We are two couples in our 60's and 70's who never visited Israel, but have traveled extensively in other countries on our own. We will be going to Israel on July 26 for 15 days. We wanted to go to Tel Aviv for two days and then go to Petra. Is it advisable to go to Petra at the beginning or the end of the trip? We will be using a private tour guide for 5 o 6 days to Haifa, Galilee, Golan Heights to start and then go to Jerusalem for two days on tour and two days on our own. We are questioning whether to have the guide take us to Masada and the Dead Sea or go by a private tour to Eilat and then Petra. Will we be able to get a taxi or car service to the airport on a Saturday? We are also interested in Hotels in Jerusalem.
Thanks for all suggestions
Sonya

Your total number of days in Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv and Galilee is 11 or 12. This leaves you 3 or 4 days for the Dead Sea and Petra. Considering that you will be here in the heat of summer and that none of us are as young as we used to be , you should be looking for the least strenuous solution.

For Eilat - go from Tel-Aviv at the start of the tour by airplane (driving takes about 5 hours). Look at the Arkia and Israir web sites:
http://www.arkia.com/flights-in-israel
http://www.israirairlines.com/?mode=page&page=14635
If you go after your two days in Tel-Aviv, you should book a flight from Sde Dov, the Tel-Aviv municipal airport.

There are many one-day organized tours to Petra leaving from Eilat. The company most recommended on the forums is "Desert Eco":
http://www.desertecotours.com/englis...hort_tours.asp
So you have to book two nights in Eilat. Fly down in the evening before your tour and return the morning after the tour. If you are going next to the Galilee, note that Arkia has flights from Eilat to Haifa !

Dead Sea: extend your Jerusalem tour by one day and either go with your guide to the Dead Sea or take a one day tour:
http://www.eggedtours.com/
http://abrahamtours.com/

All This is easily done if you spend only 5 days in the Galilee .

But I would recommend skipping the Dead Sea and adding the time to Petra. There is a lot more to see at Petra than just the Treasury, and you can easily spend two full days there.

Thank you for your suggestions. They make a lot of sense and are basically what we are planning. Does anyone know if we can book car service to Ben Gurion on Saturday, August 9 from Jerusalem?

Taxis run 24/7. Your can also take the Nesher sherut (shuttle) to the airport. These are 10 seat minibuses that pick you up at your hotel and cost 64 NIS pp. Book a day in advance.

My DW and I (certainly older than you guys) have traveled extensively and years ago twice to Israel-Jordan area. Good idea for a guide in Galilee and also Jerusalem...otherwise you may just gawk at sites without an understanding. As a retired pastor I had some interest in biblical places...but often moved by less publicized ones. A warning: you may be put off by the shrines. Of course historic Jerusalem has much to see and so different from Galilee.

Anyway, Petra is indeed impressive...a long day trip. DW wasn't that keen on the donkey ride through the passageway. As to when I would just remind you that by day six or seven you are going to be very tired in July. Don't know how you are getting to Petra as Eilat is some distance south (years ago we went via Amman). One idea put forth was skipping Dead Sea (also Masada?) in favor of Petra. Gosh, don't know, just envisioning the July sun beating down on you.