Grand Beach Hotel

Grand Beach Hotel has been around for nearly half a century. In 2014, the entire property received an overhaul and rooms were given a mostly contemporary look. However, decor choices like a pink-marble-topped reception desk and marble mosaics in the floors come off dated, and the contemporary furniture upgrades to public spaces are basic and don’t live up to the advertised four-stay rating. It’s not surprising then that this hotel has a variety of mixed reviews, on everything from the rooms and the quality of the breakfast buffet to overall individual experiences. Fortunately, most guests can agree that the hotel has an excellent location and decent rates for the area. 

Grand Beach Hotel is popular with business guests and leisure tourist groups from China, Korea, the United States, United Kingdom, and Russia, and sees an uptake in Israeli guests on weekends. 

Grand Beach Hotel is located on the northernmost tip of Tel Aviv's beachfront hotel row. The property is across the road from Independence Park, and a four-minute walk from popular Metzitszim Beach and close to Tel Aviv Port. The bounty of shops, bars, and restaurants off Ben Yehuda and Dizengoff streets are less than a five-minute walk away. 

• Five-minute walk to Ben Yehuda Street
• Eight-minute walk to Tel Aviv Port
• Seven-minute walk to Dizengoff Street
• 16-minute walk to the Jerusalem Beach boardwalk
• 13-minute drive to Rabin Square
• 13-minute drive to Carmel Market
• 15-minute drive to Old Jaffa 
• 16-minute drive to Rothschild Boulevard
• 20-minute drive to Sarona Market
• 25-minute drive to Ben Gurion Airport

The 212 guest rooms here are the same size, with the exception of the larger accessible rooms, and they can all accommodate up to three guests. However, with the small, city size of the rooms, some guests find them a bit cramped at double occupancy. All rooms come standard with conveniences such as mini-fridges, laptop-compatible safes, flat-screen TVs, kettles, and free international and local calls. Even though the property is 12 floors, there are no rooms with balconies. 

Superior Rooms have a slightly less modern look than the higher categories, and feel dated. In addition to a muted color scheme, expect mirrored closet doors, basic wood furniture, and a marble-tiled bathroom with dated vanities and shallow tubs. Business Rooms are essentially the same as the Superior Rooms, but have electronic key locks and slightly larger flat-screen LCD TVs. Wood furniture in Premium Rooms is still basic, but is a lighter shade and topped with orange glass, giving the room a fresher feel. Upgrades to Premium Rooms also get larger TVs and drapes with a contemporary polka dot pattern. Bathrooms in these rooms are noticeably more modern. Business guests and folks staying in Premium Rooms get access to the hotel's 24-hour business center. 

A rooftop terrace is a standout here, home to a pool and sundeck with panoramic views of the city and sea. This space is open from April to September, or longer depending on weather, and it has lifeguards on duty, a snack bar on request, and loungers for a fee. The space feels a bit neglected and dated due to the orange and green tile and tired plastic and vinyl loungers on the faux-grass deck, though the pool is sparkling (and deep). There are some umbrellas for shade, plus a shower and bathroom for convenience. 

Down by the lobby, there’s a bright and contemporary lounge bar with contemporary seating and a large bar that serves drinks until the late evening. Expect marble floors inside and an outdoor tiled terrace with wicker seating and cafe tables. 

Up a snazzy marble and glass staircase is the hotel’s main dining room. This is where the free Israeli breakfast buffet is served, plus an extensive international dinner buffet. Both buffets receive mixed reviews, but feelings about the breakfast buffet are particularly split between having a good or poor selection of food. This is a casual space decked out in pink marble and it can get quite noisy at peak times. 

The 24-hour business center is open to guests staying in Premium-level rooms. It’s accessible through a private entrance off the lobby. It’s also available at an extra fee for corporate guests booked in lower-category rooms. Inside, guests will find free Wi-Fi, a computer, scanner, printer, and fax services. There’s also a small selection of snacks and beverages for free. 

There are no specific meeting rooms here, but five banquet halls that can hold between 10 and 100 attendees. These spaces can also be converted into private dining rooms or chapels, though it’s good to note that there is a small, 24-hour synagogue on-site. Other hotel features include a Shabbat elevator, room service, half-board options, and free beach and pool towels from reception. There are also laundry services available and each floor has a small ironing facility in the stairwell. Wi-Fi is free throughout, and any guest requesting a massage gets directed to the small but upscale Japanese-inspired spa at The Alexander.