Sex and the city break

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North spas with real sparkle

A few days chilling in Israel’s lush north is a good plan, especially for frequent visitors

You’ve done the whole tourist thing, and now you’re looking for something different and special. Something off the beaten track, a base in Israel’s countryside that gives you all the pampering touches of a five-star city hotel.

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El Al finds a less turbulent flight path

It can be demanding when the El Al security regime cross-examines you to discover what is the purpose of your visit to Israel, who do you know in the country, whether anyone has asked you to carry a gift to someone there — and umpteen other intimate questions. So next time, how would you like to break off half-way through to switch on the kettle, step into your slippers, and slump into your living-room sofa while you recapture your strength to go on?

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Venice, open houses and online Israel

Israel’s Ministry of Tourism has launched a new internet site which allows visitors to Israel, and those planning a visit, to ask questions and receive recommendations and information before and during their stay, with a team of licensed tour guides from the Israeli Tour Guides Association providing answers within 48 hours of a posting. The site will also feature 300 tourist attractions and 500 accommodation options and will serve as a forum for exchanging information, personal recommendations and travelogues.

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What to do in Israel at Pesach

Wherever you are going in Israel, there’s plenty to keep everyone happy

Israel at Pesach provides the perfect holiday — café-hopping instead of cooking and matza rambling with sun hats replacing raincoats. And with hol hamoed — the intermediate days of the holiday — falling midweek, there are hundreds of events, festivals and happenings all over the country as well as all the regular sites and sights. An extra bonus is free entry into 50 museums and parks around the country, thanks to Bank Hapoalim.

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Football, fish and the fast-track to flights

Heathrow has just become the first city in El Al’s network to permit passengers to check in and print an airport authority-compatible final boarding pass at home. A fast drop-off desk means passengers with luggage can arrive two hours 15 minutes before departure, and those without bags just 90 minutes (www.elal.co.uk; 020 7121 1400).

Good news for fish-eaters going south. Celebrity chef Aldo Zilli is opening two restaurants in Brighton. His latest deli-style Zilli’s Café at the city’s new myhotel opened last week, and in May a 120-seat Zilli’s restaurant, serving modern Italian food, will open in the hotel, with outdoor dining in summer (www.zillialdo.com; 01273 900 300).

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Gardens, golf and a Grand Tour for mums

If you are heading to Eilat this weekend, you may want to catch a concert during the Eilat Piano Competition. The annual event is sponsored jointly by the Rubinstein International Music Society and the Isrotel hotel chain, which has eight hotels in the resort. This year’s competition, consisting of 11 piano recitals, piano concertos with orchestra, chamber music, a dance performance and even a pop music performance, finishes on Sunday (00972 3 519 7777).

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