Jerusalem Hotel Tips by gilabrand

The Mt. Zion Hotel is not one of those hotels that hits you in the eye with its monumental architecture. It doesn’t look like much from the outside. In fact, you hardly see it at all, because it is a low-slung building, hugging the hilly terrain. The entrance, on Hebron Road, looks like a kind of glorified cave that you enter by going down a flight of steps.

Once inside, you are greeted by a stunning lobby – elegant yet very “old world Jerusalem” - a blend of colorful cushions, brass and wood coffee tables, ceramic vases and beaten copper wall decorations. All this pales beside the eye-popping vistas from the arched picture window at the far end of the lobby. It’s the kind of view you simply cannot take your eyes off: the walls of the Old City, Mt. Zion, the Judean Desert, the mountains of Moab off in the distance.

Speaking of eyes, the building was a British ophthalmic hospital in the 19th century, when eye diseases seem to have been a major problem in this part of the world. People traveled from as far as Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt and Persia to be treated by doctors at the Hospital of the Order of St. John. Only 100 patients were seen a day, and the system was “first come, first served.” The doors were opened after midnight and shut when the quota was filled. Pilgrims visiting Jerusalem in those days describe the crowds camped outside. The building across the street, the Jerusalem House of Quality, which contains galleries and art studios today, was an outpatient clinic.

During World War I, the hospital closed down and the Turkish army turned it into an ammo dump. One wing was blown up when the Turks left in 1917. Under the British Mandate, the hospital reopened and two new wings were added. For 19 years, from 1948 to 1967, the place stood empty. In 1986, someone finally came up with the idea of turning it into a hotel.

Unique Qualities: I haven’t stayed here myself, but this is a friend’s testimonial: “The Mt. Zion was very beautiful. The food was very good, too. Our only complaint was that there were no towels the first night and we didn't think to ask for any until the next day. The bathroom was large and spacious. The room was very big and had a great view. It was walking distance to lots of things. Many people from our group walked to the Kotel. For good walkers, it was about a 30-minute walk, mostly straight up! For me that seemed too daunting. We were looking right at the walls of the Old City and there was a path you could take to enter, also a bit of a climb. I would stay there again and would not hesitate to recommend it to others.”

There is a beautiful outdoor pool facing the walls of the Old City, and a fitness room for those who can still move after hiking around Jerusalem...

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Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$120-180  » Currency Converter
Phone: 02-5689555
Address: 17 HEBRON ROAD, Jerusalem, IL 93546

Mercaz Rabin, with its soaring modernist architecture, glass-sided lobby and pink flowering terraces, is unlike any youth hostel you’ve ever been to. Beauty aside, you’ll also love the food. This is not youth hostel fare. The kitchen is run by a caterer who organizes parties and special events. In fact, I held my daughter's bat mitzvah there.

While not smack dab in the center of town, it is located on the same street as the Israel Museum, the Science Museum and the Bible Lands Museum. Across from the Israel Museum are the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) and the Supreme Court, both of which offer free guided tours (bring your passports).

The 17 bus, which stops right in front of Rabin will get you downtown. This bus only runs every 20 minutes or so, so ask the receptionist for a schedule. Buses that run more frequently (19, 31) stop at the intersection of Burla and Herzog. If you’re pressed for time, have the desk call you a cab. The ride to the center or the Old City takes about 10 minutes.

Mercaz Rabin has 77 air-conditioned rooms with en suite toilet and showers. Each room has 4 beds, two of which fold up against the wall if not in use. So we are not talking about super luxury, but a clean, well-designed place to bed down for the night and fill up on a hearty Israeli breakfast before setting out on your adventures. My mother has stayed there, and also some of my more nitpicking friends, and they were all more than satisfied.

Unique Qualities: So what’s close by? Apart from museums, there’s a supermarket and a pharmacy down the road on Burla Street, and a small shopping center with a cash machine, pizza parlor and 2 coffee shop/bakeries at the corner, on Herzog. On Burla Street, right opposite Rabin, is the back entrance to the Givat Ram campus of the Hebrew University where the National Library is located (not visited by most tourists, but quite interesting, featuring an exhibit of Albert Einstein’s letters and a wall of stained glass windows). Directly across the street is the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens (entrance from the parking lot next to the supermarket), with a restaurant perched on the edge of a lake.

If you still have pep after running around all day, the Rabin center offers a whole program of evening activities: sing-a-longs, folk dancing, and more. Check the bulletin board to see what’s on. For 15 shekels ($3.50) you can see an audiovisual presentation about the life of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated on Nov 4, 1995.

The big problem is getting a room here. Rabin is often solidly booked. So if you want to stay here, reserve well in advance. Prices are $47.50 for singles and $62 for a couple. A room for 4 costs $100. Breakfast included.

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Theme: Hostel
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$40-80  » Currency Converter
Phone: 02-6780101
Address: Corner of Burla and Avigad St., Nayot, Jerusalem
Other Contact: rabin@iyha.org.il