Israel 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.
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Still No Room at Bethlehem's Inns
Yesterday's holiday filled up more than just hotels in big cities like New York and Paris, but also guaranteed a sea of tourists to religious destinations like Bethlehem, the hub of Christmas. Since a tense peace exists in the area, Bethlehem has taken in record numbers of both pilgrims (some 1.3 million) and their cash this past week.
As a result, hotels in the town have been overflowing, forcing even those under renovation to open specifically for the holidays. While Bethlehem businesses hope that the peace holds in the name of more than just souvenir dollars, it seems like they'll be getting that wish no matter what. According to the Christian Science Monitor, hotel chains Mövenpick and Days Inn will be moving in while "in the Beit Sahour suburb of Bethlehem, hammers can be heard from hotel construction just up the road from Shepherds' Field, the hillside believed to be the site from where the biblical Star of Bethlehem was sighted."
While it's always weird to hear that your average, run-of-the-mill chain hotels are being built at exotic locations, it is an altogether different matter when you're able to Twitter about checking into the Days Inn Bethlehem. The era of sleeping in a manger is now officially over.
[Photo: oneworld.net]
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Sir Paul McCartney Shacks Up at Dan Hotel in Tel Aviv
More than 40 years after the Beatles were banned from playing in Israel, Sir Paul McCartney has landed in Tel-Aviv and checked into the Dan Hotel and will be preparing for an historic performance tonight.
The Dan, if you'll recall, was featured on this humble little website when one of our readers was so kind as to review it for us. To recap: the property is posh, it's located in the city's center and it's steps from the beach.
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Reader Review :: The Dan Hotel In Tel Aviv and Other Options
Every so often we feature a hotel review from one of our readers that we feel should be shared with the rest of you dear hotel guests. These reviews are highlighted because they are timely, about cool hotels in cool places and are relatively level-headed. Think you can submit one just like this? Send it in. Now, we present you with reader P's review of the Dan Hotel in Tel Aviv. Enjoy.
Tel Aviv is a city on the brink. With a daily-changing political climate in the region, there's a constant uncertainty in the air.
In recent years, the city has seen a slowing of the once widely reported suicide bombings and other violence and has entered a renaissance of sorts.
With that, tourism has increased steadily and the hospitality business has begun to respond to the demand. A vibrant cafe culture, excellent boutique shopping, an exciting restaurant-scene and a booming nightlife--the town has something for everyone.
During our recent visit, we stayed the Dan Tel Aviv. The hotel is set in the center of the city, steps from the beach and near to several cultural and shopping attractions. A member of the leading hotels of the world, one half of the hotel was more recently renovated with a modern aesthetic.
Tags: Waldorf-Astoria Collection / Jerusalem Hotels / Hotel Construction / → All Tags
Waldorf-Astoria Construction Begins on The Palace Jerusalem
While Waldorf-Astoria Collection keeps plucking new properties left and right, the renovation/re-construction is actually being started on the luxe chain's Jerusalem property.
WAC decided to renovate the historic Palace Hotel (built in 1929) and turn it into a 220-room hotel with 30 residences on site. Harry over at Jerusalemite, a Jerusalem Culture Guide, tipped us off as to what's been happening as of late:
The structure has been completely gutted, with the detailed outer walls, now a mere facade, serving as the only remnants of the original building. Despite its decrepit appearance, the former Palace Hotel is one of Jerusalem's most beautiful buildings, with numerous carvings designed as an amalgamation of Moorish, Roman and Arab architecture.
The hotel will open sometime in 2010. Go here to see what the hotel should look like when the renovation is completed.
[Photo: Jerusalemite]
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.
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Enrique Iglesias, Anna Kournikova: Married and Charging a Million for a Hotel Hanukkah Party
The NY Post reports that Enrique Iglesias is apparently married to former tennis star Anna Kournikova and the two are now hosting a Hanukkah party at the Hilton Hotel in Tel Aviv on Dec. 21.
The Spanish crooner and his Russian spouse, who was once a top-10 tennis player, need 30 luxury hotel rooms for their entourage, and they've already requested that mineral water and freshly squeezed orange juice be placed in their own room at 7 a.m.
The holiday party is in honor of a billionaire Arcadi Gaydamak who is on the lam for tax evasion in France. Apparently, he donates huge sums of money to Israeli charities to avoid extradition.
Iglesias and Kournikova are also charging about $1 million for their appearance which will include a performance by Enrique. Let's just hope his song is nothing as terrible as this one.
Related Stories:
· Enrique's Holiday Bonanza [Page Six]
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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