Any Israel experts out there?

I am a seasoned traveler that is planning first time visit to Israel.

Fortunately I am flexible to the time of year I am able to go, and looking into best time to book my trip taking into consideration all the factors. I am thinking it will be a 14 -15 day trip.

As this is my first Israel trip I am not sure if I should include Eilat and a day trip (from Eilat) to Petra in Jordan.
If I skip Eilat/Petra on this trip, It will be a lot less expense, yet is a big trip that I doubt if I will be making again soon ........
.so thinking just go for it while I am healthy, and have the energy to include the day or 2 at beach at Eilat, then see Petra for a day tour.

Of course I will include staying a few days in Jerusalem (possibly 4) at lt 2-3 days staying in Tel Aviv-Jaffa, including day visits to Tiberias, Dead Sea, Masada, etc.

As this will be a different type of trip then I usually take, I want to make sure I really prepare for what I plan to do.

Any ISRAEL experts out there.
Thanks in advance.
TrendGirl2
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We spent a month in Israel last year.
I'd skip Petra with your limited time.
You could spend up to a week in Jerusalem, with a day trip to Masada and the Dead Sea.
The North deserves several days, not just a day trip to Tiberias.
Not to be disloyal, but the Isreal forum on Trip Advisor is much more active; several guides post there.

ABRAM: THANK YOU for your fast feedback.

How wonderful you were able to spend a month in Israel!

I know there is so much to see and experience in Israel that the 14 day trip will at least give me enough days to see the highlights that will be most important to me.


Although I am excited to see "everything" that interests me, I do think I have to plan my days well.
My main focus is to be "IN ISRAEL."


You are correct....I see that there is very little "activity" on the Fodors Middle East board with Israel.

I have just started reading many of the posts on Trip Advisor Israel Forum as well.

TrendGirl2

If U can go in the fall. It's hot in the summer. We had great weather in late Oct. / early Nov.

Being retired does give us the wonderful luxury of time.
Israel turned out to be a less expensive trip than we had originally expected.
We had enough credit card points to get free flights, mostly stayed in apartments, which averaged $105/night, and found dinner portions so large that we could share an appetizer and entree.
We started with a week in Jerusalem, then rented a car to go as far South as Eilat and as far North as Qiryat Shmona, returned it in Tel Aviv, where we spent our last 4 days.
The National Parks pass was a great buy: unlimited entry for 2 weeks.
If you want to go in the fall, avoid the holidays, which are Oct 2-25 in 2016.

Thank you for the comments.

I am very aware when booking my trip to avoid all of the holidays and will prepare to have a list of restaurants that are open on Friday evenings and Saturdays so that I know my options.

I will be staying in hotels NOT apartments, & not plan on renting a car......but am starting to get very excited visiting Israel as I continue to read and get my game plan in order.


TrendGirl2

I was in Israel for two weeks in October. I did a two night three day side trip from Jerusalem to Petra/Jordan that was the highlight of our trip. We went through Abraham Tours. It was very reasonable. There were only 9 of us, who all became great friends, and the tour included Jerash, which was spectacular, Petra and Wadi Rum. We had the entire day at Petra which was a great day and we stayed in bedouin tents just outside Petra for two nights. The accom was very basic, but an experience I am glad I had. Two nights was enough however.
We hired a private guide with a car two times in Jerusalem to take us to the Dead Sea/Masada and also to Bethlehem. We had other trips planned but never happened. We also spent three nights in TelAviv which was a nice contrast. It was a whirlwind two weeks but We loved it.
We rented an apartment with full kitchen but there were four of us so it seemed the best option.
On trip advisor there is a fellow, Douglas Duckett who will send you a fantastic guide of israel, free, and we learned a lot through him. That is where we got the guide from as well, his recommendation, and it was great. Sam was his name.
Have fun planning. It is a great place to visit. Quite different from anywhere else we have been.

live42day:

Thanks for sharing your experience on Petra/Jordan. Sounds like you really picked a perfect excursion for you

I am still researching my options for Israel trip so it is nice to read others experience at Petra. Sounds like you had an amazing excursion.

I do want to focus on ISRAEL on this trip, & if I am able to include Eilat on this trip, (since Petra is close to visit from Eilat) that is probably the extent of visiting Jordan I will end up doing.


If I do add Petra on to my Israel trip, sleeping in a Bedouin tent with "basic" amenities is NOT GOING TO HAPPEN for me!!!

by the way........I like your screen name!
Thanks again for sharing your experience.
TrendGirl2

Ha. I hear you trend girl. I am pretty open to 'basic' but do like my creature comforts and we did not have our own bathrooms. There are hotel options too of course.
Israel has so much to do within the two weeks for sure.
I wished we had gone north and if I ever go back that is where I would spend time as it is supposed to be beautiful.

I live in Tel aviv and if i had the privilege to be a tourist in israel for 14 days i think it would be something like this :
4 days in tel aviv - visit NEVE TZEDEK, SARONA, OLD JAFFA PORT AND CITY, stroll through dizengoff and rothschild boulevard, the beach and NAHALAT BINYAMIN. a lot of things to see at those places. Tel aviv's got great nightlife scene and very good restaurants. if you one of those night owls i would recommend you to try to set your days/nights in Tel-aviv for WED.-SAT.
for more tips about Tel Aviv check out my youtube channel :

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs8...oF2ivw9DU_ddGw

On sunday i would continue to Jerusalem for 4-5 days. visit the old city and stroll through the different quarters (jewish, muslim, armenian). you should also visit MAHANE YEHUDA and eat at a restaurant with the same name over there (one of the best in israel). from Jerusalem set a day trips to the dead sea and masada. walk through via de la roza and visit other historical attractions. there is a real sense of holiness in Jerusalem.

From there i would probably visit eilat for 2 days to enjoy the beach and maybe some scuba diving. add one more day if you plan to see petra (i never did).

Regarding the dates... i recommend october because from now till october it's gonna be very very HOT like 35-40 cl. in Tel Aviv and about 40-43 cl. in eilat.

If you have more questions feel free to contact me

I agree with amosrazi. October was great weather.

GREAT FEEDBACK...............Thanks Amosrazi!!!!!!
The information you have shared is super.

I am sure I will LOVE Tel Aviv, & glad to know there are so many terrific restaurant options there.

Your suggestions for days spent & sights to not miss are perfect for my interests. Love your suggestions!!!!!


I am going to check out the utube channel you included.

TrendGirl2

Here is the link to Douglas Duckett's excellent travel guide:
http://amateurtraveler.com/travel-gu...el%20guide.pdf

thanks...I am reading everything!

TrendGirl2

With 15 days, I would spend 2-3 in Jordan. Wadi Rum, Petra, Jeresh and Madaba are historical places you might never get a second chance to visit.

thx FrankS.

This trip is really going to be "All About Israel" for me.
Although I don't doubt all of the other sights are amazing in Jordan, I really plan on spending my entire trip visiting Israel.

If I do end up in Eilat, then I will try to plan 1 day for a day trip to Petra from Eilat, as that would be the easy way for me to visit Petra. Of course I would love to see everything, but I can not do "everything" on this trip.

I do want to stick to my focus on ISRAEL. I will be in Tel Aviv a few nights, Jerusalem a few nights, and possibly Eilat for 2 or 3 nights the most. Doing day trips / excursions to Masada, Dead Sea, etc from those locations. Changing hotel locations in Israel as it is will be 3 times....I don't want to add another hotel check in /check out.
TrendGirl2

trendgirl - I would cut out Eilat and spend some time in the north, unless you are into beaches. Israel has loads of history and archeology - I do not know if that is a primary interest of yours. If it is, you will be bypassing important sites such as Megido, Bethesda, Ceasarea, Akko, Nazareth and many others. Here is a link to a trip I took about 2 years ago, revisiting the country after having lived there for a couple of years way back with lots of photos.

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...el-our-way.cfm

I differ with most people visiting Israel in that I have little interest in visiting Tel Aviv. IMO it just another big city, although old Jaffa is worth a look if you have the time. Israel has so many small places that are unique that I prefer not to spend my time in large cities with the exception of Jerusalem which is unique in all the world.

I agree with the previous comment about not going to Eilat, unless you are interested in water sports or are visiting Petra. It is just another beach resort.

I disagree with the comment about Tel-Aviv. There is a lot of history to see in addition to Jaffa, but from a different and later period. Guided walks in the Bauhaus area (Rothschild Blvd), Neve Zedek and Sarona are very interesting. In addition there are many unique museums (Diaspora Museum, Palmach Museum, etc), and the markets. The beach is also an option.

THANKS FOR FEEDBACK. I am getting closer to deciding if Petra(would just be a day trip from Eilat if I do include in my trip.

BASINGSTOKE2: I do have interest in cities & especially Tel Aviv.
I actually LOVE cities!

This trip will be about experiencing Modern hip Israel in addition to the ancient, historical & Jewish religious sights....Masada, Dead Sea, Tiberias, etc.

It will be a very meaningful trip for me to finally visit Israel after extensive travel other destinations.

While I am in Tel Aviv, Israel I absolutely know that I want to include Neve Zedek, Rothchild Blvd as well as the Tel Aviv art scene.

I am putting together the hotel choices, airfare, etc to see how much $$$$ I will be involved in for priorities.


Can't wait to firm all up!
TrendGirl2

We found Israel to be perhaps the top destination we have traveled to. Of course it immeasurably helped that we had licensed tour guides too as our 4 days there were like being with a private history teacher. None the less to be where say churches are named and situated to commemorate the actual event or to touch the western wall or to be in Bethlehem and see where Christ was born is priceless.