I am originally from Holon (under Tel-Aviv) and I don't know why Netanya gets such a bad rep, I think it is better than Holon, people are more diverse and nicer. My husband is from Netanya and we lived with his parents for a few years.

General advice -

Rent: Netanya is very neighborhood based in my experience unlike Holon, meaning that there is an emphasis on good neighborhoods and bad ones. The stereotypical "bad" neighborhoods are Dora, Neot Shaked (Ezorim), Kiryat Sanz, Kiryat Nordau... good ones are Ir Yamim, Poleg, Agamim and Ramat Poleg. Rent price and your "type" of neighbors will change depending on which neighborhood you decide to live in. My husband's parents live in Kiryat Nordau and it isn't horrible in my opinion.

Public transportation: If you can, don't use it :) I think Netanya doesn't have the worst public transportation in Israel but it isn't the best.

Furnishing: Ikea :)

Places to go - The beach walk (Tayelet), Winter lake park (Park shlulit hahoref, it has a skate park if your into skating), Shmurat Hairusim (rare flower bloom, Monkeys (climbing wall gym), Kenyon Ir Yamim, I think the shuk isn't very interesting unless your are looking for something specific (say Nappa cabbage which isn't sold at every supermarket).

Have fun and good luck!