Jerusalem Travel Guide
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A New Luxe Hotel Lands in Jerusalem
Jerusalem's gettin' itself a fly new posh hotel (uh, when's the last time we started a story off like that?) According to the New York Times' "In Transit" blog, the big J is set to welcome Mamilla Hotel later this month, a 194-room hotspot inside a building designed by Moshe Safdie — who also, apparently, designed Columbus Center in NYC.
Per the Times:
According to Jerusalem law, all new construction in the city must involve the use of Jerusalem stone, a light-colored local limestone, various forms of which have provided the principal building blocks of older buildings, walls and alleys since ancient times.
The hotel, obviously, incorporates the stone in the minimalist design, and inside the rooms you'll find "dark wooden floors, custom-made furniture and bathrooms with rectangular bathtubs and liquid crystal walls that frost over for privacy." Oh, and we spotted "Personal PC with internet access" among the amenities listed for each room.
Look out for an espresso bar in the lobby, a wine bar, The Mirror Bar (complete with a cigar lounge), a Lobby Cafe, and something called the Dining Room and — party on, Jerusalem — a rooftop lounge serving light fare with some killer views of the Old City.
The Times is reporting rates starting at $450, with a 30 percent discount will be offered through September 1st as an opening promo. No opening date is listed on the website, and to book, you have to contact reservations@mamillahotel.com — doesn't look like there's an online booking agent in place just yet.
Tags: Jerusalem Hotels / Israel Hotels / Political Hotels / George W. Bush / Hotel Security / → All Tags
How Many Secret Service Personnel Does it Take to Fill the King David?
No matter what your political persuasion, if you're a U.S. president heading to Jerusalem, there's one place to say: The King David. Sure enough George W. Bush is staying there on his first official visit to Israel.
Bush will be staying in a suite at the King David hotel that costs $2,600 a night -- for guests who are not president of the United States. Assistant General Manager Benny Olearchik would not disclose how much the Americans are paying to stay at his hotel, one of Israel's most expensive.
Bush's entourage already has taken up more than two-thirds of its 237 rooms, and will take over all of them once he arrives himself, Olearchik said. Unlucky guests who happened to plan their visits at the wrong time had their reservations canceled.
There's a word to the wise for people staying at hotels popular with heads of state: you may be kicked out and forced to rebook. We can just imagine the look on the face of the person who had already booked an expensive suite being told, "Sorry, you must stay elsewhere."
We hear security will be a tad tight. "More than 10,500 policemen and security personnel will be deployed to protect Bush and keep order during the visit..." If you're going to be in Israel, this would be a good time to head to the Tel Aviv Hilton instead.
Tags: Celebrity Scoop / Hotel Reviews / → All Tags
Warren Buffet Likes Outdated Hotel Suites
Booking out every suite in a hotel abroad is only something that someone like Warren Buffet can pull off. With his long awaited trip to Israel planned, he has found it necessary to take over the King David Hotel in Jerusalem.
Buffet's staffers will probably be put up in a suite with private veranda with Jacuzzi bath overlooking the old City. Meanwhile, Buffet will most likely be found in the one and only royal suite:
Facing Old City, very large living room with panoramic view, separate bedroom, and separate meeting/dining room to seat 12 persons. Option of one or two extra interconnecting bedrooms, jacuzzi bath, separate enclosed shower and toilet, guest powder room, compact disc stereo system, VCR and FAX. Dining room to seat 12 persons, with a boardroom electronic presentation screen.
Will the King David Hotel be ready to serve an American billionaire and his entourage? Based on the hotel's track record the chances of this are slim to none. The hotel staff has been painted as one horrible picture by many recent past guests. On top of that, many find the hotel in desperate need of renovations and better food. None of this is hard to believe since the royal suite is shamelessly boasting a VCR. Who is Buffet's booking agent anyway?
But, the hotel will probably get off scot-free in this case since Buffet is still just a Nebraskan boy at heart and would not likely put up the fuss. Maybe he'll rent a video instead.
Related Stories:
· All King David suites booked for Buffett entourage [Globes]
· King David Hotel Reviews [TripAdvisor]
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Ewan Visits King David's "Bus Station"
Jerusalem is hot this week. First Will Smith crashed a bar mitzvah in Jerusalem now Page Six says that Ewan MacGregor and his wife and daughter are staying at the swank King David Hotel.
But despite the luxury hotel status and celeb clientele, guests are not always so refined. One guest reports:
I was there for a week when many Americans with children were there. Not once did a staff member or manager ask a parent to control an unruly child in the lobby or dining room. Not once did a staff member or manager ask an adult guest in a bathing suit (or even one corpulent man without a shirt!) not to walk thru the lobby. At times the ambiance of the lobby resembled a bus station waiting room.
At least it's good to know that if you ever desire to walk around shirtless in the holy city, this hotel will let you, extra pounds and all.
Related Stories:
· King David reviews [TripAdvisor]
· Sightings[NY Post]
· King David Hotel coverage [HotelChatter]
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King David Hotel's Amazing Service
The blog Israelity stopped into the King David Hotel in Jerusalem and this is what they uncovered about the extremely service-oriented 75-year-old hotel.
A man arrived without his luggage because his airline had misplaced it. In the middle of the night, the airline called the hotel to say the luggage had been found. Rather than wake up the guest, the hotel manager drove to the airport, picked up the suitcases, and deposited them outside the guest's door.
Some other stories include the one of a jetlagged woman who got up at 4 am to start some work in her room. The hotel operator noticed all the activity on her room's phone line and sent up some of the hotel's legendary breakfast. (All you hotel operators out there, take note!)
The hotel is without a doubt luxurious. Most rooms have views of the Old City. All have marble bathrooms, complete with bidets--if you are into that sort of thing. There's also a pool and tennis court on the premises.
And if that doesn't please you then this might: Natalie Portman stayed here and Madonna almost stayed here until a fellow tourist gave out her location. Now does that please you, all you shameless celeb-followers?
Related Stories:
· A Visit to the King David Hotel: You Can't Buy Love, But You Can Buy Discretion [Israelity: Life Beyond the Conflict]
· King David Hotel Reviews [TripAdvisor]
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Inside The Room: The Itzhak Rabin Suite
selectworldtravel's photostream takes us inside the King David Hotel in Jerusalem.
This is a look inside the hotel's Itzhak Rabin Suite.
"Luxury at it's best", according to this traveler.
Related Stories:
· King David Hotel Reviews [TripAdvisor]
· Hotel Coverage :: Israel [HotelChatter]
Tags: Hotels / → All Tags
Where The Down Boys Go In Jerusalem
According to Travel & Leisure's June issue, The American Colony Hotel's Cellar Bar is a place for pessimists.
From foreign correspondents on expense accounts, to the well-born sons and daughters of East Jerusalem, to the stringers who get high on the smell of burning tires, everyone gets equal treatment.
Don't let this downtrodden view fool you, the American Colony Hotel is also a tourist hotspot, and one of the most sought after hotels in Jerusalem.
According to one recent guest:
The bar has to be seen, unique with vaulted ceiling. Ask for the deluxe Pasha room, 14 is my favorite with big terrace overlooking the pool area. I liked it so much that I came back few months later with my wife and my 2 kids. For me, best hotel in Middle East (and I travel a lot) and one of my favourite in the world.
Sounds like an atmospheric dichotomy in Jersusalem--go figure.
Related Stories:
· Trot Your Way To Jerusalem [HotelChatter]
· American Colony Hotel Reviews [TripAdvisor]
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