Rebecca Stadlen Amir
February 18, 2018

The Efendi Hotel, a restored Ottoman-era palace turned luxury boutique hotel, appears in five categories on TripAdvisor’s 2018 Travelers’ Choice Awards, recognizing travelers’ favorite destinations around the world this year.

The hotel was honored in categories including Top 10 Small Hotels in Israel, Top 25 Small Hotels in the Middle East, Top 25 Luxury Hotels in Israel, Top 25 Hotels for Service in Israel and Top 25 Hotels for Romance in Israel.

Located in the city of Acre (Akko) on Israel’s northern coast, the Efendi is owned by chef and entrepreneur Uri Jeremias, who has become somewhat of a legend in the ancient city. His hotel and world-renowned fish restaurant, just steps away, have helped put Acre on the map as a destination for tourists and Israelis alike.

After a meticulous eight-year restoration process of the original Crusader-era structure, the Efendi today has 12 luxury guest rooms, located on three separate levels, as well as a spa with Turkish hamam, and a rooftop overlooking the Mediterranean sea.

“The annual Travelers’ Choice Awards mean a great deal to us,” said Jeremias, “because they are based solely on the guests’ experience. We are grateful for everyone who has taken time to review us, recommend us, and bestow us with such an honor.”

According to the US-based travel site, the Travelers’ Choice awards winners are determined based on the millions of reviews and opinions collected in a single year from TripAdvisor travelers worldwide. Qualifications for the award include four bubbles (TripAdvisor’s version of stars), an annual nightly average rate less than 20 percent below the city average, and a nightly rate less than $300 based on hotel prices available on TripAdvisor.