5 Best Hotels in Mitzpe Ramon and Makhtesh Ramon, Eilat and the Negev

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.

Here's a little piece of heaven on the outskirts of Mitzpe Ramon: a laid-back, two-story lodging with five lovely guest rooms that have covered terraces facing the surrounding desert hills. Each room has a bleached-wood floor, handmade furnishings, and sofas piled with Moroccan cushions. A breakfast of local delicacies is delivered to your room each morning.

Set in the slowly developing industrial zone, this unpretentious boutique restaurant--hotel has half a dozen high-ceilinged suites outfitted with modern furnishings, local beauty products, and cozy fireplaces—some even have private jetted tubs. The small restaurant has an outside seating area and serves Israeli breakfasts and homemade granola until 12:30. Lunch and dinner service starts at 12:30, featuring a seasonally changing menu of pasta, steak, chicken, and desserts.

There's nothing rugged about a stay at this charming desert hotel, which has an open fireplace in the lobby for chilly winter nights. Choose between pastel-and-white studio apartments (perfect for one or two) or two- or three-room suites (for up to six guests). Suites also have well-equipped kitchenettes where you can whip up your own meals. The 20-yard-long heated indoor swimming pool would not be out of place at any luxury hotel. The helpful staff is happy to arrange four-wheeling adventures, horseback riding tours, or nighttime excursions when there's a full moon. Even if you're not staying here, the restaurant is worth a visit; hearty buffet meals are enlivened by condiments made by local cooks.

Down an unpaved road, this out-of-the-ordinary cluster of stone-and-wood huts sits on a rocky hillside; for the rugged traveler seeking the starkness and purity of the desert, it's an appealing example of ecotourism. Each hut has a carpet on its earthen floor and a mattress piled with cozy blankets; household essentials include a tea corner, a clay water jar, and copper bowls for ablutions. The units are solar-powered, and there's an eco-friendly toilet cabin. Guests eat in the communal dining room. You can ask a staff member to pick you up from outside the Isrotel Ramon Inn. Plan to arrive before dark.