10/10 Excellent
Eric L., Minnesota
1 June 2019
Liked: Cleanliness
Ashdod: A Particular Kind of Perfect
I love this apartment, have rented it twice, and would do so again.
Daniel, the manager among a set of brothers who own the apartment, could not be nicer or more welcoming.
And the view from their apartment over the Mediterranean Sea is among my favorite vistas in all of Israel. The picture on the website is accurate, but does not do the scene justice. It is spectacular. Time on their balcony is a great way to start the day.
Likewise convenient, is that there is a bodega-like store next door to the apartment for any emergency purchases, and a full-service supermarket 1 and ½ blocks away. Similarly, the shops and cafes of the city center, and the performing arts center, are an easy (and leisurely) 10-minute walk from the apartment.
The key caveat that I would share with new travelers to Israel is that Tel Aviv is Tel Aviv, Jerusalem is Jerusalem, and Ashdod is Ashdod. These places are really distinct; each with their own rhythms and paces. I love Ashdod for its wide boulevards, miles of spacious beaches, slightly slower and more casual pace than the bigger cities, and joyful life among Israelis who are happy to be there in that place. Every other spot in Israel that one would want to go and visit is a modest car or train ride away; making Ashdod a great departure point for adventure, and an easy place to return to after a day’s worth of adventures. (By comparison, getting in and out of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem or Haifa by car is a lot more challenging.)
And so a key lesson from my trip this time is that Ashdod is not for everyone; it is a particular kind of perfect.
Eric L.
Stayed 15 nights in May 2019