Sometimes the best getaways are only a few kilometers from your home.
With some activities already planned for a cold weekend in January, my husband, my two sons and I have settled in a local hotel, thus avoiding back and forth from our district of Jerusalem (we do not drive during Shabbat).
My job is to make criticism of vacation places, hotels, and the visits offered.
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We were able to obtain a family room at the David Citadel Hotel in a context where the pandemic continues to kill local tourism.(See different options at the bottom of the article.)
Un passage des vestiaires intérieurs vers l’extérieur permet aux nageurs de rester dans les eaux chauffées (Courtesy David Citadel Hotel)Our weekend was outclassed.The hotel, like many large high-end hotels in Jerusalem, was quite empty, with only a few other families who crowded in the hall and at breakfast.
"This is like that for much of winter," said Katerina Brokhes, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing of David Citadel and her partner hotel, Mamilla.
There are advantages to be one of the few customers of a luxury hotel during a pandemic.
The heated outdoor pool is open and almost empty.You can swim through a passage from the locker room to the outside without having to get out of the water in the cold.
La nouvelle salle de jeux du David Citadel Hotel comprend une réplique du moulin à vent de Montefiore (Avec l’aimable autorisation de David Citadel)"Customers even swam during the recent snowstorm in Jerusalem and enjoyed the special soups menu and hot chocolate from the hotel served in the hall," said Brokhes.The occupancy rate tripled in 24 hours.
A low occupancy rate during our weekend meant that there was a lot of space in the brand new playroom on a lower floor of the hotel, designed by Sarit Shani Hay Studio award-winning and offering hours ofEntertainment supervised by staff for children of all ages, even for 13 -year -old twins.
It is a real Alibaba cave, although very chic: 100 square meters of blond wooden panels filled with ping-pong tables, darts, a real soccer field, billiard tables, a small table football,Cozy cabins and corners to read, draw or play board games, and even a gymnastics corner with striking bag and rings.
La nouvelle salle de jeux du David Citadel Hotel (Avec l’aimable autorisation de David Citadel)The interior design of Hay is intelligent, with monuments of Jerusalem incorporated into several elements, such as the fruits and vegetable market imitating Mahane Yehuda, as well as a complete miniature kitchen, a living room and a dollhouse, and when it'Is not Shabbat, there is a television and a beautiful panoply of X-Box consoles available.
"The games room has limited schedules, but the hotel staff will open at other times if the request justifies it," said Brokhes.
You can take advantage of starters for local attractions, foot visits and Jeep walks.For customers staying two nights, there is a chocolate workshop in the kitchen, a wine tasting, or a film screening with popcorn.They can also cross the street to the Mamilla partner hotel, which has a deep blue tiled indoor swimming pool and cultural programs throughout the week.
"We cannot use their swimming pool in August, but for the moment, it is possible," said Brokhes.
The four of us improvised our own walking visit on Saturday morning in and around Rehavia, one of the first districts of Jerusalem, built in 1922.
A walk in rue Agron brought us to Independence Park-a popular meeting place on Saturday morning for dog walkers, Tai-Chi followers and those who want to savor a cup of coffee in an open park establishmentDuring Shabbat.
We have made our way through the park in the direction of King George Street, passing in front of the offices of the Jewish Agency and by going down Keren Kayemeth, the main artery of this historic district.
One of the country's first secondary schools, Rehavia Gymnasia, is located on Keren Kayemeth Street, on the model of the famous Gymnasia school in Tel Aviv and is still active.A glance at 8 rue Keren Kayemeth offers an overview of the Art Deco fountain at the center of the courtyard of this former workers' apartments.
We also made a detour by the 10th, rue Alfasi to see a funeral tomb of the Hasmonean era with an epitaph in Jason, who according to local legend was either a high priest at the time of the second temple, or a commander ofMarine.
Back at the hotel before leaving after Shabbat (a late departure is de rigueur in most of the Hotels in Jerusalem for the practitioners), we dragged in the games room and in our Superior New City room, which was comfortableFor a family of four.
It has a Queen-size bed and a spacious closet corner on one side of the room, a sofa bed separated from the bed by a TV library/furniture on the other side.An arc window extends over almost a whole wall.
The bathroom is what really distinguishes the room, with a sink and a marble counter, a hot and powerful jet in the shower and a deep and comfortable bathtub, with soft towels and richly scented Bulgari bath products.
With prices starting at 1,650 Nis for the room and breakfast in the middle of the week and from 1,870 NIS on weekends, the David Citadel Hotel is a high price.
There are other options in the region.
The best value for money is a family room at the Agron Youth Hostel, which offers an ideal location at the intersection of Agron and King George, with rooms that can accommodate up to six people at a cost of 670 nisWith breakfast or 569 nis for the room.Dinner and lunch are also available, and the food is rather correct and generous.
The prices at the Eldan, neighbor on King David Street, start at 900 NIS, and a child can be added to certain rooms, although two children require a second room.
Tryp by Wyndham Jerusalem Bat Sheva on King George Street would have been even closer to our weekend activities;The rooms cost 711 nis and only one child can be added.
