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Eilat, Israel Master Wiki
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Restaurants & Eateries
  • Burger Bar – Mehadrin burger joint in the Ice Mall area; praised for fresh patties and fast service.
  • Big Apple Pizza – Classic mehadrin New-York-style slices; delivers anywhere in town.
  • Haleluja – Long-standing meat restaurant (mehadrin); limited seating, check if still open.
  • Ranch House (Royal Beach Hotel) – Steakhouse under Rabbanut Eilat; ask mashgiach – some travelers eat only the chicken.
  • Kosher Pizza (“the mehadrin pizza shop”) – Basic slices; quality hit-or-miss and often crowded.
  • Hotel Dining Rooms – Dan Eilat, Royal Beach and Hilton each run kosher buffets; standards vary, confirm hashgachah on arrival.

Groceries / Supermarkets / Meat Stores
  • Shufersal Sheli (City Center) – Full-size supermarket with labelled kosher meat and wine; no VAT in Eilat.
  • Rami Levy (Eilat Mall) – Cheapest for basics; large frozen-kosher section.
  • Mahsanei Ha’Teva – Small health-food store stocking chalav Yisrael yogurts and snacks.

Shuls & Minyanim
  • Beit Knesset Ahavat Yisrael – 8 Bareket St.; Shacharit 6:45 & 8:00, Mincha close to shkiah, Ma’ariv 20 min later.
  • Chabad Eilat – 30 Bareket St.; daily minyanim, Shabbat meals by reservation (08-637-0786).
  • Yeshivat Hesder Eilat – Weekday minyanim and nightly learning; ask locals for exact schedule.

Hotels & Lodging
  • Dan Eilat – Flagship beachfront resort; heated pool in winter, kids’ club, Rabbanut buffet.
  • Royal Beach (Isrotel) – Five-star property; private stretch of sand and on-site steakhouse.
  • Hilton Queen of Sheba – Central location on the lagoon; HH Gold often gets lounge access.
  • U Suites (ex-Le Meridien) – All-suite hotel; many rooms have private jacuzzis, mixed reviews on upkeep.
  • Crowne Plaza – Budget-friendly chain option; basic rooms, small pool.
  • Dan Panorama – Across the lagoon; “Terrace” rooms feature huge balconies with hot-tubs.

Things To Do / Attractions
  • Underwater Observatory Marine Park – Walk-through aquarium plus reef tower with 360° Red Sea view.
  • Dolphin Reef – Swim or snorkel near free-roaming dolphins; family-friendly beach & relaxation pools.
  • Coral Beach Nature Reserve – Best shore-entry snorkeling; rent gear on-site.
  • Red Canyon – Easy desert slot-canyon hike 25 min north; go early for shade.
  • Glass-Bottom Boat & Banana-Boat Rides – Depart hourly from the lagoon behind hotels.
  • Timna Park – King Solomon’s Pillars, ancient copper mines and pedal-boat lake (30 min drive).
  • Taba Border Hop – Quick trip to Hilton Taba casino/resort (see tips below).

Trip Reports (“TR”)

Restaurant Reviews / Ratings
  • Burger Bar – “Amazing.” – chuchem (link)
  • Mehadrin Pizza Shop – “Hundreds of flies swarming over everything…” – Dan (link)
  • Ranch House – “Mashgiach told me not to eat the meat.” – chuchem (link)


Border-to-Taba Notes (from @Yehuda):
  • Bring a pen for Egyptian entry forms.
  • If Israel charges the 106 ₪ exit fee due to luggage, keep the stub – Hilton Taba will refund it when you depart.
  • Egyptian exit stamps are issued in the arrivals hall.
  • Hilton Taba often sells for ≈ $80 or 5 k Hilton points.
  • Casinos accept USD; credit cards work with ~2 % purchase fee.


Help keep this wiki current! Edit this wiki in addition to replying.

« Last edited by mevinyavin on May 23, 2025, 01:19:31 AM »

Author Topic: Eilat, Israel, Master Thread  (Read 150887 times)

Offline insider

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Re: Eilat, Israel, Master Thread
« Reply #380 on: July 21, 2016, 07:57:26 AM »
I saw it online. Did the actual booking when I walked into eilat-international tho

How much time ahead should I get to the airport? Would 1 hour be enough?

Offline shulem92

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Re: Eilat, Israel, Master Thread
« Reply #381 on: July 21, 2016, 08:02:19 AM »
How much time ahead should I get to the airport? Would 1 hour be enough?
Try 10 min

Offline shulem92

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Re: Eilat, Israel, Master Thread
« Reply #382 on: July 21, 2016, 08:03:01 AM »
How much time ahead should I get to the airport? Would 1 hour be enough?
I've never seen the line by security take longer than half hour tops. The whole airport has 4 gates!

Offline Yaalili

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Re: Eilat, Israel, Master Thread
« Reply #383 on: January 06, 2017, 04:10:08 PM »
Pictures of new ETM (Ramon Airport, Israel) Construction - Opening Aug 2017.

http://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1351963&sid=f20b1c9f27f7d75231ed1523419b245b

Offline danR

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Re: Eilat, Israel, Master Thread
« Reply #384 on: January 09, 2017, 02:18:09 PM »
Looking for a place in Eilat where I can buy Mehardin raw chicken and meat. It would be greatly appreciated if anyone could tell me if they know of any supermarkets/butchers


Offline efflpetzel

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Re: Eilat, Israel, Master Thread
« Reply #385 on: January 09, 2017, 03:17:30 PM »
Pictures of new ETM (Ramon Airport, Israel) Construction - Opening Aug 2017.

http://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1351963&sid=f20b1c9f27f7d75231ed1523419b245b
I'm shocked that a new airport in 2016 is being built without Jet-bridges,

what are they thinking with that kind of heat?

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Re: Eilat, Israel, Master Thread
« Reply #386 on: January 12, 2017, 09:23:31 AM »
Has anyone stated at the Isrotel Sport (specifically over Pesach)? We are there for Pesach 2017.

We've been at the Isrotel Lagoona for Pesach 2014 which was fantastic, bar some unsavoury behaviour from some of the Western European guests.

Thank you

Offline shimino1

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Re: Eilat, Israel, Master Thread
« Reply #387 on: January 12, 2017, 10:04:21 AM »
Looking for a place in Eilat where I can buy Mehardin raw chicken and meat. It would be greatly appreciated if anyone could tell me if they know of any supermarkets/butchers
יינות ביתן is the place to go for Chicken, meat or anything else. It is a big supermarket a little out of the way and is what the locals use.

Avoid the small stores that are smack in the middle of the city!!! They are priced for tourists or people that need to grab one or two items.

In any case don't expect to fond anything better than Beit Yosef or possibly Machpud.
If you want Rubin, Badatz etc' you have to bring it yourself!!!

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Re: Eilat, Israel, Master Thread
« Reply #388 on: January 12, 2017, 11:15:35 AM »
bar some unsavoury behaviour from some of the Western European guests.
isrotel sport is pretty nice (never stayed there but walked around). gotta know what the western europeans did, planning to come for pesach in jlem this year and i hear there is a lot of them all over for pesach.

Offline kopite1

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Re: Eilat, Israel, Master Thread
« Reply #389 on: January 12, 2017, 11:34:25 AM »
isrotel sport is pretty nice (never stayed there but walked around). gotta know what the western europeans did, planning to come for pesach in jlem this year and i hear there is a lot of them all over for pesach.

Well I'm technically Western European (UK) but they were from a country just the other side of the Channel....general rudeness including stealing sunbeds, skipping queues, splashing water on purpose, insulting in the restaurant. Not to mention the drunken fist-fight by the pool.

Not confined to that hotel though, I have other family members that regularly stay in other hotels that endure similar experiences (including being asked if one female family member was actually Jewish....)

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Re: Eilat, Israel, Master Thread
« Reply #390 on: January 12, 2017, 11:35:48 AM »
Well I'm technically Western European (UK) but they were from a country just the other side of the Channel....general rudeness including stealing sunbeds, skipping queues, splashing water on purpose, insulting in the restaurant. Not to mention the drunken fist-fight by the pool.

Not confined to that hotel though, I have other family members that regularly stay in other hotels that endure similar experiences (including being asked if one female family member was actually Jewish....)
omg. what i was afraid of. may we merit a frenchie-free pesach!!

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Re: Eilat, Israel, Master Thread
« Reply #391 on: January 12, 2017, 11:41:50 AM »
omg. what i was afraid of. may we merit a frenchie-free pesach!!

Amen to that!!

I wouldn't say it ruined the holiday but they did leave a very sour taste and I'm hoping this year won't be the same. I don't really get it - they have such a terrible time in their own country yet seem to think its acceptable to come to EY and let all hell break loose

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Re: Eilat, Israel, Master Thread
« Reply #392 on: January 16, 2017, 03:00:49 PM »
Short answer is you can't, long answer is you can, detailed answer I'll try to post later

Can you elaborate? Kinda time sensitive, thinking about going tomorrow...
TIA
Former DDF Lurker Finally Getting the Hang of Posting...

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Re: Eilat, Israel, Master Thread
« Reply #393 on: January 16, 2017, 03:03:52 PM »
Can you elaborate? Kinda time sensitive, thinking about going tomorrow...
TIA
Rental car or private?

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Re: Eilat, Israel, Master Thread
« Reply #394 on: January 31, 2017, 04:04:51 AM »
Anyone know if the aerodium still exists?

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Re: Eilat, Israel, Master Thread
« Reply #395 on: July 05, 2017, 01:23:00 AM »
Important: If you go to Eilat in the winter, make sure the pool is heated. If its 80 outside, like we had in Feb with a heated pool its amazing. But at night it cools off alot and if the pool isnt heated, its very cold during the day
The royal beach and dan does, cant tell you about others
Anyone know current status, which hotels i can count on having a heated pool in january?

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Re: Eilat, Israel, Master Thread
« Reply #396 on: August 03, 2017, 03:54:31 AM »
Is it safe going to/staying in Taba (with baby)? Thinking of staying there at some point, this summer. I understand the Hilton there changed ownership and is no longer Hilton branded...
Any advice/recent experience appreciated!

Offline elimmm

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Re: Eilat, Israel, Master Thread
« Reply #397 on: August 03, 2017, 03:38:08 PM »
Is it safe going to/staying in Taba (with baby)? Thinking of staying there at some point, this summer. I understand the Hilton there changed ownership and is no longer Hilton branded...
Any advice/recent experience appreciated!

here are some articles from last week:
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/egypt-travel-warning.html
http://www.egyptindependent.com/us-warns-its-citizens-from-travel-risks-to-egypt-due-to-terrorists-threats/
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-security-idUSKBN1A21ME?il=0

i'd call the embassy for taba specific questions

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Re: Eilat, Israel, Master Thread
« Reply #398 on: August 03, 2017, 05:43:40 PM »
here are some articles from last week:
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/egypt-travel-warning.html
http://www.egyptindependent.com/us-warns-its-citizens-from-travel-risks-to-egypt-due-to-terrorists-threats/
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-security-idUSKBN1A21ME?il=0

i'd call the embassy for taba specific questions
Egypt is a big country ya know... Looking more for DDF members with recent experience in Taba. Don't need the US to tell me about terrorist threats in greater Egypt, but thanks anyway.

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Re: Eilat, Israel, Master Thread
« Reply #399 on: August 10, 2017, 05:20:48 PM »
Ended up using "lucky divers" for scuba which was simply amazing and only 180 NIS which I believe is a really nice price.
Anyone been scuba diving in eilat recently? Going in january and want to make sure that u can still scuba for cheap without certification... Also for a data point, i confirmed that Queen of Sheba Eilat is no longer part of Hilton (thats why there is no availability...)