The InterContinental David Tel Aviv was the first hotel that we looked at when traveling to Tel Aviv. It stood out to us immediately from the high ratings, the size of the hotel, and of course, that it was on the beach!
I did quite a bit more research, but no other hotel had that perfect trifecta than this hotel. Having never been to Israel and honestly, not knowing lots about the city, I wanted to stay somewhere big and that I knew and trusted the InterContinental brand. Here’s a bit more about our trip and my review of the hotel! I hope this helps you make your decision when you visit Israel.
Location
When we started looking for hotels in Tel Aviv, we immediately knew we wanted one on the beach. We were traveling in February, so though it wasn’t exactly beach weather, it was sure warmer than here in New York City. So, we were ready to be near the beach!
From there, I just wanted to make sure the hotel was centrally located toward the inward attractions. We liked that that is one was near the beautiful Port of Jaffa, and still walking distance from popular restaurants and bars.
Now, having been there, I found that there weren’t many restaurants and bars all that close to the hotel. But, that’s because it’s right on the beach and is walkable to the Port of Jaffa. So, this didn’t prove to be an issue for us and we appreciated the quiet, but I hadn’t realized that it was somewhat standing alone before our visit.
Staff
This is what really made the hotel five-star. The staff was incredible. Everyone from those at the restaurant to those cleaning to those at the front desk went above and beyond to help us during our stay. One night we even have our water shut off just for a few hours and they made sure to compensate us for a minor inconvenience. The staff made all the difference to us during our trip, having never been to Israel and of course, not speaking Hebrew or Arabic.
One of the complaints I have about the hotel was that they had no bathroom or locker areas to use after you check out. The morning we checked out, we went to the Dead Sea. We had come back with plans to shower and change (as most hotels allow you to do) before going to catch our flight that night. We were *mortified* when we arrived sticky with salt and told that there were no showers for us to use, and even the pool lockers weren’t available. This is something they should provide to their guests. BUT an amazing employee, originally from Florida, went above and beyond to help us get a shower and cleaned up before our flight. He was an angel!
Food
We opted for the breakfast buffet every day, which is not included in the hotel fee. It was delicious and had lots of options. So, if you don’t like Israeli food (which would be crazy!), you’d still find plenty for your liking. It was never too crowded and there were no lines, and the servers were excellent! One thing worth noting is that if you are there on Saturday, you’ll experience Shabbat. In observance, the hotel doesn’t use any electricity in their cooking. So, there are no toasters, grills, skillets, etc. This may seem obvious as it’s Israel. But, the rest of the hotel actually still uses electricity. Just not the buffet! But they still had a great selection of delicious food (see below!).
Rooms and Space
We booked a room with a balcony because we wanted to soak up being across from the beach and even though it was February and not exactly beach weather, we spent lots of time out there. The staff was so great (see above) and even brought us patio furniture out there upon request so we could enjoy some cocktails out there with the sunset.
I didn’t get a picture of the room before we sprawled our stuff everywhere. It was a spacious room and clean, nothing too amazing but nothing to complain about. What sold us about the rooms here was that we were able to get a room with two double beds, ideal for traveling with friends.
Pool and Beach
When we booked the hotel, we were really drawn the pool on the website pictures. However, we didn’t spend a minute there! The weather wasn’t terribly warm while we were there and when it was, we chose to go to the beach. We did use the pool locker rooms though. They were clean but pretty outdated. It’s not a huge deal though as you could go back to your room and shower, and the showers in the rooms are quite spacious!
We did go to and loved the beach. It’s right across from the hotel. It’s easily walkable. So, if you’re going to Tel Aviv for the beach, this is a great option!
Transportation
We ended up renting a car while there. We had a group of about five friends so it made sense. The InterContinental David Tel Aviv had a parking garage in the hotel. We also rented our car right from the hotel. Both of these were convenient. But, the hotel parking was quite pricey (around $20/day). We ended up parking in the lot directly across the street. It was much less expensive and honestly, no less convenient. The hotel’s garage is quite large so it’s not exactly easy to find your car.
We took taxis on nights out and to and from the airport. This was a really easy option. Both Ubers and taxis are throughout the city and well-priced. You would be fine with a combination of walking and taxis.
Cost
I thought the hotel was well worth the price! It was above average in the city, but it showed. It had the amenities, attentiveness, and service that the price reflected. The only places I saw room for improvement were the lack of lockers/bathrooms for guests after check out, and perhaps transportation to and from the airport. Otherwise, the view, the cleanliness, the room, and the staff lived up the five-star rating.
Entrepreneur Rating
One of my biggest motivators behind my business is being able to work from anywhere. Living a laptop lifestyle is a dream come true when it comes to travel. But, that does mean I work, at least a little, on nearly every trip I go on. So, I also look at hotels from their availability to foster working.
We booked a Classic Room with a Terrace and the desk corner of the room was more spacious than the average hotel room. This suited me working in the early hours of the morning during my jetlag! The wifi was great in the entire hotel. I also enjoyed doing a bit of work in the lobby bar, which was very quiet for a bar. There was a business center on the 13th (I believe?) floor, which was empty and clean, albeit quite small. The computers in the room were dated, but that didn’t matter to me as I had my own. Overall, it was very easy for me to work throughout the entire hotel.
Overall, I recommend the InterContinental David Tel Aviv and would stay here again in Israel. (With a terrace again!) I hope you find this review helpful and enjoy the amazing city of Tel Aviv.