Casa Vital Apartments

We left in a panic after just one night because we were afraid of taking bed bugs home. There were cockroaches all over, and my friend even found a slug in their room. The owners wouldn't acknowledge how dirty the place was. We got refunded for only one day, and only after two months of complaints and waiting. I still check every day to make sure we didn't bring bed bugs back to our home.

The price is low, but that doesn't excuse the lack of basic maintenance. My room had a dead cockroach, and the rooms were dirty and smelled terribly musty. There was also a half-empty bottle of wine in the fridge, which might say something about who these rooms are really meant for, but I digress. It's an odd place for a motel, though city noise doesn't carry into the rooms.

The main market is right across the street, with plenty of food nearby and convenience stores next door. Vital is a very pleasant woman, and her boutique hotel has a comfortable feel and a nice atmosphere. The price is very reasonable, too.

I was there on a business trip and spent most of my time at a conference, coming back mainly to wash up and sleep. It worked well for a solo traveler. The room was simple and clean, with towels, hangers, a hair dryer, hot water at every tap, a microwave, a fridge, and bowls, plates, and cups. The Israeli people I met were genuinely helpful and friendly, and did their best to assist me. There are eateries right beside the hotel and more options a 3-5 minute walk away, along with convenience stores and phone shops where tourists can buy SIM cards. Rehovot Mall and Weizmann Institute of Science are about a 10-15 minute walk. Cash machines that accept VISA are 5-8 minutes away, and pubs and other places to drink are around a 10-minute walk. It felt quite safe walking around after sunset, and it was cooler then as well. The bus stop is 3-5 minutes away, and the train station is four bus stops away. Buses and trains were on time, with no delays. I didn't realize most shops and public transport would be unavailable from Friday evening until Saturday evening, though I'm not sure if that's the case every weekend. Things open after Saturday evening. I arrived on a Saturday and had to take an expensive taxi from Ben-Gurion Airport to Hotel Rehovot. On my last day, Thursday, I took a bus and then a train to the airport, which cost less.