asnape

Hi all.

I'm currently studying abroad in Paris and for spring break I'm doing a week trip split between 4 days in Greece and 4 in Tel Aviv. First off, I've heard some horror stories about entry into Israel. I'm a 20 yo white non-Jewish male with an American passport and a French student visa. The friend I'm staying with is a 20 year old girl American Jewish girl studying abroad in Tel Aviv. I'm flying into Tel Aviv direction from Athens. Will I have any trouble at Ben-Gurion?

My other question involves day trips in Israel from Tel Aviv. I want to go to Jerusalem one day. I've heard about buses and trains that go there - what's the best way to get there and the best day to go? I will be there from 2pm on Wednesday to 2pm on Sunday in March. If I go to Jerusalem for the first half of the day, is it possible to make it to the Dead Sea that same day, and then back to Tel Aviv, or would the Dead Sea have to be a whole separate trip and is it worth it?

Any recommendations or suggestions on how to best plan my trip? Thanks!

aby

hi asnape

if you're not carrying too many explosives / drugs you have nothing to worry about. the rumour is that IL authorities pay attention to single tourists, therefore keep the details of your friend handy (does she have a typical jewish name?)
on the other hand, U.S. officials sometimes strip Israelis even if they come to give an invited paper at a scientific conference....

how do you want to travel to the Dead Sea?
if by bus - check Egged timetable
http://www.egged.co.il/Eng/
http://mslworld.egged.co.il/eggedtim...uage=en&state=

minivans/ Sherut (communal taxis) between the airport and Jerusalem hotels
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntre...readID=1602818

remember that on saturday some Jerusalem religious areas are closed to cars, and there's no public transportation

what would you like to do at the Dead Sea?
Nature? archaeology (e.g. massadah)? skin treatment?
there are youth hostels in Ein-Gedi and Massadah

aby

AlexA

I can't answer in much detail about issues you might have entering Israel as I am not in your situation, but certainly be prepared for more questioning than say a middle aged Jewish couple coming straight from the US. They will ask about your relationship to the friend you are visiting, your family background in the US, who you are friends with in Paris, etc. You may face some scrutiny at the airport in Paris before the flight, and most likely quite a bit at the airport leaving Israel. They are extremely security conscious especially at the airport leaving Israel.

As far as day trips: The Dead Sea (is visiting Masada part of it?) should be most of the day. Are you planning on taking a guided tour or just public bus? Dead Sea to Tel Aviv is probably at least 3 hours by bus, so don't count on much daytime activity afterwards. It may make sense to go Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, go to Dead sea late in the day and stay in a hostel, and then spend the day there and return to Tel Aviv that second day.
Jerusalem needs more than just a couple of hours depending on what you want to do, so I think it's best for a whole day too. Buses between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv run frequently on weekdays and take about an hour each way. The train service between the 2 cities is not practical and it takes longer than the bus
Tel Aviv should be a lot of fun and with luck you;ll have some good beach weather!