6 Best Hotels in Around Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, Israel

This palatial hotel is decorated in relaxing blues, teals, and grays to echo the natural landscape. Rooms have unbeatable views; nearly all have balconies, and some have access to a private pool and garden. The pampering spa has a Turkish bathhouse and offers exfoliating body scrubs given atop a marble table decorated with colorful tiles. There is also an indoor pool filled with warm Dead Sea water. Full board is a good option here, as the food is delicious. Premium rooms have espresso machines.

Gorgeous design, a sprawling pool complex, and friendly service make this a top pick for a Dead Sea stay. Wood dominates the decor, from a ground-floor wall carving of date palms and fruit to the furniture inside the rooms. The spa includes an indoor sulfur pool and a Dead Sea–water pool that has both indoor and outdoor sections. Bookings include buffet breakfasts and an option to add on buffet dinner, which is a good idea in a town with few restaurants. If your budget allows, get a room on the Moab floors, which have upgraded amenities and access to the business lounge.

Reached via a trail of baby palm trees, Ein Bokek's largest hotel stands out for its cavernous lobby, wonderful views, delightful spa, and endless swimming pool. The pool is surrounded by plenty of chaise lounges; nearby hammocks provide a great place to unwind. Enjoy free access to indoor and outdoor Dead Sea–water pools, or pay extra for treatments in the spacious spa. A shuttle zips you to the hotel's private beach.

Compared to some of the palatial resorts of Ein Bokek, Isrotel Ganim is a smaller and less expensive property whose lobby features vintage furniture and views of the Dead Sea. Rooms are average in size, and some of the third-floor ones have balconies. Hotel guests have access to the lovely Esprit Spa, which includes Dead Sea water pools, hot tubs, and a dry sauna. The hotel offers a choice of meal plans, from breakfast only to full board.

The lobby of this family-oriented, all-inclusive property—which supplies buffets and alcohol all day long—has huge windows that overlook a pretty pool. The hotel has several children's clubs, as well as theme-park rides, kiddie pools, video games, and day-care service. For the adults, there is a dry sauna, wet sauna, and a spa with Dead Sea water. Parking can be a menace, and the facilities bear witness to the many children it hosts.

This Greek-themed hotel is built low to the ground and decorated in white and blue. Some rooms have their own private outdoor pools. Breakfast is fresh and abundant with vegetable salads, smoked fish, and a wide cheese selection. Chill out with a spa treatment or marinate in the hotel's sauna, Turkish bath, sulfur pool, and outdoor pool. Step off the property and right onto the Dead Sea beach. There is live music some nights.