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Israel Trip
September 2011
Home
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Safety In
Israel
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Saving For
The Trip
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Travel Tips
Luggage
Clothing
Temperatures
Electrical
Adapter
Money
Exchange
Meals &
Tipping
Shabbat
Restrictions
Transportation
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Jerusalem
Parade
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Flying Out of
Charlotte
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Passport
Information
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Travel
Locations
Ben Gurion
Airport
Jerusalem
Western
Wall
Garden
Tomb
Mount Of
Olives
The
Old
City
Sea of
Galilee
Jordan
River
Qumran
Dead Sea
Nazareth
Caesarea
Mount of
Beatitudes
Mount
Arbel
Tel
Aviv
Jerusalem's Old City
Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: may they prosper who love you.
Isaiah 62
6I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night:
ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
7And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.Israel surrounded by her Arab neighbors
Sometimes people have a tendency of thinking that Israel isn't a safe place to be - but that's just not so. When we were there in 2005, I felt just as safe as if I were in my own home. I've had several people to talk to me about planning a trip to Israel and backing out at the last minute because of fear. The truth is, Satan doesn't want you to go. He doesn't want you to gain a better understanding of the Bible by walking in the footsteps of Yeshua. He doesn't want you to see the warmth of the Jewish people. He doesn't want you to see how your life will be changed as a result of a trip like this.
Psalm 4:8
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.Psalm 141:10
Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.Proverbs 3:23
Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble;Jeremiah 23:6
In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.To travel as a group to Israel will take a lot of planning, commitment and discipline - as well as a lot of preparation. Much of the preparation for what will be to some a "once in a lifetime trip to the Promised Land" is done months in advance. It seems far away, but it is amazing how fast the time will pass. Even with all the months of preparation, some may feel that they are not ready when the day comes! The cost for the trip should cover your flight (both ways), hotel reservations, breakfast & dinner each day, touring cost, tips, entrance fees to exhibits & locations on tour.
I spoke with Heather at JDI Travel (the travel agency that handles the Vision For Israel Sukkot Tour & Conference) and the cost for the 11-day 2009 trip was advertised as $3699 each - which included a $500 airline fuel surcharge. Prices eventually lowered slightly.
The date was selected with plenty of time to give those interested in going an opportunity to save for the trip.
You have "maybe" 18 months to save for a trip that will cost approximately $3500 each.
For a couple, that's $7000 - and that doesn't include the money you'll need for buying lunch while in Israel, or your souvenirs.
$7000 divided by 18 months means that a couple needs to be saving $389 a month - an individual would need to save $194 a month over the next 18 months.The decision has been made that we will be traveling with Cathy Hargett and Highway to Zion Ministry out of Charlotte, NC. The cost of the 2010 trip is about $3800, and the 2011 trip should be about the same. Cathy has made numerous trips to Israel and this will be a wonderful opportunity for us to further connect with Highway to Zion. Like everything else, the cost of the trip is now slightly higher. A trip for two at $3800 each will total $7600.
If you need to save the money for the trip, that'll be $507 a month for the next 15 months.Trips to Israel can be taken for less than this price, but we've chosen to go during Sukkot - which is Peek Season for visitors. Most Israel trips are typically for 10-days.
When: Ovtober 9 - 22, 2011 (these dates are just approximate & WILL change)
Cost: Approximately $3800 (each)
1. Luggage You will be limited to the number of suitcases you can bring with you, as well as what each one can weigh. Be prepared to have your luggage checked at some point. Israel's security is very tight.
Now more than ever, airlines are imposing hefty penalties for heavy baggage. On most International flights, each passenger is allowed to check two items free of charge. Each item must not exceed a weight of 50 lbs. Those bags weighing in excess of that amount incur a fee of $50. Each additional item incurs a fee of $150 USD.
We did take some bottled water with us in 2005 that we carried with us when we were touring - but be careful, water is heavy. Once the bottled water was used, there was room in the suitcase for souvenirs on the return trip home.
Picking up our luggage when we arrived back home in Charlotte
2. Travel Clothing You'll need to conserve space with your packing for the 10-day trip. Choose clothing items that can be worn more than once. For example, I could wear my jeans for several days but I changed my shirts daily.
Many of the sites in Israel are religious sites and frequently they have dress code restrictions - in other words, no shorts, pants for women, or sleeveless shirts. That doesn't mean you can't take them, you just need to know the touring schedule to know how to dress appropriately. Carolyn took several "broom" skirts that she mixed with different bouses.
You should take a bathing suit with you if you plan to be baptized in the Jordan River. There is a cost to be baptized there that is not included in the trip cost. The extra cost provides you with a "thin" white robe to be baptized in, a towel (if my memory serves me well), and a certificate to say you were baptized in the Jordan River. You'll also need a swimsuit or shorts to go into the Dead Sea.
Barry Segal baptizes Doug Williams in the Jordan while Curtis watches on the right
Don't buy new shoes for the trip. You'll be doing a LOT of walking so you'll need comfortable shoes. You might want to consider a hat, as well as sun-blocker. Israel has products like sun-screen and toothpaste but they are very expensive there - so take what you know you'll need - but not extra.
3. Israel Temperatures Temperatures in Israel are similar to those here in North Carolina. When we were in Tel-Aviv, at the Dead Sea and in Tiberias at the Sea of Galilee, I wore short-sleeved shirts. Jerusalem, however, is in the mountains and the temperature is cooler. I wore a thin coat the entire time we were in Jerusalem, so you'll need to pack something for cooler weather.
Note that Jerusalem's usual temperature for October is 60 to 78F. Tiberias (the Sea of Galilee area) for October is 65 to 89F. The Dead Sea area is 75 to 90F for the same time of the year.
4. Electrical Adapter for Appliances Like Europe, Israel's electrical current is not the same as what we use in the US - which means your hair dryers, battery chargers, etc. won't work without a European "adapter". The prongs on the plug are different. I borrowed one, but they can easily be purchased from Wal-Mart before your trip. They are rather expensive - ranging from $7 to $15. You'll need one to use with any electrical appliance you bring from the US.
5. Money Exchange There are many places in Israel where you can exchange your US currency for Israeli currency - but the exchange rate is not always the same from place to place. You should be able to exchange your currency in your hotel with ease, but there may be other places with better rates. Currently, $1US is equal to 3.8ILS (New Israeli Shekels) - in other words, 1 US dollar is about 4 shekels - meaning a shekel is valued at about 25 cents. If you buy a soda for 10ILS (Shekels), you're paying $2.50US for it - that's a little high for my taste! We carried some US cash with us, but most of our money was carried in Traveler's Checks. Shekels coins come in a variety of denominations -1/2, 1, 2, 5 and 10. Shekel Banknotes come in 20, 50, 100, 200.
6. Meals & Tipping at Meals Breakfast and Dinner are usually provided with most tours. The food in Israel is absolutely fabulous. Most meals in Israel are kosher and buffet style. You'll seldom see dairy and meat at the same meal.
Lunch is always eaten away from the hotel. Falafels in Israel quickly became a favorite.
In the United States it is customary to tip a waiter at a restaurant between 15% and 20% on top of the meal cost - in Israel a 10% tip is what most people tip, and if you leave 15% or more, you'll be considered very generous. Breakfast and Dinner meals are included with many travel packages, but you'll have to purchase your lunch while touring - occasionally that means from a nice restaurant - and sometimes from a falafel stand.
Some of our lunches were at nice sit-down restaurants
It not unusual to see guards at the entrance to some restaurants, where your bags are also searched,
like at this McDonalds on Ben Yehuda Street. We didn't eat here. We stopped here to use the bathroom.
7. Shabbat Restrictions When in Israel you need to be careful about breaking Sabbath restrictions. In 2005 I was not forewarned about not taking photos at the Western Wall when our tour group was there on a Shabbat afternoon. I thought I was gonna cause an international incident as the angry Jewish man approached me! Fortunately for me, our tour guide intervened for me and told him that I didn't know any better and I wouldn't do it again.
8. Transportation while in Israel The tour buses take good care of their passengers. Many locations in Israel are hilly. Tour bus drivers park at the top of the hill so that most of our walking is down hill. When we got to the bottom, the bus was there to pick us up and continue to the next location. Buses are comfortable and air conditioned.
Pat Brooks rides one of the Sar El Tour buses while on the Vision For Israel 2005 Tour
By the time we get to Jerusalem you might decide to take off on your own - just be sure you know where you're going. You don't want to end up in a Muslim neighborhood. Some folks choose to rent a car - but not me! Most cars in Israel do not have side-view mirrors. Cars in Israel don't yield to pedestrians like we do in the US. If you decide to cross the street, be sure no car is coming - he just might not stop!
We did use a taxi when we were in Israel in 2005, but most are expensive and the cab drivers are usually Arab. Bus transportation is the major form of movement through the city for tourists. We used the buses there and felt perfectly safe. There again, be sure you get on the "right" bus that's going to the "right" location. Waiting for a bus to head off to the Old City in Jerusalem
Public buses are used by a variety of people: Jews, Christians, Arabs & Muslims
One of the great joys of the trip to Israel is showing your support and solidarity with Israel and walking with the thousands of other Jews and Christians in the Jerusalem Day Parade.
When we were in Israel in 2005, we didn't walk the entire route, but chose instead to join the US delegation when the parade passed by Ben Yehuda Street in Jerusalem. The parade goes up and down hills as it meanders through Jerusalem, so those with difficulty walking may find it a little difficult for the entire parade. Delegates from each country line up together and are frequently dressed in costumes representing their countries.
Those in the parade will frequently hand out candy and small flags to the children and others Israelis who are watching the parade from the sides of the streets.
Our group watches from the sidelines and eventually joins the parade
Israeli IDF soldiers march in the parade
People on stilts, brightly colored costumes & even balloons brighten up the parade streets
Christian delegates from Brazil proudly wears their green and yellow
Christian delegates from Indonesia - notice the people with candy & small flags
Our Canadian neighbors show their support for Israel
Nations line up alphabetically so the United States is toward the end of the procession
Carolyn & Curtis join the parade at Ben Yehuda Street for the last part of the march
Doug & Lynda proudly wave their US flags
Here are some additional photos to get you excited about the trip
In 2005, we flew US Air from Charlotte to Boston ...
... then Lufthansa Air from Boston to Germany to Israel
The 2009 Vision For Israel trip flew from Atlanta directly into Israel without a stop-over elsewhere
Our 2011 trip with Highway to Zion should be similar.
Passport: You will need a Passport to travel to Israel. On our last trip, Lynda ran into some name spelling discrepancies that she wasn't aware of that caused an additional wait in receiving her passport. Allow a couple of months...don't wait until the last minute. Cost is $135. Check this link for additional information:
1. We will be flying in to Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. Ben Gurion Airport, Israel
2. Most Holy Land tours include trips to...
a. Jerusalem
b. The Western Wall
c. The Garden Tomb
d. Mount of Olives
e. The Kinneret - Sea of Galilee
f. The Jardenit - Jordan River
g. Qumran
h. The Dead Sea
i. Nazareth
Western Wall, Jerusalem
For more information on the Western Wall: http://www.bibleplaces.com/westernwall.htm
From Marcia: For all traveling to Israel and visiting the Kotel (or Western Wall) and even attending services in the land (or here in the US), it is important to know the culture and respect local religious laws. I researched this information and the Kotel site has specific instructions regarding conduct on Shabbat - no pictures or cell phones - and there may be restrictions for "women" wearing a "Tallit" or reading the Torah. Jewish women today wear a Tallit at reform congregations, however, Orthodox Jews and some Messianic Congregations that I visited here in the US, women are not allowed to wear the Tallit and only men are permitted to wear it.
On Shabbat: (1) No photos, (2) No cell phones Any Day: (1) In Israel, the Jewish Orthodoxy and a ruling by the country's Supreme Court make it illegal for women to wear the tallitot at the Western Wall, Jerusalem's iconic Jewish holy site. They also can't read from the Torah or pray as a group at the Wall. http://judaism.about.com/b/2009/11/18/israeli-woman-arrested-for-wearing-prayer-shawl.htm The Garden Tomb, Jerusalem
For more information on the Garden Tomb: http://www.gardentomb.com
Mount of Olives, Jerusalem
For more information on the Mount of Olives: http://www.bibleplaces.com/mtolives.htm
The Old City, Jerusalem
The Kinneret - The Sea of Galilee
For more information on Tiberias & the Sea of Galilee: http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/Tiberias.html
The Yardenit - Jordan River
For more information on the Jordan River: http://www.biblewalks.com/Sites/Yardenit.html
Qumran - the site of the Dead Sea Scrolls
For more information on Qumran: http://www.bibleplaces.com/qumrancaves.htm
The Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth - and also the saltiest & most mineral filled body of water
(Above) Curtis Loftin & Lynda Williams enjoy the Dead Sea
For more information on the Dead Sea: http://www.bibleplaces.com/deadsea.htm
Nazareth is one the largest Arab cities in Israel
The old and the new collide at Nazareth Village
Doug Williams examines olives on an olive tree
For more information on Nazareth Village: http://www.nazarethvillage.com/
Trips to Israel will also frequently include:
a. Caesarea
b. The Mount of Beatitudes
c. Mt. Arbel
d. Tel AvivDoug & Lynda Williams at Caesarea; Curtis at the amphitheatre
Curtis & Carolyn Loftin and Lynda Williams enjoy a time of prayer in the Caesarea amphitheatre
For more information on Caesarea: http://www.bibleplaces.com/caesarea.htm
For more information on the Mount of Beatitudes: http://www.bibleplaces.com/mtbeatitudes.htm
Mount Arbel overlooks the Sea of Galilee
Tel Aviv is on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea
