Cheap holiday travel tips for IsraelThe Dome of the Rock sits atop the Temple Mount in the heart of the Old City of Jerusalem in Israel. This is where Mohammed is said to have begun his night flight to heaven to receive the Koran, and where God instructed Abraham to sacrifice his son. It is also the final spot in Israel where Judaism and Islam might never reach agreement. |
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CLICK ON THE PICTURE above for more world travel photos with travel tips about discount holiday spots and travel agency links for cheap airline tickets, discount hotel rooms and car rentals. What's on the next page? More Holiday Tips for Israel If you're looking for cheap Israel airline tickets, travel products, discount hotel rooms, travel books, maps, car rentals, etc, visit our Travel Shop Thumbnail Picture Index Last Minute Travel Tips Useful Israel Links Map of Israel |
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Cheap Israel holiday travel advice
Israel travel tip ... In August 2011, gunmen who are believed to have crossed into southern Israel across Egypt's Sinai desert ambushed a civilian bus, a military patrol and a private car near the southern resort city of Eilat, killing eight people. The killings sparked Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and retaliatory rocket attacks into Israel by militants, wounding six Israelis. The escalation of violence has signalled a new danger zone on the border between Israel and the Sinai Peninsula, which was quiet for many years under the rule of deposed Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. The peninsula has become increasingly lawless since Mubarak's overthrow in early 2011. Meanwhile, the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah guerillas in southern Lebanon has held since August 2006. All travellers to Israel should be aware that the country is subject to occasional terrorist attacks and they should accept that sometimes there are inconvenient security delays while travelling through Israel. Ongoing terrorist attacks during the late 1990s and into the new millennium sharply reduced Israel's tourist intake, providing numerous bargain airline tickets and cheap travel reservations for wily travellers wanting to holiday in the Holy Land. New hotels were built and other tourist accommodation was renovated to cater for tourists celebrating the turn of the millennium, but the ongoing downturn in tourist numbers resulted in oversupply. Travel to Israel was very cheap due to an economic slump soon after the new millenium, with plenty of cheap airline tickets and travel reservations. However, the Israeli economy has strengthened in recent years and the shekel has been rising against the American dollar. Almost 3.5 million tourists visited Israel in 2010, an all-time record, and they pumped about $4.4 billion into the Israeli economy. The main domestic air service providing flights in Israel is operated by Arkia. Many travel attractions such as museums and national parks boast excellent new facilities and service standards have noticeably improved. Question advertised hotel room rates as proprietors are often willing to negotiate a lower price. Cheap Israel travel advice Despite being a modern country, Israel is fairly cheap to visit if your travel is on a shoestring. It's possible but boring to travel on between 75 and 150 shekels a day for food and cheap hotels or hostels in 2011. Budget between 180 and 360 shekels a day and you can enjoy some cheap private accommodation, food other than falafels, and maybe a bus trip to a biblical town in Israel. Speaking of falafels, they are a tasty mainstay snack and cheap if you know where to find the best markets. In 2011, falafels in Israel usually cost about 10 shekels.
Most currencies and traveler's cheques can be exchanged in Israel and it's easy to use your credit card to access funds. A tip is expected in Israel for almost all services, usually at least 15% of the value, and this tip is on top of the VAT. It's possible but complicated to redeem the VAT if you organise the paperwork. Bus travel is cheap in Israel, the main government service being Egged, and buses provide quick, frequent trips to just about anywhere in the country. Remember that Jewish buses usually don't run on Shabbat. The Egged and Dan bus companies usually operate in major cities from about 5.30am till midnight, but there are no bus services throughout most of Israel from Friday afternoon till Saturday evening. For cheap travel in Israel, it's well worth buying a pass from the Egged bus company which allows unlimited travel throughout the country. Cheap Israel holiday travel tips Jewish holidays often lure masses of pilgrims to Israel, squeezing accommodation and public transport with travel ticket prices rising as a result. Although most taxis have meters, it's often worthwhile negotiating an agreed fare with the driver before getting into his/her cab. If you choose to hire a car rental during your holiday travel in Israel, be aware that you cannot drive in the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem and various parts of the territories because of safety concerns which invalidate the vehicle's insurance. Carefully check details of the travel restrictions when you sign for the car and expect to spend a lot of money as car rental isn't cheap in Israel. The major car hire firms are Eldan and Tamir, the minimum age for car rentals is usually 21, and it's worth booking your car reservations several days in advance or before you fly out for your Israel holiday travel. Be aware that driving in Israel can be challenging as many roads are winding and narrow, and Israeli drivers can be impatient. The cheapest discount hotels you're likely to find in Israel will be priced around 365 shekels per night for a double in 2011, with many hotels expected to raise their rates if Israel's tourist boom continues. A motel room can be found for as little as 170 shekels per night and a mixed dorm bed in a hostel is as low as 65 shekels per night in 2011. If possible, consolidate all your hotel expenses (including food and drinks) into a single bill and pay in US dollars or via credit card to avoid the 17% Value Added Tax that would otherwise be levied for hotel bills paid in shekels. Nevertheless, many hotels in Israel add a 15% service charge. Israel travel advice: In the off-peak travel season in Israel, it's worth trying to negotiate a cheaper price. Travel and flight packages via airlines and group booking firms often provide quality hotel accommodation at rates cheaper than those available from the front desk. Cheap Israel holiday travel guide The most expensive city in Israel is the tourist haven of Eilat in the far south. Venture even further south into the Sinai and you'll find cheap hotel prices and natural wonders such as coral reefs that are even better. Citizens of most western countries with a passport valid for at least nine months can obtain a free 90 day tourist visa at their point of entry to Israel. Be mindful that if you intend visiting Arabic countries after leaving Israel, it's worth asking for your visa stamp to be placed on a piece of paper separate from your passport as many Islamic nations forbid entry by visitors who have been to Israel. The Israeli winter begins with light rain in October and continues till March with occasional heavy downpours that can last for several days. Snow often falls on Mt Hermon on the Golan Heights and once every few years there's a light snow sprinkle in the Upper Galilee and in Jerusalem. It rarely rains from March till September and the hottest months are July and August. There is a stark seasonal contrast between the brown and green landscapes of Israel. Vaccinations aren't necessary for travel in Israel. In 2011, one American dollar was buying about four shekels. The shekel is comprised of 100 agorot and the currency is divided into 5, 10 and 50 agorot coins, plus 1, 5 and 10 shekel coins as well as 10, 20, 50 and 100 shekel notes. If you deal with street money traders in Israel, make sure they exchange notes marked clearly as New Shequels. To book cheap airline tickets to Israel, discount hotel rooms and car rentals, visit our Travel Shop. |
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