Check In: At an Israeli Hotel, a Hint of New England

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 22 Februari 2013 | 17.35

Atlas Hotels

The view of Tel Aviv and the Mediterranean from the hotel's rooftop.

Doubles from $230, standard; $270, deluxe; $303, spa room.

Basics

In November 2010, the 51-room Shalom Hotel and Relax opened in a space that had been occupied by a locally owned hourly motel. It is now part of the Atlas chain, which owns boutique hotels throughout Israel — many in Tel Aviv distinguished by their Bauhaus aesthetic.

Location

On Hayarkon Street, a block from a true Mediterranean beach. The hotel is across from a Hilton Hotel and Independence Park and is near many restaurants and shops.

The Room

My sea-view spa room was done up in luminous white with navy blue accents, lending it a modern, New England nautical feel. Beds covered in white sheets had white-and-blue striped padded headboards, set amid walls lined with white-and-blue-striped wallpaper. The best feature was the raised wooden platform with an extra chair and table, and a hot tub, all enclosed in the room, behind floor-to-ceiling windows. It was possible to see the Mediterranean, though the view was slightly obstructed by the Hilton. All rooms have electric kettles; coffee and tea; refrigerators; and a work space with a television monitor/computer combination with free Internet access, along with dozens of cable channels in English, Hebrew, Arabic, Russian and French.

The Bathroom

The large bathroom, which included a shower with a water-can sprinkler head, a toilet and a deep, splash-resistant sink, was glass enclosed, allowing you to gaze across the room to those floor-to-ceiling windows and take in the view. The bathroom itself contained a hairdryer, makeup mirror and Minus 417 brand toiletries, including luxury soaps with loofahs inside, made with Dead Sea minerals.

Amenities

The décor in the lobby, a cozy retreat where it's easy to socialize with other guests, continues the New England theme with cream, red and blue upholstered furniture, as well as Oriental rugs over whitewashed floorboards. The lobby hosts a happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday, when it offers Israeli wine, liquors and tapas free to guests (and 60 shekels, or $16.25 at 3.7 shekels to the dollar, for visitors). The hotel's true social hub, though, is the 24-hour rooftop deck, which has stunning sea and skyline views that become even more spectacular at sunset and sunrise. The deck is open all year, and in the summer its bar opens to guests and the public, offering beer, wine and mixed drinks from 40 to 50 shekels to a clientele that often consists of young people in Tel Aviv's tech industry. Despite the inclusion of the word "Relax" in the hotel name, there is no spa. The concierge, however, has a list of masseurs available for in-room appointments. (Expect to pay 280 to 320 shekels an hour.)

Dining

Breakfast is exceedingly generous for a small hotel. Dishes set out include Jewish favorites like bagels, smoked salmon and herring; American cereals; croissants; breads and cakes; Middle Eastern salads, olives, organic honeys and tahini and hummus spreads; cheeses; homemade marmalades; and eggs prepared to order. It wasn't all technically kosher, but followed the "no dairy with meat" restriction.

Bottom Line

The Shalom is relaxing and homey, and its New England-style charm is a welcome change from other high-end Tel Aviv hotels. The proximity to the beach more than makes up for the fact that the Hilton blocks many of its views. The pricing, reasonable for Tel Aviv, doesn't hurt either.

Shalom Hotel and Relax, 216 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv; (972) 3-762-5400; atlas.co.il/shalom-hotel-tel-aviv.


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