The new Herods hotel in Tel Aviv offers guests a journey back in time to the 1930s.
By SHAWN RODGERSThe new Herods hotel in Tel Aviv(photo credit: PR)
I didn’t know what to expect from my stay at Herods Tel Aviv, but upon walking into the hotel I was transported to a cocoon of tranquility. The first thing you notice about the hotel is the superb location. It’s right on the beach, and the views are pretty astonishing.With a focus on old-world design, the hotel offers its guests a time-travel experience, transporting them to the vibrant atmosphere of Tel Aviv’s White City of the 1930s.The hotel’s decor features memorabilia from 70 years ago, including a vast collection of photographs and items that were found in various antique shops around the country.There are even (artificial) orange trees in the lobby, which I thought was a great touch.The lobby is beautiful. While there were dozens of people milling around, the noise level was very low. It is a peaceful place to grab a nosh and relax for an hour or two after a busy day on the beach.There are 347 rooms in the hotel, including the Presidential Suite. With room rates starting at around $255 per night, this is a place to indulge and enjoy.The business-and-pleasure theme appears in a number of areas in the hotel, most notably in the executive business lounge on the 17th floor. With panoramic sea views stretching from Jaffa to North Tel Aviv, the lounge is designed to facilitate the businessperson’s time away from the office by offering easy computer and Internet access. The lounge encourages guests to unwind with a delicious selection of food and beverages.Items such as wine, beer, sodas, fresh fruit, cheeses and salads are available from early in the morning until 10:30 at night.Once we were refreshed, it was time to unpack and explore our room. Spacious, clean, light, airy and comfortably furnished (especially the bathroom), the suite was more than satisfactory, complete with complimentary bottled water, fruit, chocolates and sparkling wine, as well as luxury spa products. There was also a kettle with tea and coffee, as well as an espresso machine.And television addicts can relax, as there is a plasma TV in every room. A major plus was the balcony from where I could enjoy the spectacular sea view. It was nice to be able to sit on the balcony and enjoy the lovely weather while sipping a cup of tea and watching the bustling city life.I‘m very fussy when it comes to beds, and this was a perfect balance of firm and feathery. The sheets were crisp and soft, with piles of perfect pillows.After settling in to our lovely room, we donned the provided bathrobes and slippers and headed down to the hotel’s Duo Spa. Located at one of the bottom levels of the hotel, the spa offers a wide range of holistic practices, rejuvenation and beauty treatment experiences for body and spirit, integrating Western and Eastern practices with natural healing techniques and very creative combination treatments. A very happy and well trained personnel provided amazing attention to detail.Some of the treatments offered to hotel guests and outside visitors include deep tissue, Swedish and Thai massages, as well as facials, aromatherapy and hot stone treatments.My girlfriend, who chose a Swedish massage, was very impressed not only with the massage but also with how attentive and tuned in the therapist was to her body.After a wonderfully relaxing afternoon, we enjoyed a delicious buffet dinner at the hotel restaurant. Run by chef Golan Israeli, the dining room was not noisy, and the serving platters and chafing dishes were refilled on a regular basis, meaning that the food was always fresh and hot. On offer were delicious dishes such as beef goulash, meatballs in tomato sauce, grilled salmon and entrecote steak.After a very restful night’s sleep, we had an excellent breakfast the next morning.There were separate areas for omelets and eggs, salads, smoked fish, shakshuka, cheese, freshly made waffles and a coffee station where attendants made cappuccinos and espressos to order. Plus from where we sat, we had a wonderful view of the beach.All in all a wonderful experience, Herods Tel Aviv was truly like a home away from home. Every employee was extremely personable and genuinely wanted to help make our stay the best it possibly could be. We look forward to our next visit.The writer was guest of Herods Tel Aviv.For more information about Herods Tel Aviv, visit www.herods-hotels.com or call (03) 521- 6666.
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