The focus of the hotel is on the guests, captured perfectly in the hotel tagline “Ultra begins with U.” The great service I received certainly reflected this sentiment.
By DEBBIE KANDELUltra: Environmentally friendly, with a Scandinavian cocktail bar to boot(photo credit: ASSAF PINCHUK)
More and more boutique hotels are popping up all over Tel Aviv and each one offers something different to its guests. The new Ultra Hotel is in a prime location in central Tel Aviv, for those wanting to experience all that the White City has to offer. A short walk from the beach, the stylish urban hotel is a great option for a modern traveler with a lower budget.The focus of the hotel is on the guests, captured perfectly in the hotel tagline “Ultra begins with U.” The great service I received certainly reflected this sentiment.The intimate hotel reception and lounge area offers 24-hour complimentary tea and coffee with refreshments including fresh fruit, cakes, biscuits and an adorable selection of jelly sweets. There is free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and the option to use an electronic key system via a phone app.While many of the urban rooms overlook the street, I was given a room that opened onto one of two beautiful shared patios. Although the rooms are fairly small, they are well equipped with complimentary water, an espresso machine and chocolates, as well as a lovely bathroom with a spacious walk-in shower.Besides being a modern hotel in design, the hotel strives to be environmentally friendly, primarily by using a green water system.The water system, similar to those used on boats and planes, has low energy consumption, cuts water usage by up to 90%, reduces sewage and increases hygiene. Ultra is only the second hotel in Israel to deploy such a system. The downside of this system is the noise it makes. It is not loud and did not bother me when I was using it myself, but as the walls between the rooms are fairly thin, it could be heard from other rooms around me throughout the night. It is certainly true that Tel Aviv is the city that never sleeps!The hotel is already popular with locals, as well as tourists and business travelers. It is not family-friendly, although there was a couple from Europe with a child while I was there.One of the biggest draws for me was the Scandinavian cocktail bar, Botanika in the entrance to the hotel. The bar offers a great selection of cocktails and bar food at night and serves as a coffee shop during the day. Breakfast for hotel guests is also served in the bar, which is a unique setting for breakfast.I found the buffet selection was more limited than many Israeli hotel breakfasts, but it included everything I needed for a good breakfast – hot coffee, perfectly cooked eggs and lovely breads that were incredibly tasty and fresh.The hotel offers reduced-rate parking in the adjacent building and free entrance to the gym across the street. The stylish design of the hotel is all thanks to the general manager, Tomer Peleg, and his mother who sourced the furniture, fixtures and fittings from all over Europe.Ultra is an ideal choice for those looking for a modern hotel in a central location.The writer was a guest of the hotel.For more information: www.ultra-hotels.com
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