Samantha’s Hotel Review

I recently had the pleasure of staying at Yarot HaCarmel or the Carmel Forest hotel. The location of being inside a nature reserve means you really are at one with your surroundings – the beautifully kept gardens, the sound of the birds singing, the views of the hills and the forest reaching down to the sea is sure to calm even the most stressed soul.

Every thought had gone into making your time as relaxing, pampered and nurturing as possible at Yarot HaCarmel. On my way to the shower after coming out of the Spa wet room I was just thinking to myself – it would be so nice to scrub myself down – when I found the Spa bathroom nicely stocked with amenities including a sisal fiber exfoliator along with the delicious smelling shower gel that is part of the signature scent of Yarot HaCarmel.

Service at hotels in Israel is not always renowned for its excellence, but here the service we received from all the staff (from the dining room team even to the pool lifeguard) was impeccable. Nothing was too much trouble and was always with a smile. Food on the other hand is certainly known as a winning ingredient here in Israel, and sure enough all the meals we had were delicious. And the dinner we had was outstanding. It is standard in Israel to have a buffet dinner but what made it so special here was firstly the buffet consisted of a superb selection of extremely fresh and well-made salads. You then select the main course you would like from a menu and it comes beautifully plated and served to you. Each main course we tried (although you select from a menu you are allowed to take as many as you would like) would make any top restaurant proud.

If you’re staying here for a few days, you might like to explore a hike in the Carmel Forest offering truly stunning scenery and an amazing waft of pine all around. There are a variety of trails from easy to challenging, some of which you can do unguided and some of which we are happy to offer expert guides for. In addition this is a great base from which to meet the nearby Druze community and hear about this secret religion and some of their traditions – we always recommend getting to know people over a meal, and we find Druze home hospitality to be the perfect solution. Last but certainly not least the Carmel Forest hotel is located very close to one of our favourite NGOs in Israel – Yemin Orde – a residential home and boarding school for children who are orphaned or otherwise unable to live with their parents – we can’t recommend a visit here strongly enough if you’re looking to add some uplifting spirit to the naturally uplifting forest views.

If you are looking for a totally indulgent treat for yourself or a loved one, a stay at Yarot HaCarmel is sure to hit the spot! Please be sure to ask us about including a little rest and relaxation at the end of your Israel tour.