hotels Israel

[shmooz]

I've learned alot from the posts about getting miles from credit cards and redeeming on airlines, especially to eretz yisroel, is there somewhere to read about getting and using points and which cards are offering good signup bonues, especially with an eye to using them in israel?

[Dan]

Starwood used to be great in Israel.  A couple of years ago I was able to get rooms all of the country for next to nothing.  Sheraton Plaza J'lem and Herods's Vitalis Spa for 2,300+$45, Le Meridian Haifa and Dead Sea as category 1's and Sheraton Tiberias as a category 2!  Alas properties in Jerusalem, Tiberias, Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Eilat have left the program and SPG has done nothing to replace them. 

There are still SPG properties in Tel Aviv, Eilat, and the Dead Sea.

Israel is really a dead zone for hotel redemptions.
Hilton, Priority Club, and Radisson all have a presence in Israel, but I don't think any are compelling enough to open a CC for.

[AsherO]

Starwood used to be great in Israel.  A couple of years ago I was able to get rooms all of the country for next to nothing.  Sheraton Plaza J'lem and Herods's Vitalis Spa for 2,300+$45, Le Meridian Haifa and Dead Sea as category 1's and Sheraton Tiberias as a category 2!  Alas properties in Jerusalem, Tiberias, Haifa, Tel Aviv, and Eilat have left the program and SPG has done nothing to replace them. 

Perhaps the hotels were all being rated too low (category 1/2), so it wasn't worth it for them to stay with SPG.

[Dan]

Perhaps the hotels were all being rated too low (category 1/2), so it wasn't worth it for them to stay with SPG.

Most went up in category just before leaving (Sheraton Plaza 3-4, Haifa 1-3 I think)
Either way the categories directly relate to the amount their rooms cost, so it shouldn't make a big difference.

Either way it's all moot as the reason for the loss of 4 of the hotels was because Boymelgreen was stiffing SPG and they booted his hotels out.  He then sold the hotels to Fattal, which has a tenuous relationship with SPG at best.

[AsherO]

Most went up in category just before leaving (Sheraton Plaza 3-4, Haifa 1-3 I think)
Either way the categories directly relate to the amount their rooms cost, so it shouldn't make a big difference.

Either way it's all moot as the reason for the loss of 4 of the hotels was because Boymelgreen was stiffing SPG and they booted his hotels out.  He then sold the hotels to Fattal, which has a tenuous relationship with SPG at best.

Israelis...

They're probably arrogant enough to think they don't need SPG, that masses will come anyway.

[moish]

and theyd be right

[Dan]

and theyd be right

I'd bet that places like the Plaza had higher occupancy rates and room rates back when under SPG.

[moish]

I'd bet that places like the Plaza had higher occupancy rates and room rates back when under SPG.

ill give you 5-1 odds

[AsherO]

I'd bet that places like the Plaza had higher occupancy rates and room rates back when under SPG.

ill give you 5-1 odds

How would any of you prove any of this?

[chuchem]

The Plaza has more competition now with the Mamilla. The Citdael also became very popular

[AsherO]

The Plaza has more competition now with the Mamilla. The Citdael also became very popular

Which means that it would be impossible to compare, either way.

[Dan]

The Plaza has more competition now with the Mamilla. The Citdael also became very popular

The Citadel became more popular since it left SPG? Why?

And the Mamilla...ugh.

[chuchem]

It only became popular when it left Hilton in 2001 and it takes time for a hotel to become "in"
Another main point: the recesion, The Plaza was frequented by alot of "well to do" heimishe americans and some europeans. Alot lost money or set their prioritys somewere else during this time.

[moish]

i dont think the plaza and mamilla attaract the same crowd

[Dan]

i dont think the plaza and mamilla attaract the same crowd

+1