HI Beit Shean Hostel

For the price, you get what you expect and a bit more. The rooms were clean, the beds comfortable, and the showers had hot water, though the water pressure could be better. Breakfast was decent by Israeli Saturday standards. I gave it 5/5 for the value, not because it's the best place you could stay.

We arrived May 27, when the days were hot and dry, with a nice cool breeze in the evenings. There's a cool water tap outside, and a guided tour was included. The staff were nice, breakfast was good, and the rooms were clean and spacious. Simply good value for money, in a lovely place surrounded by history.

The family room for four was spacious and had a small balcony, and there's a nice pool. But the common areas disappointed us, with no picnic tables or lawn. We usually like IYHA hostels, and we've stayed at six other branches, so the smaller breakfast selection stood out. Empty buffet trays weren't refilled unless we asked. Cleaning was another problem: we found a phone from the previous guests under the wheeled bed and a cake in the wardrobe. After two nights, we asked for the trash cans to be emptied, but they weren't.

It's a youth hostel, but a high-level one. The rooms were perfect, and the swimming pool was great. The food was Israeli hotel style, and the prices were affordable enough to bring a family.