Located in Kibbutz Sde Yoav, Dream Island is a 15-acre luxury spa and vitality resort featuring hydrotherapy pools, a wine room, a restaurant, food trucks, upscale suites, and a lakeside events venue. Dream Island offers various packages, ranging from day passes with access to the vitality pools, activities, and food trucks, to packages that include spa treatments and a meal at Armonim restaurant. For a complete experience, overnight stays are available in luxury suites, each featuring private hot tubs; some also offer private pools or saunas.
The drive through the lush, green plains of the Negev sets the tone. Arriving at the main entrance, I briefly felt as if I had flown abroad – it was reminiscent of luxury European baths. Resort guests have a separate, adjacent reception where we dropped off our bags, received robes and bracelets, and we switched into vacation mode. Unlike standard hotels, you can arrive in the morning and leave the following evening, allowing for two full days of enjoyment. The stay also includes food and drinks from various food trucks, ranging from coffee and pastries in the morning to Jerusalem mixed grill and Sfenj at lunchtime.
The vitality experience
After changing into the local uniform of swimsuits and robes, we began exploring the pools. At the center are three warm vitality pools, each featuring different jets that provide a full-body massage, including jetted beds. I especially liked the ones with waterfalls that massage the shoulders. Alongside these are two hot tubs.
Additionally, there are two more pools: a large outdoor one heated to 28°C (82°F) and another quiet pool used for both swimming and Watsu treatments. Dry and wet saunas are located nearby. The entire complex is dotted with countless relaxation spots, lounge chairs, hammocks, and various types of cabanas. Our favorite area was the lounge corner on the terrace overlooking the lake.
The entire resort is surrounded by greenery and filled with seating and relaxation areas. There are even private cabanas with curtains, perfect for a siesta between dips in the water. For those with energy to spare, there are a variety of other attractions, starting with a rotating schedule of health and fitness workshops such as yoga, Pilates, Yogalates, rumba, and body sculpting, continuing to a wine experience.
An ancient Byzantine wine press was uncovered during excavations and restored. Adjacent to it, a modern wine room offers a sophisticated atmosphere for wine and fruit-liquor tastings. Most interesting is the unique series of fruit-based wines from the Lachish Winery. These workshops and activities run throughout the day and are all included in the entry price.
Another exciting feature is the two futuristic Luxury Day Pods. Each pod includes a bedroom with a double bed facing the view, a private bathroom, and a living area. They are equipped with electric curtains for total privacy and a smart home system that controls the lighting, climate, and music. This is ideal for a premium day experience for couples, small groups, families, or bachelorette parties of up to eight guests.
Located adjacent to the pools and a natural reservoir, the pods offer a fully stocked refrigerator with alcohol, wine, soft drinks, seasonal fruit platters, fresh vegetables, and snacks. The entire experience includes personal VIP service with a dedicated host. This luxury is available for daily rental from 10:00 to 19:00 for an additional fee of NIS 900 ($293).
The food truck court
Since we arrived in the early afternoon and were feeling hungry, we started at the food truck court, which is included in the entry price. We found a variety of stations: a build-your-own salad bar, a soup station with three options, and fresh focaccias baked on-site in a wood-fired oven. There was also Jerusalem mixed grill and sfenj for dessert. Drinks, including beer and frozen slushies, are also included.
This is casual Middle Eastern street food rather than a chef’s meal, but it is certainly satisfying. For those seeking a full dining experience, Armonim restaurant is available, with various entry-and-meal deals. The seating areas are located right by the lake, making the experience quick and convenient.
Once we finished our meal, we received a notification that our suite was ready. Our bracelets serve as the room keys, allowing us to bypass reception and head straight to the room; our luggage had already been delivered there. On the way, we discovered that suite guests also have access to a lounge with complimentary snacks and drinks available around the clock.
The gemstone suites
Dream Island is also a boutique hotel in every sense of the word, featuring only 26 luxurious, well-designed, and indulgent suites. Each one is named after a gemstone – Ruby, Jasper, Aquamarine, and others. Every suite offers a private terrace or courtyard with a personal hot tub, and some also include a private pool or sauna.
We stayed in the prestigious Ruby Suite, a 36-square-meter space with a modern design and a monochromatic black bathroom featuring a massive rain shower and a freestanding sink. The interior is defined by rich textures, warm ambient lighting, and high-end finishes, creating an atmosphere of refined elegance.
The highlight of the suite is the private courtyard, a secluded sanctuary shielded by lush greenery. It boasts a large 14-square-meter heated pool and a large freestanding hot tub. We spent most of our time here, enjoying quiet, romantic private moments under the open sky. The suite is equipped to the very last detail, from the premium espresso machine to the plush robes, and includes VIP service for every need, as well as meticulous turndown service.
Dream Spa
In the late afternoon, I headed to the spa. Dream Spa offers professional treatments from cultures around the world, with both individual and couple sessions available. The menu is diverse and rich, including Swedish massage, reflexology, aromatherapy, pregnancy massage, Shiatsu, Turkish Hammam treatments, and more. I received an exceptionally professional Swedish massage that released my muscles after my yoga session. The combination of warm pool jets followed by a massage is simply perfect.
Armonim restaurant
After some rest, we headed to Armonim for dinner. This kosher chef restaurant feels like a slice of Tel Aviv, featuring a modern bar-restaurant design, a live DJ, cocktails, and a vibrant atmosphere. It also features a terrace overlooking the lake. The menu is Mediterranean-European with an emphasis on local ingredients.
We began with a selection of appetizers: miso eggplant, chestnut salad, beef fillet carpaccio, asado bruschetta, and beet cappelletti. Every dish was beautifully presented and delicious. We especially loved the cappelletti, which were made from fresh pasta with a vibrant filling and a creamy truffle-infused sauce.
For main courses, we chose the beef fillet and the sea bass. The beef featured two tender medallions cooked medium-rare served with yakitori-style potatoes, while the sea bass was excellent, served alongside fresh polenta.
The desserts were a surprise in both size and flavor – they are huge and best shared, and so delicious that I never would have guessed they were non-dairy. It is worth noting that Armonim is also open to outside guests.
To our delight, breakfast for resort guests is also served at Armonim as a sit-down service rather than a buffet. A variety of dishes were brought to our table: salad, a tray of cheeses and dips, kubaneh bread, arancini, yogurt with granola, and cheesecake. For the main dish, choices include omelets, Eggs Benedict, quiche, and more. I ordered the sweet potato quiche with crème fraîche, while my partner had eggs with herbs.
Sitting on the terrace facing the lake was incredibly peaceful – a much better experience than the typical rush and long lines of a breakfast buffet. Freshly squeezed juice and coffee were also included.
The latest addition: restart therapy
One of the most intriguing additions to the resort is “Restart” Hot & Cold Therapy. This is a 75-minute mind-body journey that begins with a natural “heart-opening” drink, followed by deep breathing exercises and sound healing to relieve stress. The experience concludes with a powerful combination of a hot tub soak and an ice bath, designed to strengthen the immune system and boost energy levels. This session is conducted in small groups of up to six participants and requires advance booking. The treatment is also offered as part of a new dedicated “Restart” package.
The Dream Island experience starts from NIS 660, which includes lunch, or NIS 975 per person for a spa treatment and lunch package. Suites are available on a half-board basis, including dinner at Armonim, starting from NIS 2,385 per couple for mid-week stays. For those interested in Saturday night stays, a special deal is available starting at NIS1,960, and includes dinner as a gift.
For more information: Dream Island Resort, 08-670-5600, www.dream-island.co.il.
The writer was a guest of the resort.