For regular visitors to Eilat, King Solomon's Palace, only 600 yards from North Beach and 800 from the airport, is a landmark.

The first Isrotel property in the Red Sea resort, it celebrated its 30th birthday in 2009.

Since then, this family-friendly hotel has undergone an extensive makeover that has repositioned this popular but somewhat tired property back to being one of the top echelon in Eilat.

Guest rooms - 418 over 12 floors - have been redecorated and renovated. All come with a balcony or terrace and some comprise clever family suites such as a spacious double with a small room within for two single beds or single bed plus cot, and some seriously "royal" suites with vast terraces with dining table, chairs, pool loungers and spa bath.

Public areas, too, have been nicely refreshed.

Best of all, the lower ground floor, leading to the beautifully renovated wharf with new fashion shops, cafes and restaurants, has been totally refurbished, transforming what was once a rather gloomy spot into a gleaming area leading to two new restaurants - the smart Grill, where a kosher menu includes vast, tender steaks and foie gras, and Angelina's, with delicious, authentic, and it must be said, pricey, pasta and pizza dishes.

Dining in the hotel's main restaurant is a bit of a - to borrow a local term - balagan, but the food is delicious, hugely varied; grills, stir-fries, endless buffets of salads and cold dishes, and the danger of over-indulging is ever-present.

Perks for guests staying in the executive rooms include a calm, elegant breakfast in Angelina's and use of the executive lounge and sundeck with all-day snacks and drinks.

In-house entertainment includes nightly shows and a dance bar. The kids play area is brilliant, with computer games and Wii's for older kids, to crafts, bouncy castles and climbing frames for little ones.

RATES: From £204 half board per double room
TEL: 00972 8 636 3444