94101 Travel Guide
Jerusalem Hotels
How Many Secret Service Personnel Does it Take to Fill the King David?
January 8, 2008 at 2:26 PM | 0 Comments
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.
Celebrity Scoop
Warren Buffet Likes Outdated Hotel Suites
September 18, 2006 at 10:57 AM | 0 Comments
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]
Ewan Visits King David's "Bus Station"
April 21, 2006 at 10:31 AM | 0 Comments
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]
Hotels
Inside The Room: The Itzhak Rabin Suite
December 13, 2005 at 5:17 PM | 0 Comments
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]
Tips
Take A Cab To SF Hotels
December 17, 2003 at 1:10 PM | 0 Comments
SF will tax hotel parking at 14%. As if they weren't already taxed enough! Looks like you might want to look into alternate transportation when checking into your San Francisco Hotel.
