Tentative Israel/Jordan Itinerary...help

Old Apr 8th, 2014, 10:45 AM
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Tentative Israel/Jordan Itinerary...help

My husband and I will be venturing to Israel/Jordan for the first time. We have flights already but limited time due to my husband's business. Below is the anticipated September trip; we are active travelers (like to hike/bike when possible) and will be self driving. Any help with sites, lodging, activities would be greatly appreciated!

Day 1 - Fly into Tel-Aviv (late arrival)
Day 2 - Day/Night in Tel-Aviv
Day 3 Acre/Akko - My husband was interested in staying at the Akkotel; thought it
looked historic. This will be a Saturday visit into Sunday morning.
Day 4/5 - 2 Nights in Galilee, probably staying in Safed
Day 6/7 - 2 Nights in Jerusalem; 1 night for the evening bike ride through the city.
Day 8 - 1 Night in Aquaba for Red Sea
Day 9 - 1 day/night to visit Petra
Day 10 - Dead Sea visit or stay in Amman, Jordan.
Day 11 - Fly home from Amman.

We are considering a visit to Wadi Rum but not an overnight stay as we did the desert experience in Morocco and don't have the time. Also considering the water fun at Wadi Mujib -- my husband loves active adventures. We do travel quickly and this scenario is not odd for us but we are open to modifications.

Thanks for your help and input.
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Old Apr 8th, 2014, 09:05 PM
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The big question is transportation. How are you planning to go:
- from Tel-Aviv to Akko (on Friday ? Saturday ?)
- from Safed to Jerusalem ?
- from Jerusalem to Eilat ?
How do you plan to tour the Galilee ?
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Old Apr 9th, 2014, 09:39 AM
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I noted that we will be using a rental car and driving ourselves. We do know that there are some issues to resolve in getting over the border but are trying to pick the highlights of each country for this short stay.
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Old Apr 9th, 2014, 11:54 AM
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Sorry - I missed the "self-driving".

Crossing the border at Eilat is very easy and there are no "issues". You cannot take a car across the border. You have to check with the rental companies if there is a drop-off charge for Eilat (some do, some don't - it usually depends on the length of the rental). Eldan is the company most recommended on the forum, Shlomo-Sixt gets the most complaints.

The rental agencies in Tel-Aviv all close early on Friday afternoon, so if you don't pick up your car at the airport when you arrive you will have to do so on Friday morning.

Two days in Jerusalem is the bare minimum (are they full days?). You should consider dropping a day from the Galilee and adding it to Jerusalem.

I recommend staying in Rosh Pina. It's next door to Tzfat but more pastoral and there are a lot of nice B&Bs there.

You have also not included the Dead Sea on the Israeli side. You don't really swim in the Dead Sea - you float for 10 minutes. The other attractions are the spa facilities and on the Israeli side - Massada and the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve. If you are interested in a spa, then spend your day at the Dead Sea in Jordan; if not, then go to Massada and Ein Gedi on the Israeli side.
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Old Apr 16th, 2014, 12:42 PM
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Remembering with pleasure several visit years ago. Comments: too little time in Jerusalem. Really need a guided tour here, maybe booked from hotel. I'd shorten Tel Aviv stay to one overnight and lengthen Galilee touring. Traveling to and from Petra is a long day for sure...is this from Aquaba? That's a ways south. We got there from Amman. Yes, Masada, Ein Gedi deserve consideration and certainly close by Qumran ruins.

Myself a retired pastor so had major interest in biblical sites...but maybe not your thing.
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Old Apr 29th, 2014, 04:49 PM
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In looking at our itinerary and wanting to give adequate time to Petra....are we going to be spending too much time driving? It is our first trip and the main highlights of Israel are what we are proposing to see (both biblical and Jewish although we are not Jewish). Hoping to include Nazareth, Safed/Rosh Pina and Massada for possible stays. But it would be nice to have a little time to include wine tasting, some hiking and outdoor sites, etc. We are flying into Tel Aviv and out of Amman so our route needs to take that into consideration. Your insights are greatly appreciated!
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Old Apr 30th, 2014, 01:57 AM
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Just returned from Jordan from a group trip that included Jordanians as well as us UAE expats. My two dinars are:

1)considering your tight timeline, one day is enough for Petra. We did the 7km hike up to the monastary at the top and back to the park entrance in four hours! That was a bit rushed, but if you take a whole day, you'll see all the highlights without getting too bored

2) highly recommend staying at the Kempinski at Dead Sea, it has great facilities and views. More interesting than Aqaba, with the mud, the floating, and being the lowest point on Earth.
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