Israel Transportation

Old Dec 5th, 2016, 10:04 AM
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Israel Transportation

Hello,

We are traveling to Israel soon. we need transportation from the airport into Tel Aviv and then from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. I think we will just get a taxi from the airport into the city, but do you have any suggestions for how to get from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem? Is a taxi our only option and how much is a reasonable price to pay? Thank you in advance is you have any suggestions!
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Old Dec 5th, 2016, 10:37 PM
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The easiest way from the airport to the city of Tel Aviv is by taxi - make sure that you go to the official taxi stand and not be tempted by anyone who comes up to you in the terminal.

Are you going to Tel Aviv from the airport because you want to go to the city or because you think it is closer to the airport than Jerusalem ? If the second then the airport is almost mid-way between the two cities and you can easily go directly to Jerusalem.

As to getting from one city to the next, as long as you are not traveling on a Friday evening or Saturday then you can take a bus - simply take a taxi from your hotel to the Arlozorov Terminal and then take bus #480 - it is an express bus, leaves every 10-15 minutes - quick, comfortable and inexpensive.
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Old Dec 6th, 2016, 10:33 PM
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Thank you for your reply! How should we plan to pay for the taxi from the airport? We have a hotel in Tel Aviv and will take the morning and afternoon to explore the city before leaving for Jerusalem. Unfortunately, we will be there on Shabbat when not many places are open but we hope to walk to Jaffa and get some lunch somewhere.

Thank you for your suggestion to take the bus. I am considering doing this as it offers a pretty quick ride to Jerusalem. If we decide to take a taxi, what is the best way to book one? And what can we expect to pay? Is one way of getting there safer than the other?

Thank you!!
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Old Dec 6th, 2016, 10:34 PM
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One more question. How should we pay for the taxi? Should it be cash or can we use a credit card?
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Old Dec 7th, 2016, 03:24 AM
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You can ask the hotel to book a taxi to Jerusalem for you. The official MoT rate for Saturdays is 344 NIS plus ~5 NIS for each piece of luggage.

You have to pay for taxis in cash. You can either withdraw shekels from an ATM or exchange dollars at one of the many licensed change shops (no commission).

There is plenty to do in Tel-Aviv on a Saturday. You can take the free Bauhaus walking tour on Rothschild Blvd at 11 AM. Sandemans has a walking tour in Jaffa. The Tel-Aviv Museum of Art and the Eretz Israel Museum are open.
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Old Dec 7th, 2016, 09:22 AM
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There is no need to book a taxi in advance from the airport - just use the official taxi stand - and you will have to pay cash - so get some from an ATM in the terminal.
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Old Dec 7th, 2016, 10:50 AM
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The free Saturday morning Bauhaus walking tour:
https://tel-aviv.gov.il/en/Visit/Pag...kingTours.aspx
Sandemans Jaffa tour:
http://www.neweuropetours.eu/telaviv...ate=08/12/2016
Tel Aviv Museum of Art:
http://www.tamuseum.org.il/
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Old Dec 7th, 2016, 11:45 AM
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Great, we will plan to pay cash for the taxis. And thank you for the links above.

I was told that there are places to get an inexpensive lunch on the beach in Tel Aviv (true?) and from there we plan walk to Jaffa and can maybe take a tour.

Is the exchange rate pretty equivalent whether withdrawing from ATM or using the no commission change shops? How do we identify these currency exchange shops that charge no commission? We do have a debit card that doesn't charge a transaction fee for withdrawals from ATMs, so that helps. I was planning on withdrawing Shekels at the airport.

For our ride to Jerusalem, we may take the bus as our apartment is very near the bus station where it drops us off. Is a 10 minute walk in the area safe? If we do choose to take a taxi into Jerusalem, is this as safe for tourists? I'm sorry if I sound ignorant, but thought it best to ask!
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Old Dec 7th, 2016, 06:45 PM
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Use ATMs if you are not charged for withdrawals They are everywhere (including the airport terminal, near the baggage carousels). The change stores are mainly in areas which tourists frequent; none charge commission.

I infer that your apartment in Jerusalem is near the bus station,but where is your hotel in Tel-Aviv? You will have to take a taxi to the Arlozorov bus station to get the 480 bus. How much luggage will you have?

Israel is a very safe country and there is no problem walking from the bus station.

Note that on Saturdays the buses do not start running until about an hour after sunset (currently about 6 PM). A taxi will be your only option if you want to leave earlier. You can check the schedule for the 480 at www.bus.co.il or the "Egged" web site.
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Old Dec 7th, 2016, 07:01 PM
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Thank you for your reply. Yes, I saw that we can only leave after 6:00 on the bus to Jerusalem and I'll assume they run every 15 minutes after that.
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Old Dec 8th, 2016, 08:25 AM
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Regarding ATMs be aware that there are essentially two types of ATMs in Israel - bank ATMs are almost always on the wall of a bank branch, however sometimes they will be in a public venue with a bank logo - so the ones in the airport arrivals hall are really bank ATMs - they will not charge you any transaction fees and if you have a no-fee debit card then all is great.

There are private ATMs that are not affiliated with a bank and they will charge a transaction fee that will be somewhere between $1-2 - which will show up on your statement at home. There should be a screen at the beginning that tells you there will be a fee and allows you to back out if you want.
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Old Dec 12th, 2016, 10:34 PM
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Thank you for clarifying, Oreet!

Can anyone tell me how to arrange a Sheruk to get from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem? Is this a very long method of getting there, with many stops generally? I like that both bus and taxi will only take about an hour but was told a sheruk is another type of transportation and that it runs during shabbat.
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Old Dec 13th, 2016, 08:47 PM
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The sherut is a 10 passenger van that runs on a set route with no schedule - they leave when they are full. You cannot arrange for one - you go to where they leave from - in this case outside the central bus station in Tel Aviv, and I think also at the Arlozorov terminal, get on and wait till all seats are full - they then go to a central location in Jerusalem. If you have luggage, they really don't have room for luggage, so that you will have it under your feet, on your lap or in the aisles.
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Old Dec 13th, 2016, 11:33 PM
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The bus is a much better option than the sherut - roomier and more comfortable, a large luggage bin, and they leave on schedule, not when they fill up. Consider taking the sherut only if you decide to go early in the afternoon before the buses start running. I don't think there are sheruts to Jerusalem starting at Arlozorov.
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Old Dec 14th, 2016, 03:19 AM
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The only sheruts I have every seen at Arlozorov are those that are heading North.
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Old Dec 14th, 2016, 08:25 PM
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Thank you for the great advice!
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