Poolside or Sea of Salt: Two Summer Getaways Are Booking Fast

Families looking for a summer break are snapping up two different kosher vacation packages offered by Shlomi Travel, one in the Jerusalem hills and another at the Dead Sea. The company says the demand reflects a broader need for a real pause after the past year, while still keeping standards of content, quality and kashrut under Rabbi Shmuel Bornstein’s supervision.

At the Ya'arim Hotel in the Jerusalem hills, the program runs from 12 to 16 Av, July 26 to 30, and is designed for parents to relax while children are occupied all day. The kids’ lineup includes a separate swimming pool, jacuzzi, petting corner and magic shows, while the evenings feature Ronen Cameron, Shuki Solomon, David Ben Arza and a late-night singalong with Itzi Ackerman. The package is available for two to four nights, starting at 1,550 shekels per couple per night.

Shlomi Travel is also offering isolated luxury villas from the Miron area to Moshav Dishon, available from 16 Tammuz to 19 Tishrei, July 1 to September 30. Each villa includes a swimming pool and private jacuzzi for family privacy.

A second major option is a weekend at the Royal Hotel Dead Sea during Parashat Ki Tetze, from 7 to 9 Elul, August 20 to 22. Billed as a major cantorial event, it includes lawmakers and public figures, barbecues, wine, a performance by Amiran Dvir and his band, a rare cholent prepared by chef Yair Nesher, a Friday morning stand-up set, and a lecture titled “Petzza Metakefet,” the story of a former senior Shin Bet manager. Shabbat is centered on prayer with cantors Nissim Saal and Netanel Ilovitzky, accompanied by the Neriah choir conducted by Moshe Slushtz. Guests can also pay for transportation from home across Israel, and the company promises a refund if war conditions prevent travel.