1.
WHAT TO TAKE
CLOTHING:
It
is not necessary to wear formal clothing of any kind when in Israel. They are
generally very casual, even in restaurants and hotel dining rooms. So comfort
and practicality is the order of the day.
The
summer months are generall hot and dry so bring light and cool clothes and a
hat.
For
those travelling in November/December, the weather should be pleasantly warm
most of the time, cooling down after sunset at around 6pm. It will be hot at
the Dead Sea and also at Beit Shean.
There is a small chance of the odd shower and the evening in Jerusalem can be
cool because of the altitude, so do take a jacket
or fleece of some sort and a kagoule or umbrella.
Comfortable
footwear is essential, such as walking sandals or
shoes though not hiking boots.
It
is advisable to have a sunhat or cap and the tour operator does provide a
baseball type of cap for those who want one.
Do
take sunglasses and sun protection cream. Thisnis essential for summer.
You
will need a swimsuit if you want to go
in the Dead Sea and an old pair of sandals or
plastic shoes that you can wear in the water because there can be
sharp salt crystals to walk on and the ground is very hot when you come out.
Modest dress is required at religious sites. A good general rule for men and women is that
shoulders and knees should be covered.
Head covering rules vary for men, depending on whether it is a Jewish
site or Christian. Women should always
cover their heads in either case. Trousers for women are acceptable.
OTHER ITEMS:
You
will find it helpful to have a small day sack or a
good sized “body-bag” to carry cameras, money, etc. around each
day. Remember we will be getting on and
off the bus several times during the course of the day so try to keep it simple
if you can. It is generally safe to leave items on the coach.
Another
way of saving money is to make up a lunch at breakfast from the selection of
rolls, cheeses, salads and fruit. So a lunch box or some sandwich bags will come
in handy. It is always a good idea to do this, even if you decide to buy
something as well, because the lunch break times can vary.
However
please note that some hotels forbid this type of activity, and you may want to
check with them first for their rulesd and/or charges.
Another
idea is to bring some snack bars with you,
If
you have any cameras, shavers etc. with batteries to charge, don’t forget to
take an adaptor. If you have several thing to charge each
night a four-gang socket is useful.
Voltage is 220v, which is the same as in the U.K.
It
is essential to keep drinking all the time to avoid dehydration. Take bottled water with you when visiting
the various sites. Water may be available for purchase on the bus and at many
of the places we visit. However you can save money if you have a water bottle you can fill at the hotel at
breakfast. Some site have water fountains where you can replenish your supply.
2.
FOOD AND
DRINK:
Mains water is normally chlorinated, and so quite safe. However
bottled water is advised for anyone with sensitive stomachs for at least the
first few days to avoid the possibility mild stomach upsets. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for
consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally
considered safe to eat.
Breakfast
is self service with a good selection to choose from (though not bacon or
sausage of course). Cereals are not wonderful, but everything else is good,
especially the bread and rolls.
There is
always coffee and tea, but as usual when we go abroad, tea drinkers don’t get a
proper cup made with boiling water in a pot.
Sorry!
Some hotels may have kettles
in the rooms, but not all. If you really do want to make your own hot drinks we
suggest you bring a travel kettle, together with some tea, coffee, hot
chocolate etc and dried milk.
Lunch break times can vary. They may be at restaurants or coffee
shops at the places we visit, or we may go to a mall where there can be
different food outlets, even MacDonald’s!
Dinner is also self service with a selection of soup,
salads, and meat dishes and vegetables. Desserts are lovely. It is healthy
food, but don’t be fooled, you can still put on weight!
3.
HOTELS AND
FACILITIES:
Israel is a modern country and for the most part facilities are up to
the standards of cleanliness we are used to.
All rooms are en suite and have heating and air conditioning which you
control yourself.
There are usually decent toilets at all the places of interest.
4.
TELEPHONES AND POST
Most mobile phones can be used
throughout Israel, but check with your Service Provider, and remember that it
will be expensive to make and receive calls (over £1.00 per minute in most
cases). Text messaging is a cheaper option. Calls can be made from hotel rooms
but will also be relatively expensive.
If you plan to make some calls the best option is to purchase a phone card (they come in various unit sizes) and
use the public phones that are found everywhere including hotels. With these
you dial 013 44 and the UK number without the first zero (e.g. for Maidstone
01622 123456 dial 013 441622 123456)
Stamps and phone cards can be bought at most of the hotels and cards can
be posted there, though not guaranteed to arrive before you get home.
Exchange rates
vary, but for a ‘ready reckoner’ there are approximately 7 Shekels to the
British Pound.
Most bank Cash machines will accept UK cards, and
there are also several places to exchange foreign currency. However please bear
in mind that we are on the move so you may need to plan ahead for this. You can
get Shekels on arrival at Tel Aviv if you have not got any before you leave the
UK.
For cash we have found it best to
take a mix of Shekels for everyday use and some
U.S. Dollars as many gift shops will
take these and some even quote their prices in dollars.
If you wish to use Travellers
Cheques we recommend that you purchase US Dollar cheques, as in many
cases you will avoid additional currency exchange costs.
Credit cards are
widely accepted in shops and centres in Israel, especially Visa and MasterCard.
Using a credit card will often mean that you will get
a better exchange rate at the time it is billed to your account.
Use of Credit Cards and foreign currency may also save you local
VAT.
Tipping is
expected but will for the most part be covered by us all pooling a set figure
(about £30.00 per person) at the beginning of the tour. All tipping will then
be done on behalf of the group. However
if you go to a restaurant or take a taxi independently on your free day, you
will need to bear tipping in mind.
If you want to purchase anything in the Suq (bazaar) then haggling is a
standard process. The Arabs who own the shops there expect to “negotiate” the
price. Consequently their first offer is always an inflated price and you
should get it down. Remember, they are more eager to sell than you are to buy
because business is bad right now. But
they will also spin you all sorts of yarns to get your sympathy, which may or
may not be true.
There are beggars and pickpockets at some places, so be on your guard. Do not take up
any offers to go round the back of the shop, or any “special” place to view
goods.
Security is strict with El Al and you will need to be patient. Remember it is for our safety.
You will be generally allowed one suitcase of up to 20Kg, and one item
of hand luggage of up to 8kg.
You will be asked quite a lot of questions and sometimes several times
by different people. Be honest and straightforward in your answers. Make sure
you know what is in your cases so that you can look them in the eye and say you
packed your case yourself.
There should be nothing sharp or that could be considered to be a
potential weapon in your hand luggage. If you are asked to open a suitcase it
is nothing to worry about, just be as co-operative as you can.
7.
Help is at Hand
The Tour Guide and ourselves will of course be on hand to provide
whatever assistance and advice we can.
Please feel free to contact us at any time. We will provide you with contact numbers and essential
information at the start of the tour.