PLAY Hatzuk Beach

This was a nightmare, with no service at all. I booked one night for 1,200 shekels and got to the room at 23:30, only to find all the sheets dirty with what looked like period blood. I went straight to the lobby, where they said they couldn't do anything for me then. An hour and a half later, in the middle of the night, they moved me to another room. I asked for a refund or discount, but she said nothing had happened and they'd handled it right away, though it had taken two hours. I replied to their email afterward and never got another answer. One of the worst places I've stayed.

The room had a sea view, and the beach was just around the corner. Staff were very friendly, the rooms clean, and hotel guests got 50% off parking. There was a cooking hob and microwave, but no utensils, which made them of little use to a tourist.

It's an apartment hotel, so don't expect room service or fancy amenities. There's a small Greek restaurant downstairs and a few convenience shops nearby, but the area feels isolated and you'll need to drive for anything else. The location right on the beach in northern Tel Aviv is excellent, and there's a nice pool. My suite was fine for a few nights, though dated and not very well maintained.

The breakfast confirmed my impression. By Israeli standards it was pretty poor, with nothing freshly made and much of what I tried either too salty, tasteless, or inedible. I expected more from a hotel on the city's outskirts, but the place felt pretentious and mediocre. The kitchenette was useful, but the rooms need proper maintenance instead of patching things over and over. Neither the AC nor the cable TV in our bedroom worked. I'd give it 2.5 stars.