AIR CONNECTIONS

Israel is served by its own airline, El Al Israel Airlines, as well as many other major international airlines, e.g. British Airways, Delta, Continental, KLM, Alitalia, Swiss, Lufthansa, etc., as well as many charter flights. Direct flights from the US are available year round from Atlanta, GA and New York (Kennedy and Newark) and at times from other major cities.

AREA

8,020 square miles – 20,770 square kilometers (about the size of New Jersey).

BANK, CURRENCY AND CREDIT CARDS

Israel has a sophisticated banking system. Most of the world’s currencies are recognized as legal tender in Israel and are freely exchanged at banks or may be used in making purchases. Israel’s currency is the SHEKEL – (plural – shekalim). Tourist services are quoted and guaranteed in U.S. dollars and major credit cards (American Express, Diners Club, Visa and Master Card/Access/Eurocard) are widely accepted throughout Israel.  Each bank has different hours of operation. However, all banks are open Sunday – Friday 8:30 AM- 1:00 PM. Bring your passport and a book to read. Many banks have separate lines for foreign currency exchange – don’t be shy to ask where to go.  You may change dollars into shekels legally by going to a bank, or by patronizing an “official” money changer located throughout the main shopping areas of the large cities.

In addition you can withdraw up to 2,500 shekel a day from the ATM’s (in Israel they are outside most major bank branches throughout the country) with a credit card or ATM card. This method has the lowest commission rate per transaction and once you put in a foreign credit card, the instructions are in English.

CELLULAR TELEPHONES

Very popular and reasonable. You can rent them at Ben Gurion International Airport or contact your hotel concierge. It is illegal to drive while holding a cellphone. When renting a car, ask your rental agent for a hands-free set.

CLIMATE Between seasons:

Suits, light coats, sweaters and light blouses or shirts.

DRINKING

It’s hot. Drink plenty of fluids so that you don’t dehydrate. Alcohol is not recommended in high temperature zones in mid-day. Minimum drinking age for alcohol is 18. Plenty of carbonated drinks, fruit drinks and juices are available.  Although water in Israel is of good quality and suitable for drinking, you may not be used to the high mineral content. Bottled natural spring water is available everywhere – expensive at your hotel, cheaper in the supermarkets.

PUBLIC TELEPHONES

Plentiful and usually do work. Most of them operate today with a plastic credit card size phone card, available at post offices and your hotel newsstand. Cards of 20, 50 and100 units are available (time per unit depends on distance of call and time of day). A reasonable way to communicate.  You may access AT&T, MCI and Sprint for overseas calls from pay phones by dialing a 177 (toll-free)number – check for your service’s number before you leave. Overseas operator and overseas directory information is available by dialing188. Domestic directory information is available by dialing144 (free from public phone). For collect calls within Israel, dial 142.

PUBLIC TOILETS

Known as WC, and available in most tourist locations. Be prepared with tissues in your pocket at all times. Also, be aware that some public toilets are manned/womaned by attendants who ask for a small “user’s fee”.

RADIO

Unlike in the U.S. where FM bands are always on an odd decimal (e.g., 102.7, 102.9, 103.1) and AM bands are always on a 10 (e.g., 1010, 1020, 1030), Israeli FM radio stations can be anywhere and AM stations are incremented by 9 (e.g., 576, 585, 594). Thus, your digital radio tuners that cannot tune intermediary stations will not receive a lot of Israeli radio. Dial tuners are fine.

RELIGIONS

Israel is home to a number of religions including the Jewish, Islamic and Christian religions. Other religious communities include Samaritan, Armenian, Eastern Orthodox, Druze and Bahai. Aldenominations are free to worship in their own way and each religious body has the statutory right to observe its own weekly rest day and holidays. The Jewish Sabbath (Saturday) and festivals are official holidays in Israel.

SECURITY

You and your bags may often be checked by security guards at public buildings such as shopping malls. Be cooperative – it is for your safety too.

SHOPPING

Stores in Israel are open daily from Sunday through early Friday afternoon. Some observe a “siesta” from 1pm to 4pm, re-opening until 7pm. Some malls close later in the day and are open Saturdays after sundown.

Tourists can obtain good deals on such items as leather garments, diamonds (Israel is the world’s number 1 exporter of diamonds), gold, jewelry set with diamonds and other precious or semi-precious stones. Other worthwhile items include carpets, works of art, antiquities, religious articles, swimwear and many fashions made from natural fibers.

TIPPING

Tipping is an accepted practice in Israel, as in any other country. Chambermaids, bellmen and the like are tipped according to one’s discretion. $ 1.00 per piece of luggage is customary for the bellmen. In restaurants outside hotels, if service is not included on the menu price, 12-15% is considered the “correct” tip. The same applies to taxi drivers. Usually, one tips the tour guide and the bus driver unless indicated otherwise by the group leader or travel agent.

Please remember that your hotel bill includes 15% service charge, so that a tip of 5% is very nice. If you are part of a group, checking in and out of the hotels with your group, the porterage is already included in your agent’s cost, so that tipping the bellmen is left to your discretion.

Tips for guide and driver: If you are touring in a 4 or 7 seater vehicle with guide /driver (one person), the appropriate tip will be $ 40.00 – $ 50.00 per day of touring. Touring in a larger bus with guide and driver (2 persons): $ 8.00 per day, divided into $ 3.00 for the driver and $ 5.00 for the guide.

TRANSPORTATION

Distances between points in Israel are fairly short and roads are well-developed. Israel has a huge fleet of deluxe airconditioned modern touring buses and limousines with experienced drivers and guides.

VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT)

There is 16.5% value added tax on most goods and services in Israel. At retail stores, this tax is always already included in the price. Upon making a purchase of $ 100.00 or more at a gift store that has an agreement wit the VAT authorities, you should fill out a form at the store and have it stamped there. You will be eligible, upon presenting the form and the item, for a 15.5% refund at the airport prior to departure. Do not pack these gift items in your luggage. They should be kept in your hand luggage. By the way, tourist services, such as hotel accommodations and meals taken in hotels, paid with foreign currency are exempt from V.A.T tax.

VACCINATIONS

Not required for tourists entering the country.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

The metric system is used exclusively. A kilometer is a bit over 1/2 mile (.62 miles). A kilogram equals 2.2 pounds.

VISAS

Citizens of the USA, Canada and most European countries do not require visas to enter Israel. Please check beforehand whether or not a visa is required for entry into Israel.

DEPARTURE FLIGHT RESERVATION CONFIRMATION

Scheduled departures should be reconfirmed with the airline office at least 72 hours in advance, as reservations may otherwise be cancelled. Please indicate any special services required (dietary restriction s, etc.) upon reconfirmation.

DEPARTURE INFORMATION – AIRLINE CHECK-IN

Passengers must check in at Ben Gurion Airport at least two and half hours before departure time. All departing passengers are required to pay an airport tax (usually this is included in the price of your airline ticket).

Almost all airlines provide a “pre check-in service”, enabling passengers to check in their baggage and receive boarding passes the day before the flight (except Fridays, major holidays and eves of holidays). Baggage will be taken straight to the plane and passengers can arrive at the airport approx. one hour before departure time, pass through passport control and enjoy the “duty free” shops.

Please note that a fee of about $ 3.00 per person is charged, at pre check-in, at the time of checking in. Pre check-in centers are located in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Beer Sheva, Haifa, Rosh Pina, Eilat and Rishon LeZion.  In order to find out all the details pertaining to your specific flight, please call telephone no. 03-972 3388 for information in English.

You may enjoy reading The Source by James Michener, Exodus by Leon Uris, O Jerusalem by Collins and LaPierre or The Hotel or The Glory by Herman Wouk.  The electrical current in Israel is 220 volt AC, single phase, 50 Hertz. 110V appliances can be used only with a step-up transformer or appropriate adapter. Israeli sockets are usually of the three-pronged variety, but most accommodate some European two-pronged plugs as well. Most hotel bathrooms have a 110V socket for electric shavers only. Travel irons and other small appliances may require adapters and/or transformers, which can be purchased in Israel.

ENTERING ISRAEL

You’ll receive an AL-17 form upon entry. Save it until departure.

FOOD

Check with your tour guide or concierge for a list of good restaurants. Food is generally safe to eat. Should you want to feel “at home”, many American franchises now operate in Israel: Burger King, MacDonalds, Subway, Pizza Hut, Domino’s Pizza, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and more.

Many restaurants and most hotels in Israel, especially in Jerusalem, observe Jewish dietary law requirements – called Kosher. This means that certain items will be lacking from the menu, and milk and meat foods are not served together.  In these types of hotels and restaurants, you will usually have separate dairy and meat menus

If you observe the dietary laws of kashruth, always look for an up to date kashruth certificate in hotels and restaurants. Establishments change hands, and certificates are rescinded.

INSURANCE

Insurance for health, baggage, personal items, trip cancellation and interruption is highly recommended and should be arranged through your local travel agent before departing for Israel.  Your hotel concierge can connect you, should the need arise, with the house doctor. Private emergency rooms now operate in the major cities. Fill out the appropriate forms and you will be reimbursed by your insurance company.

JEWELRY

Keep most of it at home. Why schlep it and risk losing it on a vacation to Israel? However, hotels in Israel have security boxes, and the majority of the deluxe hotels have them in each guest room.

LANGUAGE

Israel’s official languages are Hebrew and Arabic, but English is widely spoken. Also spoken are French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Dutch, German and countless other languages.

MEDICATIONS

As medical prescriptions here are different than in other countries, it is a good idea to bring your regular medications with you.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Film is very expensive- bring plenty of it. 100 or 200 speed is recommended for out door and indoor-flash photography. Photography is not allowed in some museums and in some security-conscious facilities like the Knesset as well as in some “ultra-orthodox” neighborhoods. On the Sabbath, it is inconsiderate to photograph at the Western Wall and in “religious” areas.

PORTERS – PORTERAGE

Porters are not usually available for individual travelers at the airport. The luggage carts, however, are available free of charge and can be taken to the curb-side. Porters are available at most hotels. It is customary to tip a bellboy $ 1.00 per suitcase.

Israel enjoys a fine climate most of the year, with rainfall usually periodically only between late October and April. Even in December and January, rainy periods are interspersed with many, many, sunny days. There is little or no rain in the Dead Sea and Eilat regions.

CLOTHING – WHAT TO PACK

As a rule, dress in Israel is extremely informal. Remember that modest clothing is required at holy sites – long sleeves for men and women, head coverings, no shorts for either.

Summer (May – October): Essentials: sunglasses and hat;

Lightweight suit, slacks, shorts and open-neck shirts, light cotton daytime dresses, light shoes, sandals and walking shoes; suntan cream, swimsuit and beachwear; a light coat, jacket or sweater for cool evenings in the hills.

Average temperatures: 85-86o_&a+.3R F. In Jerusalem and hilly sites: 75-80o_&a+.3R F.

Winter (November – March): Essentials: raincoat and umbrella

Warm coat, sweaters, raincoat, walking shoes, shirts, slacks, sports jacket, suit, blouses and skirts lightweight clothing, swimsuit for Eilat, the Dead Sea region and the Red Sea coast.

Average temperatures: 63-64o_&a+.3R F. In Jerusalem and hilly