We all know that any trip abroad usually involves a quest for accommodation. While some people will always go for the hotel option, many others look for alternatives that fit both their pocket and their lifestyle. A trip to Israel is no different, though the price for a stopover in an Israeli hotel does come as a surprise to many, as Israel really isn’t as cheap as some think…
Hence the search for a cheaper, more convenient option. Of course, the ultimate economy drive would mean a stay at one of Israel’s great little hostels. However, as some of us aren’t 19 anymore, and know that the toddlers might find it tricky climbing into the top bunk, hostels aren’t always a realistic option.
So, unless you’ve got friends or family in Israel and a place to crash for a few days, your options are fairly limited. Well, they WERE limited until recently. But with the relatively new, but exploding, short-term rental market, your plans for a great stay in Israel just got a little sweeter.
The worldwide boom in the short-term rental market has meant your accommodation options on your trip to Israel have also been expanded: instead of the standard hotel/guesthouse/hostel option, you can now also rent out a vacation apartment, find a luxury apartment, a sublet, or even hook up with roommates.
I came across a great website, telavista, that wraps up all these accommodation options in one easy to navigate site. Ads are also in three languages: English, French and Russian, with apparently more languages on the way.
They have some great rental options available, mainly focused on the cities of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Netanya and Eilat (although you’d probably base yourself in one of these locations anyway).
You can choose a budget (they have rentals ranging from roommates for $20 a night to $200-300 for a fully furnished pad), the number of people you need to accommodate, and yes, even how close to the beach you want to be (maybe in Jerusalem that should be modified to “How close to the Old City”, because, well, the beach is quite a trek from Jerusalem…). But the site is easy to navigate, you can see a few pictures of the potential rental and easily get in touch with the flat owner at the click of a button. Looks like a good service.
A furnished apartment close to the action (be it the beach or the city center) is a great alternative to hotels/hostels and could be an excellent option for couples, travelers, families, businessmen, students, diplomats, basically anyone looking for a great stay in Israel. It might just turn out to be the real Israel experience you never even expected…
