Home and Away
An unplanned getaway reminds just how easy it is to feel in a different world in just a two hour drive. A moment away from the holidays, here are two recommendations for boutique hotels in Israel
Starting the car. It’s early. The week had just started. Everyone make their way slowly to work. We escape to the intoxicating desert; an exceptional resource of beauty. So easy to just forget it’s there during our hectic daily lives. Hotel Bereshit in Mizpe Ramon, is already waiting. Just before the holidays taking over our schedules, it’s the perfect time to organize a short, calm holiday.
Maybe it’s because of the intense nature, surrounding the hotel, the pleasant silence or the isolated location; either way, Bereshit offers a sense of mystery. Every minute, every sight and experience only intensifies its appeal.
This hotel is a part of a chain, but one must admit there’s no memory of familiar sights from overbooked, crowded hotels. In fact, Bereshit is a boutique hotel with only 100 rooms. The hotel’s design tries (and succeeds) to incorporate magnificent architecture with the wild landscape. The sense of indulgence is not only limited to the rooms or the pool. From room service to the food itself – the staff takes every measure to provide personal, devoted service.
We were provided with a private villa and a pool, which immediately felt like home. This feeling also derived from every detail in the space itself. At first, these details are easily missed. Give yourself some time. Notice the little shelf over the bed, the difference heights in the rooms, or the various shades. Go outside and see the bath on the balcony. Next to it, the towels will be waiting. And despite that, we spent most of our time in the hotel’s pool, situated on the mountainside. As the day’s breeze changes to a desert cold night, it is time to go back to the room, catch some diner and relax.
If you will feel adventurous, rent a chopper which will bring you to the hotel from Tel Aviv – just one hour flight. During your stay, you can also go cycling in the area. Just don’t forget to ask the staff about all the fascinating possibilities.
If you will experience a slightly less extreme mood, hop on over to the small cinema; where documentaries and nature films are featured. And yes, just in case you missed it – the food is absolutely fantastic. I know I will return; to that sense of parallel universe, the serine calmness – which feels so close whike being so far away.
The desert is not your thing? Try Allegra Hotel at Ein Karem. The wooden structure of the hotel was constructed bu Jebra Francis Rachil and Alegra Blue, as a symbol of love that overcomes all boundaries. Today, the house serves as a boutique hotel with 7 suits. It also includes a chef restaurant and a charming roof, to gaze at the mountains. The hotel is also a space for contemporary art, curated by artist Liav Mizrachi. If we already mentioned the food, it’s also worth mentioning that all the product are local and reflects the region unique tastes.
By the way, in the rooms you will find wide beds in wooden niche, alongside beddings made from Egyptian cotton, soft robes and toiletries which were created especially for the hotel. Apart from an LCD screen, an espresso machine will be waiting alongside the champagne. After a short rest, go outside and try one of the seating in the garden, the tanning bed on the roof or one of the spa services. You can also steam in the wet sauna or stare at the fish farming. This is a charging experience, which we owe to ourselves every once in a while.