INTA Hotel

Inta left us with a terrific stay, and that feeling of arriving as a guest and leaving as a friend. The owners are clearly passionate about creating a distinctive experience in Jaffa, in a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere for guests of any sexual orientation. Rooms come in different styles, some with private balconies, and they're all distinctive, artsy, and equally large. The bathrooms and wet rooms are thoughtfully designed with plenty of room. Storage is limited, so if you travel with lots of clothes, ask reception for extra hangers unless you're happy living out of a suitcase. There are no TVs in the rooms, which I was glad about since I dislike having one where I sleep. Upstairs, there's a bar, outdoor terrace, and piano room where you can lounge during the day. Evenings get livelier, but never intrusive, and everyone, especially the locals, seemed welcoming. You may need to find breakfast nearby, though there are many places close by. Reception has drinks, coffee, and biscuits.

We stayed two nights and couldn't get a proper rest. Our room had no view and was right by all the hotel's air conditioning machines. At night, the rooftop terrace is used as a disco, and the noise carried down to the first floor. If you want to sleep properly on holiday, this isn't the place. It felt more like a youth hostel than a hotel.

Think of it as a nice hostel and it makes for a fun stay. The rooms are fairly large and the bed is comfortable. There's a shared beer fridge where you can buy things, and the shared cabinet has coffee, tea, a hair dryer, an iron, and assorted bottles of half-used shower gel. But there was no shampoo, conditioner, or soap in the shower, and none of those other facilities in my room. I was disappointed that the lobby wouldn't lend me an umbrella on a rainy day, since every other hotel I'd stayed at on this trip could provide one. It was perfectly acceptable budget accommodation, in a good spot near Jaffa Flea Market.

My three weeks at INTA were a lot of fun. The owners and staff were friendly and very helpful, and the location was excellent, within walking distance of everything in Jaffa with convenient public transit to other areas. I especially liked spending time at the rooftop bar and terrace. Thanks, and I hope to stay again.