Help needed getting from Tel Aviv Airport to Eilat

Old Apr 15th, 2015, 01:03 PM
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Help needed getting from Tel Aviv Airport to Eilat

My SWISS flight gets into TLV at 2:35 p.m. What would be best? Should I take a bus to Tel Aviv for the night and take a bus the next day to Eilat? or could I take a bus from TLV to Eilat that evening? or spend the night in Jersualem and take a bus to Eilat the next day.

Back in September I spent eight days in Israel so I have been to Tel Aviv and Jersualem, however this time I want to go to Eilat and take a side trip to Petra, Jordon. I have six days before I fly on to Budapest.

Suggestions are appreciated.
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Old Apr 15th, 2015, 07:52 PM
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There is no problem going to Eilat the day you arrive: take a taxi to the CBS or take a train to Hagana station and walk over. Check the bus schedule on the Egged Web site and book your ticket in advance.

But the real question is whether you want to go on a 5.5 hour bus ride immediately after a long and stressful flight. Only you can answer that question.
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Old Apr 15th, 2015, 07:56 PM
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Another option is to fly to Eilat. There are flights directly from Ben-Gurion airport or from Sde-Dov airport in north Tel-Aviv. Check the Arkia and Israir Web sites for schedules.
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Old Apr 16th, 2015, 01:01 AM
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Thanks for the responses. I don't want to book an airline ticket in advance to Eilat from Tel Aviv because I have three connections and if I'm late I'm out of luck.

Maybe when I arrive at the airport I would buy a ticket to Eilat?
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Old Apr 16th, 2015, 01:14 AM
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I see there is a flight for $85 from Tel Aviv to Eilat at 7:30 pm. Assuming my flight is on time that would be a five hour wait at the airport.
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Old Apr 16th, 2015, 01:53 AM
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If your flight arrives at 14:35 you will probably get through immigration and pick up your luggage by 15:30. You then have to take the shuttle from Terminal 3 to Terminal 1 so you will arrive there around 16:00. Security and check in will start around 18:00 so your net wait will be about 2 hrs.

The problem is that nobody can guarantee that there will be seats available at the last minute. The planes are relatively small.

A better solution would be to stay overnight in Tel-Aviv and then take a morning flight from Sde-Dov.
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Old Apr 16th, 2015, 03:41 AM
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Another thought.....
I don't know if you have bought your tickets yet, but if not - you should investigate buying an "open jaw" ticket, i.e fly to Amman and fly back from Tel Aviv. It probably will be a bit more expensive but will save you time and money otherwise.
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Old Apr 17th, 2015, 03:41 AM
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I purchased the ticket to Eilat from the Tel Aviv airport. The ticket is with Israir and it was $77 on their website. Does anyone know if there are baggage fees? or other charges? If I miss the SWISS flight, I hope to be on the next flight to Tel Aviv so I will still make the flight.

Thanks for your comments.
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Old Apr 17th, 2015, 05:49 AM
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I don't think so, but only the airline can answer those questions. The weight limit might be lower than on your international flight, although I read somewhere that they waive the limit for tourists. Note that there is a security check so ask how far in advance of the flight you have to get to the check in counter.
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Old May 18th, 2015, 09:13 AM
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Usually, Israeli flight companies do not charge on extra payment for luggage (as of March 2015).

If you need more information about transportation from Tel Aviv to Eilat check it on the Viamoro page.
http://www.viamoro.com/transportation/Tel-Aviv/Eilat/
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Old Aug 13th, 2015, 11:51 AM
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Just an update. My flight from Newark to Zurich was delayed five hours, first because of maintenance and then people wanted off the plane and finding their luggage took a lot of time. I missed my flight from Zurich to Tel Aviv, so I flew from Zurich to Frankfurt and then to Tel Aviv. I arrived in Tel Aviv at 11:00 p.m. I took a taxi to the bus station in downtown Tel Aviv. The taxi was going 96 miles per hour, and I ran up the escalator and purchased a ticket to Eilat. I ran down to the buses and made the last night bus by two minutes. I arrived at my hotel in Eilat at 5:45 a.m. Expect the unexpected.
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Old Aug 14th, 2015, 10:39 PM
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Thanks for the update. With hindsight, my suggestion of staying overnight in Tel-Aviv is perhaps the safest one.
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