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 | |  |  | Mount Zion Hotel: All Eyes on Mt. Zion Compare Rates NEW! | Tip Rating:   Satisfaction:   |  |  | |  |
The Mt. Zion Hotel is not one of those hotels that hits you in the eye with its monumental architecture. It doesn’t look like much from the outside. In fact, you hardly see it at all, because it is a low-slung building, hugging the hilly terrain. The entrance, on Hebron Road, looks like a kind of glorified cave that you enter by going down a flight of steps. Once inside, you are greeted by a stunning lobby – elegant yet very “old world Jerusalem” - a blend of colorful cushions, brass and wood coffee tables, ceramic vases and beaten copper wall decorations. All this pales beside the eye-popping vistas from the arched picture window at the far end of the lobby. It’s the kind of view you simply cannot take your eyes off: the walls of the Old City, Mt. Zion, the Judean Desert, the mountains of Moab off in the distance. Speaking of eyes, the building was a British ophthalmic hospital in the 19th century, when eye diseases seem to have been a major problem in this part of the world. People traveled from as far as Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt and Persia to be treated by doctors at the Hospital of the Order of St. John. Only 100 patients were seen a day, and the system was “first come, first served.” The doors were opened after midnight and shut when the quota was filled. Pilgrims visiting Jerusalem in those days describe the crowds camped outside. The building across the street, the Jerusalem House of Quality, which contains galleries and art studios today, was an outpatient clinic. During World War I, the hospital closed down and the Turkish army turned it into an ammo dump. One wing was blown up when the Turks left in 1917. Under the British Mandate, the hospital reopened and two new wings were added. For 19 years, from 1948 to 1967, the place stood empty. In 1986, someone finally came up with the idea of turning it into a hotel.
I haven’t stayed here myself, but this is a friend’s testimonial: “The Mt. Zion was very beautiful. The food was very good, too. Our only complaint was that there were no towels the first night and we didn't think to ask for any until the next day. The bathroom was large and spacious. The room was very big and had a great view. It was walking distance to lots of things. Many people from our group walked to the Kotel. For good walkers, it was about a 30-minute walk, mostly straight up! For me that seemed too daunting. We were looking right at the walls of the Old City and there was a path you could take to enter, also a bit of a climb. I would stay there again and would not hesitate to recommend it to others.” There is a beautiful outdoor pool facing the walls of the Old City, and a fitness room for those who can still move after hiking around Jerusalem... Leave a Comment Theme: HotelPrice: US$120-180 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: 17 HEBRON ROAD, Jerusalem, IL 93546Phone: 02-5689555
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| | | | RABIN YOUTH HOSTEL & GUEST HOUSE: A Five-Star Youth Hostel | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
Mercaz Rabin, with its soaring modernist architecture, glass-sided lobby and pink flowering terraces, is unlike any youth hostel you’ve ever been to. Beauty aside, you’ll also love the food. This is not youth hostel fare. The kitchen is run by a caterer who organizes parties and special events. In fact, I held my daughter's bat mitzvah there. While not smack dab in the center of town, it is located on the same street as the Israel Museum, the Science Museum and the Bible Lands Museum. Across from the Israel Museum are the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) and the Supreme Court, both of which offer free guided tours (bring your passports). The 17 bus, which stops right in front of Rabin will get you downtown. This bus only runs every 20 minutes or so, so ask the receptionist for a schedule. Buses that run more frequently (19, 31) stop at the intersection of Burla and Herzog. If you’re pressed for time, have the desk call you a cab. The ride to the center or the Old City takes about 10 minutes. Mercaz Rabin has 77 air-conditioned rooms with en suite toilet and showers. Each room has 4 beds, two of which fold up against the wall if not in use. So we are not talking about super luxury, but a clean, well-designed place to bed down for the night and fill up on a hearty Israeli breakfast before setting out on your adventures. My mother has stayed there, and also some of my more nitpicking friends, and they were all more than satisfied.
So what’s close by? Apart from museums, there’s a supermarket and a pharmacy down the road on Burla Street, and a small shopping center with a cash machine, pizza parlor and 2 coffee shop/bakeries at the corner, on Herzog. On Burla Street, right opposite Rabin, is the back entrance to the Givat Ram campus of the Hebrew University where the National Library is located (not visited by most tourists, but quite interesting, featuring an exhibit of Albert Einstein’s letters and a wall of stained glass windows). Directly across the street is the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens (entrance from the parking lot next to the supermarket), with a restaurant perched on the edge of a lake. If you still have pep after running around all day, the Rabin center offers a whole program of evening activities: sing-a-longs, folk dancing, and more. Check the bulletin board to see what’s on. For 15 shekels ($3.50) you can see an audiovisual presentation about the life of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated on Nov 4, 1995. The big problem is getting a room here. Rabin is often solidly booked. So if you want to stay here, reserve well in advance. Prices are $47.50 for singles and $62 for a couple. A room for 4 costs $100. Breakfast included. Leave a Comment Theme: HostelPrice: US$40-80 » Currency ConverterComparison: less expensive than averageAddress: Corner of Burla and Avigad St., Nayot, JerusalemPhone: 02-6780101Other Contact: rabin@iyha.org.il
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| | | | The King David Jerusalem: VIP's hotel Compare Rates NEW! | Tip Rating: | | | | |
The flagship of Israeli Hotels, Marveling at the fabled skyline of the Old City. A remarkable venue - a Jerusalem landmark and Israel's most famous hotel. The perennial host to world leaders and celebrities. The King David Hotel bombing (July 22, 1946) was a bombing attack against the British government of Palestine by members of Irgun ?a militant Zionist group. The Irgun exploded a bomb at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, which had been the base for the British Secretariat, the military command and a branch of the Criminal Investigation Division (police). 91 people were killed, most of them civilians: 28 British, 41 Arab, 17 Jewish, and 5 other. Around 45 people were injured. The attack was initially ordered by David Ben Gurion, who was in the United States, but he later changed his mind and ordered the bombing to be cancelled. But Menachem Begin, the head of Irgun, went ahead anyway. Both Ben Gurion and Begin would later become Israeli Prime Ministers. The attack on the hotel was the largest attack against the British in the history of the Mandate. Theme: HotelPrice: US$120-180 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: King David Street, , Jerusalem 94101Map: The King David Jerusalem
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| | | | Mishkanot Sha'anim: Stunning location | Tip Rating:  | | | | |
Labelled a B&B, Mishkenot Sha'anim must be one of the nicest places in Jerusalem to stay. The village colony of Mishkenot was built in the 19th century and represents the first 'suburb' of Jerusalem outside the Old City walls. It overlooks the Old City and Sultan's Pool and was built as essentially homes for workers as the population of the city began to grow. Nowadays, it is surrounded by the modern city. With the stupendous views and location, it has now become gentrified, the stone cottages and homes climbing up the hill, the alleyways bouganvillea shrouded. In the midst of this is the 'B&B'. For a while, it was an artists colony, primarily for literature. Many great names of literature have stayed here, the walls adorned with a whose who of novelists from around the world. But it recently underwent a massive rennovation and has become a superb place to stay.
A row of stone cottages have been converted into private rooms or suites. Each has 2 rooms - a comfortably and stylish (but not ostentatious) decorated living room with a separate bedroom. Each has a view into the valley, most onto the Old City (a shared terrace runs the entire length of the row). 2 suites each share a common entrance, with one suite forming the ground floor, the other the 1st floor. What was once the alleyway as been converted into a covered 'corridor' connecting the suites and the reception area which is accessed by stairs 'higher up the hill'. There are only about 25 suites. The reception area leads to a restaurant, small gallery, function and education rooms as well as another dining area where breakfast is served. I have put a price as an average, but the rates are very variable - you can negotiate. Leave a Comment Theme: HotelPrice: US$80-120 » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averageAddress: Mishkenot Sha'anim
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| | | | Petra Hostel: Petra (Inside of Old City) | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
We arrived Jerusalem at 0700, so we did not have much time to find a better hostel, 'cos we were too tired after 13-hour flight. We should understand that we just paid 20NSH (around US$5 per night), and should be satisfied. We slept on the roof-top. It was so cold in the mid-night. The toilet was dirty (well, could be said "not clean enough"). And, it seemed to be not safe, 'cos many people would talk/sleep near you and there was no place to hide your property. It is located just 3-minute away from the Jaffa Gate and opposite of the Tower of David. It is quite easy to find. If you need to sleep earlier, it could be a hell that the noisy main street will make you crazy. There were some local tours that the hostel keeper will ask your interest or you could check the information. Anyway, we moved the next day. Leave a Comment Theme: HostelPrice: less than US$20 » Currency ConverterAddress: David Street, Jaffa GateDirections: just 3 minutes walk from the Jaffa Gate, opposite of the Tower of David
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| | | | Mount Of Olives Hotel: A truly splendid hotel for Christian pilgrims Compare Rates NEW! | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
As a Christian pilgrim visiting the Holy Land for the first time, the feeling I had when staying at the Mount of Olives Hotel was overwhelming. Although the mountain itself has changed considerably since the days when our Lord traversed its slopes and slept in its caves, a stay at this modest inn gave me an amazing glimpse and feeling of that time. To give an idea of how well placed this hotel is, the perimeter wall of the Chapel of the Ascension of Jesus Christ is literally touching the southern wall of the hotel. In addition, the hotel is positioned on the highest point in Jerusalem which provides visitors with an awesome 360 degree view of the entire area accessable from the roof. I doubt that there exists a better vantage point to view the Old City of Jerusalem, the New City, Bethlehem, the Dead Sea, or Heriodian. Ask the staff for the key to the roof. Every morning before breakfast, I would take a five-minute walk down the steep slope to the Garden of Gethsemene to meditate and ponder. Walking back up the hill was much harder but it was good exercise. The hotel itself is very basic. When business is slow, they upgrade guests to their *PLUS* rooms which are newly renovated and all have new furniture, televisions, hair dryers, etc. I was upgraded to one of the better rooms at no extra cost. The staff are very helpful and friendly. The hotel serves complimentary "Dowe Egberts" coffee and tea all day and night. Free high-speed Internet access is available for guests either via Wifi or a computer terminal in the lobby. Amazingly, I was able able to rent a desktop computer in my room from an Internet service provider that has its offices and infrastructure inside the hotel. The downside to the Mount of Olives Hotel, at least while I was there, is the old furniture in the lobby which definately needs replacing. Overall though, the price is very reasonable for what you get and for Christians, the location is perfect.
In their own words, the Mount of Olives Hotel is literally surrounded by famous churches and holy sites commemorating events mentioned in the Bible including the Chapel of Ascension, the Pater Noster Church, Dominus Flevit and the Garden of Gethsemene. A walk to St. Stephan's Gate in the Old City takes about 15-20 minutes via the Garden of Gethsemene. The view along the way is stunning. Theme: HotelPrice: US$40-80 » Currency ConverterComparison: less expensive than averageAddress: 53 Mount Of Olives Rd Jerusalem Israel 91190Phone: 972-2628-4877Directions: The highest point in Jerusalem on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Old CityWebsite: http://www.mtolives.com Map: Mount Of Olives Hotel
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| | | | Lutheran Guest House: BEST place to stay in Jerusalem's Old Walled City | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
I waited four years to stay at this place and I was not disappointed! Back in the summer of 2000 when I was staying with friends in the Christian Quarter, we went exploring one day and came across this guesthouse. I found it to be charming and vowed to stay here the next time I returned to the Old Walled City. I was not disappointed! Located in the quiet residential Jewish Quarter, the Lutheran Guesthouse is fairly well hidden. In fact when we arrived to Jerusalem it was at night and I remember we walked up and down the narrow cobbled streets, wondering just where in the world WAS this place?!!? We probably passed it several times before realizing where we were. (the Old Walled City can be a labyrinth of alleys and streets so it's not uncommon to get twisted around!). The building itself is of course, made out of stone and there's little to mark it from the outside...a small sign next to a heavy metal doorway. Inside is charming, however... Rooms are somewhat dormitory style, in that they're lined down the hallway on either side. We stayed in a "double" which had two twin beds. The room was on the small side but otherwise very clean and the bathroom was also scrupulously clean. Fresh linens on the beds and soap was provided in the bathroom (which also had bathtub/shower). You're asked to help conserve with the linens and for that matter, with running water. No problem. There's a cozy (actually it's quite large) "sitting room" upstairs complete with television and a library full of books. Hotel guests tend to hang out here with coffee, talking about what they've seen/heard/learned that day. The dining room is likewise clean and nice. We took the "room plus board" which meant we had breakfast included. Breakfasts were typically cereal, cold cuts, juices, coffee, and small salad.
Email addresses: 1) luthhosp@guesthouse-jerusalem.co.il 2) info@guesthouse-jerusalem.co.il TIP:Ask if the last room upstairs on the right side is available (it's at no extra cost) - it comes with view over the Quarter toward the Dome of the Rock. It's got a small but very cute balcony and definitely the best view in the house. Leave a Comment Theme: Pension/GuesthousePrice: US$80-120 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: St. Mark's RoadPhone: 02-626-6888 / 6834Directions: Jewish QuarterWebsite: www.luth-guesthouse-jerusalem.com
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