My husband and I (63-64) are thinking of going to Israel in May (16 days). We want to see Jerusalem for sure and now I'm trying to plan tours (etc) in other cities in Israel. We also would like to take 3 or 4 days and fly (take a tour) to Egypt. If we go to Tel Aviv (knowing it's a modern city), what is there to see there and are the day trips to Nazareth and Golan Heights worth it? I was told that some companies spend half the time picking up and delivering people so that you really don't get a great tour.
Also, any suggestions on how we start the trip. Do we fly into Tel Aviv, take the day trips, go to Jerusalem and then do the Egypt thing. Any advise on hotels ($150 - $200) a night.
Thanks so much for your help.
What to do in which city
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It's been some years since I've been to Israel, but I would suggest:
Arrive TLV
Go to Jerusalem for 3-4/days, do a day trip to Masada
Then to TLV for 1-2/days
Then you can drive north (roads are well marked in English) to Haifa for 1-2/days.
Easy enough to drive to Nazareth, even to the Golan as day-trips from Haifa, though it would be nice to overnight near the Golan.
Then back to TLV airport for flight to Egypt.
You can also pick-up tours to either Nazareth or the Golan if you don't want to drive yourself; believe these would be easier from Haifa area. If you go on a tour (almost regardless which country anywhere in the world), you always have the situation where those participating (you included) have to be picked-up/dropped-off at hotels. No way around it, unless you arrange a private guide/vehicle.
Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. Yes, TLV is a modern city, and though I felt I could never have enough days in Jerusalem, many actually prefer TLV. Very personal.
All the companies offering daytrips around Israel (Nazareth, Golan, etc.) seem to use Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as a base for picking up customers. I've done a lot of checking into daytrip companies (for planning my own trip in March), and haven't seen a single company that will do a pickup from Haifa.
Jerusalem is a must.I would not miss Tel Aviv for 1-2 days. The north is nice but if you are short in time-skip it, or do a day trip to haifa with the train from tel aviv (one hour by train). Dead sea- must again
Check out more to do in all the cities mentioned in:
http://www.triptouch.com/israel/tel-aviv