Author Archives: Lee Saunders

Tel Aviv – the Hottest City for the LGBT Community

“Somewhere over the rainbow way up high, there’s a land that I heard of once in a lullaby” –well-known lyrics sung by Judy Garland in the 1939 classic movie Wizard of Oz. Well, that land is Tel Aviv and it should be seen, not heard. Experienced, not imagined.

Hilton beach

Epicenter of celebrations and a beacon of light for LGBT rights

Tel Aviv has long been known as Israel’s hottest, most liberal and welcoming destination for the LGBT community and at no time is this more visible during the Tel Aviv’s extremely popular annual Gay Pride event in June.

Doubling in numbers from 100,000 (2012) to more than 200,000 in summer 2016, the not-to-be missed parade attracts souls from all walks of life and all around the world to brave the sweltering summer heat and party, party, party.

Setting off from Meir Park’s Gay Center, which facilitates and organizes LGBT events across the city, the parade weaves its way through the main streets as partygoers dance, drink and jump to Europop tunes while local residents throw cool buckets of water over them from their balconies above.

The parade works its way down the beachfront, close to the Dan Tel Aviv hotel , well-known for being a gay-friendly hotel, its iconic rainbow facade overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

While the parade finishes at the Charles Clore Park with many live performances, the party continues throughout the night at the city’s bars, clubs and on Tel Aviv’s unofficial gay beach – Hilton beach.

The diversity of LGBT life greeting visitors to Tel Aviv is everywhere. Estimates on the size of the LGBT community range between 40,000 and 50,000, and, while there are no specific gayborhoods, it is not uncommon at all to see pairs of moms or dads pushing double strollers past sushi stalls on the elegant Rothschild Boulevard or seated at coffee shops on Sheinkin Street.

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There is an ever-growing number of supportive LGBT parenting and family groups, different faith groups, English-speaker groups as well as same-sex sports teams. For example, Tel Aviv co-hosted TAG2017, the first ever LGBT Multi-sports Tournament in Tel Aviv, in Spring 2017.

A raft of cultural, artistic and educational events

For true culture vultures, the only LGBT film festival in the Middle East, TLVFest attracts 10,000 visitors to its program of movies, workshops and awards and will celebrate its 12th year in June 2017 at its traditional home, the Tel Aviv Cinemateque.

Close by, Habima Square is arguably Tel Aviv’s cultural center and home to both Habima Theater, the country’s national theater, as well as the 80-year-old Israeli Philarmonic Orchestra. Huge crowds attend nightly performances of longstanding shows, musicals and exciting performances by renowned musicians, milling around afterwards for a drink at the nearby cafés and bars.

Having opened in 1944, the Cameri is one of the most prolific theaters in Israel. Each year, visitors can experience 12 new shows, alongside 20 productions from previous years, ranging from original Israeli shows and classical Shakespeare to modern drama and popular musicals.

Next door, the state-of-the-art Israeli Opera enjoys the support of over 18,000 subscribers and produces an average of eight productions each season featuring leading international and domestic opera artists while gay pop icons Lady Gaga, Gloria Gaynor and Madonna, a prior guest at the Dan Tel Aviv, have all performed in Tel Aviv.

Party till dawn

Tel Aviv’s thriving bars and clubs have become landmark destinations for the LGBT community in Israel and those around the world. Tel Aviv may always be sunny but it is often raining men at Shpagat, a relaxed and easygoing theatre-style bar, close to the Carmel Market.

Spilling into an outside seating area and onto the street, the bar attracts a fashionable and mixed crowd – the ideal spot for people watching over a few pints. Down the road, lesbian bar Amazona’s great atmosphere and popular DJs make it a stopping point on a night out.

If you want to crank up the action, there are a raft of clubs with LGBT nights. Located south of Florentine is Haoman 17, one of the nightclub world’s institutions and Tel Aviv’s biggest and most established mega club.

Having hosted many of the world’s best DJs in its 11 years, the club is a magnet for all-night partygoers. Longstanding club Bootleg organizes retro 80s music and other themed nights as well as a large number of international DJs keeping serious clubbers happy with techno and trance music.

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For the best in R&B and hip hop music, visitors will find it hard to do better than the no-attitude Lima Lima, which hosts an R&B night every Monday and is extremely popular with tourists and the LGBT community.

Nearby Kuli Alma has become one of Tel Aviv’s most celebrated and unique clubs. Its murals on the walls take you on a journey through vintage movies, art and graffiti while electronic, house, hip hop and indie music keeps the pulses racing.

Further south in Jaffa is the quirky and alternative no-judgment bar that is Anna Loulou, where Israelis and Arabs, straight and gay, Mizrahi and Ashkenazi visitors hang out, epitomizing the city’s diversity.

With such diversity, it is no surprise that Tel Aviv is to be found and enjoyed… at the end of that rainbow.

Worldwide Travel Bloggers Fall in Love with Jerusalem

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“There is a well-known phrase that Jerusalem makes all people friends,” pointed out Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat to a 400-strong audience of travel bloggers, writers, journalists and industry professionals, as Travel Blog Exchange, or TBEX, rolled into to town. Nowhere was this phrase more palpable than during the two-day conference at Jerusalem’s ICC Convention Center.

The pioneering travel blogging conference – which began with single email to six friends back in 2009 – has become the world’s largest travel community.

Participants considered it a major success as, during its first ever visit to Israel (and indeed the Middle East), perceptions were shattered, friendships built and ideas shared.

This is the power of social media. This is the influence of bloggers

“Jerusalem is too profound and rich for superficial observations, it is a place full of passion and where great content is created,” added Mordecai Holtz, New Media Director of Tourism at the Jerusalem Development Authority, which helped to coordinate the conference.

Participants, bloggers and influencers spread the word about the conference and Jerusalem. The audience reached was 6.2 million people with over 61 million social impressions. “This is the power of social media,” added Mordecai. “This is the influence of bloggers. This is the change TBEX Jerusalem aims to achieve.”

Yariv Levin, Israel’s Minister of Tourism

Israel is a small country with big advantage for the tourists, there is such diversity

And Jerusalem has everything for a blogger to work with – a point emphasized by Yariv Levin, Israel’s Minister of Tourism, who greeted TBEX’s VIP guests at a lavish welcome party at the Dan Jerusalem Hotel: “Israel is a small country with big advantage for the tourists, with such diversity.”

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Dance troupe Vertigo performed at the welcome party at the Dan Jerusalem Hotel

Everybody came from somewhere. Different backgrounds, fresh eyes, new perspectives.

These tourists and participants, exploring Jerusalem and Israel, mostly for the first time, keenly shared their views. “Like the city of Jerusalem, TBEX is a melting pot of travel bloggers from around the world who come with peace and with a mission to make the world a better place,” added travel blogger Svetoslav Dimitrov from Bulgaria.

“My preconceptions were that Israel was not safe, but it absolutely is – I walked around alone extensively in both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem without any problems. I would travel back as a solo female traveler for sure,” added blogger Amy Trumpeter from England.

Ajay Sood, a TBEX speaker and photographer from India, added: “Seeing Jerusalem was a true eye-opener since the city, though steeped in thousands of years of history, is clean, cosmopolitan and unlike any other Middle Eastern city. This was truly a pleasant surprise.”

There was an exhilarating energy at the conference itself, which saw two days of informative and passionate talks and tips from writers to photographers, bloggers, to vloggers, tourism professionals and industry insiders, each session drawing in the most intrigued minds, eager to learn.

Ruth Waiman, Digital Brand Reputation Manager at Dan Hotels, sponsor of TBEX Jerusalem, spoke on a panel discussing ‘Travel Bloggers and the Travel Industry in Israel, adding “It’s totally refreshing and exciting to see such engagement, curiosity and involvement when it comes to Israel. From our point of view, we had 20,000 impressions during the week of TBEX with the number of impressions up 180% since. Goes to show that this presents all sorts of opportunities for collaboration and growth.”

Christopher Mitchell, a Canadian blogger living in Istanbul added: “In many ways, this conference is the ‘who’s who’ of travel blogging, and I wondered whether I’d be out of place. Thankfully, I wasn’t, and people were incredibly kind, humble, and helpful whether they were just starting out or had ‘made it.'”

With the conference ending with drinks, food and a stunning fashion show at Jerusalem’s First Station complex, plans were already being made to attend TBEX’s next conferences this year in the US and Europe.

From the golden cobbled streets of the city of Jerusalem to the rolling green hills of the Irish countryside, there may never been a better time to be a blogger.

Israel – Country with a flourishing wildlife

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“What drives me is that moment of discovery. I love the unknown,” says Jeff Corwin, well known wildlife biologist and host of American TV show Animal Planet. Nowhere is this discovery of the unknown more startling than in Israel.

Roughly the same size as New Jersey and with 60% of the country desert, Israel has an astonishing and thriving range of wildlife in the sky, on the ground and underwater to entertain the keenest photographer and educate the most curious of minds. From north to south, there are opportunities to spot wildlife in their natural habitat and be a guest in their world.

Hula Valley

Israel has an astonishing diversity of wildlife in the sky, on the ground and underwater

This is particularly evident every spring in northern Israel’s Hula Nature Reserve, nestled in heart of the Hula Valley. Once 15,000 acres of swampland, the Hula Valley is a site of worldwide significance for water birds and a most important wetland reserve in the Middle East.

After it was drained to combat malaria, the lake was then preserved and later became a nature reserve, Israel’s first, in 1964. Now home to an overwhelming number of species of plants and fish, it is best known as a ‘transit airport’ or a stopping point for 500 million birds as they migrate between Europe and Africa. Pelicans, herons, white-tailed eagles, storks, and cranes are among the 400 species making the flight.

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The park has become a flagship model for the protection and preservation of, and cooperation between, nature, tourism and agriculture. With bicycles and golf carts available, the park, located between Kiryat Shmona and Rosh Pina, makes for a wonderful day trip for the whole family, two hours north of Tel Aviv.

While the skies capture your imagination and sense of wonder at Hula, Ramat Gan Safari (officially, the Zoological Center Tel Aviv-Ramat Gan), half an hour drive from the Dan Tel Aviv, is considered to be the biggest and one of the most impressive collections of protected wildlife in the Middle East.

First established as a national park in 1951, today, the 250-acre site includes a modern, spacious and open-air zoo and a drive-through African safari area and is home to more than 100 species of birds, 80 species of mammals and 25 species of reptiles, attracting more than 700,000 visitors each year.

Just recently, the Ramat Gan Safari welcomed Rami, the 29th rhino to be born there. The site offers visitors a range of tours, including dusk and nighttime tours, providing the chance to observe the social behaviors and feeding habits of herds of wild animals, including African and Asian elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, hippos and lions.

Smaller but no less impressive is the enchanting Biblical Zoo, considered one of the top tourist attractions in Israel, attracting more than 750,000 visitors annually since opening in its current location in 1993.

Emphasizing indigenous species from Israel, the zoo hosts more than 170 species of animals, with a special emphasis on those mentioned in the Bible, as well as endangered species, which benefit from a raft of domestic and international wildlife conservation programs.

The park’s centerpiece is a man-made lake, bordered by spacious lawns and picnic spots and includes a petting corner, Friendly Animal Houses and the Noah’s Ark Sculpture Garden. Located in a valley on the southern outskirts of Jerusalem, surrounded by green hills and modern neighborhoods, the park is easily accessible by car or public transport.

Far from the plains of the Serengeti…

Alpaca Farm

While you may not expect to find these particular creatures so far from the plains of the Serengeti, you probably would not expect to see alpacas and llamas, often found in the Andes Mountains of South America.

However, the truly remarkable Alpaca Farm, near Mitzpeh Ramon, a hot desert town on the southern road to Eilat, has one of the largest herds of alpacas and llamas in the world and one of few such farms outside of South America.

Discover the history of the farm, and the nearby Ramon Crater, as well as learn more about shearing and alpaca wool. Children can enjoy llama rides while the whole family can enjoy horseback riding, set against a backdrop of pristine desert wilderness.

Camel Ranch Eilat

With llamas and alpacas described as “miniature camels,” the more traditional camels are available to appreciate and enjoy throughout southern Israel. While they don’t tend to roam the streets of Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, you will find a number of camel ranches dotted through the Negev desert, on the way to Eilat.

You can discover, experience and enjoy riding camels that are indigenous to the area in a number of areas, including the popular and professional Camel Ranch Eilat. With tours ranging from half an hour to half a day, Camel Ranch Eilat is situated at the entrance to Wadi Shlomo, ten minutes from the center of Eilat and the starting point for many desert trails.

Here, professional tour guides escort you on an enjoyable camel ride in rugged and breathtaking scenery with spectacular views of Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea before bringing you back to camp to enjoy pita and labaneh.

Treasures glimmering underneath the Red Sea

If you want a well-deserved break from the desert sun, there are many opportunities in Eilat to explore secret treasures glimmering underneath the Red Sea.

Take a memorable dive at the Coral Beach Nature Reserve, a world of technicolor, a short drive south of the Dolphin Reef Eilat, itself, a unique ecological site around the world where visitors magically bond with dolphins in their natural habitat, choosing either to snorkel or dive among these more intelligent mammals.

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If you are feeling somewhat bolder, the Underwater Observatory Marine Park boasts Sharks World, the largest shark pool in the Middle East, allowing visitors to witness the fascinating world of 20 types of sharks, including tiger, fox and hammerhead sharks, up close and personal – but not too close! Offering stunning photo opportunities of the Gulf of Eilat, the Marine Park contains more than 800 species of fish, coral, stingrays, turtles and much more as well as the opportunity to take a short cruise on the Coral 2000, a glass bottom boat, to capture amazing views of the coral and lose yourself in all that Mother Nature has to offer.

Underwater Observatory Marine Park

Israel and tropical rainforests are probably words you don’t hear uttered in the same breath every day.

And yet, you can also effortlessly lose yourself in the beautifully maintained Utopia Park, one of the only parks worldwide where a delightful tropical rainforest displays thousands of orchids from all around the world, as well as tropical plants, many animals, parrots and carnivorous plants.

Spread out over an incredible 40,000 square meter area, the park is located in the serene Kibbutz Bahan, in the heart of the Sharon (or central) region and offers beautiful wide open green spaces, and even two giant plant mazes, for visitors to enjoy.

utopia park

Israel remains steadfast in its commitment to conservation and protection of both the environment and the species living in it.

The Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) has been given the chance to showcase a photo exhibition at the UN headquarters in New York, reflecting its own efforts to protect endangered species, maintain the landscape, preserve water, and much more.

As wildlife organizations continue to mount greater efforts to educate the public about conservation and animal welfare, education remains key to stirring up the excitement and interest of the young, which will often turn into the passion and activism needed, when they are older.

Over the last few years, Dan Hotels has developed and expanded its Danyland project to inspire and arouse children’s interest in their environment, bringing together theater, games, art and costumes with nature and wildlife to teach them about science and the environment.

It is hoped that projects, such as these, will play a small part in keeping that next generation looking forwards, will keep their parents visiting Israel and will keep biologists, like Jeff Corwin, continuing to love the unknown.

Dan Hotels Celebrate the French Culinary Week

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“In France, cooking is a serious art form and a national sport,” remarked the late American chef Julia Child. “You can talk with a concierge or police officer about food in France, as a general rule,” she added.

And Israel, this week, was all abuzz as French Culinary Week came to visit, for the fifth year, bringing 22 award-winning Michelin chefs, to partner with their Israeli counterparts, the crème de la crème, in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Be’er Sheva, Tiberias, Haifa and Akko.

For the last three years, Dan Hotels has been working with French Culinary Week, which has provided a mouthwatering opportunity to renew the common links between Israel and France and highlight their insatiable love of food, sharing flavors and cooking styles.

We caught up with the Executive Chef at the iconic King David Hotel in Jerusalem, David (Dudu) Biton, as he prepared to collaborate with award-winning chef Frédéric Simonin at the hotel’s exclusive La Régence restaurant, a major landmark on Jerusalem’s fine dining landscape.

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So French, So Food

“Both are extremely generous and really love to share their love and enjoyment of food – it is a very cultural experience.”

“There are similarities and differences between French and Israeli culinary styles,” explains Dudu. “Both are extremely generous and really love to share their love and enjoyment of food – it is a very cultural experience.” “Israeli cooking today is very fresh, very local, and Mediterranean, while French cuisine tends to have a heavier, stronger taste. That is part of what made this such as interesting experience and an excellent collaboration,” added Dudu.

A wealth of experience and a raft of sumptuous dishes have become the hallmark of Jerusalem-native Dudu Biton, who has forged a towering reputation as one of the industry’s best chefs. More than two decades earlier, it was a different story. “My grandparents came from Greece and Morocco so food was always important in our family but nobody was a real cook, as such. I began to learn to cook when I was 15 after my uncle helped find me a job in a hotel. I hated it at first, the pressure, the incredibly hard work, but after six months or so, I remember making really excellent rice and I was soon hooked.”

While Dudu’s achievements were initially largely self-taught, his French counterpart Frédéric Simonin trained and learned from the pioneer of haute cuisine, Joël Robuchon. Today, a string of awards, including his first Michelin star at just 27 years old, and his own restaurant in Paris’ upmarket 17^th arrondissement have rightfully catapulted him into the culinary spotlight.

chefs

Michelin-star Frédéric Simonin, Executive Chef Dudu Biton and Food and Beverage Manager Elie Fischer at the King David for ‘So French So Food,’ French Culinary Week.

Quickly, both chefs discovered much in common. “We felt an immediate alchemy really, we both have similar personalities and you can see that by the way we both manage the kitchen. We both love the product more than anything and agree that quality is everything,” said Dudu. Frédéric concurred: “We have the same passion and want to highlight the taste and only the taste. We want a lot of flavors. We both like to use the right technique for the right product.”

Specialist gourmet from the region of Alsace

This year, the focus was on the specialist gourmet from the region of Alsace, in Eastern France, on the border with Germany and Switzerland. The challenge was to combine and adapt Alsace’s modern, authentic and distinct cuisine with Israeli products to create an exciting and innovative menu for guests.

“The collaboration went smoothly and naturally as if we had worked together before,” described Frédéric. Both chefs planned and adapted to the availability of ingredients and the laws of kashrut to produce a true chef’s menu. “I have already cooked kosher cuisine in Paris so there were no big surprises and Israel has enough wonderful products for me to enjoy 100%,” he added.

Israeli French alchemy

Accompanied with Gewurztraminer and Riesling wines from the Alsace region, the results were a masterpiece. Each evening, for three nights, a six-course menu provided diners with a taste, a snapshot of authentic Alsace cuisine in Israeli style.

There was tuna tartare with roasted tomato, Basque-style egg, topped with black garlic powder and red mullet, pissaladiere, with garlic flakes and drizzled in citrus vierge sauce. For mains, there was roasted duck, soft turnip and foie gras, and lamb sirloin sizzled to perfection on a charcoal grill, accompanied by shallot with lamb neck stuffing, fava beans and celeriac. Afterwards, a mango, meringue shell oriental sorbet or a chocolate pecan and olive oil desert kept guests brimming with satisfaction.

Collaboration with Yonatan Roshfeld

It was the latest successful culinary collaboration for Dudu Biton, who recently served up a six-course tasting treat with Yonatan Roshfeld, one of Israel’s most well-known and successful chefs and, more recently, a judge on the MasterChef Israel. Yonatan and Dudu, whose signature dishes include the much-loved tomato leather filled with sea fish salad, pooled their talents and culinary vision to create spectacular dishes.

Yonatan Roshfeld at La Régence

Such tantalizing dishes underline how cooking and eating remain as much a national passion and pastime in Israel as they do in France, cementing Israel’s reputation as a must-visit destination for foodies everywhere.

Eilat, the City of Promise

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History is read in books but the future is written by those with imagination, and Eilat, Israel’s beautiful desert city, has a bold future ahead, as one of Israel’s shimmering jewels.

Dan Eilat hotel

In April 2017, a new international airport is due to open in the Timna Valley, southern Israel, while the government continues to discuss the introduction of a string of casinos in the city, following in the footsteps of Eilat’s glitzy desert sister, Las Vegas, Nevada. However, even before any of these plans begin to materialize, there is a range of fascinating musical, entertainment and healthy pursuits to delight any visitor.

Eilat is the destination in Israel for live music

As the year kicks off, Eilat is the destination in Israel for live music. Classical music aficionados can celebrate the Eilat Chambers Music Festival, a regular fixture in Eilat’s cultural calendar, and one of the leading international music festivals worldwide.

For the fifth consecutive year, the Dan Hotels chain is the main sponsor of the event and the Dan Eilat Hotel hosts both the festival itself and guests looking for luxurious accommodation and tantalizing food throughout. In 2015, Dan Eilat was chosen by Conde Nast Traveler magazine readers as one of the five best resort hotels in the Middle East for 2015.

The Eilat Chambers Music festival continues to earn rave reviews and attracts newer and larger audiences from Israel and around the world, previously hosting renowned artists, including Hollywood stars John Malkovich and Sir Roger Moore.

In addition to hosting first-rate soloists, violinists and many other international music groups, there are masterclasses and workshops for opera singers throughout the festival, which takes place in February every year.

Established at the initiative of maestro Valery Gergiev, the Red Sea Classical Music Festival is also held at the beginning of every year at the port of Eilat. Around 300 orchestras, leading choirs and soloists perform in the sunshine city, supported by the Mariinsky Orchestra of St. Petersburg while the ClassiCameri Festival also features all of the greats, including Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert and Mozart.

Eilat Chambers Music festival

As the classical music winds down, the city buzzes with singers, bands, string quartets, legendary bassists, trumpeters and saxophonists, such as Oded Tzur, who brings his American and Indian influences to entertain fans at the 7th Winter Red Sea Jazz Festival, one of the most prestigious festivals in Eilat, also every February.

There is no letup in entertainment as Eilat revs up its musical engines again throughout the spring. The Fattal Rock Festival comes to town between 23 and 25 March when rock lovers will head for the desert to hear artists, including Ivri Lider, one of Israel’s biggest-selling contemporary artists, as well as 80s stars Arkady Duchin and influential band T-Slam.

Eilat pays homage to the influence of salsa at a parade celebrating the passionate Latin American dance while the Mizrahi dance festival features some of the most prominent names in the field of Mizrahi music, every January. The city’s annual Pride festival, held now for more than a decade, continues to tempt visitors with a range of music, parties and high revelry every May.

Thousands flock to explore the city and attend popular family shows such as WOW Eilat, one of the city’s hottest and longest running attractions. A short walk from both the Dan Eilat and the Dan Panorama Eilat, the show has been dazzling visitors with breathtaking dancers, comedians and acrobats from all around the world throughout the year for more than 15 years.

Every August, there is a heartwarming three-day Yemenite festival comprising authentic music, food and costumes from one of Israel’s thriving minority communities. Every September, visitors rush to experience the electric atmosphere and see the impressive production and workshops put on by the BatSheva Dance Company at a festival in Timna Park, near Eilat.

The following month, street performers, musicians, circus performer, jugglers also keep visitors entertained at a free live three-day street festival to mark the festival of Sukkot.

Eilat is Israel’s Atlantis

Coral Beach Nature Reserve

If you want to take a well-earned break from the music and sounds above ground, there are many opportunities to explore all that lies beneath. Hidden treasures glimmer underneath the water’s surface, inviting snorkelers and divers to enjoy spectacular views beneath the Red Sea.

Away from the distractions of the world outside, be as close to nature as you possibly can be by taking a memorable dive at the Coral Beach Nature Reserve, a world of technicolor, a short drive south of the Dolphin Reef Eilat, a unique ecological site around the world where visitors magically bond with dolphins in their natural habitat, choosing either to snorkel or dive among these more intelligent mammals.

If you are feeling somewhat bolder, the Underwater Observatory Marine Park boasts Sharks World, the largest shark pool in the Middle East, allowing visitors to witness the fascinating world of 20 types of sharks, including tiger, fox and hammerhead sharks, up close and personal – but not too close! Offering spectacular views of the Gulf of Eilat, the Marine Park also offers you a mesmerizing display of more than 800 species of fish, coral, stingrays, turtles and much more as well as the opportunity to take a short cruise on the Coral 2000, a glass bottom boat, to capture amazing views of the coral and see Mother Nature at her finest.

Capture these views on camera and you can submit them to Eilat’s popular underwater photography competition.

Camels and Jeeps – Eilat’s own taxis!

Camel Safaris

If you wanted to get around and explore as Mother Nature intended – on foot – or with a little help, Eilat has many options. There are many tours but we recommend three, in particular.

There is an easy two-hour free guided tour of ‘Eilat: Past, Present and Future,’ which explores Eilat’s journey from in front of The Eilat Tourist Office, also just ten minutes on foot to the Eilat City History Museum on Yotam Street.

For the more adventurous, a three-hour ‘Nature Tour’ takes you every Monday morning from the Ice Mall starting point, through the flora, fauna and a Bird Watching Park, exploring one of the most fascinating natural and geological regions.

Every Tuesday, there is a challenging four-hour Hiking Tour up to the peak of Mount Tzfachot, offering superb views of the four countries whose borders meet around the Gulf of Eilat: Israel, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. This tour begins from the Camel Ranch, located in Eilat Mountain Nature Reserve, from where you can also join unique desert tours, just ten minutes from the center of Eilat.

In addition to Camel Safaris, which Camel Ranch has been running for 30 years, there are Donkey Carts and a fun Rope Park, the largest of its kind in Israel, will keep children and adults entertained for hours.

For those adrenalin-seekers, who want to go a little faster, there is a popular international triathlon in Eilat, every year, challenging the fittest to swim, bike and run.

migration of birds

While Eilat offers many exciting and adrenalin-filled activities for all the family, there is no substitute for just chilling out and enjoying the city’s food, shopping and nightlife if you just want to take it easy.

Close to both the Dan Eilat and Dan Panorama Eilat, the enormous dome-shaped Ice Mall offers an escape from the heat, combining two floors of fashion stores and dining options with an ice skating rink its centerpiece, while there is a diverse and inexpensive shopping experience at Mall Hayam, due to Eilat’s status as a Free Trade Area.

A popular weekly market every Friday sells an array of local products and foods, while the city is home to many restaurants and bars, among them wonderful seafood restaurants, such as Fish Market, dishing up some of the freshest produce from the sea to the plate, Rak Dagim, offering an delicious menu, relaxing music and excellent service, and the delightful and ambient Pedro Market Restaurant, which provides a mix of meat and fish dishes in a residential area, away from the tourist center.

Fifth Avenue, a short walk from the Dan Eilat, is one of the newest and most enjoyable venues in Eilat. Drawing its inspiration from the five boroughs of New York, Fifth Avenue offers an array of mouthwatering cocktails, sumptuous food and live music, once again a regular feature of Eilat’s diverse offering.

With such a range of activities in Eilat, it is not hard to see why Israel’s beautiful desert city continues to shine.

Jerusalem of Gold and New

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When you have 24-karat gold, you have gold in its purest form: the most treasured, valuable and precious it can be. Jerusalem – widely referred to as the city of gold – continues to shine in all of its value. A mecca of antiquity and religion, Jerusalem is increasing balancing an incomparable 4,000 year history with contemporary, sophisticated and vibrant culture, including an effervescent dining scene, gourmet restaurants and bistros and an exciting nightlife.

Jerusalem View

In March, Jerusalem will open its doors to the world’s largest travel bloggers conference – TBEX – its first time in the region.

Here, we take you on a journey through Jerusalem’s must-see neighborhoods, recommending a medley of our favorite areas, all of them comfortably located close to the flagship King David Jerusalem Hotel, the luxurious Dan Panorama Jerusalem, warmly hospitable Dan Boutique Hotel Jerusalem and the idyllic Dan Jerusalem. And, with the city so easy to get around on the Jerusalem Light Railway, you can pack as much in as you have time for.

Hurva Synagogue & The Western Wall

Old City

Church of all Nations & Dormition Abbey

So much has been written about the Old City that it is difficult to find new words to describe this must-see and unparalleled neighborhood. Shrouded in mystery and endless secrets, the Old City is without doubt one of the city’s well-visited gems, inviting you to explore a medley of cultures, famous holy sites of the three monotheistic faiths dating back thousands of years.

In the Jewish Quarter, you can visit the Western Wall, considered one of the holiest places in the Jewish religion. The Muslim Quarter houses the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock that are sacred to the Muslim faith. In the Christian and Armenian Quarters are important landmarks and churches such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre that are holy to Christians of all denominations.

Be sure to take in the Cardo, a once bustling outdoor market in the Jewish Quarter, and now a street filled with high quality merchandise. Whether you are interested in religion, architecture, history or just the food, strolling through the Old City’s narrow streets, alleys and markets will leave an impression like no other.

Mamilla

Mamilla

Also on the fringes of the Old City, close to Jaffa Gate, is Mamilla, a modern shimmering and honey–colored area promising visitors an exceptional shopping and culinary experience. Popular with both locals and tourists, the lively and chic outdoor Mamilla Mall brings you designer stores, cafés and restaurants underneath ancient rounded archways, classily bridging a unique gap between the ultra-ancient world and the ultra-modern.

A few hundred meters away lies one of the swanky wine and cocktail bars in Mamilla – Mirror Bar – and the Rdeli Delicatessen & Wine Bar, the ideal spot for an early evening drink with friends or a taste of charcuterie, gourmet cheeses, boutique wines and spirits.

High spirits are plentiful at one of the best nightclubs in the area – HaMazkeka, which brings you cutting edge musicians, a rich variety of music and an excellent list of drinks.

Yemin Moshe

Sandwiched between the Old City and the King David Jerusalem Hotel is the beautiful residential neighborhood of Yemin Moshe, established in 1891 by Moses Montefiore and the first Jewish district build outside the walls of Jerusalem.

Best to walk down the charming cobblestone streets in the late afternoon and take in the stunning architecture, views of the Old City and gaze at the Montefiore Windmill, today a museum towering high above the red roofed houses. Walk south past the epic Sultan’s Pool, one of the most iconic Jerusalem venues for modern music and often home to the city’s summer film festival.

Close by are also two cultural magnets and landmarks: the Jerusalem Cinematheque and the Jerusalem Khan Theatre, which has produced a generation of premier Israeli actors such as Sefi Rivlin and Sasson Gabai.

You can learn about one of Israel’s premier politicians – Menachem Begin – at the nearby Menachem Begin Heritage Center, which takes you on a fascinating journey through the life and experiences of the country’s sixth Prime Minister as they intertwined with Israel’s history.

First Station

Continuing your journey south from the Begin Center is the lively and bustling hub First Station, one of the hottest locations in the city for culture, food and nightlife. Originally the location of the old Jerusalem train station, a lot has changed since many public figures and dignitaries came to marvel at the arrival of a steam train into the new station in 1892.

Today’s renewed First Station offers visitors the chance to take somewhat quicker Segway, electric or guided tours and sample a broad range of international restaurants ensuring that the most ardent foodie leaves fed and in high spirits.

If retail therapy is your preference, First Station serves up countless pop-up, major and boutique stores and a daily craft market packed with local artisans to offer an urban shopping experience in this uniquely historic part of town.

While many think of Tel Aviv as Israel’s premier nightlife hotspot, the dark and mysterious club Justice, located in the First Station compound, is one venue expected to enhance the city’s reputation, delivering music, an atmosphere and experience to delight any clubber.

German Colony

Lying south of the First Station is the charming upscale neighborhood of the German Colony is one of the Dan Hotels’ favorite places. More commonly known locally as Emek Refaim, meaning the valley of the giants, there are a large number of photo opportunities while taking a leisurely stroll around this historical area.

The first residents were the German Templers, Protestants, who settled here in the 19th century, and some of their distinctive architecture of the one or two-storey houses still remains. Now, the main street is at the heart of the city’s café culture, lined with boutiques, coffee shops, bistros and restaurants such as Caffit, a perfect people-watching spot overlooking the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens.

Downtown Triangle

There is no busier place to watch the world go by than the Downtown Triangle, the central commercial and entertainment district in Jerusalem. Bounded by Jaffa Road, King George Street and Ben Yehuda Street, the triangle has been revitalized, offering numerous outdoor cafes and stores open throughout the day,

including one of Israel’s oldest flagship department stores, Hamashbir Lazarchan. When dusk falls, check out some of the city’s best cocktail bars. Watch as the bartenders at the vintage 1920s decadent Great Gatsby chop, peel, grind, squeeze and shake before your eyes the most intoxicating cocktails, including ‘Under the Sea,’ served in a seashell, and ‘Eureka,’ to be sipped from a lightbulb.

Delicious cocktails are also available at the popular and entertaining piano bar Birman, which plays a mix of ragtime, funk, soul and blues.

Close by is the friendly and casual Barrel & Tap, an enjoyable spot for a drink after a long day and one of the better places for draught beer, wines and whiskeys, and also the Videopub gay bar, a relaxed atmosphere for fans of retro 80’s design and contemporary music.

City Center

Mahane Yehuda

A ten-minute walk north east of the Downtown Triangle brings you to the world-famous landmark, Mahane Yehuda, Jerusalem’s colorful legendary market. Offering a feast of sweets, nuts, fruits and spices as eclectic as the visitors who go there, Mahane Yehuda is now also home to trendy gourmet restaurants, lively bistros and quality hummus bars.

After the art-covered market shutters come down, the area remains as lively as ever, with an electrifying atmosphere at the hip and happening Yudale Bar and youthful groove at nearby HaShchena. If the alleyways of Mahane Yehuda has whet your appetite, the narrow winding lanes and hidden courtyards of the gentrified Nachlaot area is well worth exploring.

Exploring this increasingly rich variety of history, architecture, cuisine, nightlife and music, Jerusalem is reveling in its growing status as a city of international tourism. Sitting at the crossroads of old and new, West and East, of the three monotheistic faiths and with all of that combined energy, Jerusalem welcomes you with open arms.

Top places for a Vibrant City break in Tel Aviv

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If you want your toes in the sand and a cocktail in your hand, then intoxicating Tel Aviv-Jaffa is the place for both. Whatever your personal taste and whatever you are in the mood for, the options are endless.

Here, we take a stroll through some of the main areas to sample, dropping a few hints of our favorite places to drink, dance and party at the end of a long day sightseeing and relaxing, and all of them a short distance from both the Dan Tel Aviv and Dan Panorama Tel Aviv Hotel.

Tel Aviv Beach

Beach

The beaches of Tel Aviv draw in a diverse mix of characters and styles and the establishments nearby reflect that. A short stroll down the promenade from the Dan Tel Aviv is one of the city’s most classy and intimate gems. With swing jazz music in the background, the seasoned bartenders at the Imperial Craft Cocktail Bar are dedicated to the lost art of the cocktail and offer mixology sessions to cocktail aficionados.

At the other end of the spectrum, right next to the Dan Tel Aviv, the easygoing beachside sports bar Mike’s Place recently moved up the street from the U.S. embassy to expand its outside seating area and accommodate more fans of sports, live music and sizeable portions.

Jaffa

Close to the Dan Panorama Tel Aviv Hotel is endlessly fascinating Jaffa, whose narrow alleyways usher you through a long and unparalleled history, offering you spectacular views from so many different angles. Few are more striking than the smell of fresh fish and sea air, the sight of waves crashing against the port at sunset and the familiar sound of the call of the Muezzin.

An ancient port city, Jaffa’s timeless attractions lie among the dynamic and lively mix of workshops, falafel stands, ice cream parlors and restaurants. Salespeople and craftsmen pack the iconic flea market, charmingly haggling with tourists and locals over antiquities, watches, clothes, “hamsa” luck charms and more. Jaffa does not shy away from the modern though.

BY day artist galleries open on the staircase streets but by night, there is a hive of activity around the area’s many bars and restaurants while close to the flea market Anna Loulou attracts a wide range of people interested in dancing the night away at alternative Arab and hip hop parties.

Florentine

There is a lively and bohemian atmosphere further north in the hipster ‘hood that is Florentine. Smaller than nearby Carmel Market, Levinsky Market is known for its exotic and international spices. Having become one of the coolest and edgiest parts to live, it is an experience to behold.

From Yemenite to Mexican restaurants, the streets are lined with coffee houses, hummus stands and eclectic bars, such as the delightfully named Bar Mitzvah. All are tucked in behind Haaliya Street, reaching into the heart of the Florentine neighborhood, decorated with some of the most fascinating and inspirational graffiti in the city. Close by is nightclub Kuli Alma, which, in less than three years, has become one of Tel Aviv’s most celebrated and unique clubs.

Its murals on the walls take you on a journey through vintage movies, art and graffiti while electronic, house, hip hop and indie music keeps the pulses racing. With an impeccable sound system, The Block, close to Tel Aviv’s Central Bus Station, is considered by hardcore fans as a world-class destination for house and techno music. This multi-floored club is said to redefine the clubbing experience and spotlights household named DJs such as Guy Gerber and Solomun.

neve tzedek tel aviv

Neve Tzedek

Minutes away, there is a completely different vibe in the charming Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv’s first established neighborhood, you will find cobbled streets lined with designer shops, classy wine bars, romantic restaurants and colorful architecture.

A calm oasis away from the hustle and bustle of central Tel Aviv. In the heart of Shabazi Street, Jajo Wine Bar delves visitors into the captivating and intriguing world of wine, offering workshops and wine courses at either this or the venue at Sarona market.

Nearby, the Wine Story enchants customers with a welcoming ambiance and an extensive list of boutique wines from Europe and Israel.

Rothschild

On the fringes of Neve Tzedek is the Rothschild Street, one of the most popular streets to experience. Ice cream parlors, cafes, restaurants and pubs watch on from the sides as locals, tourists, strollers, dog-walkers, skateboarders and families mix, mingle and go about their business under a lush canopy of green.

Pensioners relax by playing boules in the center of a busy street while a tourists relax in deckchairs reading from a street library near Habima Square at the top of Rothschild. Close by, the relaxing and sophisticated BellBoy offers some of the best cocktails around.

It is a throwback to the ‘speakeasies,’ which became prominent during the Prohibition era of 1920s America. You can lose track of time soaking up the atmosphere, reminiscent of a Woody Allen movie, enjoying the old school background music, and drinking a delicious range of extravagantly presented cocktails straight out of a sea shell, bathtub or an umbrella.

If you’re more in the mood for dancing, at the bottom of Rothschild, there is one of the trendiest underground electronic clubs – Breakfast Club and Milk Bar. Deep house and pumping techno dominate the sounds at this nightlife institution, with passionate fans partying until dawn. Inside, you can also access Milk Bar, which plays the best funk, hip hop, new rave and electronic music from around the world.

Photo credit: Sam Horine

Allenby

At the bottom of Rothschild Street is the long and windy major thoroughfare, Allenby Street home to dozens of small businesses, jewelers and bargain stores by day, and by night quirky bars and cafes filled to the brim. Allenby stretches from the Mediterranean down past Carmel Market to Florentine. Nestled in one of the lively side streets within Tel Aviv’s famous Carmel Market is the boutique Beer Bazaar, seen as one of the city’s finest and most authentic establishments.

Here you can learn about and sample a wide range of Israeli craft beers, pale ales and ciders, including pumpkin beer and their own home-brewed ‘Fat Cat’! Close to Carmel Market, there is a relaxed and easygoing theatre-style bar – Shpagat – popular with the LGBT community. Spilling into an outside seating area and onto the street, the bar attracts a fashionable and mixed crowd – the ideal spot for people watching over a pint or two.

Another welcoming hotspot is Geula, where owners Micky and Carol have magically transformed this once-sleepy establishment into a vibrant and eclectic bar dishing up drinks, homemade food and soulful atmosphere to an often intelligent and older hippy crowd.

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Dizengoff and Center

Turning north east and towards Dizengoff, you are soon in the beating heart of the city. There are numerous stores, cafes and restaurants in the vicinity of the bustling and often-confusing Dizengoff shopping mall. Across the street is OzenBar Club, which serves as a unique venue for fans of art and live music. From folk to pop, rock to funk and hip hop, this central establishment also hosts standup comedy, poetry evenings and small theater productions.

Next door is the longstanding club Bootleg, which has a wide selection of international DJs keeping serious clubbers happy with techno and trance music and also organizes retro 80s music and other themed nights. One of the most lively and affordable nights out drinking in central Tel Aviv is at Beer Garden Dizengoff, considered a home away from home by many visitors.

Close to the iconic fountain in Dizengoff Square, the outdoor courtyard’s central spot, international beers and warm welcome ensure you feel part of the family.

Photo credit: Angeliki Jackson

The Port

Continuing your journey down Dizengoff north towards the Tel Aviv port, you will enjoy designer stores, vegan restaurants and art galleries, soon reaching some classic bars, such as the fancy retro cocktail bar 223 Cocktail Bar, considered an authority on the art of cocktail making and serving up a swanky list of drinks.

Laid out on a wooden deck sprawling along the promenade, and filled with determined joggers, the Tel Aviv port itself is also buzzing with leisure, entertainment, shopping outlets and a Farmer’s Market. As the daytime crowd retreats, the port is becoming one of the most popular drinking spots around with the hotspot Galina Dance Bar, whose main dance floor is inside the hangar while outside guests enjoy a cosmopolitan ambiance on a huge deck overlooking the Mediterranean.

This is Tel Aviv.

The Trends of Chinese Tourists in Israel 2017

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This year, the Chinese celebrate the Year of the Rooster, considered a symbol of honesty, as well as physical and moral strength. One of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac, the Rooster, according to legend, signifies luck, fidelity, protection and bossiness.

It is no coincidence that 2017 expects to see more and more Chinese visitors to Israel, where you might find these characteristics in abundance.

Once a mysterious land far away for the Chinese, Israel has become the land of opportunity – for investment and tourism. There has been a continued influx every year.

In 2007, 10,000 Chinese tourists visited Israel, doubling to more than 20,000 in 2013, and is expected to reach 100,000 by the end of 2017, a ten-fold increase on a decade ago when the first official Chinese business delegation came to Tel Aviv. In the past five years, senior political figures from China have also visited Israel.

Fascinated by Israel’s innovation and entrepreneurship

It was indeed, Chinese business executives who arrived first, fascinated by the wisdom, innovation and entrepreneurship that encompass Israel’s remarkable story and growth. In 2015, the bilateral trade between the two countries exceeded $11 billion compared to a mere $50 million when diplomatic relations officially began 25 years ago, in 1992.

Now, there is a substantial rise in the number of leisure tourists too.

The airlines have certainly sat up and taken notice. Until 2016, only El Al, Israel’s national airline, operated direct flights between China and Israel. In April 2016, Hainan Airlines, China’s fourth largest airline, began operating weekly flights between Beijing and Tel Aviv while Cathay Pacific will launch its first direct Hong Kong to Tel Aviv route in March 2017.

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This increased capacity is expected to further strengthen links in trade, science, high-tech, agriculture, and particularly tourism.

Israel’s Tourism Ministry has responded with a number of initiatives, including opening a first-ever course for tour guides that targets Chinese speakers in 2013. By the end of 2016, Israel is believed to have approximately 70 such certified Chinese-speaking tour guides.

“Israel has plenty to offer. This is reflected by the substantial year on year rise in visitors”

“Whether they are a business delegation with free time or pure leisure travelers, Israel has plenty to offer. This is reflected by the substantial year on year rise in visitors,” one of Israel’s Mandarin-speaking tour guides told us. For some of China’s Christian tourists, it’s the Old City that is the main draw to the Holy Land.

For others, it’s an opportunity to get a first-hand view of places they only hear about. Coming from the more affluent provinces of China, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, many have already traveled around Asia, Australia and the UK and are becoming more adventurous and curious in their travels.

Dan Boutique hotel in Jerusalem

Wrapped in mystery and endless secrets, the Old City is without doubt one of the most visited spots in Jerusalem, which balances an incomparable 4,000 year history with a modern and vibrant culture, including gourmet restaurants and an exciting nightlife.

The Old City invites you to explore the world famous holy sites of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In the Jewish Quarter, you can visit the Western Wall, considered one of the holiest places in the Jewish religion. In the Christian and Armenian Quarters are important landmarks and churches such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre that are holy to Christians of all denominations.

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The Muslim Quarter houses the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock that are sacred to the Muslim faith. Whether you are interested in religion, archeology, architecture or history, strolling through the Old City’s narrow streets, alleys and markets will leave an impression like no other.

The Dead Sea is always a favorite on any bucket list

For Chinese visitors, the Dead Sea is always a favorite on any bucket list. Just an hour away from Jerusalem, the Dead Sea is the lowest dry point on earth, offering mineral-rich waters that allows you to float miraculously and reap the benefits of this famous health destination, known for its range of skincare benefits, treatments and products, such as Ahava cosmetics.

“We have had tour groups here, who may only have a few hours of free time, and they love going to the Dead Sea. They take photographs of themselves covered in mud and then often head straight to the airport!” said another tour guide.

The Dead Sea

Cosmetics, Judaica, jewelry and diamonds are among the many treasures available across Israel, and nowhere is the shopping experience arguably more complete than Tel Aviv. Israel’s thriving coastal city boasts numerous retail jewels – notably Dizengoff Center, the largest shopping mall in Tel Aviv and the iconic Azrieli Center, a modern and glitzy shopping mall filled with designer brands and an international food court.

More recently, the opening of the stylish indoor market at Sarona attracts large numbers of visitors keen to sit down and sample a range of high quality cuisine from around the world.

The Chinese love of food is well known, and is even included in the morning greeting –“早餐吃了没有？”– and that pure love of food, particularly Chinese food, is shared by Israelis and Jewish people alike. It is highlighted best in an old joke:

A Jewish man and a Chinese man were talking. The Jewish man said how wise the Chinese are.

“Yes,” replied the Chinese man, “Our culture is over 4,000 years old. But, the Jews are a very wise people, too.”

The Jewish man replied, “Yes, our culture is over 5,000 years old.”
The Chinese man asked: “That’s impossible, he replied. Where did your people eat for a thousand years?”

authentic banquet to 50 guests on January 27

For restaurants and hotels in Israel, the challenge remains to adapt their menus to suit the tastes of these special guests, and there are huge signs of progress. As the Chinese community enjoys two weeks of celebrations for the Year of the Rooster, Haifa’s Dan Carmel Hotel joined the festivities, serving up an authentic banquet to 50 guests on January 27 (picture above).

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Offering magnificent panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea, the Dan Carmel’s mountain top location is also close to one of the most beautiful gardens in the world, including the Baha’i Temple and its golden dome.

Whether visitors from China come to sample this and other sights in Israel, to satisfy a curiosity or to explore a different place, this friendship continues to blossom, as 2017 gets into full swing.

Happy New Year / 新春快乐！鸡年大吉！