Galilion Resort Yesod Hamaala

We've been to Yesod Hama'ala in northern Israel a few times over the years. Once, we even spent the night there at the town's only option, the super no-frills Savyonei Hagalil Hotel, which was originally built as the only Israeli outpost of ultra-budget Accor hotel chain Etap. But Etap has long since left the country, and in all honestly, the Savyonei Hagalil leaves little desire to return to the area. However, a Jerusalem Post article from a few weeks ago alerted us to the recent opening of another hotel in the area, the Galilion Hotel. Because the Post's review was so overwhelmingly (and perhaps predictably) positive, we thought we'd do some looking into this hotel for the benefit of our readers. Here are our thoughts: We're loving the idea of a village-style grouping of different buildings, rather than a single monumental structure. Here, the 120 rooms and suites are grouped into small two-story buildings, and there's a separate convention center, spa, and lobby, along with an adjacent shopping center and farmer's market. The inspiration was clearly an Italian village, and designers took that inspiration very literally in the guestrooms, with wallpaper depicting none other than a quaint Tuscany-esque village. It's certainty a bold move, although we must say that it's not really our taste, especially alongside rather standard light wood furnishings and a red bedspread that clashes with the wallpaper. The hotel's secondary theme is birds, likely referencing the nearby Hula Lake through which pass over 500 million migrating birds annually. You'll find bird accent tiles in the otherwise drab bathrooms, bird images in the guestrooms, and decorative birds throughout the property. In our minds, the hotel really shines on the exterior, with landscaped, manicured lawns and gardens, a gorgeous (and really large) outdoor pool, and fountains dotted throughout. Another nice touch is the outdoor screening of movies by the pool. We're not surprised that reviewers on TripAdvisor have found the service to be lacking, with rude and unhelpful staff members at times. To us, this is still very much an Israeli kibbutz hotel, even if it's newer and better looking than most. We'd love to see a bigger chain come over and whip this property into shape. Until then, we found rates for $240 a night, including breakfast, for next month.

Ramada Resort Hadera Beach

Sometimes we wonder if we're losing our touch over here at IsraelGuest. Just when we think that we've been keeping proper tabs on all the upcoming hotels in Israel, something new pops up and surprises us. Enter the Ramada Resort Hadera Beach. Due to open in "2016", this hotel will be the crown jewel of the older Sea Village development, and will likely share some of its facilities. Unlike its sister property in Netanya, this high-rise resort property is not all-suite, as it appears to offer a variety of smaller studio rooms (with kitchenettes and tables for one, apparently) along with the usual one and two bedroom suites. But both rooms and suites have large balconies overlooking the "gorgeous lagoon" and free Wifi. The hotel will also feature indoor and outdoor pools, spa, fitness center, a Turkish hammam, and a sailing club. Yes, a sailing club. Notably, the hotel also offers a variety of meeting spaces accommodating up to 800 guests. From a design perspective, the hotel looks remarkably similar to its Netanya counterpart, especially in the lobby. But rooms are decidedly warmer and more beachy, with light wood flooring, beige furnishings, and blue accents. No word yet on when the hotel is due to open, but we're hoping very soon. And we'd also like to see some special introductory rates. After all, it's still a Ramada...

Poli House Tel Aviv

Just under a year ago, we reported on construction on a building adjacent to the Nahalat Binyamin Pedestrian Mall in Tel Aviv. We noted that it sure looked like a boutique hotel was underway, and we prophesied that it would be part of Atlas Hotels, the well-known boutique chain that dominates Tel Aviv. Later, in February, we mentioned that plans for the much acclaimed Sir Benjamin Hotel Tel Aviv were scrapped in favor of the somewhat less interestingly named Poli House Tel Aviv, although Karim Rashid would remain on hand for the interiors. But alas, we didn't put two and two together that the historic Bauhaus structure that looked like a hotel and the future Poli were one and the same. But they are! And more excitingly, the new hotel will be opening in July, after much delays. The 40-room hotel, run by star hotelier Leon Avigad of Brown and Brown Beach House fame, will be sure to attract the cool, hip crowd of Tel Aviv, with its hopping grungy chic location and cascading rooftop pool. The hotel also promises a sunbathing lounge, rooftop cocktail bar and spa treatment rooms, meeting room and gallery space with art from local artists, and "a cultural hub with a design shop". What that latter term means, we're not quite sure. It seems that there's no dining on site, though, with guests being invited to patronize a nearby cafe for breakfast. Rooms look super cool (but tight), with futuristic bright blue and metallic accents, as well as somewhat psychedelic wallpaper in the bathrooms. We're loving the rendering of the aptly named Circle Suite, with a curving wall of windows spanning most of the room. The smallest rooms start at a crazy tight 15 square meters (151 square feet), but there are larger rooms available too. Complimentary access to a nearby fitness center is included, as are bicycles. We found rates starting at $265 in the end of July, without breakfast, although a pre-opening special takes the rate down to $199. Should you want the Circle Suite, it can be had for just $341 in this period. Sounds a tad steep to us, especially with limited services.

Isrotel and Dan Hotels Announce Ambitious Expansion Plans

After a December 2015 Marketest survey found that Isrotel guests are more satisfied with their stays than guests of any other major chain in Israel, it looks like Isrotel is ready to share the magic. We've already reported that Isrotel is building a third hotel near the Tel Aviv Port. But in the past few months, the company has entered an agreement to buy the ultra-luxe Mitzpe Hayamim Spa hotel in Rosh Pina, a former Relais & Chateaux property. The 97-room hotel is set on over 35 acres of land and boasts a natural grove, a dairy and an organic farm on the property. No doubt, this hotel will become another one of Isrotel's spa resorts, alongside Carmel Forest and Cramim in the Jerusalem Hills. But that's not all. Isrotel also announced plans to construct a 120-room property in a preserved building on Jerusalem Boulevard in Old Jaffa. Part of the Exclusive Collection, this hotel will feature a swimming pool, spa, and chef restaurant. But no, that's not all, either. Just over a month ago, Isrotel announced the development of the Publica Hotel in Herzliya Pituach. This 160-room, four-star property will feature an ultra modern design and is geared towards business travelers. It will no doubt give the Marriott Herzliya some stiff competition!

Meanwhile, Dan Hotels, not to be outdone (although its guests are less satisfied), announced last week that construction has commenced on the chain's first international hotel, in Bangalore, India. First announced in 2008, plans were put on hold for several years, and the hotel plans on finally opening next year. The five-star, 220-room hotel is set in a high rise tower in the Whitefield business area of Bangalore. Several Israeli tech companies are housed in the nearby area, and Dan Hotels hopes that travelers will seek familiar brands in their trips abroad. Renderings by PIA Interior Co of Bangkok look beautiful, with warm, Indian motifs and intricate patterns and textures enhancing the carpets, bedspreads, and decorative elements of the guestrooms. Next time we're in India, we'll be checking this place out for sure.

(Thanks to tipsters Ruthie and Tifi for their help with this post).

Setai Tel Aviv, Herbert Samuel Jerusalem, & Ibis Styles Jerusalem

Exploring the country is always a good way to find out about hotels. It could be a small construction project that we previously overlooked, or a large one with some surprising updates. For example, there we were, driving around Old Jaffa, when we came across the Orchid Pasha Kishleh Jaffa Hotel (which, as you'll recall, was hunting for a better name). A large sign proudly heralded the result of this name competition, with The Setai Jaffa. Now, in truth, to us the Setai evokes an ultra-modern, sleek Japanese zen style South Beach hotel. A restored Ottoman palace in Jaffa with Middle Eastern inspired interiors? Less so. There's still no official opening date, but the hotel seems to be progressing nicely. A supposed 7-star property, the 115-room hotel will also have a spa, chef restaurant, Turkish bath, and rooftop infinity pool. In addition, Orchid Hotels, the group behind the Setai, like the name so much that they've borrowed it for a second hotel on the shores of Lake Kinneret, with 110 suites with private pools. The hotel will also include "Israel's largest spa complex". Meanwhile, over in Jerusalem, Herbert Samuel still hasn't opened. But we peeked into the lobby the other day and found that all the chandeliers and furnishings are in place (although still wrapped in plastic). Can't wait for the wraps to come off of this one! Interestingly, the hotel is advertising its location adjacent to Nachlaot, which it labels the "Soho of Jerusalem". We wouldn't have thought. And finally, also in Jerusalem, a former apartment building on the Ben Yehuda pedestrian street is being converted to a second Ibis Styles Jerusalem. This is part of Accor's effort to add a considerable amount of rooms to the capital and follows the opening of the Ibis Styles in Sheikh Jarrah. Ibis Styles hotels are known for their fun, quirky designs and affordable accommodation. We're looking forward to seeing some of those wood Old City wall headboards, like in the other Ibis Styles. No word yet on opening dates, but it looks like there's quite a ways to go yet.

Brown Jerusalem Hotel

If any of our dear readers had the opportunity to dine in Vaquerio in Jerusalem, you may have forgotten the food long before you forgot the gorgeous 19th century villa in which it was housed, with dramatically lit stone arches creating intimate dining spaces and a beautiful garden outside. While the restaurant is long gone, a much better replacement has come, in the form of of Brown Jerusalem Hotel. This new property, from Tel Aviv veteran hotelier Leon Avigad (of Brown Tel Aviv and Brown Beach House) and designed by Baer, Shifman-Nathan Architects, will be opening in late 2016 on Haneviim Street in downtown Jerusalem. An extra story will be added to the building, increasing the space but remaining in keeping with the original architecture. Like its Tel Avivian sisters, the hotel will surely become a place to see-and-be-seen for the Jerusalem set, with a variety of spaces for lounging and meeting. These include a rooftop deck with a Jacuzzi, a lobby level terrace with an outdoor fireplace, an underground bar, a richly decorated lobby living room beneath the massive stone arches, a cafe, and a tea room. Dramatic guestrooms feature exposed stone, antique furnishings, tufted headboards, and deep colors. Though with only 18 rooms, it seems that the Brown will focus more on being a hang-out spot than on being a hotel. Not that we care, really. As we've said before, any new hotel is a good hotel. Especially in this case. Now- just open on time? Please?

Aquaris Resort Eilat and The Poli Hotel

We've known about the Aquaris Resort in Eilat for several years. To be honest, we've been eagerly tracking this hotel since a visit to Eilat almost four years ago, when we saw signs posted for it. We haven't really followed up, so we still don't know if the hotel has progressed at all. But for some reason, the hotel keeps coming up on our radar. So we figured the least we could do is give it a shout-out, in the hope that something will come out of it, and soon! Here's what we know: Courtesy of Israel Yosseph, the hotel's graphic designer, we know that the Aquaris will be a boutique, all-suite hotel with a number of swimming pools and artificial waterfalls in the public spaces (emphasis on water features- get it?). Or, in fancy speak, "Inspired by the serenity of the sub-aquatic, Aquaris embodies the next generation of “experience based” all-suite hotels.  Combining classic lines with chic designer interiors, the exclusive ambiance pervades every aspect of Aquaris." Thanks to real estate marketing team Impact (which frankly, seems to be doing a terrible job), we find that the hotel aims to be "Miami style, five-star luxury." Feigin Architects, the only real source of information, shows a number of garden suites with private plunge pools and an indoor/outdoor atrium with a series of cascading waterfalls.

Meanwhile, we've been waiting for Sir Benjamin to appear on the scene in Tel Aviv. But it appears that that won't be happening, unfortunately. The hotel has been removed from Sir Hotel's website, and in its stead, we are proud to introduce The Poli Hotel. The Poli is located on Magen David and features 40-rooms in a restored Bauhaus building. Interiors are still by wild designer Karim Rashid, while amenities include a rooftop pool, sunbathing lounge, cocktail bar, restaurant and spa. The hotel's website promised an opening on January 1st, but being that the message is still up there, we're not sure it made the deadline. That being said, we're willing to wait a while for this one. Renderings look really, really cool, especially those of the rooftop pool (with waterfalls, too- see that, Aquaris?). Plus, according to Travel and Leisure, instead of a traditional lobby check in, "guests will be “beamed up” to the rooftop via elevator, in which LED screens project the day’s weather and entertainment lineups." Sounds good to us. Now open. Please?