The Best Hotels in Eilat, Israel

With four restaurants, a popular spa and a prime location right on the Eilat seafront, there’s little wonder that the Queen of Sheba is one of the Red Sea’s most popular luxury picks. Indulge in a muscle-melting Thai massage before tucking into a long, lazy alfresco lunch at the Ebony restaurant beside the spectacular hotel pool. Neutral rooms, with splashes of blue, suit holidaying couples just as well as families.

Sandwiched between park and beach, Soleil is a prime pick for couples who have come to Eilat to chill. You can spend days lounging by its pool – a centrepiece of the hotel – and evenings drinking cocktails in the bar-cum-restaurant lined with cushy seating and trendy tiling. The hotel staff will do the hard work of arranging any sightseeing tours or reservations should you need them – as well as car hire if you fancy a day trip to the nearby Negev desert.

Steps from HaDayagim Beach, Aria resort overlooks the ragged silhouette of distant mountains and the Red Sea waters, all directly from its pool area. If you’re a sunseeker, this pool, lined with mature palms and punctuated with thatched umbrellas, is exactly where you’ll want to spend most of your trip. Settle in for the day and order everything to your lounger be it towels, snacks or refreshing beers. Book a room with a balcony and you can enjoy the stunning views all day long.

This all-inclusive spot is just the place for families who want to focus on sun, sea and complete relaxation without having to watch spending. Throwing in food, drink, entertainment and activities as part of the deal, children will go wild for the water park, complete with slides and waterfalls, while parents will appreciate the modern rooms with pops of colour and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the resort. Everyone will enjoy the array of tasty eating options with everything from pizza to sushi on offer.

The clue is in the name. Active types – whether couples or families – will love a stay at this all-inclusive that puts sport at the forefront. The ‘olympic lobby’ shows thrilling games on a big screen and the ‘sports arena’ restaurant dishes up three muscle-fueling meals a day whilst the main draw is the sheer number of activities on offer. Swim in the multiple pools, play basketball or tennis or head over to sweat it out in the gym.

The Jasper 08 bar is the centre of evening life at Isrotel Agamim – think fruity cocktails, DJ sets, live performances and the chance to make new friends. By day? Guests recuperate by the lagoon-style swimming pool or, if they’ve booked an ‘on the water’ room, practically float into it from bed. With a buzzy social scene, Isrotel Agamim is most suited to couples or groups of friends, especially those appreciative of the stylish, relaxed décor, all patterned throw pillows and statement pendant lights.

Fancy kayaking, sailing and pedal-boating? With a private marina attached to Astral Palma, all of this is on tap at the Astra Palma. Throw in a greenery-encircled swimming pool and atmospheric bar along with plush rooms just off Eilat’s Lagoona. The largest rooms sleep up to six people, ideal if you’re travelling as a family or with friends. Shoppers take note, there’s a well-stocked mall next door to this hotel.