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A New Luxe Hotel Lands in Jerusalem

Where: 11 King Solomon St., Jerusalem, Israel, 94182

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: Israel Hotels / Hotel News / Religous Hotels / → All Tags

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

Where: 99 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv, Israel, 63432

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

Where: 99 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv, Israel, 63432

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.

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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?

Where: 23 King David Street , Jerusalem, Israel, 94101

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.