Arbel Guest House Shavit Family

4/10

Poor

27 Dec 2022

Olivia

Was beautiful except you can only enter the “dining area” at certain times, and there is limited ways to get to properly. Also, I left sentimental earrings there and the owner’s son said he sent them, and didn’t (despite offering him $$). :(

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

26 Nov 2019

Marshall

Charming Guest House at Arbel

The guest house is just a few minutes from the Arbel, which was our destination. It is charming, low-key, clean, and -as promised-the breakfast was wonderful. One of us asked for orange juice; they went out and picked the fruit from their ample trees, and brought us a pitcher of the most delicious fresh-squeezed orange juice. They aim to please. The accomodations are comfortable but not fancy. We liked it and would come back.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

24 Oct 2019

Alicia

I had a private room which was very spacious and cozy! It was a great location if you are interested in climbing the cliffs. The food was delicious and filling.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jul 2019

Steven

Great little getaway location

Great spot for a little R and R. Slightly off the beaten path but close enough to get to Tiberias quickly or other places. I decided to stay put and enjoy the pool and the gardens and some food since I had spent a couple of weeks touring.

10/10

Exceptional

13 Mar 2019

Verified traveler

This place is breathtaking. Not only that, but the staff were the nicest people we met in Israel. The views are incredible and we will be going back to Israel just to make sure we can stay here again!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 Mar 2019

Verified traveler

the shavit family are lovely people and we adored our night with them. The location is fantastic and the rooms large with everything that you would neeD.

10/10

Exceptional

15 Nov 2018

James

Below the Horns of Hatin by the Cliffs of Arbel

I have stayed at the Arbel Guest House Shavit Family before and will stay there again. The Shavits are nice and they have a nice guest house and excellent restaurant and chocolate room below. Previously I stayed in a hostel bunk room. This time with three friends, we stayed in a two bedroom apartment with kitchen, the latter which we did not use, having pre-ordered dinner and with breakfast included. Dinner was excellent - we left stuffed, and breakfast was also very good and filling. Each bedroom had a double bed and a single, plus there was a single bed/couch in the living room. We all shared one bathroom. There was a lot of hot water including that which the shower leaked onto the floor, necessitating some towels on the floor to soak it up. It was comfortable, reasonably priced, and the chocolate was wonderful. Just around the corner from the Arbel Cliffs with its cave fortresses and down the road from Tiberius Ilit (Upper Tiberius city), Arbel Guest House is convenient to stay in if you are visiting the Sea of Galilee or Golan. The Horns of Hatin welcome you as you come and go.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

26 Oct 2018

Anna

excellent food, very friendly and helpful staff, beautiful view from our balcony to enjoy sunset. We even had jacuzzi in our room

10/10

Exceptional

13 Sep 2018

Verified traveler

Nice family experience.
A bit away from Tiberias but gives you a nice country feel.
Very sweet hosts.

4/10

Poor

07 Aug 2018

Eli

Air conditioner leaked all over bed. Lost hours of sleep. Staff didn’t even bother to compensate. Just said oiy vey

10/10

Exceptional

23 Oct 2017

Verified traveler

Very good guest house

Returning fro second visit as it was very friendly and good

8/10

Excellent

03 Aug 2017

William

FOOD was the star

Really nice family who showed care to their guests, property was lush with fruit trees and flowers, pool was ok. Our room was the attic room and we did NOT like the room at all. It was run down, old, dirty and the a/c barely worked. We were disappointed in the room and the offered us another room for one night and it was a big difference and what we were expecting. The food was excellent as mentioned in other reviews and I highly recommend eating at the hotel for breakfast.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jul 2017

AW

A peaceful stay near the Sea of Galilee

We had only a brief stay at Arbel, so we did not use the pool, etc. The room was comfortable, though it is far from new; however, this is to be expected, and the charm and location of the guest house make its age a small issue. Our room had A/C, a television, small fridge, kitchenette, and a large jacuzzi tub. The bathroom itself was small, with a shower (but not in a self-contained unit). We paid for the breakfast, and this was definitely the right decision! Very yummy fruit smoothie, cheeses, fruits, and shakshouka. We would love to return to this guest house and spend more time enjoying the pool and scenery. This guest house was only minutes from the Arbel Nature Reserve (definitely hike this to see the best views of the Sea of Galilee) and even closer to a path that leads to the Arbel Ancient Synagogue. It is only a short drive down to many of the beaches on the Sea of Galilee and the Mount of Beatitudes.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

29 Mar 2017

Irina

Unique bed and breakfast - highly recommend

We absolutely loved staying at Arbel Guest House. The owners were so welcoming and accommodating. The food was phenomenal! We had dinner there when we arrived. I would say it was one the best meals we've had in Israel, and there are many wonderful restaurants there. The owner makes a lot of his own food, such as jams, smoothies, sorbet, ice cream, limoncello, etc. They have so many fruit trees growing on property, and most of the food was either home made, or from local area.
Definitely recommend looking in the basement, where the owner makes his own chocolate, jams and limoncello.
Breakfast was really good too. The owner surprises you with every meal. We were so impressed.
The grounds are beautiful with beautiful views of the mountain. Room was basic, but comfortable.
We would love to return one day.
I would definitely recommend staying here.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jan 2017

Matt

A pleasant family run hotel in a villeage

They welcomed us and gave us thoughtful guidance on our trip plan. We had super delicious dinner twice there. Fruits and vegeables from their garden were very tasty. They had very friendly dog and cats as Welcome Ambassadors.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

03 May 2016

Verified traveler

Outstanding heart felt friendliness.

An outstanding restaurant is part of this facility. Israel Shavit is a master chef and the food is absolutely plentiful and delicious. The staff treated me like family.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

24 Apr 2016

Andrew

Our stay near the Sea of Galilee

When we arrived at Arbel guest house we were surprised by the serene environment. It was located on a farm of fruit trees and livestock, amidst what was formerly a Kibbutz. Reminiscent to a quaint California ranch house, this bed and breakfast type of residence was a real oasis in the middle of dry grain farmland.

The smell from the kitchen hit our noses as we approached the house, and invigorated our senses, as we were hungry and tired from our travels, as well as in need of some TLC. We had arrived at the right place! Our hosts, Israel and Sarah Shavit, were very loving and hospitable. They showed us to our rooms with Jacuzzi tubs.

After we cleaned up, we went back down to the dining room and were served the best meal that I have probably ever had. The Lamb stew was the special that evening, and it was prepared in gourmet fashion. Our experience was a blend of eating at the highest quality restaurant and going home to Mom's house.

The real surprise occurred the next morning, when my wife and I awoke before daybreak and headed East for a moderate hike to mount Arbel. My heart burned with joy as we gazed over Galilee, pondering our Lord's footsteps and many works in this region. There is even a ruined synagogue where I believe Jesus preached (see Luke 4:16-30).

I've never written one of these reviews, really because no place has ever made such an impression on me as the Arbel guest house has. I highly recommend staying with the Shavit family in Tiberias!

8/10

Excellent

26 Mar 2016

Alan

Wonderful Food

First, the best points. This bed and breakfast is run by a skilled chef so the meals, breakfast and dinner, are outstanding both in taste and presentation. The family that runs this are sweet, kind, and friendly. You will feel like you are staying with dear friends.

This Guest House is about 5 kilometers from the town of Tiberias, public transportation is minimal, unless you are driving a car you will be limited to eating and local hiking.

10/10

Exceptional

24 Mar 2016

Verified traveler

Shangri-La in the Galilean Hillside

We loved everything about our stay at Arbel Guest House. Run by two generations, the entire staff was kind, solicitous of our comfort, attentive and fun to talk to.

The rooms are lovely and comfortable--hot showers, in-bedroom jacuzzi (ooh la la!) with sun coming through the glass-tiled wall, sconces, comfortable bed with canopy, fridge, coffee and tea available in room, lovely porch for sipping wine or coffee and journaling or just listening to the birds while taking in the mountain views.

The grounds are small but gorgeous, a warren of arbors with bougainevillea, geraniums, calla lilies, night-blooming jasmine. The food in the restaurant is amazing!!! Everything was delicious and abundant, with lots of unlooked-for extras: an amuse bouche of mango mocktail, many delicious homemade vegetable side dishes, and a snort of the owner Israel's homemade sherry to top it off. Wine list was ample, with lots of local wines. The owners will invite you to enjoy the wine and chocolate cave underneath the restaurant--don't miss it!

We didn't bring our kids but there were other families there--this guest house very well suited for families with kids of any age.

Spring is a lovely time to visit the Galilee--and this a totally beautifully nook of it. I was only sad that we couldn't stay longer.

10/10

Exceptional

18 Mar 2016

Brian

My stay at Arbel Guest House Shavit Family

I really enjoyed my stay. They served us home cooked food that was very good. The staff treated us like family. They were very friendly and inviting. If I was in that area, I would definitely stay there again.

10/10

Exceptional

21 Nov 2015

Corey Hipps

Great Guest House, Fantastic Breakfast!

First and foremost, when you stay, get the breakfast. It was amazing! Best I've had in Israel, probably one of the best I've ever had both in terms of breadth of spread, freshness, and just overall, it was fantastic!
Guest house is located up from the Sea of Galilee (Yam Kinneret) just outside Tiberias. Wonderful views, cliffs within walking distance, and an old ruined synagogue along a path all in relatively short walking distance from the guest house.
There is a chocolate cellar where you can sample their homemade chocolates. The entire house is among extensive gardens which you are welcome to pick the fresh fruit from, my wife and I quite enjoyed the citrus. Our room was a small suite with jetted tub in the bedroom, a sitting room, a kitchenette, a balcony, and a private bath. It was clean and wonderful. I can't speak to the in room wi-fi as we did not elect to purchase or use it but there is a wonderful dining room / lounge where they have free wi-fi if you need. Also, the espresso machine is open for self-service throughout your stay if you're so inclined.
It is a wonderful place to stay. My wife and I regret not having dinner as the breakfast was that good.
I would highly recommend this place. I wish we had stayed longer than the one night.
At check-in they were very friendly and helpful and had numerous suggestions for local eateries.
Only complaint was the mattress was too soft for my liking.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

17 Nov 2015

Jeffrey

Wonderful stay in a great guest house

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Arbel. Situated in a small settlement outside of Tiberias, away from the hustle of the city, made this stay perfect. The Shavit family are great hosts. The breakfast is outstanding and the dinner was perfect. Having a jetted tub in the room added to our couple get away.
We would be happy to stay here again should our travels bring us to this area.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

20 Oct 2015

Tom

I stayed there twice on this trip. It is a great place with great ownership. The only part of my stay that brings this review down is my experience for dinner on the 2nd stay. I was sitting alone and I feel that I was overlooked. I have worked in restaurants and you do your best to make guests feel at home, especially those with courage to travel solo in a foreign land.

10/10

Exceptional

04 Oct 2015

Daniel

Excellent - the food was amazing along with the family's focus on the guest and our requests

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jun 2015

Greg

Couldn't be better

This place was amazing. My wife and I were hiking from Nazareth to the Galilee and this place was perfectly located to stop after the second day. This place is family owned and they are just wonderful. The rooms are spacious and comfortable. But it's the food that puts this place over the top: both the dinner and the Israeli breakfast the next morning were amazing.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

29 May 2015

Ben

The Garden of Eden...

What an amazing experience! ... In addition to the phenomenal service and personalities of the staff, and their amazing cooking (note the home-made Wine and Chocolate cellar on the premises), the setting is just majestic. The area of Arbel overlooks the sea of Galilee, and the facilities include a quiet and relaxing infinity pool with a large sunbathing patio - not to mention an orchard containing items ranging from pomegranate trees and avocado trees, to lychee and strawberry. Our room contained a beautiful jet-spa tub, and the whole apartment is decorated in a personal way that makes you feel like a guest in someone's home. I had several conversations with all of the staff, and can't recommend staying at the Shavit's guest house any higher! My wife and I will most certainly return there again on our next trip to Israel.

6/10

Pleasant

22 May 2015

Uwe

3 stars for environment, 1 for dormitory

Located in a rural neighborhood near Tiberias, Arbel Guest House Shavit Family is surrounded by a small park with a swimming pool. The breakfast was excellent with all regional products. I was a little bit surprised that a dormitory with eight beds and a separate bathroom gets a three star rating.

8/10

Excellent

28 Feb 2015

Verified traveler

A special place

Fabulous location & wonderful food

10/10

Exceptional

26 Jan 2015

Renee

Great service and wonderful experience

We came in very late and our host was extremely gracious and made us dinner even though the kitchen was closed. He suggested places to go and made our stay very enjoyable. I will definitely stay here next time.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jan 2015

Yelena

Arbel Guest House

The owners are friendly. The place is clean and safe, conveniently located within walking distance from the hiking trails. The only downside is that there is only one bus to/from Arbel, at 9 a.m.

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jan 2015

Eric

Thoroughly enjoyed.

What a wonderful gem tucked away in the Tiberias area of Israel. Very spacious and comfortable apartment, with wonderful service provided by the proprietors: Sara and Israel. The dining room is tastefully decorated and we were given both a wonderful dinner and a never-ending breakfast cooked by Israel. The breakfast was truly extraordinary and including fresh-baked brioche rolls. It was a little too chilly to dip in the pool, but the garden was a welcome sanctuary and the view in the area was stunning. Overall, a wonderful stay for a very modest price.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

28 Dec 2014

Nita

Fantastic hospitality

Excellent hospitality - we had a wonderful family time. Couldn't have been better. Wonderful location and environment.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

17 Dec 2014

Philip

Review

Beautiful setting and accommodation. Some road noise.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

07 Dec 2014

Randall

Israel and Sarah offer a little slice of heaven

It is not very easy to get there but once you do it is a slice of heaven. Breakfast and dinner are not included but they are absolutely remarkable. We had the lamb stew and a bottle of Merlot with a bit of homemade and homegrown citrus flavored sorbet.

Absolutely Amazing in every way.

Room rate was $60 + $70 for dinner + $28 for breakfast and it was easily worth every penny.

Partner

4/10

Poor

19 Jul 2014

Michael

too far away from everything ...

This guest house is about 20 min car ride outside of Tiberias in a very rural community. You need to have a car to get anywhere.

10/10

Exceptional

18 May 2014

C.S.

Great Experience in Arbel

We had an outstanding visit to the Shavit Family Arbel Guest House. After hiking on the Jesus Trail, we arrived at this oasis on the plain just bellow Mt. Arbel. We were greeted with fresh lemonade and warm conversation in their peaceful garden. A very reasonably priced suite, which was spacious, clean, and modern was perhaps the nicest accommodation we enjoyed in over two weeks of traveling through Israel. The guest house also has a lovely pool and a restaurant that should not be missed. Throughout our stay, the family who runs the guest house exceeded expectation with warmth, hospitality, and helpfulness. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a peaceful getaway in a beautiful location.

8/10

Excellent

01 May 2014

Haggis

Great for a quiet break

Exceptionally hospitable family who could not do enough for us!
Great breakfast and fresh produce made in the adjoining professional kitchen along with good quality coffee!
Happy to recommend !!!

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jan 2014

R Slone

friendly family -operated guest house, scenic area

very pleasant and accommodating; delicious food

8/10

Excellent

15 Nov 2012

Jenny

Lovely little guest house

Hotel somewhat drab but the food is wonderful and the owners are a delight. Loved being away from the main drag and the views are great but it is quite a way out of town which will not suit some.

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jul 2012

Andy

Perfect stay

I only had one night to stay and wish it could have been longer. Israel and sara were great and their guest house is lovely. I had a large, clean suite with lounge, kitchenette and jacuzzi. The guest house has a nice pool and the food was excellent. I hope to come again one day.

8/10

Excellent

03 Jul 2012

Verified traveler

Great value for family

Quaint little place. Worth the drive from the busy city and big hotels along the sea if you're looking for good value and a country side stay.

2/10

Poor

18 Jun 2012

Samia

Misleading! Not in Tiberias!

This place is impossible to find! First, it's not in Tiberias. It's several km's away in a some remote area not accessible through GPS. We drove around for 4 hours trying to find it. When we couldn't, we called the owner, Sera, who gave directions that were impossible to follow. We asked for her to send somebody to pick us up (b/c apparently we were only minutes away). She refused, but lied to hotels.com about her sending her son! Just an absurd place overall and a horrible experience I'm still trying to sort out with hotels.com. Stay away!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

16 May 2012

Fredrick

Great relaxing place.

This is an overall great place to stay for anyone who wants to stay in the north of Israel. The location, as long as you have a car, is MUCH better than Tiberias. Unless you are part of a tour group, you will need a car to explore the north, so being 5 minutes drive out of tiberias in a beautiful rural part of Israel is great. It is quiet, beautiful, and relaxing. The breakfast, at 40 shekels, is super tasty and fulling, a good value, and convenient. Sarah is a nice host and offers to help with your trip plans. The rooms are clean, and some have a nice balcony. There is even a pool, which didn't have time to use.

8/10

Excellent

16 Apr 2012

Giorgio

very friendly owners

is was a nice experience to stay in this B&B The family was very friendly and the food was excellent

8/10

Excellent

02 Apr 2012

Christie

Was everything we had read about

We read some good reviews of the Arbel Guest House and so made a reservation based on these reviews. We were not disappointed!! While the room was not lavish, it met our needs and had plenty of room. We ended up with a 2-bedroom apartment because that was all that was available when we booked -- and it was spacious. Free wi-fi too.

But the best part was Sara and Israel. They were great! They fix the rooms up with nice little touches like candles by the tub and nice notes at bedside. The dining is like a cross between home cooking and a 5-star restaurant. Great food, Israel (the chef) comes to personally check on everything. The bread was warm from the oven. Nice extra touches like cherries in brandy or some liquor after dinner. Our first night we got lost trying to find it so arrived late, but having no dinner, Israel went right to work to cook up a fabulous fish dinner for us. He even drove out on the road to lead us in!

The location, as mentioned, was a bit difficult to find and our GPS didn't have any idea where Arbel Village was. And it is up the hill from the center of town, so that could be inconvenient for some, but for us, was perfect. Arbel Cliffs is very close by and a perfect start to the day to go there for a magnificent view of the Sea of Galilee and the Galilee valley.

Sara offered a ride to the bus stop for another couple who was staying there without a car, so it is possible, even without a car.

All in all, a great place to stay!

10/10

Exceptional

07 Feb 2012

Allan

AMAZING!!

After reading the other reviews, my girlfriend and I booked 3 nights at this hotel!
It has been 3 nights in heaven!
First of all, the area is beautiful and the view from our room was of the Arbel Cliffs, so we had the most breathtaking view!
The hosts, Sara and Yisrael, are the kindest of people! They are so alert of you at all times and are allways ready to help.
The food at the restaurant is some of the best I have ever had!
Yisrael is a chef send from heaven!
The breakfast is a 7 course meal in it self and will keep you going for most of the day.
For dinner, he opens up to his love of the local produce.. Fresh products from the village turned into wonderfull dishes with love and dedication.
Even though you are, more or less, guests at their own house, you get the feeling of sitting at a 3 michelin star restaurant.. The service and the food are of the highest quality!
Even if you aren't staying at the hotel, please spoil yourself to a dinner here if you are in the area.. It's worth traveling for!!

The room we had was on the top floor of the house, so it had the \"loft\" feeling to it.. The bathroom was VERY small, and I had troubles standing up by the toilet, but it had its charmes.. In one end of the room we had a large jacuzi with room enough for 2 persons.. :-)

When ever I get back to Israel, this is a place I will return to!

10/10

Exceptional

28 Apr 2023

Rob

Mooie locatie en zeer vriendelijk personeel.
Kortom een heerlijke plek als je de omgeving van Tibirias wilt bezoeken.
Ontbijt is een aanrader!

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

25 Nov 2019

Solene

Rustique

Accueil moyen. Pas possible de dîner sur place sans prévenir avant 17h00 même si nous ne le savions pas. Emplacement au milieu de nulle part. Assez rustique.

Friends_and_family Friends

2/10

Poor

29 Jul 2019

claude

Lieu à éviter absolument

Après avoir constaté le VOL d’argent en espèces dans notre chambre nous avons été choqués par la désinvolture du responsable qui ne se sentait absolument pas concerné . Nous avons porté plainte à la police locale et nous avons décidé de ne pas rester vu l’insécurité du lieu pour notre dernière nuit . Le responsable n’a rien voulu savoir pour le remboursement de celle-ci alors qu’il n’était que 14 h. Par chance nous avions pris un repas la veille au soir qui n’était pas encore payé Nous sommes donc partis sous les menaces de ce monsieur. Lieu à éviter absolument !

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jul 2019

Julie

Superbe accueil

Nous avons reçu un superbe accueil . Les communs piscine et salons sont fabuleux . Paix et tranquillité pour chiller.
Nous avons dormi dans une chambre avec communs partagés . C’était vraiment correct pour le prix ! Merci encore

Friends