Israel for only 8 full days?
 

We are planning to go to Israel in late October after a 3-day stopover in Paris to see our daughter. We were aiming to be in Israel for 10 full days, but the airfares are high and we have a fairly good deal using frequent flyer miles. But the only available itinerary gives us only 8 full days in Israel (not including travel days--we would arrive at 3 PM on the previous day, and would be at least somewhat adjusted to the time change by then).

We spent 3 weeks in Israel on our previous trip, but it was 31 years ago! We would probably not go back to Masada, Eilat, or Tiberias, though it would be nice (but not mandatory) to go to Tzvat. We will be making visits of one day each with relatives in Haifa and Tel Aviv. We would, however, like to go to Petra (where we have not been before)--is it possible to go there in one day from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, or does one day work only if you are already in Eilat?

Would you recommend taking the frequent flyer deal for an 8-day stay, or paying considerably more for a 10-day stay?

Thanks very much,

Len

Well, without Eilat, Masada or Tiberias, and especially since you've been in Israel before(though some things have changed in 31 years!), 8 full days should be fine. I can't answer about Petra since I've never been, but friends who've gone have all done so from Eilat as it was much simpler, they were told. Perhaps someone else here has done it from Jerusalem. I suspect it would be a very long tiring day. Is going to Petra the dealbreaker?

What other sites would you like to cover? Tsfat is easy from Haifa, as are many other part of the north. And any place in the areas between Haifa, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem will not be very hard to get to. Where will you be staying and will you be driving?

Free tickets vs much more expensive? I know what I'd pick :)
but obviously it depends on how much you want to get to certain spots.

Thanks for your quick reply! I am torn about whether Petra is a dealbreaker or not, and if it is whether I am willing to use 2 days of a short visit to go there. Having read a few more postings about Tsfat in the last few hours, I am somewhat inclined to rest on our fond memories of it from 31 years ago.

We haven't begun to think about hotels or even how we would lay out the days. We are open to renting a car, though with limited time and focus on Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa, that might not end up making sense?

Having been to Israel 3 times in 37 years, the most recent being last year, and having done a day trip from Eilat to Petra, I'd have to recommend either doing a much longer trip or skipping Petra. Alex is right. It would be exhausting. We did a day trip from Eilat and that was tiring, and less driving than from Jerusalem (I think). I'd almost recommend people to do a trip there that included staying overnight because we didn't have enough time to see all of Petra in the day only trip. That's leaving Eilat by 7AM and returning by 7PM. If making the most of 8 days is more tempting you could probably do a day tour to the North which includes Tsfat and the Golon. Israel has changed so much since your last trip. Even places like Masada have been so much more excavated and reconstructed that you wouldn't recognize them. But if you want to stick to 8 days, it's really possible to visit Jerusalem, Haifa, maybe Akko too, the Golan, Caesarea, and Tel-Aviv in the time you have. Either driving or on day trip. You didn't mention if you are self-driving or not. Keep in mind too that Shabbat means it's hard to get around from sundown to sundown.

Whether from Jerusalem or Eilat, 1/day is simply too short for Petra. Besides it being a very long day, it's a rush thru Petra. You seriously should consider an overnight at Petra.

From Eilat it's easier as the border crossing isn't as backed up vs from Jerusalem with all manner of vehicle crossing Allenby Br.