Tzuba Hotel

Kibbutz tzuba is located out the very far outskirts of Jerusalem, nestled in the forests. The road from Beit Shemesh via route 395, is absolutely stunning and worthwhile driving slowly. The rooms are standard kibbutz guest house. The towels are small and a good idea to bring your own to supplement or ask for some extra towels. They supply soap and shampoo in individual little bottles and the toilet paper is the pre-cut kind. The room is bad up of an external room with a small kitchenette with a fridge and sink. The bathroom and living room area are relatively large - at the expense of the small bedroom. The beds were strangely 1.8m in length which is in this day and age of standard 2meter long beds - is just plain strange. If you are tall you will have a difficult sleep. The dining room is located near the top of the area, which means if you are housed in the lower level rooms, you will have to walk outside about 60 steps upward. The food was plentiful but bland. Plain chicken, plain shnitzel, plain meat. Nothing at all special for Friday night. Due to the size of our group we paid and had access to the Moadon - a private room near the dining room where we could all hang out and read, eat and play board games at all hours of the day. Room has about 30 chairs and a fridge and sink. Plus two air-conditioners which is important in the summer.

I stayed here for 9 days while visiting my daughter who is studying in Israel for four months (and also living on Kibbutz Tzuba with the others in her group). I had a very positive experience staying here. Each room is really two rooms - a nice sized bedroom with a double sized bed, a tv and ample storage, and a living room with another tv and a kitchenette. There is an electric kettle and a stash of teas and coffees to be used, and a nice sized mini fridge. Each room has a bathroom which is not as teensy as I have seen in Israel and Europe, and very clean. There is also a small balcony. I was very comfortable here. The wifi was fairly reliable and the rooms are conveniently located. The kibbutz is not far from Jerusalem, but if you don't have a car, you will need a taxi. It is also nearby to a little town called Ein Kerem which is a nice place to visit. The people on Kibbutz Tzuba are lovely - friendly, helpful and a joy to chat with (both the kibbutz residents/members and the hotel staff). The kibbutz is beautiful with lush greenery, gorgeous views, a little grocery store, friendly dogs and cats roaming, and some other on-site attractions. I never had time to visit, but evidently there is a winery on the kibbutz as well as a chocolate factory!!! (Dang, I should have gone!!) The kibbutz has a rich history and a longtime member named Reuven showed some of us around the day we arrived and shared the history of the kibbutz with us. If you can find someone to teach you a few things about this richly historical region and kibbutz, take advantage of it. Next time I am blessed to be in Israel, I would consider coming back here however I would probably rent a car so as to avoid taxi usage. (Might be cheaper that way overall.) Thanks for a great stay, Kibbutz Tzuba! Toda raba!