Review: Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem

It's a great day to see this very article. I've always wanted to see Lucky review this property.

Can't speak to this hotel, but agree that most hotel breakfasts in Israel are among the best in the world! Have enjoyed the King David and David Citadel in Jerusalem, and the Sheraton, Renaissance, and Intercontinental in Tel Aviv and ALL of them shown (though we were particularly thrilled with the David Citadel as much for the view as for the food).

You mentioned that all rates were inclusive of breakfast- that applies to Award stays as well?

thanks
FDW

Ben, thanks for an excellent review. Definitely one of my favorite hotels in the world. The breakfast buffet is truly amazing.

When you say "Old Town," you must mean The Old City. I've never heard it called Old Town. 🙂

@ zow -- Old City indeed, thank you!

@ flyingdoctorwu -- Yep, even award stays come with breakfast. 🙂

Nice review. Funny how hotels are reluctant to offer upgrades to elite (even Gold) on award stays where you are using your hard earned loyalty points but they will upgrade a person who books through an OTA with cash. Jerusalem is expensive for hotels but $450 a night. Still seems steep for what you experienced. Definitely better than the Crowne Plaza but doesn't look as nice at the Intercontinental in TLV.
I would also be interested to see if this hotel has a different Sabbath breakfast experience on Saturday mornings?

Great review!
...Though I highly doubt there were cold cuts AND cheese due to Kosher dietary laws.

@ Meivina -- Whoops, good catch. That's what I get for writing this on a redeye.

I stayed here for two nights last March using my two free nights on a weekend from my credit card. I was proactively upgraded to the grand deluxe king room since I was Hilton gold. I agree that the breakfast was the best I’ve ever had!
The staff even comped my parking fees! The location is perfect and I would recommend it, but cash rates are really high.......

Great breakfast spread.

Stayed in August.

Very similar experience with reception. Had to get approval for upgrade.
You haven't emphasized enough how gorgeous the property is.
Rooms indeed slightly on the smaller side, but that's what you get for 100+ year old restored hotels.

Breakfast, hands down. World class.

In any case, the management is contemplating dropping the Waldorf brand:
Too many point redemption guests, so get it while it lasts.

Great review of a gorgeous hotel. And although there are 1000 reason I love going to Israel, Israeli breakfast, and food for that matter, are high on my list!!

David Citadel and WA both avg around 85% American Guests.

Great review. We were in Jerusalem around the same time as you. I drove myself crazy wanting to book this hotel, but not wanting to blow the budget and part with $900 per night (family of four won't fit into those rooms). Ultimately we booked an AirBnB for only $123 a night. We had a brand new spacious one bedroom complete with balcony and washer/dryer located right in the center of West Jerusalem - only a 10 min walk to the Old City. After seeing these pictures, I am so happy with what we decided. While the breakfast looks incredible, the rest of the hotel lacks the "wow factor" that justifies those kind of prices.

Interesting about breakfast at the Waldorf. The Hilton Tel Aviv charges for the restaurant breakfast if you’re on a point stay (included on all paid rates). But, they do give Golds (and Diamonds) access to their tiny Executive Lounge, which has an ok spread and all day drinks. No access to their Vista Lounge without paying or redeeming outright though.

At the Hilton, I think all the rooms are pretty much the same since it’s a newer, modern hotel. Same Ahava amenities, which are pretty expensive at retailers, apparently.

I always liked Waldorf properties and have had great experience staying in many of them.

i was lucky to get the five nights just in November gorgeous hotel and great location loved it was in a few five star hotels while i was in israel the breakfast at the waldorf was by far the best

I really need to have that breakfast! I have had some really awesome breakfasts at hotels on points or status. We are now newly SPG/Marriott Platinum and Hilton Gold too. Going to Jerusalem for the first time in 2018.

Agree that hotels in Israel have some of the best breakfast buffets in the world! Better than even many places in Asia, in my opinion.

What kind of room would World Famous Hilton Diamond Guest DCS have gotten at this property?

I was surprised you didn't comment on security at the hotel. Anything to say?

@lucky on points stays you must be gold or diamond to get free breakfast

I stayed at this hotel last March and was told the proper gym would be open in the summer. Interesting that it never did. We also had issues with service at breakfast. One morning I had to call the manager over to complain about the difficulty in getting coffee refills. He, of course, acted shocked, but reading your review I see they never resolved this problem. It is apparently a continuing issue. The rooms are lovely but the service was lacking. Too bad.

@lucky. I agree. Waldorf Astoria's think that just being a WA is enough and they really don't have to try. Plus their elite benefits are awful. Give me a Conrad, especially one outside the US any day. I will credit this one for the buffet and being in a beautiful building.

And @Tennen. I would agree that the Hilton TV is perfectly nice. My first stay there they upgraded me to a lovely corner suite. Not so much on my other visits. The beach location is great. I recommend breakfast by the beach. The Intercontinental TV is about as boring and generic as it gets. Could be anywhere.

The reason for the lawn furniture in the lobby is that a portion of the roof opens. On the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, one has to eat under open sky. The whole roof in the lobby opens,ergo, it lets in the elements.

I agree though (currently staying here) hard to get upgrades but it is the best option in Jerusalem.

I can't believe Trump gave Jerusalem to the Jews. The Arabs should be entitled to Jerusalem as well. Now Palestine must become a country no excuses.

I'm glad Americans still follow the loyalty branding - even in israel. LOL.

I stayed here a couple of years ago as a Diamond member on an award stay and got a nice upgrade to a Junior Suite. Not bad and it was during a busier weekend as well!
I had been waiting for this hotel to open up for years! I had been by it many times before they even started building it and while they were building it and was glad to finally stay there. It certainly is a great option for points in Jerusalem, especially since there aren't that many to begin with.

Fantastic review. Thx

Hope they step up their game just a little and so I might stay there one day soon.

Interesting fact: The two beds pushed together, substituting for a normal king, or queen bed is the norm for hotels in Israel. Just like the majority of hotels in Israel are strictly kosher, have limited food and service on shabbat, and have a mezuzah on the doorposts, is to cater for the religious demand, which is relatively high in Israel. If I am correct, it is against Jewish halacha (laws) for a husband and wife to sleep in the same bed, and the loophole is to place two beds adjacent to each other. This hotel receives a very frum (religious) crowd on the Jewish holidays (Sukkot, Pesach, Yom Kippur), so the hotels try to cater to their needs. I also would of recommended you stay at the King David, I realize that it is not feasible with points, and out of pocket would of been incredibly expensive. If you were looking to pay out of pocket, I would of recommended the Dan Panorama, which is right across the street from the KD, and is also under the auspice of Dan Hotels Israel. I consider the DP to have the best cash value out of all hotels in Jerusalem. Half the hotel is recently renovated, and the Lobby, and it's restaurant I find excellent. It does have a pool, unfortunately which is very small, however does boast tremendous views. The pool is nothing compared to the King David's pool, which is among the nicest hotel pools I have visited. I hope you and your parents enjoyed Israel, and can't wait for you to post the remainder of your review.

It's nice in my opinion but honestly kind of feels like a synagogue gathering... I would opt for the King David just down the street. A lot more character and history.