Haifa, Israel

What is your budget? What is important to you? Room service and a turn down each night with a mint on your pillow? A restaurant in the hotel? Economy lodgings regardless of how far from the city center?

I'm willing to pay more for a great location but I don't need luxury. In Jerusalem, we liked the Notre Dame Center. Definitely not luxury accommodations, but clean, roomy and in a great location and in a very cool building.

Give us somewhere to start and I'm sure you'll get some recommendations.

We loved the Jerusalem Hotel near the Damascus Gate, on Antara Ben Shadad. Wonderful place, full of antiques, in a former Arab mansion. Breakfast in the garden included, friendly front desk people. We were there for a congress in West Jerusalem and the bus there stopped right at the hotel door. Very romantic place.

In Jerusalem, one used to be able to stay in nunneries or monasteries, in pilgrim accomodations in the Old City. I stayed in the Christian quarter in a nunnery operated by a French order, staffed with Arab Christian nuns. Gender segregation and no children.

It has been some years since I visited Haifa. I very much like the city, perhaps because I was on a pilgrimage at the time but I think I would like it regardless.

The city really has three distinct areas which are quite different from each other. The port is the lowest part which allows you views up the mountain to the Baha'i gardens and shrine, and that is also the level that has the former Templar colony. The middle level is the commercial and business hub and is quite busy - but not anything like busy Jerusalem style. The top of the city has fabulous views, the university and a quieter lifestyle. There are smaller hotels and guesthouses up there as well as high rise hotels.

I stayed at the top of the hill when I was there, in one of the two Dan hotels - the Dan Panorama. A typical business high rise.

Remember when planning that much doesn't run on Shabbat, so you may want to be within walking distance of wherever you want to be over Friday evening and Saturday.

Passover is the week of April 20-28. Catholic Holy Week begins on April 14, Orthodox Holy Week on April 21. This is the busiest time of year in Jerusalem. If your dates coincide, book ASAP.