David Dead Sea Resort & Spa

The private Dead Sea beach was a real highlight, about a five-minute walk away, with sunbeds, showers, and lifeguards. Reception was helpful too: when we asked for a different bed arrangement, they sorted it fairly quickly. The hotel is huge, with lots of rooms, activities, restaurants, shops, bars, and open spaces. The lobby is especially impressive. Our room was large with a great view, comfortable beds, working air conditioning, TV, and fridge, and a spacious bathroom with both a tub and shower. The buffet had a wide range of food, and meat was cooked fresh, though that created long lines. The place was nearly full of families, and buffet behavior was a major downside. People often skipped queues and took far too much, especially at the meat and kids’ sections. A lot of food was left untouched and thrown out. The hotel should manage this more firmly. The musical show was good, with performers who sang and danced well, but the audience made it hard to enjoy. Kids ran around unsupervised and there was a lot of noise. One child kept touching the sound system and turning it up while the parents filmed and laughed. It felt unsafe and uncomfortable, and staff had little control. The rooms and facilities are spacious and generally okay, but the hotel could improve the shared areas and the overall upkeep. The poor control of guest behavior really affected our stay.

We spent one weekend night here with our two kids. The rooms were okay, but the facilities need updating, and the hotel should take more care to provide enough towels, toiletries, and blankets. Service from the staff was poor and didn’t fit the hotel’s grade or prices. We won’t be back.

The spa was wonderful, and swimming indoors in Dead Sea water was even better than I expected. We also loved the huge pools, the good options for kids, and the delicious buffet. The rooms were modern, clean, spacious, and had a beautiful view. The hotel’s design and layout are gorgeous, and everyone we met, from cleaners to waiters to the concierge, was friendly. Iris, one of the managers, was especially kind and accommodating with our family. I don’t understand the negative reviews. We’d definitely return.

The spa’s heated mineral pool was quite good, though the sulphur pools were closed. Saturday guests should know that only some of the food is available. In the dining room, service was unsatisfactory, and the food wasn’t impressive. A cocktail at the hotel bar costs 50 NIS, and don’t expect anything amazing for that price. The rooms are worn. Our toilet got stuck, the mirrors were chipped, and the A/C didn’t work well. The sofa bed was awful and so noisy that every time our daughter turned over, everyone woke up. The same thing happened in our second room. There were plenty of other maintenance problems too. It’s an aging hotel, and it’s a shame the owners haven’t invested enough in keeping it up to date. It used to be nice, but that’s no longer the case. With prices this high, I can’t see the justification. It’s totally not worth it.