The conclusion… go for it!

Location

It’s close to Bezalel market, you’d see it as you come from carmel market heading to Dizengoff square.

The shop is tiny, but seating is still available. I guess the little shop can handle 12-16 dine-in customers!

Well, it’s always busy!

Menu

The menu is on the wall. 6NIS for a falafel!!  Additionally you can buy grape juice for 4NIS.

So, the concern is… why is it so cheap?

Well, with this price, it pretty much guarantees good business. And I actually find their falafel very good in taste and quality. You’d find 6-8 falafel balls, and you actually taste falafel till the very last bite!  It’s pretty solid!! And only for 6NIS!

Taim! (Delicious in Hebrew)

Besides getting a taxi, you have the option to travel with this 10-seater mini-van called Sherut in Israel. There’s no fixed timetable or stop. You see it, you wave. Don’t be over conscious, just wave. That’s how it’s done!

This is a happy sherut. It’s in yellow!

Sherut Route

The first one is No.4. This is the approximate route:

The first one is No.5. This is the approximate route:

How do you know which mini-van’s route number? Look closely! The number is hanging behind the window shied!

If you cannot see No.4 and No.5 ….  maybe it’s better to ask the hotel reception which other sherut runs in that area.

Sherut Fare

It is normally 8NIS. Maybe it is 10NIS on a Shabbat. When you board the bus, find a seat first. You can pass your money to the person in front of you, there will be someone helping you. And they will pass change back to you if there’s any.

Sherut Stops

Since there’s no formal stop, when you see a sherut… just wave!!! You don’t need to wave like a drowning person. Just wave like you are waving for a normal taxi.

Confirm your destination with the driver. There’s always someone willing to help you. Israelis are quite reliable in their willingness to help strangers.

Sherut: Interior

It’s kind of spacious! If you are traveling with luggage, I actually think it’s easier to travel with sherut. There’s more room on a sherut since it can only carry 10 people. (I think?)

You can try sherut in Tel Aviv!

The Location of BY14 TLV

It’s close to the beach and the previous American Embassy. There are many restaurants and supermarkets around.

The new look from outside. BY14 TLV! I like how they rebranded this property.

The style fits Tel Aviv better. It’s modern and has an industrial feel.

This is the lobby? This is the conference room? Very informal, but I like it.

The coffee table area from the other side. You get natural sunlight from here. You will feel like you are sitting in someone’s sunroom. It’s so comfortable!

There’s a TV here. And free snacks (cookies), all kinds of tea bags, coffee machine and 2 other types of drinks. Everything is elegantly presented, and it’s so relaxing to be here.

Check-in

This is the reception! I like it! It feels like I was interviewing for a job! I love this hotel! The lady at reception was so kind that she let me check in early. And she gave me an upgrade! Why? I don’t know! But I am happy!

My upgraded room is on the 9th floor. This place used to be Hotel Mercure, so you can still see they haven’t rebranded everything.

The Room

Ooops, sorry about the setting. But let’s just look at the size. It’s about 16m2. I asked for 2 single beds… I guess this is 2 single beds, you just need to pull them apart by yourself. Haha!

Yay, back to correct setting. The beds are so comfortable. You get 2 pillows too! What a luxury!

Hey I can see the Mediterranean Sea from my window!

You get a TV, fridge, kettle… and a capsule type coffee machine. I don’t know how to use it though :/

The reception was supposed to send someone to help me when I called. But no one came. I didn’t care, but I didn’t want to wait and I went for lunch (Kukiza is a great lunch option, by the way, just 1-minute walk). And when I came back…. wait, what’s on my table?????  Complimentary Wine? Cookies? Why??? So my new tase was try to open this bottle of wine. Haha!

The washroom. You will usually see a shower instead of a bathtub in Israel because water is in shortage in this area. It is crazy how Israeli has fixed this problem by inventing ways to recycle water.

An I have no idea why the hair dryer is like a vacuum machine.  It’s funny when you dry your hair with this… it is even a bit scary! (Please don’t eat my hair)

A complete set of toiletries. The brand is Sea of Spa. It seems like all the hotels in Israel uses this brand.

Hello Mezuzah!  The mitzvah from the Bible that Israeli still keep till today.

The Facilities

A gym! Of course, I won’t work out (I refuse!) I like the chairs outside. That’s more me!

The sunset. Well, it would look nicer if it wasn’t a cloudy day!

And a room for Dry Sauna. You need to make a reservation 1 hour earlier. But I don’t understand dry sauna…

Breakfast

The place where we have breakfast is kind of hidden. You need to walk through a hallway and go down some stairs.

The style is totally different. Maybe this has changed. (I stayed here in February 2018)

Let’s see what I had here! There are many choices. Kosher. So it means no meat…. but you get all kinds of bread, juice (artificial), and tea bags.

Fruits, olives, veggies, dairy products. If you are having dairy products then you cannot have meat. That’s the rule.

Cheeses~ They look the same to me, but they actually had very different tastes. So it is time to practice enjoying cheese! (It’s hard for Asian to like cheese, FYI)

Cereals. Eat with yogurt. Eat with yogurt made by Yotvata Kibbutz!

I ate so much!

Final Verdict

I like this place a lot! 24 hours snack! Good breakfast! Excellent service! But I will double check the price. If it’s less than $150, then it is a good choice!

BY14 TLV in Tel Aviv — 2018

Comment：Very friendly. Good breakfast. 24 hours snack in lobby. The room is not big.

What is Malabi? I overheard this from a Chinese guide in Jaffa. All tour members rushed to this little shop. The pronunciation of it in Chinese sounded like Mala-Ice Cream. It got my attention! What is it?

I thought I was going after ice-cream…

Malabi, as advertised on the signboard. 10NIS per serving ($3)

The blue one is Malabi. And the red one is Sahleb (a drink with spices).

See this friendly seller… this was in February! He was wearing a t-shirt! Let me tell you the best season to visit Israel is in winter! It’s nice and warm! (in Jaffa*)

So what is Malabi? It’s like pannacotta with jam and crushed nuts on it. And coconut powder. It’s not too sweet. And I genuinely like dairy products in Israel.

Malabi is a dessert of Turkish origin. It is called sutlach in Turkish and sut is milk. Sephardic Jews eat this on weddings as a symbol of the sweetness of marriage. And some families eat this after 25 hours fasting on Yom Kippur.

I don’t like coconut, but I liked the rest of Malabi! Try it!

Old Jaffa is a seaport, so why not have some seafood here? I tried the Israeli version of Fish and Chips here. Fried squid and shrimp for only 39NIS! I guess it is cheap in Israeli standard!

Location

The store is in Old Jaffa. Close to Old Man and the Sea. (where you get unlimited salads for 50NIS).

Probably Old Man and the Sea will be the best for value. But I wasn’t hungry and I saw so many people checking out this Fish and Chips store, and I got curious!

Is this place popular? It’s chaotic and it certainly got my attention. Let’s see what’s going on!

Okay, so people were mostly waiting for their orders to be served. I found a cashier behind the guy in a black t-shirt and a hat. It requires determination and curiosity to put down your order at this place!

Prices

The menu is hung on a wall~  Prices are okay!

• Red Fish (300g) for 42NIS.
• Small Fish  (300g) for 32NIS.
• Fried Fish Fillet (300g) for 35NIS.
• Fried Shrimps (250g) for 39NIS.
• Fried Calamari (300g) for 39NIS
• Fried Shrimps with Calamari (300g) for 39NIS.
• Chips for 13NIS

Of course, I chose “Fried Shrimps with Calamari (300g) for 39NIS.”

The cashier understood English. But he didn’t speak English to me.

After paying, you’d get a piece of paper with your name and your order on it.

Give this paper to the kitchen staff. He’d stick it to the range hood.

And then you find yourself a place somewhere and wait for your name to be called! It took 10 minutes for my order to be ready.

I was looking at “the catch of the day”. I thought you could buy fish from here and let the kitchen staff cook it for you. But I guess no. They don’t have time for this. You can buy fresh fish from here and that’s all.

Napkins.

And finally! The serving size was more than what I expected. My wide angle lens makes it look smaller than its actual size. It’s fresh and nicely cooked. I like the batter and how lemon was generously given.   I think 2 people can share 1, if not enough, order chips for 13NIS.

However, it is quite chaotic and messy. And there’s no place to sit. So I guess the better option would still be Old Man and Sea if you are looking for a proper meal. But if you pass by this shop and found a shorter queue, then it won’t be a bad idea to give it a try!

From the bus station, it’s a mostly flat walk to this building. It’s just a regular house. It’s hard to imagine how they run a hostel inside.

There we go! You need a code to get in!

When you enter, it’s a tiny area for reception. It can fit 3 people. But don’t let the size fool you, this place is professionally run. The receptionist quickly checked the other guest in, and he came back for us.  He patiently went through the formal greeting procedure, despite the fact that I already heard everything.

Common Area

And … Wait, a lounge? In this tiny hostel? I haven’t seen a desktop computer for a while… looks like some people don’t travel with their laptops or smartphones. Otherwise I don’t understand who still uses a desktop computer…

So it’s incredible how there was a lounge for desktop, and a locker, and 2 more chairs in this tiny hallway.  The desktop computers are placed below the TV by the wall.

And then 2 more areas, serving as kitchen.

On the left, the preparation area. On the right, cooking area. But I doubt anyone cooks here. Wait, I asked my tomatoes here. So I actually I used the kitchen, kind of.

The Room

There are 4 rooms in this tiny hostel. All guests share 2 bathroom (toilets and showers are not separated). It’s insufficient. But everyone in this hostel was courteous, so strangely I didn’t face any inconvenience.

Mezuzah, it’s a Mitzvah from the Bible. It can also be seen as a symbol of Almighty God’s protection, because that is His name, El Shaddai.  It’s at the entrance of every room. I wonder if anyone else noticed.

The kitchen used to have a Mezuzah. Hahaha! What happened?!

The room size…  It’s small, even if you use it as a basic double room, it is small. But now it is used as a dormitory, it makes sense as it is just a place to sleep. There’s not much room if you are traveling with a larger suitcase.  But again, it cost only $21 per bed!

There is an individual bedside lamp. And outlet.

Surprise Breakfast!

I have no idea why breakfast was ‘complimentary’, it’s not included in the room price, but it is ‘complimentary’. I was told about this when I checked in.  I’m happy for any free food! Israel is expensive, so when you get to have surprise breakfast for free, it’s like…..YAY!

What a beautiful morning with ocean breezes and free breakfast!

Breakfast items were laid by the table next to the lockers. Buffet style everyone! Wow! But there was sand in my lettuce… I think they don’t wash veggies in Israel…

On this table you find drinks and coffee. Free! So I see why there’s hgh review for this hostel. I will also give them high score because the receptionist has always been patient and friendly.

Since there wasn’t a big common area, it was relatively quiet at night. No wild parties. Everyone was here just to sleep. So I think that’s good management.

Check-out time was at 11AM. Free juice all day (artificial though)

Final Verdict

Good option if your budget is $20-$25 a night. Free breakfast (not sure if it’s temporary) makes this place so good for value! I will consider staying here again because of value. But there are only 2 washrooms for 4 dorm rooms here… I will be hesitant.

Crown Sea Hostel in Tel Aviv — 2018

Comment：Good location, quiet at night. Good for value. But only 2 washrooms for 4 dorms. Free breakfast?  (6-bed dorm $21)

Why Using an App to Call a Taxi?

It can get problematic getting an honest taxi driver in Israel who don’t take advantage of tourists. Maybe this is an universal problem, and the reason why  Taxi Apps are popular in many places. For example, refusing to turn on meter, taking a longer route, taking you to another destination etc.

Taxi Fare Calculator

The meter rate in Israel is the same, whether you use Gett Taxi App. You can estimate your fare from Taxi Fare Finder. I find it to be accurate. (The estimation from Google Maps is accurate too)

So in Tel Aviv, for a 3 km distance, and 13 minutes ride, I was charged 41.2NIS.

Registration Steps

Find “Gett” from Playstore.

Download it…. and it will automatically change to the Israeli version, if you are in Israel.

Skip skip skip.

And then you need to have an Israeli number to register. A text for verification will be sent. You can start using your account after successful verification. No credit card info needed.

Getting a Taxi by Gett

Choose your car type. I have no idea how to use Gett Delivery. I chose Gett Express. And then you can pre-order taxi, choose your location and destination.

This was my driver. He didn’t speak English and I didn’t speak Arabic. But Gett connected us.

While waiting, you can find out more info on your driver. He only started using Gett 5 days ago…. but well, I only started using Gett like 5 minutes ago. I think it makes sense if he has more issues in trusting me.

My Experience Riding with Gett in Tel Aviv

I kept waiting and waiting. It was supposed to be 4 minutes but I waited for 10 minutes because of traffic. In the mean while, 2 taxis passed by and I had to wait for my Gett taxi which seemed like it would never show up at that time. But when he did come, the advantage of using Gett revealed. He clearly knows where I was going because of this app!

The driver used a regular meter. The base fare was 11.5NIS. And it seemed like every 10 seconds of waiting then 1NIS accumulates to the fare.

By the way, in Israel the best navigation is Waze, not Google.

However I don’t get Waze. I still like Google Maps.

This is my recept. The driver orally told me it was 41NIS. I couldn’t see my receipt on the app. So after paying, it appeared later on.

(Failed) My Experience Riding with Gett in Jerusalem

On shabbat, it’s so hard to get a taxi. And I failed 2 times. In the end I had to bargain to get a taxi. 2 km, and I paid 50NIS. So expensive.

Final Verdict

If you need to get a taxi in Israel, use Gett. It’s much easier than haggling!

The Train to Tel Aviv: Duration & Fare

It takes about 17 minutes by train and plus 15 minutes by bus (unless your hostel or hotel is right at the station). The train is only 13.5 NIS, and the bus ride is 5.9 NIS.  So the total is about $5.5. So cheap right?

Where is the Train Station in the Airport?

From Arrival Hall, go to your left. You’ll see signs that guide you to the train station.

If you see this information desk, ATM and money exchange on your right, that means you are in the right direction.

Follow the sign, and yo will see “TRAIN”. Go to your right.

And this is it! The train station is like 20 meters from the exit gate of the airport. The blue ticket machines are right outside.

This is what the entrance of the train station looks like. Don’t walk too fast!  (It’s very hard to miss)

Follow the instruction. The ticket is only 13.5NIS!   

The train station is in B1!

Better use an elevator.

Or take the escalator.

To your left is Platform 2. All trains that go to Tel Aviv are boarded here. Wifi is available!

This is Ben Gurion Station.

The Experience

It’s kind of hard to board the train with a suitcase. But well, it is manageable. Take a deep breath.

Pick any seat you like.

Charging plug is available.

It takes only 17 minutes to reach Tel Aviv Haganah!

Departing the station. The security check is there only when you enter the station.

Tel-Aviv Hahagana by night. Done!

I checked their review online before going inside, it’s rated 4.6/5 on Google Maps, so I went inside. And by the massive serving size, yes, I can feel the love of a Jewish grandmother. I recommend coming here for lunch!

Location

Kukiza is on Ben Yehuda Street (the son of Judah), this is the extended road of Allenby Street. It’s super close to the previous American Embassy.

It’s a diner type restaurant.  They boast for Home Made Israeli Food~ It sounds just so perfect! I want to know what homemade Israeli food tastes like!

When we arrived at 12:30, there was no one here. But after we ordered, the place quickly filled up! Looks like it is a popular place for locals and tourists alike.

It’s hard to miss this diner because it’s built on sidewalk… legally, hopefully.

It’s funny that you are looking at sidewalk from the window.

The waiter had his background from Baghdad and Libya. His parents met in Israel and he is a Sabra (a Jew born in Israel). This is his parents, in this tiny wedding photo on the wall of this restaurant. 

The other side of the wall tells the story of the chef’s family. His parents were also Libyan and Iraqi Jew.  Lots of family history!

The Menu (Business Lunch Available!)

This is the menu from February 2018. Business lunch is available from Sunday to Thursday, 12:00-16:00 (Not Monday to Friday!) The price range is  ₪49-69, that is $14-$19 so it’s a very good deal! ～

• ₪49：Starter, meatball, a drink
• ₪59：Starter, Grilled Chicken/Schnitzel Chicken, a drink
• ₪69：Starter,  Fish Dish/Grilled Pullet/Beef Tagine,  a drink

For the drink, of course I got “Mint Lemonade”  ! The taste of mint is very unique in the Middle East. I love the taste here!

The other side of the menu. Typical prices. Salad ₪52-68, appetizers from ₪19, desserts from ₪8…. slightly cheaper than Jerusalem. If you miss your chance for business lunch, then normal deal starts from ₪129, including dessert. Or you can try tasting menu, it’s 2 for ₪349.

For starter, this is Iraqi Jewish’s  Kubbeh Soup , normal price is ₪34

You can taste the sorrow and difficulties Jewish people went through from this soup. How? Well, I think the balls were made from coarse grain. We’ve bee used to fine flour, so this is very unique. Although, if you don’t eat lamb, the filling is minced beef mixed with lamb.

Another starter, Grilled Eggplant and Tahini , normal price is ₪28. Just like Kubbeh soup, you don’t need to have a main dish, if you are a small eater.

And this was my awkward moment when the waiter brought me my Schnitzel Chicken, normal price was ₪46. My jaw dropped. 3 pieces of chicken? Seriously? How was I supposed to finish this whole plate? Hahaha! It feels like a Jewish grandmother is like a Chinese grandmother, same thing, “You need to eat more, you look too weak.”

This was the tastiest Schnitzel I ever had!

For side dish I chose couscous. I like the richness of flavor in it.

And this was the moment when I could not take one more bite. The serving size was insane!!

The other main dish we chose  Fish Meatballs – Spicy,  normal price was ₪52. This is a little bit different from the fish meatballs in Chinese Cuisine. That’s why traveling is so much fun! You always learn something new!

But… don’t choose rice. This is not the typical rice we have in Asia. It tasted bland. If you are from Eastern Asia, you know how rice has its own taste and it’s never bland right? But according to the friendly waiter, “You overcook your rice in Asia”! Well, everyone has his own preference, I like couscous!

 Mint Lemonade, normally ₪14, this was so minty! I love this drink! You only get this type of mint in the Middle East!

Final Verdict

One of the best places I have been to Israel with such as great deal! For ₪50-₪70 you get a 2-course meal plus a drink! The waiter was a very friendly person. If you are 2 persons, I think you can share 1 business lunch because the serving size is too much.

And for this 1 hour trip, the fare is only 27.5NIS! ($7.5) Comparing to the food costs in Israel or train costs in Europe, this is super cheap!

The 3 Train Stations in Tel Aviv

There are 3 train stations in Tel Aviv. Not really know why because they aren’t too far away from each other. Tel Aviv- Hahagana is more likely your stop.

• Tel Aviv- Hahagana  (link)：the name “Hagana” comes from Hagana the military organization before independence.  Fully accessible. Rav-kav counter (Sun-Thu 07:00-19:00) This is the station where you stop at from Ben Gurion Airport
• Tel Aviv- Hashalom (link)：”Shalom” means peace. Fully accessible.
• Tel Aviv- Savidor(link)：Named after the director of railway bureau of 1954–1964.  Fully accessible. Rav-kav counter (Sun-Thu 07:00-19:00, Fri 08:00-12:00)

The 3 Train Stations in Haifa

There are also 3 train stations in Haifa…  they aren’t too far away from each other. Haifa Hof HaCarmel is more likely your stop.

• Haifa Hof HaCarmel (S. Raziel)  (link)：It means “Carmel Beach” and S. Raziel is the name of the director of railway bureau in 1983–1993. Fully accessible. Rav-kav counter (Sun-Thu 07:00-10:00, 15:00-19:00) This is the closest station to Haifa Beach.
• Haifa – Bat Galim (link)：It means “daughter of waves”.  Fully accessible. Close to Elijah’s Cave.
• Haifa Center/ HaShmona (link)：It means “central”. Fully accessible. I got my Rav-kav from the counter here.

Tel Aviv’s Hagana Railway Station

There’s always security check before entering railway stations in Israel. Some are stricter than others. This one is quite strict. So try to arrive 5-10minutes earlier than planned.

How to Buy a Train Ticket?

If it’s just after shabbat, you have to use a ticket machine. It can get crowded if you go there when shabbat is just over. Be patient.

The names in Israel can get confusing. Two names, but same thing. And sometimes you are just “supposed” to know.  Haifa-Shmona is Haifa Center.  I got my ticket and it was only 27.5 NIS. There are 3 stops in Haifa, make sure you know which stop you should get off!

There was a piano in the train station, but there wasn’t a cafe where you can sit. Well, it’s better to go directly to your platform!

Elevator at Hagana Railway Station

Yes there is one. The station is fully accessible. It’s nice especially when you are traveling with suitcases! Turn to your right and wait between the two electronic boards as there are less people here.  (It will give you less pressure because you need more time to board your train when traveling with luggage)

Tel Aviv→Haifa : Interior

Double Decker train! How cool is that!

It was wreird that there wasn’t a designated place for luggage in the train from Ben Gurion Airport. And it was weird that somehow on this train you find an area for luggage, plus there are 2 seats before the luggage racks.

I like the upper level. From experience there were more people in the lower level.

There was no charger on this train. But there was WC. It’s a good idea to travel by train because it is quite comfortable. So much leg room!

Wait for your turn…. I’m glad WC is just WC in Israel, not another term you are “supposed” to know.

I don’t know why, but it wasn’t particularly clean. The first toilet I went was broken. I took courage to flush down the toilet but… it was a disaster! And I fled. The other toilet was acceptable, but I don’t understand why the garbage bag was hanging there.

Here we are! Haifa-Center～ Many people were going home too.

Elevator at Haifa Center Railway Station

You will see an elevator too, It’s fully accessible.

Is there a Locker?

Yes, before you leave the railway station, there is a locker. 20 or 30NIS per locker. Remember the train ticket was only 27.5NIS? So I think this service was pricey.

小的置物箱20NIS，剛好是登機箱的大小

If you leave the station, then you’d have to go through security again!