5 Best Hotels in Lower Galilee, Israel

Located on the palm-shaded eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, this complex has everything from waterfront units with sunset-watching patios to spacious apartments with room for the whole family. All have fully equipped kitchenettes, and an on-site market means you can cook your own meals. About a mile north is Kibbutz Ein Gev, which has a fish restaurant, small harbor, and wagon-train ride.

The rare lakeshore location is a big plus, and for some, so is the distance from the noisy downtown promenade. The marble lobby lounge is large and airy, though clusters of comfortable armchairs create intimacy. Guest rooms are tastefully furnished, if a bit small and slightly fraying; about two-thirds face the lake. Rooms on the two lower floors have private balconies. The hotel gives you free access to the adjacent water park, which has seven slides, a wave pool, and children's pool, making it arguably the most family-friendly hotel in town. The guests-only spa has a very private feel.

At the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee, this kibbutz has arguably the most enchanting view of all the properties around the lake. The furnishings are comfortable but not luxurious. Choose between regular guest rooms or spacious suites with living rooms, small bedrooms, kitchenettes, and patios. The food isn't memorable, but the facilities—extensive lawns, sandy beach, swimming pool near the shore—make it the best deal around. There is a smaller pool and play area for kids. Complete your trip by renting a bike and taking in the scenery while you ride.

In a Thai-style complex that's a world apart from anything else in this region, these recently renovated suites have hot tubs that use thermal mineral water from the nearby springs. A few even have their own saunas. Treatment rooms and exercise machines are for hotel guests only. The warm mineral-pool area, a serene oasis by day, becomes almost mystical when torches light the waters. The rest of the park at Hammat Gader is free for hotel guests. On Thursday and Friday nights, there is a minimum two-night stay. Package deals with spa treatments are available.

Yehuda Avni and his Jerusalem-born wife Yonah have created something special in Israel: a ranch where guests can ride horses during the day and retire to cozy rooms at night. The one-room cabins and more luxurious cottages combine wood and basalt rock, and some have wood-burning stoves and hot tubs overlooking the lake. Spa treatments are also available. The restaurant has a fine regional reputation for its hearty soups, salads, and steaks. The views of the Sea of Galilee are unbelievable. Nonguests can ride here as well.