Beresheet by Isrotel exclusive

Not much that is not beautiful here. The combination of natural beauty and modern brilliance mesh perfectly. Was able to walk out to my private mini Infinity pool to watch the sunrise only to be visited by a local Ibex. Food is out of the world good and the spa is wonderfully clean and maintained by very qualified professionals. Wait staff in the restaurant could use a tad bit more attention to detail but I wouldn't let that ruin (and I am not) a life-changing stay.

I’ll start by saying the hotel is absolutely fabulous. The design is stunning, the rooms are clean, and they clean your room twice a day. The room itself is fully equipped with everything you need – an espresso machine, a working station, champagne, and a bathroom with both a shower and a bathtub. It’s really perfect! They also offer a pillow menu to make sure you’re as comfortable as possible when it comes to your sleeping needs. Plus, there’s a golf cart service to take you from your room to anywhere around the hotel, which is a nice touch. The location is incredibly beautiful and peaceful – it’s everything! Surrounded by nature, it’s the perfect place to relax and unwind, but just keep in mind, it’s also remote. As for food – our reservation only included breakfast, but you can add dinner upon arrival. It's not cheap, but the food is good and definitely worth it. It's also important to plan ahead with meals, as there aren’t many dining options outside the hotel. The hotel is located in the middle of the desert, not near a main city, so you won't find a lot of restaurants nearby. Now, the team (receptionists, waitstaff, and all the other staff) could benefit from more professional training on customer service for a 5-star hotel experience. While they all have great intentions and are friendly, the service lacked the level of professionalism I would expect from a 5-star establishment. If I were at a 3- or 4-star hotel, I’d say the service was fine, but at this level, I expected a little more attention to detail.

We’ve stayed at Beresheet five times over the past two years, in all combinations possible: just the two of us, with extended family, and with small children. We've stayed in every room type except the deluxe and presidential suites, experienced the hotel under two different managements, with and without dinner included, and used all the main facilities. Bottom line: Beresheet is likely the most pleasant hotel in Israel for a summer escape (i.e., 70% of the time), though it has its shortcomings. I haven't been to Six Senses further south, so I can’t compare directly, but my hunch is that it offers less value for repeated visits. Other high-end Isrotel properties in the north are probably more suitable for spring and winter. After a few visits, I’d say the best value for money is a balcony room overlooking the crater, without pre-booked dinner. I predict we will continue to return to this hotel—it’s probably the best escape one can have around here without getting on a plane or spending too much (although it is expensive, for sure). Here is my extended review: By far the most important feature of the hotel is the outdoor infinity pool. While the pool itself is quite simple in design, the views are spectacular—open, serene, and not crowded. We’ve spent entire days beside it and felt very content with ourselves. The hotel is designed as an ancient Hebrew village (or at least, thats how I felt), and it really stands out—just walking around gives you a splendid feeling. For comments on the food and rooms, see seperate sections below. As for the spa: it is limited compared to other Isrotel properties. The only jacuzzi available to general guests is next to the indoor pool—it’s quite small and not very pleasant. There is another hot tub in the presidential suite overlooking the crater, but it’s not open to the public. I find this to be a very strange decision in the hotel’s layout. The spa area itself is very small—located underground and quite dark, which is a shame. There is no real sitting area or dipping pool inside the spa itself. The hammam is of high quality, but since there’s no jacuzzi or plunge pool nearby, and no extensive space to relax afterward, the experience is short-lived. Also, the cold tea they serve is actually commercial tea sold in supermarkets, in disguise of a "home-made infusion". It is sweet and pleasant, though, and most guests don’t seem to notice. The spa closes at 18:00 and opens only at 09:00, so doing an outdoor workout and then heading straight to the spa is not an option, which is unfortunate. Just for comparison’s sake: the Carmel Forest Mansion has a large lounging area and an entire wing for saunas and hammams, with dipping pools and showers. They serve homemade tea, sweets, and other refreshments nearby. The gym at Carmel Forest is also much better equipped, whereas here it really isn’t. Even Kedma Hotel, just a 30-minute drive north and supposedly a much lower-tier property, has a massive hammam with a very large dipping pool inside. Of course, these hotels have their own shortcomings, so I suppose it balances out. The hotel is generous in its offerings: they provide bottled water, milk, coffee, and fulfill any room requests quickly and free of charge. Sweet, simple cava is served in the lobby in the afternoon, also free of charge. I already mentioned the commerical tea in diguise of "home-made infusion", and there are also some local sweets, which are OK. As for the service—without being petty, I would deem it excellent overall. Even the bellboys try their best and aim to be charming (with some inconsistencies, likely because they are the lowest-paid staff, and there aren’t enough of them). It’s highly advisable to have a direct contact at the hotel before arrival, as communicating requests like room location or preferences through Isrotel’s central system is nearly impossible. In general, make requests via WhatsApp or directly to hotel staff—any request routed through Isrotel customer service is handled by the central system, which is remarkably lacking.