Jaffa 60 Apartments

The staff were very helpful, and the location is great. Just be aware that the cheapest rooms are extremely small. The photos in the main gallery don't show them, which could be misleading. We couldn't even open all our suitcases at once.

The place has a real mix of highs and lows. The location is great and the rooms are modern, but there's no parking. The stairs have an anti-slip surface, though there's no elevator. The person who answers the phone is nice and helpful, but you can't find anyone at the property in person. Also, the corridor lights stay on all the time, and the milky glass in the room door means it never gets dark.

The spot is good and the staff were very helpful, but the room was a letdown. The gallery photos were misleading: we'd booked what we thought was a decent room, then arrived to find ourselves in an underground room next to the laundry.

It's been two months since we left, so I can think about both the good and bad parts. If I'd reviewed it on departure day, I probably would've given one star. We booked through Expedia in a package with the airline, and the price was definitely worthwhile since the flight alone cost more than the flight and hotel together. The location is the main advantage. You can get on the train easily and walk to the market, places to eat, and other popular spots. We had worried about the lack of an attendant, and trying to contact the property before arriving in Israel was impossible. There's no phone number or email for questions. An attendant is in the hallway from 9 a.m. until about 8 p.m. If you get there after that, good luck. When we arrived, a nice young man was there, always asking how we were doing. We only met the owner at the very end. I don't know if the attendant is still there. It was December and extremely cold some days, yet he sat in the hallway beside a heater, in a space with a table and fax machine, while it poured and froze outside. The owner didn't seem to think he needed an office. The route from Jaffa Street is up an alley, past the book cellar on your right, then the apartments are on the right. You go up several stairs to get in. If you have a disability or need accommodations, this isn't the place for you. Cars and taxis can't park or drop you off out front. If you book through Expedia, bring the same credit card you used for the booking. Our apartment looked nothing like the online photos, which seem to show the more spacious rooms. It was cramped, never warmed up enough, and our clothes stayed damp. Closing the bathroom door was difficult, and shower water leaked out if we weren't careful. You can cook there if needed, with all the amenities. The fire alarm went off in the middle of the night three nights in a row, waking guests. We all stood together on the first floor trying to figure out who to call to turn it off. The owner seems to mean well by offering guests a place near the main sights, and the location really is prime. I don't need a five-star hotel, and maybe some people are just glad to have a roof, but I've stayed in better accommodation in a third-world country. Fresh paint, an upgraded bathroom, and an office for a 24-hour attendant would make this apartment hotel more comfortable.