This hotel is located in the diamond district of Tel Aviv and caters to mostly a business clientle. When we were there there were many Orthodox Jews who were clearly in that business,and the hotel is strictly kosher in the restaurants.

We used points for our one night stay and when we arrived we were upgraded to a high floor. I assume it was a Club floor, but nothing was open due to the fact that we arrived on a Saturday night. They did have a fruit basket and chocolate and even other goodies and a bottle of sparkling water waiting for us upon arrival in the room. I felt the room was a bit small, and the furnishings were a bit battered looking and sort of old, but it was not something that I objected to. I am aware that Israeli hotels were hit hard during the last few years when there was little tourism due to the political situation, and no one had money for renovations. Things are picking up now and I expect changes by the time I come back in a year or two. The location was very convenient to travelers who just need to get off the highway before they enter the maze of Tel Aviv streets (like those with rental cars who are coming from the south and don't need to go into Tel Aviv or want to hang by the beach)but there really isn't anything to do in the general vicinity--unlike the Sheraton Tel Aviv.

When we arrived, at 9 pm we were hungry but the area did not look like a place we wanted to walk around and look for a restaurant, so we ordered room service and the sandwiches we ordered were immense and delicious,with fresh salad included, and delivered promptly-- cost about $8.50 each!

We needed a roll-away bed, and when we called for one, it was also delivered promptly, by two ladies who spoke to each other in Russian the whole time, hardly looked at us, and were very businesslike--making up the bed and moving furniture around to make things fit. When I gave them a tip, they looked like it was completely unexpected, and hardly broke a smile.

The hotel serves one of those fantastic Israeli breakfast buffets. The food is fresh and wonderful and the restaurant was very appealing and the service was great. Because we were staying on points, the breakfast was not included, as it usually is, but the woman at the reception there who checks your room key let us in anyway, which was a great deal.

Internet access is through wireless on your laptop only, I think, and it cost $5 for one hour or $18 for 24 hour period. Parking cost us around $10, and the parking lot is small and a bit creepy, but offers direct access to the hotel, through a modern mall that was not open when we arrived. The lobby is attractive and the bar/restaurant--which we did not try--looked appealing and worth a visit.

Overall, I would stay here again, but not if I wanted to be a tourist in Tel Aviv--for that I would stay at the Sheraton Tel Aviv Towers.

Review submitted by Lisa S.

Posted at April 10, 2007 8:00 PM