Why the Sheraton Tel Aviv is Still Family Friendly
The Sheraton Tel Aviv is a beachside hotel on 115 Hayarkon, Israel, right next to the beautiful Mediterranean sea. Other than its spectacular views, what is most significant about this hotel is that it is the first hotel in Israel to offer vegan-friendly food in all its restaurants. The Sheraton has a lot to offer for any guest staying in its luxurious rooms.
What Makes it Family Worthy
The hotel is within short driving distance to the most popular attractions of Tel Aviv, including the Diaspora Museum, Luna Park, and the Ramat Aviv Mall. This hotel is a great location for any family wanting to explore the best parts of Tel Aviv. It is also, as previously mentioned, literally on the Mediterranean beachfront so that families can enjoy fun in the sun and lovely views.
Special Requests
We called ahead and requested a feather-free quiet room. They gave us a room facing the Renaissance Hotel, which is in a quieter area of the hotel.
Our Arrival
We arrived in the evening at 9 PM and were thrilled to discover that, after a 30-hour flight, the hotel catered to our every need and pampered us. They sent us additional towels, shampoos, and soaps, so we didn’t need to call housekeeping for any reason.
Lobby Décor
Those who enjoy 80s aesthetics will love this area. Some might find the decor to be a little outdated, but people are encouraged to be close together and do socialize which means a lot in this hotel. Travelers from France, the US, and Israel all kind of sit together and, due to the proximity of everything, socialize and get to know each other while waiting for different services.
Fellow Travelers
In the past, the Sheraton was more of a business type hotel. However, because of its beach location, its value has lessened since business travelers need to be on the fast highways. Nowadays, the Sheraton, like its neighbors, is more of a hotel that caters to families and tends to be, as such, more crowded during the Jewish holidays and the summer.
Our Room
We stayed in room 1314. We noted the wood floors, a welcome feature especially for those with allergies. The décor was mostly tan wallpaper and dark wood. The floor between the bathroom and the main room was slightly different in level, so there was some risk of tripping. There were two closets in the room, one with more hanging space, the other with more shelves. They gave us fluffy towels, bathrobes, and slippers as well as an ironing board, for which we were grateful.
The room had a big safety deposit box, large enough for us to store a tablet and a 15-inch laptop. There was a coffee machine with Keurig pods on top of the dresser, which we use every morning. They closed the executive lounge early, but guests could instead indulge in purchasable drinks or chocolate in the room’s mini-fridge. The 40 inch TV near the dresser was attached to the wall and, unfortunately, immovable. Right under the TV was a bench where kids could sit or parents could leave luggage.
Our room had a comfortable king-sized bed and two nightstands with little drawers. There were night lights attached to the leather headboards. The air-conditioning was blowing slightly on our beds, and it would have been nice to see it elsewhere. However, there was a control panel for the AC right next to the bed, which we liked.
While most of the room had very nice lighting, there was a pitch dark area in the corner with the lounge chair. A standing lamp in this area would have been appreciated.
The room had a large desk with a lamp featuring three strength settings and several convenient outlets nearby. However, the chair was not comfortable to sit in for extended periods of time, and the lamp did not light up the entire desk.
Over the windows were both thick and sheer curtain. There was an opening balcony with a secure lock that took a lot of strength to open, so younger kids could not do this on their own. On the small balcony, guests could stand and take in a lovely view of the Mediterranean sea.
Our Bathroom
The bathroom was decorated in tones of silver, gold, and bronze. The first thing we noticed was the magnifying mirror, a very nice feature. The hotel gave us an amenity kit that included Dead Sea mineral products, with a shower cap, mouthwash, and shaving package. There was a slot with tissues just under the countertop, and we didn’t like the fact that one had to dig their hands into the groove to get tissues. The entire bathroom was nicely lit, with a light up mirror perfect for those needing to shave or apply makeup.
There was shiny rainbow tile all around the bathtub area. The shower had a grab bar, an overhead rain shower, and a handheld head. The shower was also above floor level to prevent flooding, although this fact can be dangerous for an older person who might be unaware of the step. The toilet had two options to flush depending on the type of waste as a means to conserve water.
We appreciated that the door could be locked, though wary that it was glass. The primary factor that we didn’t like was the fact there was a window facing out into the room. From the room itself, one could see people showering. While it’s understandable that this was planned to allow in natural light, many families want a certain amount of privacy while they shower. The hotel should at least provide a curtain to block the window when needed.
Restaurants
There are several dining options onsite for any family at any time of the day.
Visitors who want some Mediterranean cuisine can visit the Olive Leaf Restaurant. Those who want a nice meal with a beautiful view should try the Kum Kum Restaurant. There’s the convenient Deck 115 for poolside dining. And finally, for a la carte snacks and drinks, guests can go to the Lobby Lounge Bar.
When we were there, the hotel’s Olive Leaf Restaurant was hosting a Peruvian Festival celebrating Peruvian culinary traditions. The Restaurant served both traditional and contemporary authentic Peruvian dishes.
Our Breakfast
The Kum Kum, where we had breakfast, featured fantastic views of the Mediterranean. Numerous windows showed off the view and allowed in natural light. The breakfast hall consisted of many different stations with all sorts of options.
In the cold section alone, travelers could get several different kinds of milk, including skim and soy. There was an entire selection of cheeses, such as cottage cheese, cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, and French cheese. We saw various dried fruits and cereals at all the stations. Included in the hall was a salad section with all the standard vegetables and dressing options as well as pickled olives, herrings, and salmon. The venue offered gluten free cookies, a nice touch.
In the warm station, visitors could find various porridges, oatmeal, and rice. We saw the typical American fare of potatoes, scrambled eggs, hard boiled eggs, and a make your own omelet section. The venue also had Shakshuka, a Mediterranean dish of poached eggs in tomato sauce. True to its claim as the first restaurant to offer vegan options, there was an entire vegan section. This area included sweet potatoes, potatoes latkes, and eggplant.
For sweeter choices, we saw pancakes with syrup, baked cheesecakes, chocolate croissants, homemade jams, spreadable chocolates, and even many different types of donuts. There was also a section for bread and yogurts.
Regarding drinks, the hall offered many choices. Guests could start their day with a cup of coffee from an authentic turn of the century holder. They could drink a refreshing orange juice, grape juice, apple juice or pomegranate juice. Those who love tea would find plenty of options here. And breakfast goers could even start the day with a nice glass of champagne.
From going through this breakfast hall, its becomes pretty clear that the Israeli breakfast is all about delicious white cheeses and fried donuts.
Executive Lounge
The hotel’s executive lounge is truly one of its selling points, as it offers quality food as well as engaging ambiance overlooking the Mediterranean. The lounge has plenty of seating space and offers an ample breakfast and happy hour buffet as well as snacks throughout the day with a plethora of snacks and beverages. Best part is the friendly and efficient staff running the lounge.
Pool
The hotel features a pool with a separate toddler’s splash pool. Guests can dine at the poolside restaurant bar, Deck 115. The pool area also has free wifi, a welcome feature for many families.
Gym
For patrons who want to stay fit while they travel, there is an onsite gym open 24 hours per day. The gym includes standard equipment, such as treadmills, bikes, and other machines, as well as a TV.
Spa
Guests looking to relax should come to the Cielo Spa. Here, patrons can get a massage, facial, and mani/pedis. They can also indulge in hammam treatments, a dry sauna, hair removal, and Dead Sea treatments.
Cost
Rooms start at $290 and include free wifi throughout the hotel as well as access to the spa and fitness center. There is 24-hour parking costing about $17 for the night
Autism Travel Tips:
- The hotel supplies plenty of amenities for those with disabilities, including an accessible check in desk with special sound devices, evacuation chairs, accessible pool chairs, and parking.
- Families who need certain accessibility features, such as an emergency bathroom button, special shower chairs, or roll in showers should request these when booking the room.
- The hotel allows pets up to 25 kg. Pets are given a welcome pack, including a Sheraton dog bed. Those who have problems with pet dander should let the hotel know during booking.
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A reformed dentist who gave up pulling teeth to show her son the world! Need tips on how to #travel with #autism? Follow me on Instagram & Facebook
