hotel use." (Globes Israeli Online)
Just two little questions: 1) Is the Ritz Carlton going to be horribly confused with the Carlton Tel Aviv? 2) Why hasn't there been an official press release yet?
Anyway, Tel Aviv is certainly covered, with the Ritz and the Kempinski, but what about poor, neglected Jerusalem?

Zichron Yaakov

One of Israel's most beautiful towns, a hilltop location with cobblestone streets, gardens, historic buildings, a winery, and luxury homes overlooking the sea below. The only thing missing is some luxury hotels. One of the best options is Beit Maimon, a small boutique hotel with views of the sea, renovated rooms, and good food. But there are no new hotels. Recently, while driving past Zichron, we noticed a large hotel- like shell right on the hillside, quite close to the Havat Habaron hotel. There are two options: This could be an extension of the Havat hotel, which is now under new management and supposedly being renovated. The second option is that this is Leopard Hospitality's (the designers of Brown TLV) boutique hotel and spa, which is under construction. (http://www.leopard.co.il/). Hopefully, we'll find out soon.

Brown TLV

Featured in the New York Times Magazine as "the place to stay in Tel Aviv", the new Brown TLV hotel looks lovely, with some of the nicest rooms we've ever seen in Israel. Unfortunately, TripAdvisor reviewers call the rooms small, the location iffy, and the design impractical- open bathrooms, racy art, etc. But, the service is great and most of the reviewers said that they would return. While we're not sure why the NYT thinks this is the best place to stay, it seems like an overall nice boutique, for the young and hip crowd that don't mind the design faults. For anyone else, though, we would recommend going elsewhere. Please note: Unless otherwise indicated, IsraelGuest is simply posting its own opinion, based on TripAdvisor reviews and other indicated sources. IsraelGuest representatives have not been guests of the hotels.

The Most Misleading Hotel Award

Blue Bay Hotel and Spa, as described on the website (with pictures of gorgeous rooms, a stunning pool, and a beautiful exterior):
"The new Blue Bay Hotel and Spa lies on a cliff at a beautiful location, by the sky blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The hotel's location, 20 miles north of Tel-Aviv, is far from the city's commotion yet close to shopping and entertainment centers. The pastoral atmosphere provides a perfect setting for the hotel rooms located on the cliff, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea."
Rates are affordable, and the website gives you the urge to book. But, as one TripAdvisor reviewer writes, "I call this place the Hotel from Hell. I'd seen pictures of this hotel before I came and I thought it looked good so I thought everything would be fine." Another writes, "The online picture of this hotel is beautiful as is the outside of the hotel, but only from a distance." It seems that lots of people fall for the website. But, as the reviewers write, in fact the "new" hotel is old, with worn carpeting and furniture, a virtually non- existent Spa, nasty staff, bad food, bugs and ants in the room, and broken gym equipment. Even so, the Blue Bay still seems better than some of the other hotels in Netanya. Please note: Unless otherwise indicated, IsraelGuest is simply posting its own opinion, based on TripAdvisor reviews and other indicated sources. IsraelGuest representatives have not been guests of the hotels.

Netanya Hotels

Yes, we know- a dirty, gross city overrun with French people. Who would go there?
But even so, this city has over a dozen beachfront hotels. But which hotels are best? The results:
Netanya has virtually no good hotels. Most of the TripAdvisor reviews and photos are so horrible. Luckily, we can still recommend three hotels.

1. The Seasons
Yes, you predicted it. Reviewers appreciate cleanliness, large rooms, sea views, and kind staff, although there are complaints about the dated decor, and the exterior looks like it could use an update.
2. King Solomon
This hotel is a "regular" Israeli hotel, with pretty good food, a basic although old pool, and renovated interiors that are described as clean and pleasant. The rooms here are very nice (compared to other Netanya hotels).
3. Residence Beach
This hotel has great reviews, praising the staff and large accommodations, and amazing views. But the hotel's interior looks really dated, and the exterior makes the Seasons' look good.
Please note: Unless otherwise indicated, IsraelGuest is simply posting its own opinion, based on TripAdvisor reviews and other indicated sources. IsraelGuest representatives have not been guests of the hotels.