Arrival/Check-In: Check-in was confusing, largely caused by my group as we debated whether to add a half-day to our check-out rather than spend a few hours homeless. We chose to check out in the morning, which might not have been the best decision in retrospect. The poor check-in clerk was a little befuddled by the back and forth. When we were finally ready, the staff showed us to our rooms and delivered all of our oversized bags. The view of the Mediterranean was spectacular.
Guest Quarters: I felt like I was in a James Bond movie with Sean Connery, as I think that was when the Dan Hotel was built. Don’t get me wrong; everything works and there are many amenities, but the property could use “a shave and a haircut,” as they say. The room was rather small, with the bathroom on the immediate right and a closet on the left as we entered. A long built-in served as storage, TV/entertainment center and desk, running along the left side and ending at the window. On the right stood a king-sized bed flanked with night tables and a small sofa on the opposite side of the window. The views of the beach were spectacular. What a beautiful location — and, yes, I did go for a swim!
Services/Amenities: What the Dan lacks in modernization, it gains in some areas in services and amenities. The breakfast in Yam Breakfast was crowded, as if the guests had never eaten before, but it offered a wide range of items and several different buffets plus cooked-to-order items.
After touring Tel Aviv all day, we had about four hours to wait until our driver took us to Ben Gurion Airport. We waited in the lobby lounge bar, checking emails. I took the free time to follow a circuitous route, partially outside with an enclosed walkway over boards, to a huge indoor pool. That was the ticket to a relaxing and refreshing flight back. After a few laps and a shower, I was as fresh as a daisy and ready for the return flight.
When we checked out for the day tour of Tel Aviv, we left our bags at the baggage check, which was, frankly, a mess. When we returned, it was chaotic; and I had to go back in the little storage room to track down our bags and drag them out for our driver. The doorman had left for the evening, and the security guard cared nothing for our predicament. It was not secure or up to the standards one would expect, and I was concerned about the security of our belongings.
The Experience: Famous guests of the Dan include the Clintons, Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson, Madonna, The Rolling Stones, U2, Lady Gaga and Sharon Stone — and now me. Bond would have stayed here and would have enjoyed the pool and beach.
GT CHECKLIST
[checklist]
[item check=yes]Doorman/valet[/item]
[item]Less than 10 minutes for check-in[/item]
[item check=yes]Separate tub and shower[/item]
[item]Large vanity[/item]
[item check=yes]High-quality towels[/item]
[item check=yes]Powerful, unattached hair dryer[/item]
[item check=yes]High-quality bed linens[/item]
[item check=yes]Large, flat-screen television[/item]
[item check=yes]Large desk with convenient outlets[/item]
[item check=yes]Large, complimentary laptop safe[/item]
[item check=yes]Complimentary in-room WiFi[/item]
[item check=yes]Complimentary bottled water[/item]
[item]Stocked minibar[/item]
[item check=yes]Ample lighting[/item]
[item]In-room coffeemaker[/item]
[item]Iron and ironing board[/item]
[item check=yes]On-site restaurant[/item]
[item check=yes]24-hour room service[/item]
[item check=yes]24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center[/item]
[item check=yes]Turn-down service[/item]
[/checklist]
The Dan Tel Aviv Hotel
Ha-Yarkon St. 99
Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
tel 972 3 520 2525
danhotels.com
Read This Next
Chicago on the Rise
Destination One
Jul 1, 2019All Reads on This Topic
Read Them All

Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Sep 29, 2023Spies, Lies and Nukes Weekend at La Fonda on the Plaza Hotel in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Did the new film Oppenheimer rouse your interest in the nefarious world of international espionage? You can go straight to the real-life setting for covert actions this November (Nov. 10–12), when La Fonda on the Plaza in Santa Fe hosts a specially themed “Spies, Lies and Nukes” weekend. The hotel actually served as the retreat location for Manhattan Project scientists, who stayed at La Fonda on the Plaza to take a break from the stress of their work. During the weekend, the property’s La Fiesta Lounge will make a tasty nod to those days by serving up a special Atomic Martini.
Daily
Sep 29, 2023A Shucking Good Time: The Read House Introduces New Lavish Martini & Pearls In-Room Service
Ever want handcrafted martinis and freshly shucked oysters delivered straight to your room? The Read House’s New Martinis & Pearls service has you covered. Shining in 1920s-themed decor, the historic hotel in the heart of Chattanooga offers a true Gatsby-esque experience, now further elevated with this upscale amenity. Guests can now indulge in their perfectly chilled martini, made to order, and “pearls” (oysters) in the comfort of their room.
Daily
Sep 29, 20234 Can’t Miss New York Adventures for Active Travelers
If your idea of fun in New York City is to get the adrenaline flowing and your heart racing rather than engage in more relaxed pursuits like shopping, seeing Broadway shows and visiting museums, here are four activities that are anything but low-key:
Sponsored Content
Greece: A Life-Changing Experience
Experience the life-changing destination of Greece by exploring its island gems in the Ionian Sea. Scattered off the western coastline of Central Greece, to the south of Peloponnese, the Ionian Islands are an island group comprising large and small islands.
Daily
Sep 28, 2023Studio City: The More Mellow Side of Hollywood
There are two Hollywoods: A catch-all name for the American entertainment industry and the physical place where it was born. The latter continues to draw tourists with the original Walk of Fame; historic hotels, movie and live production theaters; and a full spectrum of pop cultural phenomena.
Perelman Performing Arts Center Opens in New York
Daily
Sep 26, 2023Daily
Sep 26, 20234 Sweet Spots for Vintage Clothing Lovers
Whether you call secondhand fashion treasure troves “thrift stores,” “fripperies,” “charity shops,” “vintage boutiques” or something else, shifting the paradigm from “old clothes” to “new finds,” you may find the best, most conversation-starting souvenirs inside these shops and neighborhoods located in the world’s most fashionable cities and a few unexpected places.
Sponsored Content
Exclusive Savings: Cruise Along the Danube River with Global Traveler
Exclusive Sailing with Global Traveler
eFlyer Reviews
Sep 26, 2023Viking Polaris Canadian Discovery Review
While the 372-passenger Viking Polaris expedition ship, launched in September 2022, falls midway in size between Viking Cruises’ intimate river cruise ships and large-scale ocean ships, it is operated with the same attention to detail and personalized service.
ShareThis