Or DIScouragement, if you think it's appropriate.

I have been looking at tours of Israel and Gate 1 seems a good value for the money. It is my lifelong dream to go to Israel, but I must confess it's making me a little nervous. A few people on other threads have encouraged me to go, but I've never posted this question in this forum and I would like to hear from those who have been there recently.

I realize nobody can predict how things will be in Feburary, but what are your thoughts about going? Thanks.

ISreal is amazing and you definitely should go. There is never a guarantee that you'll be safe, but there isn't one in the States either. Israel is modern and ancient and awesome and the media here(and I work in it!) hypes up all the bad news. I would never let your fears prevent you from going on your lifelong dream - yo uwill love it.

Thanks for your reply, shothyme77. I have tried to plan visits to Israel before and something always happened to nix it. Once I took a cruise that was supposed to stop in Israel, but the cruise line detoured due to a bad situation which had just occurred. I was SO disappointed.

One problem I'm encountering now is that some tour companies (such as Cosmos) have dropped Israel from their brochures. I have traveled alone in other parts of the world, but in Israel I would be more comfortable with a group.

Thanks again.

Hello,

I was in the same position about a month ago. I really wanted to go to Israel, but was a little skeptical. However, I spoke to several people on this board, and was encouraged to go.
I decided to go with an escorted tour because I didn't have too much time for independent travel and somehow felt safer going with a group (this is just me, I am sure independent travel is perfectly safe too. I just didn't want to drive or take separate buses everyday).
I am going with Insight tours (http://www.bookinsight.com/Tours/Dis...mp;TourID=3048). After that I will be spending 4 days in Eilat from where I will do day trips to Jordan and Egypt.
I have purchased travel insurance ($110/pp) for the tour and Insight basically cancels their tour if they think it is dangerous to go. So if it is unsafe, I won't be in Israel, and I will get my money back. The tour bases their decision on government warnings, etc.
I would encourage you to do your research and make a decision you are comfortable with. Also look at the Frommers travel forum at http://frommers.com/cgi-bin/[email protected]^[email protected] for additional information. Look for Douglas Duckett's comments and ask for his 35 page guide to Israel. He will be happy to email it to you. It is full of very useful information.

Good luck.

I don't want to encourage you or discourage you. Just the facts:
1. Israel is at least as safe - if not more so - than most large cities in Europe or the Americas.
2. There is almost no crime in Israel at all.
3. If war should break out while you are here, you will be able to leave immediately, if that is your wish. Commercial flights have always continued even when they required fighter escorts for the first part of the flight.
4. Terrorism e.g. the blowing up of buses, is almost nil now that we have so much of the seperation fence completed. In any case the goal of the terrorists is Israelis and not tourists. They go for schools and shopping malls, not tourist sites.
5. Any guided tour is in constant contact with the necessary security agencies. You will never be taken into dangerous areas during periods of unrest e.g. Hebron.
6. Most of what you see in the media is <u>badly</u> exaggerated. Are you aware of how much of the reporting on the Lebanon War for instance was an outright fake? Even Reuters and AP were forced to apologize publicly!
7. There is no place on earth quite like Israel for any one of the 3 major monotheistic relgions. It is an experience you will never forget, no matter what your beliefs are.
8. Most important imho - it is necessary to see and experience it for yourself in order to understand the reality of Israel and the problems of the Palestinan people.

Whatever you decide - ENJOY!

Thank you all for your great info. I'm 99% sure I will go, and I feel a lot better about it now.

P_M, good for you! I stayed in Jerusalem in the same hotel as Gate1 tours - great hotel and location (Dan... was it Dan Panorama?)

Just make sure your skirts/pants have elastic wasteline - the food is sooooooooo good

Hey Faina, why don't you come along?? You can still go again in 2008.

OK everyone, I'm booked!! YIPPEE!!

I'm leaving Feb. 1 and returning Feb. 11, using Gate 1 tours. I will by flying El Al using a FF award from American, so I only had to pay for the tour. Thanks a mil for all of your good insight.

Welcome and enjoy! \/

In February you will need a good jacket and rain gear.

P_M, maybe some other time! I have already plans for January, it will be too soon for me.

So glad to hear that you're going to Israel. I was there last July when the war broke out and we still had an amazing time - we had to reroute our trip since we were scheduled to be up north for the last week of our 18 day trip. But...we just made airline reservations and we heading back next August and will be spending most of our time in the north - even in the most northern reaches of the Galil. We are already looking forward to doing a lot of outdoor excursions. Our daughter is also going back to Israel for her third summer (and she was there last summer, too). As a friend told me...if you wait for things to &quot;cool out&quot; in Israel you may never go. Maybe not such an optimistic response but a true one...We loved Israel and you will, too!

My 18 year old daughter and I are planning to visit Isreal this summer. My 21 year old son moved there in December and is living on a Kibbutz. I was there before he was born and, regardless of your religion, it is the most amazing place on earth! I cannot wait to see him and also to go to Israel once again. I'll probably stay in Tel Aviv as a base and would love to hear from anyone regarding great places to eat and visit.

So you return tomorrow...how was it?
Worthwhile?

unaS, this is a year-old thread which was recenlty brought up by kanoneli. But that's OK, if it encourages someone else to go to Israel then I'm glad.

Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of my return from Israel, as I went in Feb of 2007. I can't believe it's already been a year since I took this fabulous trip. Was it worth it you asked, HECK YEAH, I would go again in a heartbeat. Thanks to everyone who encouraged me to take this trip, I will always remember it as one of the best of my life.

P_M,

I just saw this post. Had I seen in in 2006, I would have been the one to encourage you, no doubt. So glad you went and enjoyed it.

-e