Kfar Giladi Hotel is a great place to relax as well as enjoy an array of different activities on offer.
By YONI COHENKfar Giladi Hotel(photo credit: Courtesy)
My friend and I are what you would call typical Tel Avivians. We enjoy the hustle and bustle of city life and very rarely cross over into the likes of Ramat Gan or Holon, let alone venture to the north or south of the country. But when the opportunity arose to visit a hotel located on the northernmost kibbutz in the country, we just couldn't resist. A weekend away at the Kfar Giladi Hotel was well worth the three-hour drive out of our beloved city that never sleeps.Set in between Kiryat Shmona and Metula with breathtaking views of the Hula Valley, Kfar Giladi is as about as far away from Tel Aviv as you can get, both in terms of distance and atmosphere. The moment my friend and I drove through the gates of the kibbutz, we were transported back to the Israel of yesteryear that both of us grew up learning about in our respective youth movements.The hotel itself is spread across various buildings set among trees and grassy areas, which makes for an imitate setting, fitting of its kibbutz surroundings.Our suite was quite simply enormous. There was a large lounge area complete with widescreen television and ample seating space. The bedroom area, which was separated from the seating area by a partial internal wall, had a huge king-size bed and lots of space to roam around in.While the the rest of the suite was very impressive, it was the bathroom that really blew us away. Not only was it spotlessly clean, the modern yet rustic room included a huge walk-in shower, an impressive sink stand and an ornate free-standing bathtub.Although we ended up spending far too much time in the room relaxing, for those who are more interested in organized activities, there are plenty of those on offer. During the summer months guests can enjoy the likes of circus shows, juggling workshops, photography workshops, jazz evenings, Shira B'tzibur (public singalongs) evenings as well as live theater.Before dinner on Friday afternoon we went for a leisurely dip in the indoor swimming pool. As the hotel is very popular with children, there were plenty of noisy children enjoying themselves playing in the water. However, as the pool is very large, it was easy enough for us to ignore them and enjoy some serious swimming as well as general relaxing. The large pool enjoy views overlooking the Hula Valley so after our dip we sat outside on the wrap-around balcony, put our feet up and watched the sunset. Talk about relaxing.A couple of minutes walk from the indoor pool down some stairs lies the outdoor pool. It's just as impressive as the indoor pool, if not more so. Enjoying similar views, the outdoor pool is set among a large grassy area ideal for sunbathing and kids to play. The water was slightly too cold, but refreshing at the same time as the temperatures outside were scorching. The outdoor pool is only open at specific times so it's worth checking beforehand to avoid disappointment.It's not only the swimming pools that enjoy great views. Those lucky enough to sit by the windows of one of the two dining rooms are treated to sweeping views of the valley below. These views are the best feature of the dining rooms that are unfortunately slightly dated. They haven't yet enjoyed the same modern makeover that the 160 rooms have been through. Despite this, we still had some pleasant dining experiences.Dinner on Friday night included the usual kosher hotel food with various salads, chicken soup complete with soup nuts, and various hearty meat and fish dishes. The parve desserts were a little disappointing but we were so full by that point that we were happy to just have a small taste.My friend and I were looking forward to breakfast because we know how good Israeli hotel breakfasts are, and we weren't disappointed. As is to be expected, the selection was overwhelming and the quality was good. Lunch, which consisted of a number of leftovers from the night before, was also very good.All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Kfar Giladi Hotel. It's perfect for a chance to get away from it all in a calming and beautiful environment. While it's ideal for those who want to relax and do nothing, the plethora of different activities on offer will keep those busy who are looking for something extra.The writer was a guest of the hotelPrice of suite stayed in - NIS 1,850 per night for half board, (1,600 just with breakfast)Suites start from NIS 1,030Kfar Giladi Hotel, Kibbutz Kfar GiladiFor reservations: (04) 690-0000
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