Accommodations

Finding a cheap room in Eilat is easy. Finding a safe, comfortable, and convenient cheap room is another story. As soon as you arrive at the bus station you’ll be harassed by apartment hawkers. Ignore them, yell “Lo” ("No” in Hebrew), give them the look of death, walk away. These people will tell you they just want to show you a room and if you don’t like it they’ll take you back. Don’t get into a cab, and don’t make any commitments before you see the room and its distance from the center.

Most travelers’ hostels are located within a few blocks of the bus station-walk up the hill on HaTmarim and take a right on Retamim to get to the heart. Accommodations are next to impossible to obtain during Sukkot and Passover; many hostel owners double their prices at these times and/or smugly close their doors to dusty backpackers. If you cannot find a room go to the tourist office, a travel agency, or a real estate office and they should be able to find you a place. As far as hostels go, some of the bigger ones have been known to put out backpackers in favor of large groups of Israelis. The atmosphere of a smaller hostel can add a tremendous amount to your enjoyment of Eilat. All listed hostels have air conditioning. Prices below are for the off season; expect to pay double the amount in July, August, and the holidays.