"All in all, for the most part, life is pretty good, you have to admit. But when I met Penina and Aryeh - the hosts of "Penina in the Golan" - I realized that everything is relative. Because who among us doesn't want to leave everything one day and travel the world? So that's it, they really did it. They left their jobs, a beautiful and spacious house and really - but really - started living. Moving between countries, gaining experiences, meeting new people of all kinds and staying in many places.
The insights they received in the places where they stayed, they brought with them to this special complex. The result is a large vacation home, but not too large, 6 beautiful suites built with a lot of attention, made of solid wood, and all facing a large heated pool, built in a beautiful inner courtyard that contains, among other things, a professional outdoor kitchen with a BBQ smoker, a spa complex, sauna and treatments, and leisure activities that make you want to get out of the suite a little..." [From the words of the critic, Alon Schwartzman]
Advantages and disadvantages - a review from the field Those who come to "Penina Begolan" and are looking for privacy - can get it between the wooden beams of the cabin. Because here the concept is different: the outdoor complex of the suites simply "asks" the guests to enjoy the idea of spending time together. True, you can just sit on the balcony and watch what is happening, and you can actually take an active part in what is happening around you. It is a large holiday estate, but not too large, one that appeals to a quality audience that knows how to appreciate a good place, as well as to groups of friends who can take the entire complex.
Location and ambience
As mentioned in the opening, there is an inspiring story surrounding this place: its creators, planners and founders are a couple named Pnina and Arie, who managed to change their lives. They established the complex, left the previous life they had and since then they have been traveling the world. But let's wait a little longer with the full details.
The location - a large estate in the old area of Had Ness
The complex is located in Had Nes in the old area. This means that it is a large property (as opposed to the small extension lots). The owners, Pnina and Aryeh, are the founders of the settlement and therefore they were entitled to it. From the upper floors there is an excellent view of the Sea of Galilee.
The compound itself is well isolated from its surroundings. At the entrance to the complex there are private parking spaces for guests and the Mobil Shear complex. At the beginning of the path you will find the house of the hostess (not the owner, responsible for the operation of the place) but it is not noticeable at all in the area of the guests.
In the vicinity there are a variety of pleasant corners in nature, hiking trails and attractions befitting a settlement located in the Golan, not far from the Sea of Galilee and the mountainous Jordan.
The complex - atmosphere of a holiday village, intimacy of a mansion
The six units are built around the pool and are named after Panina and Arie's children. Three buildings contain the suites.
The first building contains two suites: the "bar" suite on the lower floor has a balcony facing the pool, and one not very large space that includes a four-poster bed and a double jacuzzi. The "Rotem" suite on the second floor is larger (45 square meters) and contains, in addition to the four-poster bed and jacuzzi, an additional bedroom and a balcony with a view.
The second building is adjacent to the first, identical in size and interior and contains the "Tal" (lower) and "Ben" (upper) suites.
The third building contains in its lower part the very large "Daniel" suite, which contains 5 bedrooms (2 with an en-suite bathroom), a living room and a fully equipped kitchen over 160 square meters + a 60 square meter balcony with immediate access to the pool. In the upper part of this building there is the "Kinneret" suite with 100 square meters, 2 bedrooms, living room, fully equipped kitchen and a balcony with an excellent view.
The heated pool is built in a very high quality way and around it there are sun beds, swings and a ping pong table. Beyond it is the spa complex with a large jacuzzi-spa, a dry sauna, a billiard table and a spa treatment room (treatments are also available in the suites).
Not far away, towards the entrance to the complex, you will find an indoor professional kitchen with a BBQ (including a meat smoker) and dining tables - a place that looks just like a small restaurant, and tempts guests to host a chef's workshop.
The hosts - a big trip and forays into Israel
Panina and Aria are an unusual couple, one of those who hear about them from someone who knows someone who knows a couple who…
Let's start with the fact that Aryeh designed and built the complex by himself - from the first sketch to the supervision of the professionals. His unconventional thinking is reflected in the attention to detail in the use of heavy wood and the never-ending investment in the complex.
Not long after the complex was built, they sat and thought: at that stage they had not bad careers at all and by and large achieved a status that most of us only aspire to. But then they realized that time was passing too quickly for them (or as Aria defined it "I felt like every other day I was celebrating a birthday") and they decided it was time for them to go on the "big trip". They took early retirement, organized a large team that takes care of the dedication in the complex and went for a walk.
This kind of trip - with a start date and no end date, and with short forays to Israel in between - to spend time with the family and continue on a new adventure. They have already "done" Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Cambodia and are on the way to plowing the USA as well. The result: from every place they visit they "gather" insights, and apply them in the improvements they introduce to the complex during their visits to the country.
In conclusion:
There is no doubt that this is a rather attractive genre: a charming holiday farm, not too big and not too small, one that appeals to a quality crowd that does not shy away from having a good time in the common complex that really - but really - contains everything you need.
You should know
- A high-quality common complex for the six suites
- View of the Sea of Galilee from the upper floors
- Spa complex and treatments
- A specially equipped covered outdoor kitchen that is also suitable for chef workshops
