BEIT ALFA (BETH ALFA) Beit Alfa Guest Rooms S z 7 \
Kibbutz Beit Alfa, 10802Tel (04) 653 3026l Fax (04) 653 3882x Rooms39 Map C2 At the foot of Mount Gilboa, this kibbutz guesthouse is on the grounds of Kibbutz Beit Alfa, known for its ancient synagogue, Japanese garden, mini-zoo and herd of dairy cows. The modest rooms, in low-rise, kibbutz-style buildings, come with a microwave and a fridge.www.beit-alfa.com
BEIT SHEAN Beit Shean Guest House 0 S z 7 ) \
126 Menahem Begin Ave, 11741Tel (04) 606 0760l Faxx(04) 606 0766Rooms 62 Map C2 Housed in an impressive, ultra-modern stone building and endowed with functional but comfortable facilities, this hostel is an excellent base for visits to the Beit Shean antiquities, the Beit Alfa synagogue and Belvoir Castle. A humourous wall mural with thousands of tiny figures illustrates daily life in ancient Beit Shean.www.iyha.org.il
T R A V E L L E R S ’ N E E D S
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CAESAREA Dan Caesarea 0 S ÷ z 7 ∫ ) \\\\
Caesarea, 30600Tell(04) 626 9111Faxx(04) 626 9122Rooms114 MapB2
Surrounded by some of the most beautiful coastal scenery in Israel, this quiet hotel is next to Israel’s only 18-hole golf course. The superb Roman ruins of Caesarea are a five-minute drive away. The hotel offers a wide variety of sports activities, including scuba diving and sailing. Some rooms have sea views.www.danhotels.com CARMEL FOREST Carmel Forest Spa Resort 0 S ÷ z 7 ∫ ) \\\\\
Near Kibbutz Beit Oren, 31900Tel (04) 830 7888l Fax (04) 830 7886x Rooms126 Map B2 Overlooking the Mediterranean and amid the natural beauty of Mount Carmel, this luxury spa-hotel offers a wide variety of spa and health treatments, as well as cooking, wine and yoga courses. Amenities include a genuine Turkish hammam and two swimming pools. Guests must be 16. Cellphones can be used only in rooms.www.isrotel.co.il
GOLAN HEIGHTS Golan Field School z \
Katsrin, 12900Tel (04) 696 1234l Faxx(04) 696 5033Rooms 34 Map C2
On the edge of the Golan’s largest town, this hostel is run by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel.
It has spartan rooms situated in a grassy campus, and is an ideal base for visiting the Golan countryside, including Yehudiya Nature Reserve, and the area’s Roman-era Jewish archaeological sites.www.aspni.org
GOLAN HEIGHTS Alaska Inn S z 7 ) \\\
Metulla, 10292Tel (04) 699 7111l Fax (04) 699 7118x Rooms60 Map C1
Overlooking Lebanon’s Ayun Valley from a spot 20 km (12 miles) west of Banias Spring on the Golan Heights, the village of Metulla is “Israel’s Switzerland”. The hotel is an ideal base for exploring the northern Golan and the far north of Galilee. Local attractions include the Canada Centre ice-skating rink. www.alaskainn.co.il
HAIFA Dan Panorama 0 S ÷ z ∫ ) \\\
107 HaNassi Ave, 34632Tell(04) 835 2222Fax (04) 835 2235x Rooms 266 Map B2 Occupying two high-rise towers perched high on top of Mount Carmel, this deluxe hotel offers breathtaking Mediterranean panoramas and affords easy access to the charms of Central Carmel. Pricier rooms look out on Haifa Bay. Situated very near the upper station of the Carmelit funicular railway and the zoo.www.danhotels.co.il KFAR PEKI’IN Peki’in Youth Hostel & Family Guesthouse z 7 \ Kfar Peki’in, 24914Tel (04) 957 4111l Fax (04) 957 4116x Rooms50 Map C2 This modern, well-appointed hostel is situated in a Druze village in the Galilee hills, 7 km (4 miles) southeast of Maalot-Tarshiha, with views of Mount Meron. Walking tours and hosting by local families help guests get a sense of Druze life and culture. Served by Egged bus 44 from Nahariya and bus 271 from Haifa.www.iyha.org.il
NAHARIYA Carlton Nahariya 0 S ÷ z 7 ∫ ) \\\
23 HaGaaton Blvd, 22444Tel (04) 900 5511l Faxx(04) 982 3771Rooms 200 Map B2 Situated 10 km (6 miles) north of Akko on the café-lined main street of the seaside resort of Nahariya, this hotel is just steps from the beach. The comfortable, airy rooms have a modern, Mediterranean ambience. Amenities include spa treatments, a sun terrace with sea views and free bicycles.www.carlton-hotel.co.il
NAHSHOLIM Nahsholim Seaside Resort 0 z 7 \\\
Nahsholim, 30815Tel (04) 639 9533l Faxx(04) 639 7614Rooms 128 MapB2 Set on a bay along Israel’s most gorgeous strip of Mediterranean coastline, this kibbutz-run tourist village is a short walk from the delightful Dor Nature Reserve and a string of fish ponds that attract flocks of migrating birds, making it a great location for bird watchers, if not the local fish farmers.www.nahsholim.co.il
NAZARETH Plaza Hotel 0 S ÷ z 7 ) \\\
2 Hermon St, Upper Nazareth, 17502Tel (04) 602 8200l Fax (04) 602 8222x Rooms184 Map B2 The Plaza is a modern, 10-storey hotel known for its convenient facilities, efficient service and central Lower Galilee location rather than its character. It makes a good base for car trips to Nazareth, Megiddo, Tsipori, the Jezreel Valley and Beit Alfa. Amenities include a sauna and a jacuzzi.www.israelhotels.org.il
ROSH PINA Auberge Shulamit 0 z \\\
David Shuv St, Rosh Pina, 12000Tel (04) 693 1494l Fax (04) 693 1495x Rooms4 Map C2 In one of the oldest and most charming Jewish villages in Galilee, this old basalt house, built in the 1930s, is decorated with exquisite taste and attention to detail. The rooms have jacuzzi baths. The breakfasts are superb and the fine restaurant affords a breathtaking view. Weekends are booked up long in advance.www.shulamit.co.il
ROSH PINA Mizpe Hayamim 0 S ÷ z 7 \\\\\
On Hwy 89 between Safed and Rosh Pina, 12000Tel (04) 699 4555l Fax (04) 699 9555x Rooms99 Map C2 Midway between Rosh Pina and Safed, on a hillside perch overlooking the Sea of Galilee and Golan, this ultra- luxurious resort is a great place to be pampered. Surrounded by orchards and gardens, its exquisitely designed rooms exude French style. The spa offers some uniquely Galilean treatments. www.mizpe-hayamim.com
SAFED Ruth Rimonim Inn S ÷ z ) \\\\
Tet-Zayin St, Safed, 13110Tel (04) 699 4666l Faxx(04) 692 0456Rooms 81 Map C2 In the heart of Safed, the ruins of a 17th-century inn have been transformed into one of Galilee’s most attractive hostelries. The atmospheric rooms, built partly of stone, have a very local flavour, and most come with fine views of Mount Meron. There are also spa facilities.www.rimonim.com
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SEA OF GALILEE YMCA Peniel-by-Galilee S z \\
On Hwy 90 north of Tiberias, 14101Tel (04) 672 0685l Faxx(04) 672 5943Rooms 13 Map C2 In a superb lakefront location, this guesthouse is ensconsed in a lovely stone building with lots of character and is awash in greenery. The ornate Middle Eastern-style lobby and the lovely chapel are a feast for the eyes. Rooms are simply furnished; the best ones come with great lake views. Lakewater swimming pool.www.ymca-galilee.co.il
SEA OF GALILEE Nof Ginosar 0 S z 7 ) \\\
Kibbutz Ginosar, 14980Tell(04) 670 0300Faxx(04) 679 2170Rooms 170 Map C2 On the lakeside, 7 km (4 miles) north of Tiberias, this sprawling, grassy place has a fine beach and is a superb choice for a stay by the Sea of Galilee. Rooms are simple, pleasant and comfortable. Kibbutz-style holiday bungalows with kitchenettes are also available.www.ginosar.co.il
SEA OF GALILEE Scots Hotel 0 S z ) \\\
1 Gdud Barak St, Tiberias, 14100Tell(04) 671 0710Fax (04) 671 0711x Rooms 69 Map C2 Full of character, this former hospital was founded in the late 1800s and is still owned by the Church of Scotland.
Sitting on the lakefront and surrounded by a lovely garden, it is an oasis of tranquility in the town centre.
The modern and very attractive facilities include a spa and, in summer, a swimming pool.www.scotshotels.co.il SEA OF GALILEE Vered HaGalil Guest Farm 0 S z 7 ) \\\
On Hwy 90 between Tiberias and Rosh Pina, 12385Tel (04) 693 5785l Fax (04) 693 4964x Rooms18 Map C2 This quiet, family-run ranch, which doubles as a horseback riding school, offers individual stone-and-wood cottages and cabins, each with lots of woody furnishings and a veranda. The rustic restaurant serves up American fare. The stables supply horses for riding tours of the area. www.veredhagalil.co.il
SEA OF GALILEE Rimonim Galei Kinneret 0 S ÷ z 7 ) \\\\\
1 Eliezer Kaplan St, Tiberias, 14209Tel (04) 672 8888l Faxx(04) 679 0260Rooms 120 Map C2 Right on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, this luxurious spa hotel offers classy, up-to-date facilities and a wide variety of health and beauty treatments. Rooms are decorated in a contemporary style and many come with delightful watery views. Activity options include water-skiing. www.rimonim.com
SHLOMI Shlomi Youth Hostel z 7 \
Shlomi, 22832Tel (04) 980 8975l Fax (04) 980 9163x Rooms100 MapB2
Clean and quiet, if a bit old-fashioned, this unpretentious hostel makes a good budget base for exploring the far northwest of Galilee, including Akko and the coast around Nahariya. Served by Egged buses 22 and 23 from Nahariya.www.iyha.org.il
TEL AVIV HaYarkon 48 Hostel z 7 ) \
48 HaYarkon St, 63305Tell(03) 516 8989Fax (03) 510 3113x Rooms 18 & dormitories MapB3 Just two blocks from the city’s broad, sandy beach and a five-minute walk from the Carmel Market, this bright yellow hostel is welcoming and cheery. Many of the private rooms come with balconies. Dorm beds are cheap. Amenities include bicycle parking and a pool table.www.hayarkon48.com
TEL AVIV Old Jaffa Hostel & Guest House z \
13 Amiad St, 68139Tell(03) 682 2370Rooms 23 MapB3
Just around the corner from Jaffa’s famous flea market and Clock Tower, this atmospheric hostel occupies an Ottoman-era residence with sky-high ceilings and a mellow rooftop lounge offering views of the Mediterranean.
Dorm beds are cheap. Breakfast is not included but is available in nearby cafés.www.telaviv-hostel.com
TEL AVIV Dizengoff Square Apartments z \\
89 Dizengoff St & 4 Dizengoff Circle, 64396Tell(03) 524 1151Faxx(03) 523 5614Rooms 60 MapB3 Occupying two Bauhaus-style buildings at Dizengoff Circle, the ever-lively focal point of central Tel Aviv, this place offers tastefully furnished apartments with kitchenettes. Larger suites come with sofas and a kitchen table. Excellent value for money in a great location.www.hotel-apt.com
TEL AVIV Dizengoff Suites Hotel 0 z 7 ) \\
39 Gordon St, 63461Tell(03) 523 4363Fax (03) 527 3524x Rooms 20 MapB3 On the corner of lively Dizengoff St, midway between the beach and Rabin Square, this family-run place has suites with kitchenettes, fridges and, in most cases, balconies. Breakfast can be bought at the stylish, Italian-style café- restaurant on the ground floor.www.dizengoffsuites.co.il
TEL AVIV Alexander 0 ÷ z 7 ∫ ) \\\
3 Habakuk St, 63505Tel (03) 545 2222l Fax (03) 546 9346x Rooms47 MapB3 This all-suites hotel sits at the northern entrance to Metzitzim beach, just two blocks south of the Tel Aviv Port nightlife area and a few minutes on foot from HaYarkon Park and the Yarkon River Estuary. The spacious suites come with a kitchenette and a work area, and can accommodate up to seven people.www.alexander.co.il
TEL AVIV Cinema z 7 \\\
1 Zamenhof St, 64373Tel (03) 520 7100l Fax (03) 521 7101x Rooms82 MapB3 In a former cinema right on Dizengoff Circle, this stylish hotel has a film-themed lobby that is as evocative of 1930s elegance as its curvaceous, Bauhaus-style faỗade. Some rooms have balconies and/or kitchenettes. Amenities include a sun roof, sauna and jacuzzi. www.atlas.co.il
T R A V E L L E R S ’ N E E D S
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TEL AVIV Dan Panorama 0 S ÷ z 7 ∫ ) \\\
Charles Clore Park, 68012Tel (03) 519 0190l Fax (03) 517 1777x Rooms500 Map B3 Overlooking a grassy, seafront park midway between Dizengoff Circle and Old Jaffa, this 18-storey hotel is across the street from a broad, sandy beach and just three blocks from the chic boutiques and cafés of Neve Tzedek.
All rooms have sea views and balconies. Only one room has facilities for wheelchair users. www.danhotels.com
TEL AVIV Sheraton City Tower 0 S ÷ z 7 ∫ ) \\\\
14 Shalom Zissman St, Ramat Gan, 52521Tell(03) 754 4444Fax (03) 754 4445x Rooms 166 Map B3 At the gateway to Ramat Gan’s skyscraper Diamond Exchange District, this business-oriented hotel, on floors nine to 17 of a 40-storey tower, is across the Ayalon Expressway from the Central Tel Aviv Train Station, linked by rail with Akko, Haifa, Beersheva and Jerusalem. Amenities include an outdoor jacuzzi and a spa. www.sheraton.co.il
TEL AVIV Sheraton Tel Aviv 0 S ÷ z 7 ∫ ) \\\\
115 HaYarkon St, 63573Tell(03) 521 1111Fax (03) 523 3322x Rooms331 Map B3 One of the city’s most luxurious hotels, this venerable, high-rise hotel overlooks the beachfront and is just steps from several beachside cafés. The public areas are an excellent example of modern Israeli interior design. All rooms are spacious and stylish, and have balconies with Mediterranean panoramas.www.sheraton-telaviv.co.il
TEL AVIV Tel Aviv Hilton 0 S ÷ z 7 ∫ ) \\\\\
Independence Park, 63405Tel (03) 520 2222l Faxx(03) 527 2711Rooms583 Map B3 The most luxurious and best equipped of the city’s hotels, the Hilton sits on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean.
Rooms are spacious and come with marble bathrooms and wonderful sea views. Activity options include sailing, windsurfing and cycling. The beach is a two-minute walk down the hill.www.hilton.com
YEHIAM Teva be-Yehiam S z \\\
Kibbutz Yechiam, 25125Tell(04) 985 6057 or (050) 444 4362Faxx(04) 952 4567Rooms 60 Map B2 In the Galilee hills 23 km (14 miles) northeast of Akko, this kibbutz hotel is built next to the ruins of a Crusader castle. It is a very quiet spot, with lots of greenery and lawns, but the speciality here is arranging challenging outdoor activities for groups, such as kayaking, speedboating, jeep tours and cliff rapelling. www.rimoney-hagalil.com