Best Way to Travel Israel

What is the best way to travel Israel? Well, there are many different ways to travel in Israel; it depends on the nature of your trip- whether you travel alone, with a partner or with kids- and on your personal preferences: do you like traveling alone or with a group?  Do you like guided tours that arrange everything from the sites you will see to the time you will eat your lunch or do you prefer independent traveling?  In order to decide what is the best way for you to travel and to customize your special interests, desire and budget; you first need to learn a few facts about the country.

First we ill provide you with basic information, after you will be equipped with those facts you will be ready to broaden your search on further details.  .

Here are some must-know facts that will help you decide what your favorite and best way to travel is.

Israel is relatively small country; Israel measures 424 km (263 mi) from north to south and, at its widest point 114 km (71 mi), from east to west. So it is easy to get from one place to another in a short time. So make sure you will visit many sites and nice places even if you come to a short period.

If you are planning to travel by public transportation take under your consideration that it doesn’t operate on Fridays (from the entrance of the Shabbat-afternoon) until Saturday evening in most of the country. Apart from that the public transportation- both train and buses- are very convenient, cheap, frequent and accessible

Renting a car is another fair option and not expensive one. You can also rent a car if you don’t want to rent it for your entire trip, only during the weekend or per day.

The Israeli whether is very convenient for traveling. The winter in Israel which last from November to March is very “light” it’s what Europeans would call “fall”.

Since March the weather moves from warm and pleasant to hot and humid in July-August. Also, there are different mini climates in Israel changing from the more humid the drier mountain areas.

In Israel there are many interesting places to visit: historic sites, religious sites, diverse landscapes deserts in the south and

Is it Safe Going to Israel?

A tourist that wants to travel to a warm and beautiful country may think of Israel as a good and interesting option. Israel is very attractive in its variety: you can enjoy many historic sites, mountain climbing in the north, desert tranquility in the south, vigorous nightlife, many cultural events, sandy beaches and a perfect weather. However; getting most of the information about Israel via media and press, he/she might get a distorted picture of the daily life in Israel, viewing Israelis imprisoned in shelters, living in a war zone in a constant fear, missiles fly over their heads. Overseas tourists are often overwhelmed by the contrast between what is broadcast in the foreign media versus the reality: ordinary Israelis going about their business, walking around day and night, sitting in cafes, laughing, meeting friends, etc.

It is true that Israel has suffered in the past from terrorist attacks. However, in the last couple of years Israel has succeeded in eradicating terror and decreasing significantly the number of victims.

Israelis enjoy most of the time quiet routine. The crime rate is far lower than almost any other western country in the world. It is safe to walk alone at night both for men and for women. Statistically, visiting Israel is safer than almost any other place in the western world, including the USA. The fear of going to Israel is understood but somewhat irrational.

If you are going on a tour group then you will have an armed escort with you at all times. You will have a tight security mostly to reassure passengers, who might otherwise be frightened or unease and not because it’s unsafe to travel on your own.

Traveling in Israel is quite easy. There is wide tourist infrastructure: there’s a hostel network, a backpacker trail, public transit. Most people speak English and will be happy to assist. If you know how to travel in other countries, you know how to travel in Israel. Israel is a modern, westernized society and easy to get by.

Israel is very attractive in its variety: you can enjoy many historic sites, mountain climbing in the north, desert tranquility in the south, vigorous nightlife, many cultural events, sandy beaches and a perfect weather.

So the definite answer to the question “Is it safe going to Israel” is without hesitation YES!

i live in america fyi…. and what kind of shows are in israel jerusalem to be exact i need to know this cause my baby cousin is going so like shows like disney channel cartoon network nick or whatever it is called… and anyone know about swine flu there?

How smart and intelligent is Israel proving to be by carpet-bombing innocent civilians?
Last time I checked, the Jews took over the Palestinians’ lands, without their consent…

Me, my family and relatives don’t go about singing every single day about Israel’s destruction (never did and never will). We have many better things to do such as school, business and jobs.

Do you believe everything you see on the news? No not facts, just images on the news?

Just for you lot to know, I recognize everyone’s right to exist regardless of religion or ethnicity. Sure there are many extremists, but we don’t support them because they want to kill everyone including us.

So what’s with the stereotyping?

I’m planning on going to Israel on the Birthright trip during the summer of 2010. Based on the information provided, it seems that which organizer you go with has a large impact on the experience. Unfortunately it is pretty hard to get a true sense of what each organizer is like and what to expect from their trip.

I was hoping people could share any experiences they have or anything they’ve heard of a particular organizer. I’m looking to avoid the organizers with political and religious agendas. The aspects that are most important to me are the outdoor activities (biking, rafting, hiking, zip-lining, etc.) as well as the nightlife (night clubs, bars, etc.)

Thanks in advance for the help.

and I wanted to go to Jerusalem for religious reasons? Would Israel allow me in with an American passport/ study visa?
I would have to go around the West Bank from Amman right?
Could I go straight from Amman through the West Bank to Jerusalem? Or would I have to go around?

I’m going to Israel next spring and I need to know how far away it is from California to there. THanks

I’m looking for a nice, quality cafe, which provides free WiFi in Israel - Tel-Aviv and Holon areas. A place where it’s OK to stay with a lap top for a few hours - Starbucks atmosphere.

Thanks a bunch!

I am visiting Israel next week (and totally not looking forward to it, honestly). I am doing 2 days in Jerusalem, a day in teh Dead Sea & a day in Tel Aviv.

What kind of attire is appropriate? I am from Texas where tank tops and skirts/shorts are the norm. Would that be inappropriate there?

I would love any words of advice, hotel recs, anything!

Thank you!!!!

would you consider visiting Israel or Jerusalem?
why would anyone visit Israel or Jerusalem? Pilgrim or tourist?
while you sre in Israel would you consider visiting Arab/ Palestinian areas? where and why?

I want to know why the world thinks badly about Israel for defending itself when it has done nothing wrong and all the crap its people have taken in the past, I think they should open up a can of woopass on Hamas and all the people that say they shouldn’t even be allowed to live. Doesn’t it say in the Bible and many other religious books that Israel belongs to the Jews?

I really want to know more about what it is like to make Aliyah, the hardships, the time frame, was it hard to get a job in Israel. Where would a reconstructionist/reform Jew want to live? What about the Kibbutz option? Is learning Hebrew a real challenge, or does the Ulpan make it a lot easier? Will you be able to speak enough for business after Ulpan? What about jobs? I work in financial services as an investment advisor but my understanding is that in Israel financial services and banking is unionized and it’s incredibly hard to get into is this right? Please give me any more info on Aliyah that you can. Personal experience would be great. Thanks!

PLEASE DON’T JUST GIVE WEBSITES OR SAY TO TALK TO A RABBI OR THE JCC. I ALSO KNOW ABOUT NEFESH B’NEFESH AND AACI AND THE JEWISH AGENCY WEBSITES. I WANT TO HEAR WHAT IT"S REALLY LIKE!!!

you democrats have nothing to celebrate about
Obama will damage relations with China first of all which isn’t clever.

Iran will launch their ICBM at Israel
Businesses will collapse and move abroad
Middle class pays more taxes
Food and electricity prices go up..

Why celebrate?

They closed it in 1997 and i want to know if there’s a chance of a reopening a hard rock cafe in Tel Aviv, Israel.

My family recently came home from Israel, they stayed in the King David hotel in Jerusalem, and they ate this food that they said tasted like cheesecake, but not quite, and they loved it. It was available at the buffet for almost every meal, but was mostly around at breakfast time. It was served hot usually, but was put out as a cold leftover on the Sabbath. Apparently my mom said it was sweet and had cream cheese in it, but not overly sweet like it was intended to be a dessert, and she said she wouldn’t call it a cheesecake, so what is it? Does anyone know what I’m talking about? Or better yet, have a recipe??? Anyone got anything? Maybe it was a yogurt/pastry item and not so much a cheesecake thing. They didn’t say anything about fruit being in it though.

the address is 33 anatot street, tel aviv, israel

Hi! I’m planning a trip to Israel; the problem is that I’ll be in Greece first, and so far I haven’t found any way to get from Athens to Tel Aviv. No ferries, no plane… nothing! Does anyone know why is that? or if there’s actually any way to get there from Greece?
Thank you very much for your help!

I am mexican but I would like to know what airlines go to israel from mexico? and I am planning to visit the holy land also the place of bethlehem and hebron.. I want to visit the place of jesus and the mosque of abraham.. I don’t know if you are allowed to visit the muslim part because the muslim part it has more and also I want to visit the jewish part.. in bethlehem the jesus church and the place of rachel.. I am catholic.. and I want to know if it’s safe to visit also jerusalem, galilee specially nazareth.. and those tours are expensive or you can buy them in israel.. because I want to go by myself.. even I don’t know where to find cheap hotels.. also as a mexican do I need visa or something else?

Not one single country in the world is willing to recognize the occupied old eastern part of the old city of Jerusalem is part of the Zionist state.
Jerusalem historically was never part of the old Israel kingdom, which existed in the north east "Samaria"
Most people are not well informed about the Jewish history in Palestine.
Jerusalem was part of Judia not Israel.
A zionist is a colonist nothing me and you can do about it. Read the zionist history form 1917 up to 2009.

Please answer one of the two
The area in Israel of which im talking about is a safe area with no bombs and terror.
In Thailand food isnt the problem since there are so many inexpensive westen restaurants.

Predictably, at about the time the sun rose in Israel, the following question was deleted. Sorry but the truth always comes out:

LA Times: Israel soldier calls order during Gaza assault ‘murder’?

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-gaza-israeli-troops21-2009mar21%2C1%2C2206392.story

With 70% of Israelis supporting the actions in Gaza, is it time to declare Israel the biggest threat to world peace?

And, btw, deleters, here’s another one ‘Israel’s Dirty Secrets in Gaza: It Was Pure Murder’ from AlterNet: http://www.alternet.org/audits/132738/israel%27s_dirty_secrets_in_gaza%3A_it_was_pure_murder/

What do you think of this unexpected revelation?
Greenie, wishing you do well on your exam!
Mobius, that canard about the pamphlets is getting so old. As the soldier in the article told his peers, ‘Escape to where??’
Sorry Arieh, I had had 2 cups of coffee when I wrote it

It’s a question I’ve been wondering about for quite some time.

The Religious Right of American politics (any western politics, really) is quite supportive of Israel’s existence.

But here’s where I get confused.

The majority of the American Religious Right are (Protestant) Christians. They believe that to get to Heaven, you need to accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior.

But most of the population of Israel are Jews. They don’t believe in Jesus.

Don’t Christians believe that if you don’t believe that Jesus died for your sins, you go to Hell?

Someone help me understand this. I’m a bit confused.

Note:
Keep in mind that I’m Irish, and as such, I’m not very well schooled in American politics in general.

It’s not that difficult to raise terrorists.

You simply go to the poorest areas in deeply religious cities…
Tell those people that they’ve been blessed by some god.
Tell them that the Jews and the Americans are the cause of their problems.
Tell them that their family will be taken care of…
And finally give them a new meaning in life…to hate.

Throw in a bonus like - you’ll get 120 virgins in terrorist heaven if you kill yourself and you have a kid who has nothing to live for and never even been with a woman saying "where do I sign up!"

A pretty simple formula that those unfortunate, weak-minded, uneducated people would call a miracle…

But how do you get educated people to side with them? There are so many arabs that are very educated, make a decent living and know how the world works. They are not oppressed, they are not forced to chant "Death to Israel" and they are not even in the same country!
What in the world is wrong with them?

Any logical human would see that what they’re doing is wrong…What have Israelis ever done? All they ask for is to be left alone and live in peace.
I mean seriously, these people compare Israel with monsters for Defending Themselves! However, when Palestinian terrorists blow themselves up in schools, clubs, hotels, restaurants, bus stops, beaches, train stations, theaters…killing hundreds of kids, elderly, brothers, sisters, mothers…all you hear is crickets. Not a word from them.
Some world they live in…

I will be a 21yr old American male on a one week trip to Israel. If you know of any important things I must do/see/visit while there or things I must not do please list them. Any tips for me while I am abroad are welcome as well. Hope you can give me some great helpful advice.