Serving Travelers
Since 1974
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- What should I pack?
- Do I need travel insurance?
- What about prescription medications?
- Final Preparations
- On Departure Day
- Is Israel safe?
- Communications tips
- Climate
- Tipping
- Shopping
- VAT Refunds
- Meals
- Electric Current
- Money Exchange
- Odds and Ends
- Illegal Drugs
In Israel, you should plan to dress casually.
Select clothes that can be worn in layers if the weather changes. Choose
comfort over fashion. Wearing expensive jewelry is a good way to attract
unwanted attention. For the things you’ll need to carry with you, you may
wish to consider purchasing an inexpensive but light-weight travel pouch
which attaches around your waist and is worn under your clothes. These will
be available at most airport concession shops before you leave the US.
Travelers have different opinions regarding carrying wallets and purses.
Some people believe it's safer to put valuables in a pouch or conceal them,
others opt to bring only minimal valuables or to leave them in hotel safes.
Whichever you choose, just remember that attracting attention as a tourist
is not normally the wisest course of action.
Do not over-pack ... you will be allowed one checked bag and one carry on.
You definitely want to leave room in your suitcase for souvenirs. Keep in
mind that you'll probably be moving around a good deal, packing and
unpacking is less fun than relaxing and touring. “Travel light” is the rule
of thumb. Another good idea, if you are traveling with a companion, is to
cross-pack. (This means that you would put half of your items in your
companion's luggage and vice-versa.) If you have to deal with any lost
luggage, this makes it much easier.
It is highly recommend that you bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Women
should bring a scarf , and be prepared to cover their head and shoulders at
most holy sites. Packing anything that is military green or camouflage is
not prohibited, but is very strongly discouraged.
Pack a swimsuit for floating in the Dead Sea, which is one of the world’s
unique experiences. You will also want to pack a beach towel.
Purchase your film and batteries in the US. It is a good idea to have some
cash with you for emergencies, transportation and small purchases.
Bring an ATM card and you can get more from local banks without having to
worry about exchange rates and fees. If you go inside the bank, or to a post
office, you'll have to pay a fee. Hotels and money exchangers usually have
the worst rates and highest fees. Beware of money changers on the street.
Most businesses accept credit cards. Credit card companies usually give you
good exchange rates.
Consider bringing a journal, even if you don’t normally keep one. Your trip
to Israel will be packed with many moving experiences. The time you invest
in making some notes of your thoughts, feelings and impressions will serve
you well.
Many seasoned travelers are not aware that their
health insurance will not cover them outside of the country.
For a minimal amount of money, travel insurance is a strong consideration.
If you need to cancel your trip due to an unforeseen emergency or serious
illness, most of your trip may be non-refundable. In the event you become
ill during your travels, finding and receiving medical care may be very
frustrating.
Travel insurance also covers lost baggage, and worldwide emergency
assistance coverage. We have arranged for an
excellent travel insurance package through TravelEx, one of the leading travel insurance providers. CLICK HERE for details.
What about prescription medications?
Before you travel to Israel, ask your doctor to
write a prescription for any medications you may be taking with you in the
event they are lost.
Keep all of your medications in their original bottles or packaging and be
sure to pack them in your carry-on, not your checked luggage.
Leave your Israel travel information with a family
member or friend, include a copy of your passport, your flight itinerary,
travel itinerary, hotel names and phone numbers.
Bring a copy of your passport along with you, perhaps even exchange copies
with another travel companion.
Most airlines restrict passengers to one piece of carry-on luggage (in
addition to your purse, laptop, camera case). Sizes and weight of carry-on
luggage are determined by airline, so be sure to check with airline on
dimension requirements before you leave.
Keep important items and documents with you at all times. Do not keep
travelers checks, money, valuables or travel documents in your luggage.
Make sure your luggage is clearly tagged on the inside as well as the
outside.
Check-in time for international flights is normally two hours prior to
departure. When checking in at the airport, a US passport (valid for six
months after your return date) is needed as proof of identification to enter
Israel.
Do not leave your luggage unattended for any length of time (no matter how
short) or accept packages from strangers to carry on to the plane for them.
You're at the gate, the group is excited and ready
to begin the tour – and the anticipation mounts. The day you have been
waiting for is FINALLY here.
After taking off and checking out all the neat little amenities and
freebies, the novelty wears off. Hours and miles across the Atlantic yawn
ahead of you. Here are some tips that will make the journey more fun for you
…..
Dress comfortably for the flight. Wear comfortable clothes that allow
freedom of movement as you will most likely be trying to sleep on the
flight.
Wear shoes that slip on and off easily, which will help out as you pass
through security as well as on the aircraft.
You can minimize or even avoid jet-lag if you do not drink alcoholic,
caffeinated or carbonated beverages. Choose natural fruit juices and water.
Before you leave, choose a good book that will keep you occupied for most of
the flight. Before your return flight, buy another - not only will it pass
the flight time quickly but it will become a souvenir of your trip.
Store your coat and anything you are not going to use in the overhead
compartment. You'll be much more comfortable with a minimum of things to
shift around.
Take off your shoes and make yourself as comfortable as possible right away.
Bring along some moisturizer as the air in the cabin is extremely dry.
Get up from time to time to stretch your arms and legs and facilitate
circulation. Ten to twelve hours is a long time to remain seated!
The short answer is ... "Yes!"
Just as safe (or more so) than any US city.
But here is a little experiment that you (and your travel partner) may want
to try. Watch a local news program for your community on television. Then
ask yourself, based only upon what you have seen on the news, whether your
city sounds like a safe place to visit! (I didn't think so.)
How would you answer someone with the concerns raised by what they saw on
the news? You’d likely say, “This is really a very safe place. Of course
there are some places you’d want to be careful, or avoid at night if you
were alone; but overall – you’ll really enjoy a visit here. Just come ahead,
and plan on a having a marvelous time.”
The same is true about Israel! Forget just about everything you have read in
the newspapers or seen on TV; because the media tend to focus on the
negative aspects of everything.
Overall, Israel is a very safe place to visit. You are far more likely to
run into trouble in any major U.S. city than anywhere in Israel.
Behave in Israel the way you would in those cities. Be careful where you go
at night and travel in groups when possible.
One of the first things you'll notice when you arrive in Israel is the
number of people carrying guns. It can be disconcerting. Soldiers carry them
on the streets, in cars and on buses. Soldiers are required to keep their
weapons with them, and since so many Israelis are on duty, it is common to
stand next to someone on the bus with an Uzi hanging around their neck.
You'll quickly get used to it and realize it's a fact of life in Israel and
nothing to fear.
If you have a need or desire to call back to the
United States while in Israel, phone cards are readily available for
purchase in hotels and a variety of stores.
You can also use the standard international calling cards (AT&T, etc.)
though you might find it less expensive to use phone cards purchased in
Israel.
Internet access is available in most hotels for a fee and internet cafes are
found within the larger cities.
Important numbers:
US Embassy in Tel Aviv - (03) 519-74 57 or 75 75,
US Consulate in Jerusalem - (02) 622 72 00.
If for some reason you need assistance while in Israel, you may access
emergency services by dialing 101.
Israel enjoys long, warm, dry summers
(April-October) and generally mild winters (November-March), with somewhat
drier, cooler weather in hilly regions, such as Jerusalem and Safed.
Rainfall is relatively heavy in the north and center of the country with
much less in the northern Negev and almost negligible amounts in the
southern areas. Regional conditions vary considerably, with humid summers
and mild winters on the coast; dry summers and moderately cold winters in
the hill regions; hot dry summers and pleasant winters in the Jordan Valley
and year-round semi-desert conditions in the Negev.
Thanks to our partner Gil Travel for the following climate guide …..
SUMMER (June/July/August/early September)
Temperatures usually in the high 80's (27C), 90's (32C).
Tel Aviv, and Tiberias will be hot and humid (like New York or Miami).
Jerusalem is dryer and cooler, particularly at night. Massada and Eilat are
extremely hot (possibly above 110F (43C)...but dry.
There won't be a drop of rain.
SPRING (late March/April/May) & AUTUMN (late September/October/November)
Daytime temperatures will be very pleasant: around 60-70F (15-21C) degrees
in most of the country (still hot, though, around the Red Sea and Dead Sea).
Jerusalem will be in the 40-50F (5-10C) in the evening.
There'll be some rain - nothing torrential.
WINTER (Dec/January/February/early March)
Winter weather can fluctuate. Some winters are mild and sunny, some severe
and overcast.
There's often heavy rain and, in January and February, even snow sometimes
in some parts of the country.
It'll probably be in the 50-60F (10-15C) in most places, but in the 40's
(5C) in Jerusalem and the Galilee hills - where it can be very cold at
night.
Knowing when to tip, how much to tip, how often to
tip, etc. can quickly become a tedious chore.
We avoid this by charging everyone a gratuity assessment as part of the
overall tour price. Our experienced tour guides pay all tips out of the
funds collected for that purpose.
While on tour with Global Christian Travel, you will not need to be
concerned about any tipping for group-related activities. Enjoy!
Israel is a great place to buy souvenirs. All of
the old towns in Israel have bazaars, but the ultimate is to be found in the
Old City of Jerusalem and in Tel Aviv. Favorite times to purchase include
leather goods, pottery, crafts, olive-wood carvings and hand blown glass.
Vendors are anxious to bargain.
As in other Middle Eastern countries, haggling in Israel is a tradition.
Keep the following points in mind when you're shopping:
• It is rare that you should ever have to pay the full price listed on an
item or the first price quoted by a vendor. (Note this applies mostly to
souvenirs, not everything in the markets and is not true of ordinary retail
shops like department stores).
• Always be ready to walk out of a shop and don't be surprised if the sales
person follows you out.
• Don't think you'll get any better deal from Jews than Arabs. Sometimes the
opposite is true.
• The merchants in the market in the Old City, in particular, can be very
aggressive. Don't be intimidated. Remember, you're the customer and it is
their job to satisfy you.
• Keep in mind what you can afford and don't let yourself be talked into
paying more. You'll see the same (or very similar) items in more than one
store, so shop around before you decide.
• Be clear on the exchange rate before you buy.
• Haggling is an art, and involves some gamesmanship, but it isn't polite to
waste a merchant's time if you have no intention of buying something.
Tourists who have purchased items with a value
exceeding $100 (including VAT) in stores that are registered with the
Ministry of Tourism or in stores participating in the VAT-refund plan are
entitled to a refund of VAT when they leave the country.
Stores that offer VAT refund service have a special sign.
To receive VAT refund, ensure that you get a receipt with a list of all the
items you have purchased and details of the purchaser. The receipt and
purchases must be put into a sealed bag.
Then, at Ben Gurion airport you should go to the “Change Place.” If you wish
to send the items that you purchased with your luggage, you must declare the
purchase at the security check, and present your passport, flight ticket,
purchases and receipts at the counter. The attendant will open the bag,
examine the contents, sign the receipt, and refund the VAT in any currency
minus a commission.
The VAT refund can also be sent to your address abroad for an additional
charge.
There is no VAT refund for the following items: food, drinks, tobacco
products, electrical appliances, cameras, film or other photography
equipment.
BREAKFAST:
Our tour package includes a full Israeli breakfast.
If you have never been to Israel, prepare to be amazed. An Israeli breakfast
buffet typically includes eggs served a variety of ways, cheeses of several
kinds, rice, pastas, an assortment of breads, salads and fresh vegetables, a
wide array of fish dishes, humus, a wide variety of olives, huge grapefruits
and oranges, and much, much more. (It is not an exaggeration to say that
you’ll want to bring your camera to breakfast!)
Once you see the breakfast – you’ll understand why we do not include lunch!
DINNER:
We also provide for a full dinner each night we are in Israel.
A possible exception to this is that sometimes, depending upon flight times
and travel arrangements, your final meal may be ‘on your own’ at the Ben
Gurion airport.
Overall, you’ll find the food in Israel to be excellent and extraordinary.
Most hotels in Israel will have 220 volts AC 50 Hz.
You will need to bring along necessary converters and adapters to operate
any 120 volts, 60 Hz appliances such as hair dryers, electric razors, etc.
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The currency in Israel is the shekel, sometimes
called the new shekel.
As the economy fluctuates, it is wise to keep an eye on rates of exchange as
you approach your departure date.
We recommend that you withdraw money from ATM machines in Israel in order to
get the best exchange rates.
Wear very comfortable shoes. The streets of
Jerusalem can be hilly and uneven in places.
You should NOT buy new shoes and bring them with you. Wear them first, break
them in and make certain they are comfortable and sturdy. You do not want to
realize when you are walking on the Mount of Olives that your new shoes are
just a little too tight.
Sight-see with your hands free! No one wants to walk around the city holding
a soaking wet umbrella and ten different shopping bags. A rain hat and
poncho (or rain coat) are a lot easier to deal with than an umbrella.
Keep your purchases in your day pack. You'll be less tempted to spend and
spend as the pack gets heavier and heavier.
When entering a mosque, be sure to take your shoes off.
Be sure to wear modest clothing when visiting any religious shrine.
Three languages are spoken in Israel: Hebrew, Arabic and English.
Communications should not be a problem.
Israel meets western standards of sanitation and no special precautions need
to be taken. Both the water and food are safe to consume and medical
facilities, while not quite up to US levels, are more than adequate.
In a word ... DON'T!
Illegal drug use in Israel is treated very, very harshly, with stiff fines
and extremely severe penalties.
Being an American citizen will not get you out of trouble for
a drug-related offense.
If you get caught in possession of or using illegal drugs, you will not be
allowed to leave Israel, and you will spend many, many years in an Israeli
prison.
There is no Hebrew word for ‘parole’.