My first night in Jerusalem was not at the American Colony but across the road at another chain hotel. As a war was going on at the time (it is Israel) that hotel was full of refugees from the north of the country and disgruntled young americans confined for their own safety. The latter were so rude and resentful I checked out and checked into the American Colony. This was the best impulse decision. The AC is a lovely eccentric historic place with attentive staff and decent food and rooms. It is also a meeting place for all sorts of people who normally do not speak to each other in public (this is Israel after all). Lots of interesting guests to chat to in the outdoor courtyard restaurant. The area does need a little care (it is East Jerusalem) but nearby oases of sanity are the Anglican cathedral of St George and French Dominican Ecole Biblique. Many of the hotel staff are Palestinians and Israel Arabs so it is possible to hear sane alternative voices amidst the general madness that is Israel and especially found in Jerusalem If I ever return to Jerusalem - it is to the American Colony that I will return with much pleasure and gratitude.

Our extended family recently returned from an eight day stay in Jerusalem. We chose the American Colony Hotel because of its excellent reviews, but also because we didn't want to stay at a big generic stone edificed West Jerusalem hotel. We wanted a more exotic, authentic Middle Eastern experience. We have stayed at very fine hotels, so our expectations were high. We were not disappointed. Thanks to Chantal at Regent Tours (I highly recommend them), we got excellent rates on our rooms, all of which were beautiful and in different parts of the hotel. My husband and I stayed in Room number 14, one of the Pasha Deluxe rooms off of the central courtyard. It was enormous, with a large terrace overlooking the pool. This is an unusual hotel, one of a kind in Jerusalem. You won't find busloads of Americans here, but an eclectic mix of people. On our first morning at the hotel, we sat next to Tony Blair's entourage (he had already left), and saw across the courtyard a famous artist/film director. The people here are as colorful as the hotel -- different races and nationalities, non-Jew and Jew, straight and gay. The grounds are beautiful -- palm trees, tropical flowers, jerusalem stone and vibrant bird life. A gentle warning -- You must get used to the "Call to Prayer" if you stay at the A.C,, as you will hear it loudly and clearly five times a day from the neighboring mosque. If you are a light sleeper, use a pair of earplugs at night. Although we are solidly identified Jews, we felt completely at home and welcome at the American Colony, a mostly arab run hotel. Still, if you are a strictly observant Jew, or are politically very right of center, you might not feel wholly comfortable here. It is obviously not a kosher hotel, and lies on the border of East and West Jerusalem. As to the location, it was not an issue or us. We felt comfortable walking to the Domascus Gate by day, and there were always taxis in the evening. The hotel is literally acoss the street from three newish big Jewish hotels, so don't believe it when you hear that the A.C. is in the middle of East Jerusalem. Now on to the service -- We found the service at the hotel consistently excellent. Everyone seemed quite willing and anxious to make our stay a special one. I will say, however, that we Americans have to get used to the slower pace of Middle Eastern service in bars and restaurants. This is uniformly the case, we found, all over Israel. You will be graciously served your drinks or food, but don't expect the waiter to dash over and ask you if you need a refill soon. In Jerusalem, everyone takes their time. The A.C. is no exception, but I would say the service is BETTER and more gracious here than at the big hotels. We had drinks at the King David, and dinner at the American Citadel. Their service was not at all as good as at the A.C. Finally, if your budget allows it, and you are looking for a beautiful, unique hotel in Jerusalem, than I highly recommend the American Colony. We absolutely loved it and can't wait to return one day.

I was enamored with this hotel immediately when I started looking for rooms. We stayed in a Classic Pasha room which was very interesting and unusual. However, several days I found long black hairs on my sheets (neither my husband nor I have long black hair). The service in the restaurants the two nights we ate in the hotel was very, very slow and forgetful. It took over an hour to get our food both nights and we ate in the main restaurant the first night and the bistro the second. We complained at the main restaurant the first night and the head waiter lectured us on why we didn't have the right to complain--although they did end up giving us the meal for free because it took over an hour for our salad to arrive. After the second night we just resolved not to eat in the hotel again. Note: The breakfast buffet service was fine. If you are looking for an unusual hotel with a lot of history, The American Colony is for you--otherwise I would investigate others. Having stayed in luxury and boutique hotels in almost every continent, my husband and I did not feel the service was commensurate with the price. There are other, newer hotels in Jerusalem that would be just as enjoyable if you are just a general tourist and want more of an upscale hotel. Those hotels may not have the history but they may be more convenient and have better service.