Elma Arts Complex Luxury Hotel - אלמא מלון ומרכז אמנויות

"Finally, there’s a chic place to stay between Tel Aviv and Akko. The privately owned Elma, equal parts art space and hotel, is in Zichron Ya’akov—about a 75-minute drive from Ben Gurion Airport. There’s not a whole lot to do other than take in some art, eat, and relax—perhaps at the property’s small but efficient spa—but that’s the whole point of booking a room here. You’ll have plenty of artsy options to choose from: A large recital hall designed for acoustic performances (it’s home to the only pipe organ is Israel), a smaller jazz-bar performance space, and an impressive art collection as well as temporary exhibitions that attract even non guests. This stylish hotel attracts a mix of Israelis on weekend getaways, European tourists, and executives on company retreats—the latter will be relieved to find that the Wi-Fi is free and fast—but anyone with a taste for a modern aesthetic will be glad to step foot inside. Walk down long halls to guest rooms, and you’ll feel like you’re strolling through a museum. Rooms are fresh and modern, with white plaster walls and touches of walnut. Traveling with kids under 12? They’re not allowed in rooms in the main building, but they’re perfectly welcome in the hotel’s cottages, complete with patios (request one with a sea view—you won’t regret it). There’s also a shaded wading pool, kids’ club with art and music activities, and child-friendly menu at the farm-to-table on-site restaurant, where the dinner is good but the breakfast is brilliant. The Elma doesn’t offer car service, and taxis are limited, so do yourself a favor and rent your own. If you do, you can drive to the town of Caesarea about 20 minutes away from the hotel, to visit beautiful ruins and beaches. The area also has wineries, and in a nearby village, you’ll find cafes and restaurants when you’ve had your fill of art and want to fill up on delicious local cuisine. Editor's Pick: Hot List 2016"

"Essentially a grand-scale gallery and performance space with meticulously designed guestrooms, this seaside retreat south of Haifa defies easy categorization. Built in 1968 as a sanitarium, the sinuous white building won Yaacov Rechter the coveted Israel Award for Architecture. Arts patron Lily Elstein bought and reimagined the space in 2005, enlisting Rechter’s son to oversee the transformation to boutique-hotel-cum-museum-and-theater. In a nod to the property’s original purpose, the on-site spa is truly sublime, so, if you’re not relaxed enough from catching a Debussy sonata before bed or waking up to expansive Mediterranean views, head there for the signature massage, which includes shiva lingam stones and, naturally, music therapy."

"In the travel world, there are guided city tours around concrete landmarks in Sydney and Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, a number of these abandoned buildings have been reimagined as hotels, including Israel’s Elma Arts Complex in a former sanatorium."