Since you are about to embark on one of the most exciting trips of your life, these suggestions will make it even better. Israel is a country with many different types of geography and climate so it is always nice to be prepared. Keep in mind, however, that everyone’s needs are different and some of these ideas can be adapted to fit yours. Always try to remain flexible when traveling. There is usually a way to get what you need when you need it but sometimes when traveling with a group, the needs of everyone must be considered as well. The following tips will help insure you will have the most wonderful trip possible.

Travel

Out of Town Travelers:
We strongly recommend that you make plans to fly into your gateway city one day early.  Weather can be unpredictable.  We would hate for you to miss the flight to Israel due to a delay in your domestic flight.  Please contact us for special discounted hotel and airfare arrangements. You are responsible for transportation to and from the gateway airport. 

What travel documents do I need?
You must have a valid passport with expiration date not less than 6 months after your return date. No visas are necessary for individuals with U.S. or Canadian passports. Keep your passport with you at all times. Your passport is your key in and out of Israel. Passports are hot items in foreign countries and are worth a lot of money, therefore you must know where it is at all times.  We strongly suggest purchasing a passport/money holder that you wear under your clothing (there are different styles to choose from - purchase these from just about any local department store or a travel store). If you lose your passport on the trip, it could mean being separated from the group for a day or so as we cannot change our itinerary for one person. Oftentimes, when changing money, you will be asked for your passport.

Another good idea is to make several copies of your passport. Send one copy to us at QR Travel to keep on file, and hide another copy in your suitcase. This may be of help to you if you should lose your passport. Losing your passport would cause many problems for you and the group and will be a great expense to you, so you want to be as cautious as possible.

How do I apply for a passport?
To obtain a passport for the first time, you need to go in person to one of 6,000 passport acceptance facilities located throughout the United States with two photographs of yourself, proof of U.S. citizenship, and a valid form of photo identification such as a driver’s license. For detailed information on applying for a passport, plus a downloadable application, go the U.S. Department of State Website. Some Post Offices and local libraries offer this service as well.

Do I need a visa to travel to Israel?
U.S. and Canadian citizens as well as citizens from most European countries, Mexico, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa do not need a visa to visit Israel.

What will airport security be like?
Airport security for flights to and from Israel is among the most thorough in the world. Expect a complete check of your suitcase and hand luggage. This is often accompanied by a set of specific questions asked by a highly trained Israeli security specialist. Although you might feel intimidated, remain calm. The entire procedure is designed with your personal safety in mind. We can be thankful that Israel is so security conscious.

Are any shots or vaccinations required for travel to Israel?
You do not need shots or vaccinations to visit Israel. But an updated Tetanus shot is a good idea.

Can I upgrade to business class or first class?
A limited number of upgrades are available on all flights. For detailed information, including costs, contact QR Travel.

How long is the Flight?
The flight is approximately 12 hours.  There will be plenty of time to read or rest.  It is best to wear comfortable clothing.  During the flight we will have three meals and snacks in between.

What is the Time Difference?
The time difference in Israel is 8 hrs. ahead of Central Time.

How much luggage can I bring?
For the international portion of the trip, each passenger is allowed one large suitcase no larger than a Pullman 62”(L+W+H) and weighing no more than 50 lbs. Please weigh your luggage before bringing it to the airport for your flight. You are allowed one carry-on that will fit under the airplane seat or in the overhead compartments.

Packing

Do you have any tips on packing?
If you are traveling with your spouse, pack his and her clothes equally between two suitcases.  That way if one suitcase is lost, at least you will both still have clothes. The trick is to make sure you have complete outfits in each one, not just all pants or all shirts.

Please attach a durable tag, complete with your name and home address, to your baggage. We have also found it helpful to mark your baggage with a colorful sticker or ribbon that is easily recognizable, as you will be identifying your bags at each hotel in Israel.  It is a good idea to put a change of clothes in your carry-on for the plane trip.
Pack a light jacket or sweater. While daytime temperatures should be warm, evenings can be cool, especially at higher elevations such as Jerusalem. Bring a small umbrella and rain coat so you will be prepared for rain.  
Most churches and Orthodox holy sites require respectful dress. This generally means shoulders and knees must be covered for both men and women. On days that we visit these sites, we will let you know ahead of time so you can dress accordingly.
You will need comfortable shoes for walking and it’s best to try them out for a few weeks prior to the trip.  A thick-soled shoe is great for walking over rocks.

Be sure to bring a modest one-piece swimsuit so you can float in the Dead Sea! You may want to bring flip-flops or aquasocks as the bottom of the Dead Sea is full of salt rocks.

How much money should I bring?
Usually about $10- $15 per day for snacks and softdrinks seems to be a reasonable amount. Of course more money would be needed for souvenirs as you desire.

There is always a debate whether to take cash or travelers checks on a trip like this. We have done both and really prefer to carry cash.  It can be much harder to change travelers checks.  Money belts and money holders available at travel stores are secure ways to carry money. We carry most of our money in one of these. It’s also advisable to split the money with your spouse and carry just enough for a day or two in your wallet or purse.   Fanny packs are great for traveling to keep your money and necessary items in but they are also easy targets for thieves. Always keep your fanny pack zipped and your hand on your fanny pack in crowded places.

Never leave your money or passport in your hotel room unattended. Most major charge cards are accepted.The currency in Israel is the shekel. The equivalency to the US dollar is approximately 3.2 shekels to the dollar.

Leaving young children at home?
If you have children that will be staying home while you are in Israel, make sure you leave an emergency release form with the person watching your child or children.  Another thing you might want to check on is to make sure your Will is in order.  It is better to be prepared for an emergency, especially when you are leaving the country.

Food

What kind of food will we be eating?
The hotels will give us an Israeli breakfast which is a wonderful buffet.  Everything is very good to eat and gives a sample of what Israelis like to eat.  There is always fresh fruit and vegetables as well as eggs, cereal, cheese, orange juice, fresh bread, etc.  You will have a chance to try a variety of smoked and pickled fish (similar to pickled herring), which is an Israeli favorite.

Lunches are not included in this tour because of the time involved.  This will give us more time for touring which is a better value.  After eating such a big breakfast, we can easily get by with snacking and we know of places where we can buy fresh fruit and bread to snack on.  In addition, many places where we stop have snacks and cold drinks.  You may want to bring some packaged snacks from home such as crackers or granola bars, etc.  These are allowed into the country and are nice while touring and for that late night snack.

Our dinners are included in the price of the tour and will be served in the hotels buffet style. You will enjoy choosing from several main dishes, fresh fruit and vegetables, Israeli dips, fish, breads, cheeses, and an assortment of desserts.

If you have coffee or tea with your meal it is included.  If you order soda or other bottled beverages, including bottled water, you have to pay for that yourself.  Also, be sure and ask how much sodas cost.  They are generally one to three dollars a piece depending on where you buy them.  At the hotel dining room or lobby, they are usually the most expensive. Our bus will have water available for $1.

You will want to try the Israeli “hamburger” called falafel. It is delicious and you will see falafel stands all over. It’s made of chick peas seasoned and ground into a paste, formed into balls and then deep fried in olive oil. It is served in a pita and you can choose different kinds of salads or relishes to put on top; slaw, onion, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. It is best when the falafel is cooked on the spot and still hot. Also try “hummus” which is chickpeas seasoned and ground into a thick paste and dipped out with pita bread. These are two typical dishes of Israeli fare.

Communication

How do I Call Home?
It is somewhat cheaper for people to call from the United States to Israel than it would be for you to call from Israel to the United States. The least expensive thing to do is to purchase a phone card in Israel, This can usually be purchased at the hotels. This makes it convenient to call anytime and anywhere.  

There are cell phones to rent while in Israel. See attached flier. If you are using your own cell phone be sure to verify all costs with your carrier. Many people have been unpleasantly surprised when they came home to see their cell phone bill double or triple what they expected to pay.

How do I rent a cell phone?
Here is a great option: We have a cell phone rental service available if you would like. You simply inform us 30 days prior to the trip and we will have the phone waiting for you when you arrive in Israel. Rates are as follows:4 shekels per day rental, calls to the USA is 2 shekels per minute, Europe is 3 shekels per minute, incoming calls are free of charge. All prices subject to 15.5% tax. Your credit card will be billed directly. $1 US dollar is about 3.2 Israel Shekels.

Miscellaneous

What about my medications?
Pack all your medications into your carry-on and bring copies of your prescriptions (including your eyeglass Rx) in case you need an emergency refill. If you carry a syringe (for diabetes or allergies), it’s wise to have an official letter from a doctor to avoid problems at customs inspections.

How do we handle tipping?
Your driver is well tipped by the all inclusive tipping fund we collect at registration. Likewise, tips for all local guides and hotel staff are also fully paid. There is no need to tip beyond this. It is not necessary to tip the restaurant staff when group meals are provided, nor is it necessary to tip the hotel staff.

Will there be time for shopping?
This tour is not primarily designed to be a shopping tour. However, there will be a limited number of opportunities to shop while in Israel. These will include an opportunity to shop in the Old City of Jerusalem and an opportunity to shop at an olive wood store. In addition, many of the sites we visit have gift shops where you can shop for small souvenirs. There are also a limited number of special vendors who specialize in items like necklaces, DVDs, and books, and you will have an opportunity to purchase them.

Only use your credit cards at the more reputable shops, do not use them in the bazaars. If you are buying something that is expensive be sure to purchase it from a reputable shop that is more upscale than the bazaars. There are many wonderful things to buy which will remind you of your trip. This is just a little idea of what you will find when you get there.

In Israel, there are many things to buy and one of the best places is to buy them in Jerusalem. Sometimes, things are cheaper there, especially the kind of things bought in the Arab bazaar of the Old City. It is fun to bargain there with the shop owners and they expect it. It is nice to go with someone who has a little experience bargaining but if not, don’t worry. It is still lots of fun. We will be letting you know more about shopping in that part of the Old City.

We love the olivewood carvings and you can buy just about anything carved from Bible characters to Bibles. (The olivewood Bibles are best and cheapest at the Garden Tomb shop.) Brass and copper trays, menorahs, cups, bowls, etc., abound and can be had for reasonable prices.

In the Old City of Jerusalem, the Jewish Quarter has many nice shops and near the Western Wall, there is a nice shop called the Temple Institute Shop where you can get good drawings and pictures of different sites in Israel, particularly Jerusalem. Short and long shofars (rams horns) are for sale everywhere as well as embroidered items denoting Jewish life. There are lots of silver jewelry and lovely figurines of Bible and modern day characters.

It is fun to bring home pieces of pottery that you have found at an archaeological site or a bottle of River Jordan water, Dead Sea water, etc. This stuff is free and fun to do. You would be surprised at the memories that you have when you see these items at home. I still have my Coke bottle with Coke written in Hebrew from our very first trip. Even this makes a nice gift.

In Closing...
There are many things that we can’t cover completely but this will at least give you a start and you will know what to expect on this trip. We are here to help you and hope that you will ask if you have questions.