Pesach Hotel Experiences

[G11600]

anyone been to the Leonardo plaza for Pesach (or maybe succos/shabbos i guess) and knows what kind of drinks they serve? meals are crazy expensive, wanted to know that they provide free mineral water/something above tap at meals?
Also, is there any sort of formal or informal dress code? I eat with my kids, and prefer to dress down for shabbos meals so i dont get angry at them for dirtying my suit, again.

i stayed once at the old Leonardo Plaza Dead Sea for Pesach (this is now the Herod's). it was a ridiculously cheap rate - I had reserved months before at the Meridien for next to nothing, but they had to move us due to whole hotel being reserved for a group and in return gave us full board at LEonoardo Plaza for around $100 per family per night..
Anyway, my friend gave the waiter a few dollars tip and he made sure we had plenty of soda, juices etc for all meals - and even gave us a private dining room....
I think the hotel gave limitted soda for Yom Tov meals, but that may have been  due to request from the organizer of large group at the hotel.
Most hotels in Israel will only give tap water for meals, possibly lemon/orange drink.

J

[ual902]

Group accuses Hilton of ruining Passover plans
one family paid $230,000 to bring all their kin on the April trip meant to include guest speakers, rabbis, a kids’ camp and entertainers.
http://pagesix.com/2017/04/05/organizers-sue-hilton-for-canceling-1m-passover-getaway/

[yitrap]

Group accuses Hilton of ruining Passover plans
one family paid $230,000 to bring all their kin on the April trip meant to include guest speakers, rabbis, a kids’ camp and entertainers.
http://pagesix.com/2017/04/05/organizers-sue-hilton-for-canceling-1m-passover-getaway/

He's had issues before with his Pesach programs iirc there's a thread somewhere discussing it.

[stooges44]

-1 when was the last time you were there?

Don't go to the Raleigh. It's completely run-down.

I know they are yidden but it's pretty gross. I was there last summer and the only part that's not run down is the recent renovation/addition but the rest of it looks like summer camp.

[bobeli]

anyone want to share their experience so we know for next year?

[shiframeir]

I stayed at the Leonardo plaza and had a great time. was pricy compared to other jlem options, but really great food, room and service. obv note that as a normal israeli hotel, the "program" is more barebones than america, no tea room or activities for everyone, though there is a small kids room with video games u can bring kids to no real day camp. pool was not heated but if u really wanted to u could swim.

[michael]

I stayed at the Leonardo plaza and had a great time. was pricy compared to other jlem options, but really great food, room and service. obv note that as a normal israeli hotel, the "program" is more barebones than america, no tea room or activities for everyone, though there is a small kids room with video games u can bring kids to no real day camp. pool was not heated but if u really wanted to u could swim.

If you don't mind, please post how much it cost, and how many rooms and people you had. Also, which meals they provided. Thank you!

[shiframeir]

I stayed at the Leonardo plaza and had a great time. was pricy compared to other jlem options, but really great food, room and service. obv note that as a normal israeli hotel, the "program" is more barebones than america, no tea room or activities for everyone, though there is a small kids room with video games u can bring kids to no real day camp. pool was not heated but if u really wanted to u could swim.

If you don't mind, please post how much it cost, and how many rooms and people you had. Also, which meals they provided. Thank you!

stayed 10 nights (added nights with no meals/no breakfast before and after Pesach on good prices on the leonardo website i followed off an on), price for all 10 all together with 10 total yom tov/shabbos meals person (2 shabbos, 2 each yom tov day (2 days of start and end of yom tov bc i am a loser, so 8 yom tov meals)) was approx $12,100USD total for 3 adults, 2 children 10 and 9 plus a 2.5 year old classified as baby in 2 connecting rooms. Got upgraded to nice balcony over new city.  had to push hard with a great travel agent to get that price.

[michael]

Seems reasonably priced. Thank you.

[shiframeir]

Anyone else willing to post about experiences to help the klal for next year?

[Chief Rabbi of New York]

stayed 10 nights (added nights with no meals/no breakfast before and after Pesach on good prices on the leonardo website i followed off an on), price for all 10 all together with 10 total yom tov/shabbos meals person (2 shabbos, 2 each yom tov day (2 days of start and end of yom tov bc i am a loser, so 8 yom tov meals)) was approx $12,100USD total for 3 adults, 2 children 10 and 9 plus a 2.5 year old classified as baby in 2 connecting rooms. Got upgraded to nice balcony over new city.  had to push hard with a great travel agent to get that price.

Seems reasonably priced. Thank you.

over $1,000 a night is reasonably priced? wow 

[shiframeir]

over $1,000 a night is reasonably priced? wow 

for 6 people at a 5 star hotel with loft/le marais+ quality meals, yes.

[Chief Rabbi of New York]

for 6 people at a 5 star hotel with loft/le marais+ quality meals, yes.

we started to count 2 yr old as a full adult price? 

[shiframeir]

we started to count 2 yr old as a full adult price? 

no, this was a 2 3/4 kid and he's big . Srsly though, find me a program with that quality in America with 2 balcony rooms for 3 adults and 3 kids at that price...

[shaulyaakov]

no, this was a 2 3/4 kid and he's big . Srsly though, find me a program with that quality in America with 2 balcony rooms for 3 adults and 3 kids at that price...

Did it include full board every day of Chag, or only Yom Tov/Shabbos?

[CS1]

no, this was a 2 3/4 kid and he's big . Srsly though, find me a program with that quality in America with 2 balcony rooms for 3 adults and 3 kids at that price...

plus airfare..... 

[shiframeir]

Did it include full board every day of Chag, or only Yom Tov/Shabbos?

breakfast other days, 10 meals (so five full board days). airfare was $920 per person on elal direct (booked when it came out).  but most nice programs also require some airfare, and this is to a place i really wanna go .

[Dave321]

greenwalds program was top notch. great food, nice crowd and very well run. I would say its a great value.

[Menachem613]

greenwalds program was top notch. great food, nice crowd and very well run. I would say its a great value.

Any ball park price range for 2 rooms?

[damaxer91]

for 6 people at a 5 star hotel with loft/le marais+ quality meals, yes.

Relax. Plaza isn't 5 Star (maybe 3.5) and meals aren't Le Marais/Loft quality