Author Topic: Eilat, Israel, Master Thread (Read 96986 times)

Sawadeeka · « **on:** August 10, 2008, 02:05:05 PM »

Hi,

I'm shortly heading to Israel for 2 weeks... I've been there many times but this is a first time going with family (wife and toddler)

I'm wondering if it's worth visiting Eilat... I'm trying to make an itinerary and not sure where exactly to go. Jerusalem, Tzfat and the dead sea are on my list, then I was thinking maybe worth continuing to Eilat. IS there any quiet area on the Red Sea that would be worth visiting? is the drive there nice? OR is it totally "inappropriate" for a frum couple... I figured most of israel touring is an experience not so much a vacation, whereas deadsea/eilat might be able to fill that...

Any other suggestions on locations that are musts (or nice photo spots...) golan? wineries? teveria (not sure if it's worth spending a night or not)

Thanks for your help.

Sawadeeka · « **Reply #1 on:** August 10, 2008, 02:17:19 PM »

Dan, I just found your post from your trip to Israel, can you please advice how you got some SPG upgrades without Platinum?? also which of the SPG hotels were worth it and is breakfast in any of them kosher by our standards? (if you know..) THANKS

abetobee · « **Reply #2 on:** August 10, 2008, 02:42:52 PM »

Quote from: Sawadeeka on August 10, 2008, 02:05:05 PM

Hi,

I'm shortly heading to Israel for 2 weeks... I've been there many times but this is a first time going with family (wife and toddler)

I'm wondering if it's worth visiting Eilat... I'm trying to make an itinerary and not sure where exactly to go. Jerusalem, Tzfat and the dead sea are on my list, then I was thinking maybe worth continuing to Eilat. IS there any quiet area on the Red Sea that would be worth visiting? is the drive there nice? OR is it totally "inappropriate" for a frum couple... I figured most of israel touring is an experience not so much a vacation, whereas deadsea/eilat might be able to fill that...

Any other suggestions on locations that are musts (or nice photo spots...) golan? wineries? teveria (not sure if it's worth spending a night or not)

Thanks for your help.

dont know much about eilat,but mentioning that you want to 'keep it frum' i'd suggest you stay far away from the teverya lakeside hotels,especially during these weeks when its overloaded by tourists.that being said it could be that further away from the water may be better.personally i dont see why a/o would want to deal with the stifling heat, i enjoy going there in the colder months when its 10-15 degrees warmer than yerushalyim.good luck and have a great time

moish · « **Reply #3 on:** August 10, 2008, 04:55:02 PM »

mitzpe/machtesh ramon

Sawadeeka · « **Reply #4 on:** August 12, 2008, 12:51:30 AM »

Dan, you around? any chance you can help me here? thanks

Deal Guy · « **Reply #5 on:** March 18, 2010, 05:01:19 PM »

Eilat Israel- Who is considered the better property, Spg's Le Meridian or Priority Choice's Crown Plaza?
Explain the differences if possible. Thanks.

Dan · « **Reply #6 on:** March 18, 2010, 06:04:40 PM »

Le Meridian generally is much nicer than Crown Plaza. It seems this holds true according to trip reports as well. LM is #20/57 and CP is #36/57.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293980-d301417-Reviews-Le_Meridien_Eilat-Eilat.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293980-d299132-Reviews-Crowne_Plaza_Hotel_Eilat-Eilat.html

As I said in the other thread though, I think Eilat is a complete waste of time.

moish · « **Reply #7 on:** March 18, 2010, 09:52:00 PM »

i would just continue past the border into taba. literally 10 seconds after the border is the taba hilton, which is a newish hotel, much cheaper than eilat, and the hotel has a private beach with a coral reef

queensdeals · « **Reply #8 on:** March 18, 2010, 10:02:48 PM »

how about supporting am yisroel here?
I never got the whole taba thing.
Moish, as in rabeinu....what would he do?

Dont mean to be overly charif, just hurts me.

Dan · « **Reply #9 on:** March 18, 2010, 10:08:19 PM »

I would skip Eilat and Taba.
If you want a good beach vacation go to the Carribean or better yet Hawaii.
Otherwise tour the fantastic Golan Heights, or other parts of Northern Israel like Tzfat and its environs.
The Holiday Inn Tiverya is a great base (for a point accepting hotel) to tour the Golan.

Eilat's beaches are rocky, polluted, and not worth the 7 hour drive from J'lem, especially with $7/gallon gas.

I only regret that I still haven't made it to the Rosh Hanikra region of northern Israel.

moe · « **Reply #10 on:** March 19, 2010, 01:23:40 AM »

Quote from: queensdeals on March 18, 2010, 10:02:48 PM

how about supporting am yisroel here?
I never got the whole taba thing.
Moish, as in rabeinu....what would he do?

Dont mean to be overly charif, just hurts me.

mr queens, i dont mean to be sharp either but both eilat & taba have nothing to do with "eretz yisrael"!

queensdeals · « **Reply #11 on:** March 19, 2010, 02:18:03 AM »

true.
how bout the economy? parnassah -yidden?

Deal Guy · « **Reply #12 on:** March 19, 2010, 03:00:04 AM »

Quote from: Dan on March 18, 2010, 10:08:19 PM

I would skip Eilat and Taba.
If you want a good beach vacation go to the Carribean or better yet Hawaii.
Otherwise tour the fantastic Golan Heights, or other parts of Northern Israel like Tzfat and its environs.
The Holiday Inn Tiverya is a great base (for a point accepting hotel) to tour the Golan.

Eilat's beaches are rocky, polluted, and not worth the 7 hour drive from J'lem, especially with $7/gallon gas.

I only regret that I still haven't made it to the Rosh Hanikra region of northern Israel.

Dan, i've been to Eilat and to Rosh hanikra, and while Rosh Hanikra is very nice especially during sunset, Eilat is also great. Keep in mind that some of us don't usually go to the caribbean or some parts of Hawaii or other places due to lack of minyan or whatever other reason, and for someone like that, going to Eilat for a couple of days is very unique compared to the rest of Israel

moish · « **Reply #13 on:** March 19, 2010, 04:30:01 AM »

Quote from: queensdeals on March 19, 2010, 02:18:03 AM

true.
how bout the economy? parnassah -yidden?

first of all, im sure moshe rabeinu wouldnt go to eilat. number two, as far as supporting jews, ill tell you what my grandmother tells me. she buys her tuna fish cans at brach's to support the jewish owner, but when key food has them on sale, she buys them there, because "im also jewish". when a one star hotel in eilat costs over $250 in the summer, if available, id rather support myself and stay in a beautiful hotel for a third of the price - after all im jewish too!

Yosel · « **Reply #14 on:** March 19, 2010, 10:36:36 AM »

Quote from: moefl on March 19, 2010, 03:00:04 AM

Dan, i've been to Eilat and to Rosh hanikra, and while Rosh Hanikra is very nice especially during sunset, Eilat is also great. Keep in mind that some of us don't usually go to the caribbean or some parts of Hawaii or other places due to lack of minyan or whatever other reason, and for someone like that, going to Eilat for a couple of days is very unique compared to the rest of Israel

I think Eilat is mentioned in parshas Devurim, so i does have somthing to do with Israel.....

Dan · « **Reply #15 on:** March 19, 2010, 10:46:30 AM »

Quote from: moefl on March 19, 2010, 03:00:04 AM

Dan, i've been to Eilat and to Rosh hanikra, and while Rosh Hanikra is very nice especially during sunset, Eilat is also great. Keep in mind that some of us don't usually go to the caribbean or some parts of Hawaii or other places due to lack of minyan or whatever other reason, and for someone like that, going to Eilat for a couple of days is very unique compared to the rest of Israel

If Eilat were indeed "great" I'd agree with you. I thought the beaches were awful and rocky and the reefs were pathetic.
And there are plenty of carribean/hawaiian islands with minyanim that are worth spending time at.

Mikeoracle · « **Reply #16 on:** March 19, 2010, 10:52:24 AM »

The only real perk I can think of in Eilat is the kosher food. No need to schlep along frozen foods and grills etc...

Dan · « **Reply #17 on:** March 19, 2010, 10:56:27 AM »

Quote from: Mikeoracle on March 19, 2010, 10:52:24 AM

The only real perk I can think of in Eilat is the kosher food. No need to schlep along frozen foods and grills etc...

There is kosher food available for purchase in places like Puerto Rico and Hawaii, and others.
Probably much better than the awful mehadrin pizza shop in Eilat that had hundreds of flies swarming over everything when I was last there...

chuchem · « **Reply #18 on:** February 20, 2011, 12:49:02 PM »

Just checked in at the le meridien Eilat. A few years ago, I was told the only mehadrin restaurant, that one can eat is Haleluja. Has this changed. Any other place, that we can go to eat (besides big apple)
I am hungry, so any good ideas?!

sawlw · « **Reply #19 on:** February 20, 2011, 01:48:04 PM »

only Haleluja and big apple as far as i know!!
or the tuna sandwich you shlepped along

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Author Topic: Eilat, Israel, Master Thread (Read 96986 times)