I asked a guy in a cafe to lend me his phone and paid him the call back.

“Hello Yaron? Do you remember me? This is Giulia the travel blogger”…

The first thing I did when I crossed the border from Aqaba (Jordan) to Eilat (Israel) was calling Yaron, one of the owners of the worldwide notorius Abraham Hostel in Jerusalem.

I crossed the border after days without a working internet connection, then Petra, then the desert of Wadi Rum… so once in Eilat I had no idea what to do. I had no booking, no itinerary. But Yaron saved my life!

All I had to do was take a bus to Jerusalem and have a good night of sleep.

The following morning, Yaron met me with a map, stretched it out on the table, and showed me all my options. Thanks to the free ILH map, I suddenly had a whole range of choice for my upcoming nights just under my nose.

In case you are wondering, YES they have options for the West Bank too (and I will definitely check those out too next time!).

It wasn’t hard to pick! Here is where I stayed during my trip in Israel:

Abraham Hostel, Jerusalem

As I said before, this hostel is uber cool. As soon as I stepped into the Abraham’s door, I felt welcomed and comfortable. You can really tell that there are real travelers behind it! From minute one, you start getting all the information you need. And most important, the info comes with a smile!

I really appreciated that they offer a free tour of the Old City as well as an interesting ‘Hebrew 101’ class for newcomers. Don’t you just wish you could get something like this in every new country you visit?

Hebrew Class

The reception and travel desk at Abraham Hostel

Everything is very organized: there’s a ‘travel desk’ where you can ask for information or book a tour, an internet room, free wifi in the entire building, a huge common area with hammocks, tables and a big shared kitchen, a bar that serves good coffee and great cocktails, and as far as I know they even serve pizza now! Oh and you get Nutella for breakfast, just saying.

Every friday night there’s a Shabbat dinner, which means all the guests cook and have dinner together, while the staff explains the meaning of Shabbat and shows the traditional rituals. It’s fun and it’s interesting! And yummy.

Shabbat dinner at Abraham Hostel

Abraham Hostel is the largest private hostel in the country, but it doesn’t feel so big when you stay there. On the contrary, there’s a nice, warm, homey atmosphere and it will always be a pleasure to go back at the end of your days of explorations.

I was happy to find out that it is not a “party hostel”. It’s rather a place to meet people and make friends. The social aspect of the hostel is very important, that’s why the common areas are so big, cozy and inviting!

The rooftop at Abraham Hostel, Jerusalem

The cool rooftop where everyone can write or draw something on the wall!

Open mic at Abraham Hostel

The rooms are simple but they have everything you may need: every bed has a power socket, every room has a bathroom, and everything is very clean. All this with free WIFI. What else do you possibly need?

A dorm at Abraham Hostel

Private room at Abraham Hostel

At Abraham Hostel there are so many options for activities and tours that you will have a hard time choosing! Not to mention the day trips to Jordan and Egypt, of course.

I have to add that it’s extremely easy to reach Abraham Hostel. You will likely get to Jerusalem by bus, then you just have to take the tram and get off in Davidka. Then, instead of going the wrong way as I did, just glance up and you will see the hostel! It will be just in front of you. The Old City is within walking distance: a pleasant 15 minutes walk through Jaffa Street and very nice, lively neighborhoods of Jerusalem.

Abraham Hostel is definitely my recommendation for anyone who wants to stay in Jerusalem.

Prices: from €22/night in a dorm, up.

Check availability and book Abraham Hostel

Fauzi Azar Inn, Nazareth

Fauzi Azar Inn is the most popular accommodation in Nazareth. When I got off the bus in this rather small but chaotic city, I didn’t even have to ask for directions: seeing me with a backpack, the locals automatically addressed me to Fauzi Azar Inn, in the heart of Old Nazareth.

This is what I call a unique place.

Fauzi Azar Inn, Nazareth

The mansion has belonged to the Azar Family (a Christian Arab Palestinian family) for over 200 years, but has been abandoned in 1980 after Mr Fauzi Azar’s death. Ever since 1948 the locals had started to leave, and their place was taken by Arab refugees. The Azar house made no exception.

In 2005, Maoz Enon decided this was the perfect location for the guesthouse of his dreams. At first everyone thought he was crazy: there were no Jews in Nazareth and that looked like a crazy idea! Also, back then the Old City was rather dangerous… who wanted to go there anyway?

After long negotiations with the Azar family, the Fauzi Azar Inn finally open to public, and that was the start of the revival of the Old City.

Mr Enon was accepted by the locals as he used local manpower and limited himself to manage the guesthouse, which still belongs to the Azar family.

I spent one night in a beautiful private room at the Fauzi Azar Inn, and felt like I was transported back in time!

Fauzi Azar Inn – Private room

The Fauzi Azar Inn is well known for its original painted ceilings and the beautiful big windows with a view over the Old City of Nazareth.

The ceilings and the windows at Fauzi Azar Inn

Prices: from €18/night in a dorm, up.

Check availability and book Fauzi Azar

Gengis Khan Camp, Golan Heights

When I saw the photo of the Gengis Khan Camp, I decided I wanted to go. Mongolian tents, AKA Yurts, sounded too cool to be skipped. I’ve always wanted to go to Mongolia, so I guessed that could be a good training!

Gengis Khan Camp, Golan Heights

These tents are really big and can hold up to 10 people.

Inside the Yurt, Gengis Khan Camp

Sleeping on the mattress in the Yurt was very comfortable and definitely a new experience. I find this a perfect solution for families, or in general groups of people who travel together. You have your comfort, your privacy, and a pinch of adventure!

Of course this is a very fancy version of yurt! Every tent has A/C, and a private bathroom on the side.

Bathroom at Gengish Khan Camp

Watch: how the Yurts were built!

There’s a big, nicely equipped shared kitchen and a garden with any herb you may need for your tea.

Shared kitchen at Gengis Khan Camp

If you plan to visit the Golan Heights, I suggest you to have a car in order to explore it freely. There are not many buses up there, even if you can always easily and safely hitchhike.

The surrounding area offers many activities, such as hiking (lots of it), rafting, bathing at water springs, kite surfing in the Sea of Galilee, and of course the holy places such as ‘Kursi’, the place where the miracle of the swine is said to have taken place.

Price: from €20/person/night.

Check availability and book Gengis Khan in the Golan

The Negev Camel Ranch, Negev Desert

You know I love the desert! I wanted to sleep in the Negev ever since I stepped into Israel, and finally I found the perfect place! The Negev Camel Ranch looked just perfect.

Most people go there for camel rides, but I was happy with observing them and taking photos! The owners live in the ranch and breed camels for passion. As they state on their website, “one can have a camel ride for 1 hour or up to 2 days!”.

Camels at the Negev Camel Ranch

Accommodation comes in huts. Every hut has a lot of privacy and mine also had a nice view on the desert, a lovely setting where I took a nice nap before dinner.

Negev Camel Ranch, my hut and setting

Negev Camel Ranch: inside the hut

The Negev Camel Ranch is on the ancient Incense Route, and not far from the camp you can visit the Nabatean city of Mamshit.

Vegetarian food is available on request… so request it! It’s seriously great food.

Price: from €28/night/person.

Check availability and book Negev Camel Ranch

The Green Backpackers, Mitzpe Ramon

The Green Backpackers is a tiny little hostel that feels more like a house, in the pretty much deserted town of Mitzpe Ramon.

The living room at The Green Backpackers

I just loved the details of this place. Vintage and recycle here are combined and taken to another level… with cute results!

The Green Backpackers: cool door handle!

So what is so interesting about a deserted town in the middle of… pretty much nowhere?

Well, you just have to walk a couple of hundred meters to find out.

The Makhtesh

Mitzpe Ramon lays on the edge of what is erroneously referred to as “a crater”, but was formed by erosion and not by a meteorite. This kind of geological formation is called a “Makhtesh”. These are extremely rare and there are only a handful of these in the world.

Mitzpe Ramon is paradise of hikers. You can cross the whole Makhtesh following different paths and climb the edges on the sides. Did I tell you that Makhtesh Ramon has the shape of a heart? It’s so romantic for you couple travelers!

The terrace over Makhtesh Ramon

The green backpackers is very close to another famous landmark of Mitzpe Ramon: the camel shaped rock. Can you see it on the right?

The Green Backpackers, Mitzpe Ramon

Dorms are basic, cozy and clean. I had a really good night of sleep here!

The Green Backpackers: dorm

Private rooms are more than beautiful! See? It really looks like a house… this is why I like this place so much.

Private room at The Green Backpackers

You can check the board for what’s up at the hostel…

Green Backpackers, the board

…Have a free introductory tour of the Makhtesh… which I highly recommend. Here is Lee, the owner of the hostel, explaining us how the crater was formed and showing us the main hiking trails.

The Makhtesh tour with Lee

…or just leave a message!

Messages from all over the world on the board

Apart from the Makhtesh and the camel shaped rock, there’s not much to do in Mitzpe Ramon. Walking around made me feel like I was in a ghost town. Then I had an unexpected encounter.