With spring finally here and summer on the horizon, it’s time to book a holiday
We take a look at new openings in Israel, a super stylish hotel in Marbella, an intimate river cruise and a home of your own in Cyprus
The on-off availability of flights to Israel means it may be off the cards for a trip this spring but many of us still have it firmly in our sights for later this year. The good news is that there is still availability and there are ever more places to choose from. Marbella is also always a good idea, or you could consider a kosher cruise. For those with the funds to buy abroad Cyprus is becoming a very real option for a holiday home.
Since 2023 roughly 50 new hotels have opened or are scheduled to open across Israel, an expansion that speaks to long-term confidence in tourism in spite of war.
Much of that change is in Tel Aviv, where the traditional beachfront tower is gradually being joined by a new generation of design-led boutique hotels, such as the recently opened Poli Urban Tel Aviv, an adults-only property with rooftop pool, cocktail bar and an atmosphere that feels closer to a private club than a hotel. Gymnasia Hotel, opened by Isrotel on Rothschild Boulevard, offers the kind of sleek, urban interiors you’d expect to find in New York or Berlin.
One of the most talked about openings of the past year is Fattal’s Bazaar Hotel in Jaffa with design-led interiors, small-scale luxury and close connection to local restaurants, galleries and cultural venues.
Keeping with the city vibe, the Nucha Hotel in Jerusalem, which opened in September 2025, is designed to cater to visitors seeking an intimate and design-oriented accommodation experience with curated interiors and personalised service. Also in the historic city, the Prima Vera Hotel, while not new, had a major refurb two years ago. It is a comfortable mid-scale hotel in a great location.
The Jacob Hotel is the first to open in Modi’in since the city between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem was established in the 1990s. With 85 rooms and suites it is located within the Azrieli Modi’in complex and with event areas, a restaurant-bar and planned spa services, it is a new hospitality hub.
Perhaps most exciting of all is the Gordonia Resort, a luxury hotel development coming to Zichron Ya’akov in the wine country. This large-scale complex with 140 designer rooms and suites, several with private pools, as well as a large, heated infinity pool, spa complex and fine-dining facilities. Every room has a sea view as does the dining room and the lobby. Combining luxury accommodation with coastal scenery, this gets our vote for the ultimate dream vacation.
Have you Mett yet?
Weddings abroad are becoming more and more de rigueur but not everyone wants to spend an entire weekend hanging out with the wedding party and thankfully if the wedding is in Marbs you don’t need to because there are so many places to stay. One of the newest – and arguably the coolest – is the METT, positioned on the beach between Marbella and Estepona with a lovely long boardwalk for an early morning /late afternoon stroll.
It’s a large complex with 250 rooms with garden, sea or pool views built around a highly attractive pool area which runs the length of the property. The sunbeds have thickly padded cushions, the towels are plush, the striped umbrellas go up and down with a click of the fingers (as in the staff come running) and it’s a people-watching paradise. Groups of friends, couples, girly groups – all were in evidence during my stay and it’s very much a pool to get dressed up for.
The owner hails from the world of restaurants so food is front and central with an Italian called Isola (which also doubles up as the breakfast buffet), a beachside sushi spot called Azure, a super-stylish Greek restaurant on the beachfront called Ammos and El Bar De Lola for tapas dishes and drinks. We tried them all and each was exceptional in its own right – Ammos in particular, transporting us from the sands of Spain to a Greek island.
The rooms are modern, minimalist but super-luxury with lots of bleached wood, crisp white linens and touches of blue in the soft furnishings. Ours had its own garden with plunge pool and hammock to swing the day away with a kindle and a cocktail. There is plenty of wardrobe space and the huge bathroom has superb lighting which is key when attending no less than three wedding events and every time we got back to the room after partying it had all been cleaned and tidied for us. Now that’s what I call service.
Sea and be seen
If breathtaking destinations, exceptional Glatt kosher cuisine, inspiring Jewish experiences and the camaraderie of fellow travellers are on your holiday checklist, then Kosher River Cruises & KRC Expeditions should be too.
Guests sail aboard elegant small ships carrying no more than 140 passengers, creating a warm, intimate atmosphere and a true traveling community. Whether cruising the rivers of Europe, discovering the coastlines of Asia, or embarking on once-in-a-lifetime expeditions to remote destinations, every detail is thoughtfully arranged. Onboard lectures, guided tours, open bars and memorable Shabbat celebrations create a meaningful travel experience and every voyage blends adventure, culture and tradition. Upcoming destinations include Japan & South Korea, the waterways of Holland and Belgium, and expeditions to Antarctica.
Home from home in the sun
If hotels aren’t your thing and you’re not considering making Aliyah, Cyprus offers a viable alternative for a holiday home. As well as being openly supportive of Israel and the Jewish community, it feels reassuringly similar to the UK – they drive on the left, use the same electrical plugs and sockets, English is widely spoken, and a large British community lives there.
Paphos has an active synagogue and a growing Jewish community. It offers long summers, seafront promenades, outdoor cafés and a relaxed rhythm of life. In 2025, Cyprus was ranked by CompareTheMarket.com as the world’s best country for buying a holiday home. Vichy Holidays, a Jewish-run local property management company in Cyprus, works directly with developers, law firms and accounting professionals. They assist with sourcing, negotiation, legal processes, banking support, property management and transparent monthly reporting.
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