Maris Hotel

“Great hotel with good kitchen facilities”

Good location in the port area. Parking next to hotel and it is cheap. Staff have excellent customer service skills and are always happy and helpful. Rooms are a good size with comfortable bed. Ask for a room on the non train track side if your a light sleeper, it did not bother us. Would highly re… more

Good location in the port area. Parking next to hotel and it is cheap. Staff have excellent customer service skills and are always happy and helpful. Rooms are a good size with comfortable bed. Ask for a room on the non train track side if your a light sleeper, it did not bother us. Would highly recommend.

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“Great Base to Explore Haifa”

This small hotel is located in an 1950’s port complex that is in the process of redevelopment: a university branch, artist studios, bars and restaurants in a pedestrian friendly zone. If you travel to Haifa by train, get off at station Center/HaShmona. As you leave the station doors, turn left and… more

This small hotel is located in an 1950’s port complex that is in the process of redevelopment: a university branch, artist studios, bars and restaurants in a pedestrian friendly zone. If you travel to Haifa by train, get off at station Center/HaShmona. As you leave the station doors, turn left and walk north under an overpass and on a concrete path thru a small vacant lot. Keep walking north about a block and the Maris will be on your left (a city sign directs you.) it is about a 5 minute walk. Reception is 2 floors up but there is an elevator. There is someone there 24/7 to buzz you in if it is after hours (and after you have checked in, your room key card opens the door from street. My twin-size room had a kitchenette and dishes, a kettle and tea/coffee setups, and had a huge deck half the size of the room. Everything was sparkling clean and nice bathroom amenities. I overlooked a parking lot and the train tracks, but Israeli trains are not loud at all (compared to US trains), no train horns ever, and the whooshing sound was not annoying at all. If you were sensitive, nothing earplugs could not handle. There were rooms on the other side of the hallway and I assume they would be quieter to the extra sensitive. Nearby were lots of bars and restaurants in the port complex. It was a 5-10 minute walk to the German Colony area with even more. There was a delicious bakery in the next block where I ate each morning, and several 24/7 shops on the Main Street nearby if you needed snacks or beverages. (Note, the Maris has a case of soda and beer in the lobby, they will add it to your bill.) Plenty to see in walking distance like the Wadi Nisnas, the Baha’i Gardens, and the Shuk, and of course lots of public transit. With the train station so close, made it easy for a “day trip” to Akko with service several times an hour. It was also handy the day I left, a 5 minute walk, and I got on the train early and took it non-stop to BenGurion, about 1 hour and 30 minutes ride. Two trains per hour go from Haifa to Ben Gurion with no change in Tel Aviv, which if good if you are hauling a suitcase. (More train choices also exist, if you don’t mind a train change.) One thing I liked at the Maris that I would like to see at every hotel everywhere- their room key cards were the new electronic “proximity” cards - no figuring out which way to stuff it into a slot, no figuring out if you do it fast or slow: instead you just touched it on a pad nearby the door handle, and the door unlocked.

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“Would not stay here again”

On arrival at the hotel at 10.00 we waited for 1hr 20 mins before the manager could be contacted. Most of that time was spent outside the building as the front door was not answered. We eventually gained access to the building when one of the guests (students?) staying in the hotel let us in. After… more

On arrival at the hotel at 10.00 we waited for 1hr 20 mins before the manager could be contacted. Most of that time was spent outside the building as the front door was not answered. We eventually gained access to the building when one of the guests (students?) staying in the hotel let us in. After 20 mins of waiting at the reception desk one of the guests (students?) assisted us in contacting the managers. Whilst waiting for the manager we noticed shouting in the corridors some of the hotel room doors were left open with guests (students?) walking freely in and out of the rooms. The manager apologized for keeping us waiting. During our stay the hotel was full of Far Eastern guests (students?). Spoke to one of the guests (students?) who said he and others were staying in the hotel as they are studying at the local university. Very noisy until late in the evenings, talking loudly in the corridors, doors slamming. During one particularly noisy night at 11.00 pm I asked the manager whether the hotel was a dormitory. She said no. On checking out the manager on duty barely spoke to us and did not bid us farewell. The room we were allocated was a standard room which was clean and functional, although we had paid for a room with a balcony. But that matter is being dealt with separately by the agent through whom we made the booking. Review provided to ensure future guests are aware of our experience at the Hotel. Visited Israel 4 times in last 5 years. First time stay in Haifa, 'Igloo' in German Colony sell good ice cream. Also visit to Druze Village on Mt Carmel is a must. Bit out of the way but worth it. Cable car ride to Mt Carmel is also a must with fantastic views over Haifa coastline. Excellent flea market near Government building. Nice restaurants around Paris Square.

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