If you want to stay in a proper “4-star hotel” in Israel that meets the international hotel starring standard (lobby, shops, swimming pool, conference room etc) within a reasonable price, then perhaps King Solomon Hotel in Jerusalem is one option. The price is competitive, and you can see the Old City of Jerusalem from your room! I think it’s good even though the facilities seem like 20 years ago. I booked with $110.
Location
King Solomon Hotel is 13-20 minutes downhill and uphill walk to Jaffa Gate. So staying here isn’t as convenient as staying in the downtown triangle area. (Restaurants options also limited)
However, it’s just one bus ride away from Central Bus Station.
I actually booked this hotel using hotwire, and in general, I don’t think the business model can apply to this part of the world. it wasn’t so pleasant. But what I felt about this hotel? I found the staff courteous and friendly here!
Different hotels fit different types of people. Foreigners who stay here aren’t backpackers or tourists, most of them look like they are here for business. Should you get a dorm bed in a fun hostel for $30, or spend $110 for a quiet room here? Some might find it boring here. But we liked it.
Things look ancient here, even though not as ancient as Jerusalem, but it needs renovation here. I guess this would have been what this place looked like 15 years ago?
9th floor…. even the new poster here looked old. 9th floor~ Let’s take a look of our room!
Going to our room… There’s a Mezuzah on every door frame by the way! And then I realized I was upgraded (again!)! I got a room with a VIEW of the walls of Jerusalem!
The Room
As the door opened… Ooo! This is cozy!
I ran to the window, well, the window leads to a tiny balcony with limited safety bars. So be careful not to run too fast.
The view I had! That’s the old city of Jerusalem! How fabulous is it to see this from your hotel room?
I used a different lens and captured Jaffa Gate.
And Mt.Zion.
The Old City looks pretty at night too! You can never get enough of this view and city! (except for the food part… I guess that’s because I’m Chinese, I prefer warm food)
Bathroom… yes it looks old. But this is the first and only hotel room I stayed that offered me a bathtub! It’s not common to see a bathtub in Israel because of water scarcity and drought here. And the hairdryer was the vacuum machine type, like what I saw in BY14TLV.
The swimming pool was under renovation during my stay (Feb 2018), so I didn’t get to use it! (Well it was winter anyway)
My mom likes this hotel the most among all the other places we stayed in Israel. I know it’s old, but the great view compensates all shortcomings. Consider it’s two times more expensive than 2 hostel dorm beds, I think it is good value.
Final Verdict
Old in general, but functional and comfortable. A working elevator that comes quickly, a bathtub that’s rarely seen in Jerusalem. And a very good view. Worth considering if around $120-$150.
King Solomon Hotel in Jerusalem — 2018
