Memories of Israel

A Great Stay in Tel Aviv

Anyone who's traveled a fair amount knows that one hotel, even within the same chain, is not the same as the next. There are some real gems out there that can really make your stay and I recently discovered that the Hilton Tel Aviv is one of them. My stay there in late January of 2007 proved to be a highly satisfactory one and I'd recommend it to not only business, but leisure travelers as well. I must point out though that staying on their "Executive" level is worth every extra penny you pay. The extended service and amenities afforded that level really make your visit a memorable one. From the time you check in at their 17th floor Executive desk to the moment you depart, you realize that you have everything you need.

The guest room size is ample, though I was disappointed with the small area for the bathroom. I would have preferred a double sink and more counter space but there were some other features which made up for these shortcomings. I am one of those people that MUST have their tea/coffee in the morning - first thing, and Hilton provides one of those dependable and fast electric tea kettles with which to heat your water. I also appreciate having a proper-sized safe as well as enough hangers in the closet, an iron and ironing board, and a comfortable workspace for my computer.

I was impressed with the response time on each of my phoned requests (ex: room service, housekeeping, etc.). My call for extra towels was answered practically before I hung up the phone. The hold time for connecting to various services in the hotel was minimal in my experience, and that's a big plus for travelers that are on a fixed time schedule.

But, I'm saving the best for last... Hilton Tel Aviv's executive lounge on the 17th floor, which is included with an executive level room reservation, is far none, INCREDIBLE. The guest has access to breakfast in the morning, afternoon snacks at 4:30pm, and light dinner from 6pm to 9pm every evening. All of this served in their very comfortable and scenic lounge with a spectacular view of the Mediterranean Sea coastline looking both north and south. It's the perfect way to start a day, or end one after a full day of touring or business meetings.

Give Hilton Tel Aviv a try on your next visit to Israel. You will find yourself settling in with no effort and not wanting to leave.

Great HotelThree superb hotels dominate the Jerusalem landscape: King David, David Citadel and Inbal. The first two are traditionally rated 4-star hotels, with the Inbal ranking as 3-star. But after having personally experienced the Inbal on our first visit to Jerusalem, I feel this hotel has strengths that have it nipping at the others’ heels.

The open and inviting lobby is tastefully designed in a modern style, with a huge floral centerpiece within view as you enter. The hotel is designed around a central courtyard atrium, which is utilized for outdoor dining in warm weather months and is tented during the winter for special occasions.

The strengths of this hotel are their spacious and well-appointed coffee shop (where breakfast included with the room is served), their comfortable and inviting Sophia Lounge where one can sit and chat, have a drink or work on one’s laptop, and their large pool, which is tented and heated in the winter months. The hotel also offers a moderate-sized exercise facility along with sauna and steam rooms. Off of the main lobby, there are various shopping boutiques on site. And location-wise, the hotel is situated next to Liberty Bell Gardens which contain a playground – a big plus for families with children. Though there is nothing exceptional about the guestrooms, the bathrooms have a large separate glassed-in shower and separate bathtub. Wireless Internet access is available in the guestrooms for a reasonable daily fee. The hotel does offer 16 suites.

Not Up to SnuffThough the Dan Carmel Hotel is touted as the best in Haifa, I found that this assessment is definitely off the mark. It is rated as a three-star hotel and though the signs are there that they're trying, some features I experienced clearly show they need to try harder.

One of their strongest attributes is that they are located on the lovely heights of Haifa along an convenient shopping and dining area. The biggest "wow" that I experienced was the view from our room. It overlooked the twinkling lights of the Bay of Haifa by night and was stunning in the morning light as well.

It is a loyally-staffed and friendly hotel with 204 rooms and 18 suites, Wi-Fi, pool, gym, sauna, lobby lounge, and laundry service. Where I became disappointed was in the outdated furnishings and decor and the thin walls. I continually heard conversations in the halls and adjoining rooms which were highly annoying. But, luckily, our stay was only for one night.

I would like to add though that in assessing this property or others in Israel, I'm prepared to give them a lot of latitude. After all, this is a country at war and they have other matters on their minds. But, they are to be admired for their fortitude and efforts to maintain normal life.

A large and delicious breakfast buffet is included with the room.

A Memorable ExperienceI had long dreamed of planting trees in Israel and I was now seeing my dream come true. The Jewish National Fund, or Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael maintains the Plant a Tree with Your Own Hands project near Lavi, in Lower Galilee. It is accessible by taking Route 7707 off of Route 77, east of Golani Junction, then immediately left on secondary road.

The experience is a rewarding one. The saplings, which you can pick out, can be planted in memory of a loved one or in honor of a significant occasion. If you prefer, they will do the planting for you. You will be issued an official certificate with the identification number of your tree. The proceeds certainly go to a worthy cause, among them, the development of new water resources.

The cost per tree is approx. $10. The center is open Sunday through Thursday from 8am to 3pm and on Fridays from 8am to noon. They can be emailed at plantatree@kkl.org.il to get further information.

A Tour with Eli

There are all different manners of touring the world. Some travelers opt for a group, while others choose to go it alone. But lucky are the ones that can hire their own private guide. Such was our good fortune when my husband and I made our first visit to Israel

We are quickly becoming seasoned travelers and are making memorable notches in our belt. Our preferred method has been one of independence – to come and go at our leisure and to learn on our own. Until now, we have toured in countries where that is a viable option, but the decision to visit Israel made us rethink that master plan.

First of all, Israel is a part of the world to which we’ve never been. Secondly, the language, the terrain and understandably, the political climate, made it a destination for which we felt more comfortable utilizing the services of a professional guide. Close friends of ours had recently returned from this same trip and highly recommended their guide. Because we trusted their judgment, their input made this a logical decision for us. We contacted this guide, Mr. Eli Peled, by email and began a stream of communication in preparation for our trip.

It is important to note that one has to place a certain amount of faith and flexibility in developing any working relationship. The process of getting to know someone over the Internet can be challenging, but also exciting. One should enter this process with a sense of optimism balanced with wariness. As our email communications developed, we began to get a sense of Eli and soon discerned his level of professionalism.

Eli has been conducting tours for many years, with a span of experience from large group bus tours to, more recently, private car tours. He has developed over time a serious network of contacts throughout Israel which affords him enhanced access to the country’s sites.

He made various suggestions regarding our itinerary while always leaving open options for modification. The advantage of working with a private guide is having the flexibility to tailor your own tour according to your own habits. Though each traveler’s tour is different, our package was based on a daily rate, including transportation in his car, paid access to museum and site visits, and personal guided tour with thorough and fascinating explanations of history. We settled on our final itinerary and looked forward to meeting him.

Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, our first contact was by phone. He called our hotel room to make sure we had settled in okay and to personally welcome us to Israel. This was a great ice-breaker and set us up for our meeting the next morning.

We met Eli, at the designated time, promptly in the lobby of our hotel near the elevators. There was no mistaking him…a congenial and prepared guide, to be sure.

Seeing the country through his eyes was fascinating. He was most engaging and taught us a lot. We came away feeling enriched and more knowledgeable. As we proceeded from day-to-day, we quickly realized the advantages of having our own personal guide. It was a decision that we were very happy we made. We feel quite comfortable in recommending his services to others that want to experience the most-bang-for-the-buck type of tour.

For further information or to contact him, his email is:elipeled@netvision.net.il

Enjoy your travels!

Limestone Beauty of Rosh HanikraRosh Hanikra sits on Israel’s northwest border. The incredible natural beauty of the white limestone cliffs and the grottos formed by the constant pounding of the sea make for an exciting tour stop. Upon arriving, visitors first see the border gate between Israel and its neighbor, Lebanon, directly to the north. Our guide also pointed out the visible buoys in the water off the coast that marked the international borders in the Mediterranean Sea. Visitors take a short cable car ride down to the shoreline where you can tour the grottos formed by the unrelenting rush of the water against the soft chalk cliffs. The cliffs are significant for another historical reason – during World War II, the British built a railway line through the mountain which extended the Cairo-Tel Aviv-Haifa line to Beirut. The old rails can still be seen, though the line has not been active since Israel’s Palmach fighters blew up the line in 1948 during the War of Independence. This was to prevent Lebanese invasions from the north. Though the tunnel has since been sealed up, the small opening leading into the old tunnel now serves as a small theatre where a short 15 minute presentation film is offered to visitors, explaining the history of the site.

There is a cafeteria on top of the cliff which provides a nice rest stop and lunch for tourists. They offer both hot and cold dishes, salads, snacks, beverages, and ice cream. Make sure and stop for a photo opportunity outside, where on the wall of the cafeteria, you’ll find the distances indicated to Beirut to the north and Jerusalem to the south.

This well-done website provides a fascinating look at Rosh Hanikra. Click on English (language) and then click again to enter the site. Check it out.