A Tsimer is a charming chalet or a rural guesthouse, always located in a superb setting amidst sublime landscapes. Staying for a few days in the heart of the original beauty of the Israeli landscape has the advantage of revealing this “other Israel.” Spread throughout the country and present in almost every village, they are, in their simplest form, private guest rooms and are generally found in rural areas.
A minority in Israel is aware, but Zimmers are an excellent accommodation option for tourists and locals. Zimmers are actually guest rooms, or what one might call countryside lodging. They become a serious alternative to the standard and rather boring solution of a hotel in one of the big cities and can often provide a completely different perspective of Israel.
Instead of waking up to the hustle and bustle of Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, you might find yourself waking up in a log cabin on the hills of Galilee, with a sumptuous Israeli breakfast prepared in front of you, overlooking the Sea of Galilee, with a view of the Negev Desert, or with a snow-capped Mount Hermon in the distance.
Another reason why you might consider a Zimmer as an accommodation option in Israel: the price. Sometimes, prices can be half of what you would pay for a decent hotel in a place like Tel Aviv (let’s say $250 a night), especially midweek. However, be aware that Zimmer prices are often the same as city hotels on weekends, as many locals head there for the weekend.
Some people see zimmers as an economical option, while others view them as a luxury accommodation option. They are both. You will find that some zimmers in Israel are incredibly luxurious, while others are more basic.
And another good reason to stay in a Zimmer: many high-end Zimmers offer a whole range of extras that provide excellent value for money. For example, many have jacuzzis, cable TV, wine, and even a wood fire (though they don’t serve much of that most of the year!). They also serve as a valuable source of information about where to go and what to do in the area.
Israelis themselves have learned to love Zimmers over the past few years, and many have even been drawn to the lifestyle of managing their own bed and breakfast setup. Zimmer owners in Israel, especially newcomers to this accommodation sector, will have been encouraged by recent figures showing a growth of about 40% over the past two years, allowing Zimmers to become a billion-shekel industry.
According to the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, the majority of hotel rooms in Israel are clearly in poor condition, which hints at major plans to increase the number of tourists in Israel (and the number of tourists in February confirms this), meaning that many tourists might well consider the Zimmer accommodation option. There are currently about 9,000 Zimmers in Israel!
This will also be your opportunity to visit a vineyard, hike in the forest, stay in a Druze village, bike or horseback ride, and discover nature reserves.
In short, to make the most of the landscapes and attractions that the Center does not offer you.
Although most people instantly associate them with Galilee, zimmers can actually be found all over Israel, with many beautiful accommodations in the Negev Desert to the south, in the center, and of course in Galilee.
