Metropolitan Hotel

The accommodation itself is in very poor shape, and I had to clean my room just to make it livable. On my last visit I changed rooms several times before finding one that wasn’t falling apart. I stayed here for work more than once, including for over a month when my employer chose the hotel. The food is good, and the staff are hospitable and hardworking, but their effort can’t make up for the maintenance and cleanliness problems. I’d strongly avoid it if I had a choice.

The shelter was huge, and breakfast hit the spot. The rooms were clean and well appointed, right on the beach. Schmuel greeted me at the front desk with a smile when I checked in during wartime. The staff were hands down the friendliest I’ve met in Israel. They made coffee for me when I asked, in addition to the fresh drip coffee already available, which is rare in Israel. Thanks, guys! And the hotel security cat deserves a mention too. (Photographed)

We were able to arrive early and check out a little later without an extra charge, which made our brief stay feel like it lasted an extra day. The service was exceptional. Everyone on staff was polite, helpful, and responsive. When we found the room safe wasn’t working because its battery was low, someone came to change it within moments. We stayed at the MUSE, the sister property next to the Metropolitan Tel Aviv. To my surprise, as we were celebrating a significant birthday, the manager sent a lovely card and a box of delicious chocolates. A very nice touch. The lobby also had hot and cold drinks available all the time, with cookies or mini cakes.

The garage situation was frustrating: I’d paid for parking, but there was nowhere else in the guest area to park, and they called to wake me at night because they didn’t like where I’d left the car. Earlier, we’d arrived to an unclean room, with trash all over the floor, including a bloody tissue. The toilet wouldn’t flush, and the beds were uncomfortable. They refused our request to move rooms, offering instead to send someone to vacuum and someone else to repair the toilet. Both things eventually got done, but it cost us time and comfort. Definitely not a relaxing stay.