Brown Jerusalem Hotel & Convention Center in Jerusalem

Absolutely Disgraceful – Avoid at All Costs!

I had the serious misfortune of staying at the Shalom Hotel in Bayit Vagan, Jerusalem, and I can confidently say it was one of the worst hotel experiences I’ve ever had.

First off, the hotel is practically a construction site. The majority of the building is under heavy renovation — noisy, dusty, and chaotic — yet they somehow think it’s acceptable to keep a few floors open to guests without so much as a warning or apology. No disclosure was made about the state of the property when booking or checking in.

The reception staff were beyond rude. Not only did they lack any basic manners or professionalism, they outright ignored reasonable questions and responded with hostility and arrogance. I’ve never encountered such an appalling lack of customer service. To make matters worse, the swimming pool — a major selling point — was completely out of service, and of course, this was never mentioned until we asked.

And don’t even get me started on the so-called “breakfast” that they have the nerve to charge extra for. In a country known for its generous and fresh Israeli hotel breakfasts, this place serves a sad, miserable plate of two lukewarm scrambled eggs and what looked and tasted like a leftover, possibly spoiled, potato. No buffet. No variety. No pride or care in what they’re serving. It was insulting.

This hotel is an embarrassment, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone — not even for a night. They should be ashamed of the current state of their operations. Save yourself the stress, money, and disappointment — book literally anywhere else.