4 Best Hotels in Lower Galilee, Israel

Set in a lovely landscape, this 95-year-old kibbutz has beautiful cabins and suites to meet every need. Choose from the simply appointed standard rooms, family-friendly cabins with lofts and a shared yard, or ultraromantic luxury suites with private gardens and views of Mount Gilboa. Children love the kibbutz playground, the seasonal swimming pool, and petable cows and sheep in the dairy farm. Grown-ups appreciate the museum's permanent collection of Jewish art spanning many cultures and genres.

A 200-year-old mansion in the heart of the Old City, this inn has rooms with soaring ceilings that are perfect for couples or families, especially since some rooms are spacious (some are dorm style). A traditional Arab breakfast is served in the communal dining hall, where you meet a variety of local and international travelers. The inn is the starting point for the popular Jesus Trail hiking trip, organized by the staff. The hotel is difficult to find, so call when you arrive in the city to have the staff pick you up.

Its grand location—with a private beach right on the Sea of Galilee—makes this kibbutz guesthouse near Tiberias especially popular. It's warm and inviting, with spacious balconies looking out over the lake. There is a morning tour of the lovely grounds, and the nearby Yigal Alon Museum is free to guests. The dinner buffet includes both meat and vegetarian choices, the latter including outstanding blintzes with sweetened cheese. There are 168 standard and deluxe rooms and 75 simple country lodging rooms suitable for families. A more upscale property, the Nof Ginosar Hotel, is also at the same location, with different facilities.

A riot of greenery, including an inviting bustan (a local-style garden redolent with fragrant herbs), surrounds this inn, which has whirlpools and wooden balconies. Israel and Sarah Shavit make congenial hosts, with the added bonus that he's a licensed tour guide and chef. Four apartments have living rooms, kitchenettes, and bedrooms (one is wheelchair accessible); the fifth has two bedrooms. There's also a dorm-type room for up to 14 people. The rustic environment, 10 minutes from Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee, is pleasant, and the dining room, which serves breakfast, transforms into a good-value à la carte restaurant in the evening.