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.

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?

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).

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?

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.