All rooms include full bathroom, A/C, satellite TV, and complete Israeli breakfast.
(Reception open until 10pm. Sept-May; singles NIS255/US$50-55; doubles NIS315/
US$65-70. June-Aug.: singles NIS300/US$63; doubles NIS355/US$75. Jewish holi-
days: Singles US$88; Doubles US$100. Cash only.) Also in the Afridar neighbor-
hood is the slightly cheaper but less luxurious King Shaul Hotel , 28 Ha-Rakefet
St. single NIS180/US$43; doubles NIS200/US$50.
Rooms have A/C, refrigerator. Major credit cards accepted.
The Herzl St. midrahov in Migdal has the highest concentration of affordable
eateries (falafel stands abound). Near the midrahov is a lively shuk that sells
fruits, vegetables, and nuts. From the midrahov, take Ha-Kerem St. toward
David Remez St.; the shuk is on the right (open M,W, Th 7am-7pm). There are a
number of outdoor, locally frequented, inexpensive restaurants on the corner of
Ha-Nasi and Zephania St. at the Afridar Center, with schnitzel, hamburger, steak,
and pizza for about NIS20. Delilah Beach boardwalk, a stone plaza up toward the
street from the beach, showcases the city's collection of fish restaurants (meals
NIS35-80).
Chinese Restaurant Furama, 24 Ort St. From the station, take bus #5
toward Afridar, get off at Zephania Sq. and backtrack a street to the highly visible front
of the restaurant. Sweet and sour pork (NIS40), Kung Pao chicken (NIS40), wonton
soup (NIS10), and egg rolls (NIS10) in an airy dining room. Open daily noon-3pm, and
7pm-midnight. Credit cards accepted.
Titanic, in the middle of the midrahov. One of the more popular falafel joints. Get a
falafel (NIS10) or satisfy your iceberg-sized hunger with a shawarma sandwich on deli-
cious lafah bread (NIS18). Open daily 8am-9pm.
Nitsahon , the Romanian steak house at the end of the midrahov. The
best selection of steaks (NIS40-60), me'orav (mixed meat grill; NIS40), and kebab
(NIS24). Open Sa-Th 9am-llpm. Reservations recommended Fand Sa nights. О
Paris is the hippest of the bunch, with sharp decor, and an ocean view
Fish dishes with salad (NIS55-75), salads (NIS12-15), personal pizzas (NIS24-35), and
cocktails (NIS25-45). Open daily 1 lam-2am. Credit cards accepted. О
Hyperneto Supermarket next to the bus
station, is your best bet for make-your-own romantic beachside meals. Open Su-Tu
7:30am-llpm, W-Th 7:30am-midnight, F 7am-3pm, Sa after sunset-1 lpm. О
g sights_
ASHKELON NATIONAL PARK. The Ashkelon National Park was built on the site
of 4000-year-old Canaanite remains, buried beneath ruins of Philistine, Greek.
Roman, Byzantine, Crusader, and Muslim cities. Traces of the once-thriving Philis-
tine city surround the picnic tables and snack bars of this well-used park. The infre-
quent bus #6 stops at a path leading to the park's entrance. The walk from the
central bus station takes about 30min. and offers enticing views of the sea. From the
station, turn right onto Ben-Gurion Blvd. and follow it to the T junction at the coast,
before the soldiers' recreation facility (note the striking sculpture of Samson along
the way). Turn left onto the road to the park; a small orange sign points the way.