When I asked a colleague to recommend a hotel where my wife and I could celebrate our 36th (“double chai”) wedding anniversary, my colleague didn’t hesitate. “The R48,” he replied.

Either join in for a heated game, or cool off in the sea. Just across the street, beach-goers can nosh at Tel Aviv’s Abulafia (Jaffa’s famous Arabic bakery), or refuel at Shakes Pree next door ...