Stay in one of the most distinctive guestrooms in Israel, individually crafted from retired buses. Zimmerbuses are so special that they appear in a French publication presenting the 1001 most unique places to stay in the world!
Zimmerbus is located in the little village of Ezuz, situated on a hill-top, overlooking the beautiful open desert spaces of the Negev.
It all started when the Hirshfeld family turned an old city bus into their guest room. It quickly became famous as an architectural monument and symbol for the village’s ecotourism. The bus is covered with adobe and its roof is overlaid with palm leaves. From within it received a brand new life and changed its image completely with the help of the loving hands of the Hirshfelds. (Click here to see how it was built) the family has grown over the years, and have six children at the moment. Along with this growth they recruited another two special buses. These have been converted to serve as Zimmers for families.
The Hirshfelds have milking goats and chickens, and produce many homemade organic products such as cheese, yoghurt and bread. In season, these are included in the meals hosted by the family.
A sight like the Zimmerbus and the Hirshfelds can probably only be met in a Jewish gypsy desert-style village like Ezuz!
The Family Zimmers
Two special buses were brought for this purpose. The one is a long concertina bus (click for more pics) and the other a wide airport bus (click for more pics), each with its unique personality. Both buses have 2 bedrooms, with a bathroom and a kitchen in the middle. Wood, handmade ceramics and soft fabrics combine to make the interior design of these buses truly inspirational. They are finished off with all the loving touches needed to make your stay enjoyable.
Each zimmer has 2 comfortable bedrooms, and include bedding, duvets, pillows and towels. Each has its own air-conditioning.
The kitchen is fully-equipped, a chef’s delight! It consists of everything you need to cook up a gourmet meal… all you need to bring is the food. There are pots and pans, cutlery and crockery, a toaster oven, a double electric stove-top, a fridge, sink and kettle (tea and coffee are supplied).
The bathroom is a work of art, decorated with handmade ceramics and amazing mosaics. It has the usual necessities :-), as well as a bathtub.
For the children there is a playroom where the driver used to sit, so they can have loads of fun sitting at the wheel and playing bus-driver (dads too!).
Outside there is a private sitting area shaded by a palm leaf pergola. There is a large wooden table, ideal for family meals, and a hammock for relaxing and enjoying the peaceful desert setting.
The Zimmer for Couples(Click here to see more pics) This is a cozy one room Zimmer, aesthetically and uniquely designed to make your stay a comfortable and memorable experience.
The room includes a double bed that can be separated into two singles if need be. Bedding, duvets, pillows and towels are supplied. There is a tea/coffee corner with a couch, and it has air-conditioning. The room has a private bathroom, which Avigail lovingly decorated with amazing ceramic mosaics.
Outside there is a comfortable Bedouin-style sitting area under beautiful vines overlooking the desert. There is also a palm pergola with a wooden dining table and sofa chairs.
Meals
For those who would like to prepare their own meals, the Family Zimmers each have their own fully-equipped kitchen. There is also a barbeque available on the outside veranda.
For those wanting a break from cooking, home-cooked meals can be ordered in advance:
BREAKFAST: Choose from the following options:
Village breakfast (seasonal) which includes homemade organic goat’s cheese and yoghurt, homemade granola, local honey from desert flowers and Avigail’s homemade bread, baked on stones and served hot from the oven with homemade jams, butter and a jug of lemonade. 70 shekels pp
Israeli breakfast which includes homemade bread, omelet, vegetable salad, tehina, olives, homemade jam and butter. 50 shekels pp
Home-made Jachnun( an Israeli-Yemenite dish, a special for Shabbat only). This is served according to the best of tradition with hard boiled eggs, freshly grated tomatoes with olive oil and homemade schug (Yemenite hot chili sauce) 50 shekels pp
DINNER: Choose from the following options:
Meat meal which includes rice, meat, a vegetable salad and homemade bread 90 shekels pp.
Pizza: A delicious home-made pizza baked in a stone oven, and served with lemonade. 70 shekels for a large pizza.
Vegetarian meal 50 shekels pp.
Potjie: (A South African specialty) A succulent meat stew simmered slowly over the coals in a cast iron pot. Served with rice, salad, homemade bread and a glass of local boutique wine 120 shekels pp (min 4 people)
Prices of meals for children 2-13 years old are 60% of the quoted adult prices.
Zimmerbus Price-list
The Zimmer for Couples (prices include breakfast): Sun-Wed: 390 NIS per couple per night(min 2 nights). Thurs-Sat: 500 NIS per couple per night (min 2 nights). Holidays/Feast Days: 500 NIS per couple per night (min 2 nights).
The Family Zimmers ( prices include accommodation and breakfast for 4 people): Sun-Wed: 750 per night (min 2 nights). Thurs-Sat: 860 per night (min 2 nights).
Holidays/Feast Days: 860 NIS for 4 people for one night (min 2 nights)
ZIMMERBUS SPECIALS!!!
Midweek Specials (Sun-Wed): 2 nights (incl. meals with the family) + 4x4 guided tour of the area with emphasis on fascinating Biblical archeology for 665 NIS pp (8-12 people).
Midweek special (sun-wed): 2 nights (incl. meals with the family) 540 NIS pp(4-12 people).
Weekend Specials (Thurs-Sat): Delight yourselves in a restful Shabbat in the desert... 2 nights + dinner and breakfast, including a traditional Jewish "Kabalat Shabbat" meat meal on Friday night, and a very unique Israeli Shabbat breakfast (baked all night in the oven). A weekend you will never forget for 590 NIS pp (4-12 people).
Accommodation for large groups
There is also the possibility of hosting large groups of up to 150 people in a nearby special desert guesthouse.
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