5 Best Hotels in Eilat and the Negev, Israel

The blink-and-you-miss-it driveway (you've gone too far if you see the sign pointing to Eilat) doesn't befit this luxurious property's magnificent natural setting or its status as one of Israel's most expensive hotels. The sweeping lobby has glossy marble floors and smashing views of the crater beyond, as do the terraces in many of the rooms. Private villas, in groups of low-rise buildings, are designed to resemble modest Nabatean huts, but the interiors feature whirlpool tubs, handsome showers, and wooden shutters that open up into sleeping areas. The gorgeous outdoor pool areas are a great perk in the warmer months, while in winter you can swim laps in the candlelit indoor pool. Dinner at the restaurant is better than serviceable, but pales in comparison to the lavish breakfast. Downstairs there's a full spa, a small sauna, and a children's play area.

Designed with the legendary king in mind, this massive hotel is all about over-the-top opulence and Vegas-style pizzazz. The dramatic, 12-story lobby, decorated with wrought-iron chandeliers, carved marble planters, and mosaic tiles, graces the main building. The spa wing keeps things serene with an adults-only policy. Touches of luxury are apparent everywhere, from the minaret towers that greet you outside to the Romanesque domes, arches, bridges, and niches inside, all designed by well-known architect Yoav Igra to convey Israel's archaeological heritage. Rooms are spacious, with elegant furnishings and lush fabrics. The pool sits at the end of an avenue of palm trees—it looks as though it flows straight into the sea. Note that the Herods chain has three hotels in Eilat, all in the same location; the Herods Vitalis and Herods Boutique are the others.

Solomon's entire court could easily have been accommodated at this huge and comfortably furnished family hotel. The staff attends to your every need, and everything runs like clockwork. The market-style dining room serves Chinese fare, along with many other choices. The breakfast selection is vast, and eating on the leafy, shaded terrace is a pleasure. Palm-fringed pools (one with a 50-meter waterslide) overlook the lagoon, and the children's "house" offers all-day activities. The rooms have a sleek, modern look. Garden-terrace suites have their own hot tubs.

The palatial entrance of this grand hotel is certainly fit for a queen, capped with a pillared dome rising between two turrets. On either side is a wing with more than 200 rooms. Elegant curtains cover the windows of the 40-foot-high lobby and mosaics of biblical animals cover the floor. The queen must have loved cats—images of them are everywhere. Most bedrooms have gold-framed mirrors and marble bathrooms with hand-painted murals. Rooms on even-numbered floors have balconies (some with their own whirlpool tubs) facing the sea or the marina. Transparent gold-cage elevators offer views of the atrium as they rise.

On the promenade, across from Royal Beach (Eilat's answer to Miami's South Beach), this sprawling hotel blends comfort, glamour, and sophistication. The serene atrium is furnished with cushy leather couches and decorated with cobalt-blue sculptures suspended from the ceiling. Three-story glass windows frame graceful bamboo and palm trees. A large terrace—crammed with colorful flowers, overhead fans, and kilim rugs—faces the Bay of Eilat, providing views that are all the more stunning at sundown. Rooms have comfortable sofas and chairs and private balconies, and suites have their own whirlpool tubs. For the best views, ask for a higher floor.