Kedma

Kedma was a real haven of quiet and relaxation. The design is beautiful from one end of the hotel to the other, with care given to every small detail. Local materials and crafts make its distinctive style fit naturally into the landscape. Meals are generous and delicious, though expensive, and the staff are attentive and polite. I think Israel can be proud of Kedma. It can hold its own against hotels anywhere in Europe.

The food was plentiful, inventive, and delicious, but having to keep getting up for refills because there were no pitchers made the meal feel more like a work cafeteria than fine dining. By the pool, there were plenty of loungers and the cocktails were lovely. The rooms were beautiful, spotless, and tastefully decorated in a frontier safari style, and the hotel really does feel like an oasis in the desert. One of the managers told us Isrotel had chosen to house displaced families starting October 8th 2023, continuing through January 2025, weeks before the government assured them they'd be reimbursed for their generosity.

We spent two nights with half board and liked the hotel's design and atmosphere, especially the lounge and its restaurant. The dining room had a broad selection of fresh, tasty food. Finding a sunbed was another matter. Although the pool is large, there weren't enough loungers when the hotel was close to full. We waited a couple of hours one day, along with other guests, which was disappointing. The mattress was the main problem in our room: we sank into it and got very little back support. The old, poor quality linens, labeled as only 50% cotton, were surprising too. We both slept badly the whole stay, which was frustrating.

We had the best time. The pool is gorgeous, and at night the garden fire pits light up the area around it. The setting is lovely, with marble floors and mashrabiot, while soft Arabian music plays. Both the lounge restaurant and main dining room served delicious food, and service always came with a smile. The hotel brings the Orient to life in so many ways.