The small, family-friendly Yam hotel (Beach Hotel in Hebrew) has a definite surfer vibe, with boards hanging on the wall, chalkboards with the temperature and wave conditions, and abundant indoor and outdoor areas to hang. The downstairs lobby is adorned with blue couches and colorful, mismatched pillows that make a great setting for the nightly, free-of-charge happy hour.  The rooms are compact but comfortable, with sea view balconies for rooms from floors 3-7. Less than five minutes’ walk in either direction is the Tel Aviv Port, the Mezizim Beach, and some of the city’s best restaurants. The extremely informative, mostly young and friendly staff will send you out with a beach bag stuffed with towels, water bottles, and snacks.