Overwhelmed - Israel
Mar 12th, 2007, 05:18 PM
#1
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Overwhelmed - Israel
I am planning a trip to Israel in early June and feel completely overwhelmed trying to research an itin. and safety concerns, etc.
I figure my best bet is to simply copycat the tour company itin. for a week.
I arrive in Tel Aviv and plan on taking a car north - why? I don't know - just know that is where the tour groups go. I heard of a place called Acca(sp?) that sounds quaint. Figured we would go to Sea of Galilee area for a night or two. Heard someone say the Scots hotel was nice and not too expensive? Found the cheapest rates over $300 a night.
Plan to drive to Jerusalem for remainder of trip and daytrip to Dead Sea.
Very concerned about safety driving from Galilee to Jerusalem? Any input?
I am mostly interested in holy sites. Want to see Meggido, Jordan River, and other biblical sites.
Sorry this is so choppy but thats how I feel planning this trip. Other trips I've planned have always seemed easy but this one feels overwhelming.
I figure my best bet is to simply copycat the tour company itin. for a week.
I arrive in Tel Aviv and plan on taking a car north - why? I don't know - just know that is where the tour groups go. I heard of a place called Acca(sp?) that sounds quaint. Figured we would go to Sea of Galilee area for a night or two. Heard someone say the Scots hotel was nice and not too expensive? Found the cheapest rates over $300 a night.
Plan to drive to Jerusalem for remainder of trip and daytrip to Dead Sea.
Very concerned about safety driving from Galilee to Jerusalem? Any input?
I am mostly interested in holy sites. Want to see Meggido, Jordan River, and other biblical sites.
Sorry this is so choppy but thats how I feel planning this trip. Other trips I've planned have always seemed easy but this one feels overwhelming.
Mar 13th, 2007, 12:33 AM
#3
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Please note that unlike US toll roads, the Israeli divider (toll freeway 6) has video cameras which take a shot of your vehicle registration and sends the bill to the car owner.
Car rental agencies tend to add about $10 USD charge for "conversion" of the payment - not sure if this is per rental or per drive in toll road 6.
Not sure what place in the Galilee you are driving from, the cheapest + safest way to go is drive between 10:00AM and 15:00PM on the major freeways (not because of safety but because of traffic jams).
Usually the best course of action is to join coastal freeway 2 via Yokneam (e.g. avoid driving through Um El Fahem)
.
For example from Tiberias go via routes 77, 75, 722, 70 towards coastal freeway 2.
Drive southbound on coastal freeway 2 until Glilot junction/interchange, take the new bridge southbound/eastbound towards Jerusalem, then turn right into Ayalon freeway (route 20) southbound, After La Guardia exit position yourself in the middle/right lanes towards Jerusalem (left ones continue to Hulon), and afterward take the left lanes toward Jerusalem (right ones continue southbound towards Ashdod).
Personally I avoid using the toll road - unless you drive in peak hours or you are a 160km/h speed freak, this option saves very little time, if any.
Car rental agencies tend to add about $10 USD charge for "conversion" of the payment - not sure if this is per rental or per drive in toll road 6.
Not sure what place in the Galilee you are driving from, the cheapest + safest way to go is drive between 10:00AM and 15:00PM on the major freeways (not because of safety but because of traffic jams).
Usually the best course of action is to join coastal freeway 2 via Yokneam (e.g. avoid driving through Um El Fahem)
.
For example from Tiberias go via routes 77, 75, 722, 70 towards coastal freeway 2.
Drive southbound on coastal freeway 2 until Glilot junction/interchange, take the new bridge southbound/eastbound towards Jerusalem, then turn right into Ayalon freeway (route 20) southbound, After La Guardia exit position yourself in the middle/right lanes towards Jerusalem (left ones continue to Hulon), and afterward take the left lanes toward Jerusalem (right ones continue southbound towards Ashdod).
Personally I avoid using the toll road - unless you drive in peak hours or you are a 160km/h speed freak, this option saves very little time, if any.
Mar 13th, 2007, 10:38 AM
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Hi,
Taking the Valley road (number 90) means you will pass through the palestenian authority territory, specifically around Jericho, the Jericho refugee camp and through eastern Jerusalem.
This might save you an hour or so, but personally I would rather "waste" the hour than waste my life - e.g. I would never take that chance going through there.
Some other people might disagree, some people take this chance (because they might be living around), but I think most sane Israelis would take the long de-tour around.
Elad.
Taking the Valley road (number 90) means you will pass through the palestenian authority territory, specifically around Jericho, the Jericho refugee camp and through eastern Jerusalem.
This might save you an hour or so, but personally I would rather "waste" the hour than waste my life - e.g. I would never take that chance going through there.
Some other people might disagree, some people take this chance (because they might be living around), but I think most sane Israelis would take the long de-tour around.
Elad.
Mar 17th, 2007, 10:21 PM
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Hi,
Here's the tour we took last December: http://www.bookinsight.com/Tours/Dis...mp;TourID=3048
Somehow, I didn't find Caesarea to be that interesting... but Acre was pretty nice. It is about 20 or so minutes from Haifa and is worth a visit. There is a lot of crusader architecture there. From there, Nazareth is not that far so it may be worth a visit.
We stayed at a Kabbutz right on the shores of the Sea of Galilee so that was great (see above itinerary link for details).
Then we ate at a Kabbutz along the Jordon river and it was very good... then we went along that highway past Jerico to the Dead Sea. I was in a huge tour bus with loads of people and the Israeli driver and tour guide were basically running the show so I dont know it is a good idea or not to travel that route.
Consider spending a night at the dead sea and then an early morning visit to Masada. The dead sea is just WEIRD!
Do spend plenty of time in Jerusalem. I wish I had spent more time in the old city, the holocaust museum, shopping, etc.
We also went to Bethleham on Christmas day... what luck huh?? A guide can arrange that for you if you want. Try contacting Isram tours.
We went with Insight tours on paper, but the tour was basically run by Isram.
Email me at [email protected] if you want more information.
Enjoy!
Here's the tour we took last December: http://www.bookinsight.com/Tours/Dis...mp;TourID=3048
Somehow, I didn't find Caesarea to be that interesting... but Acre was pretty nice. It is about 20 or so minutes from Haifa and is worth a visit. There is a lot of crusader architecture there. From there, Nazareth is not that far so it may be worth a visit.
We stayed at a Kabbutz right on the shores of the Sea of Galilee so that was great (see above itinerary link for details).
Then we ate at a Kabbutz along the Jordon river and it was very good... then we went along that highway past Jerico to the Dead Sea. I was in a huge tour bus with loads of people and the Israeli driver and tour guide were basically running the show so I dont know it is a good idea or not to travel that route.
Consider spending a night at the dead sea and then an early morning visit to Masada. The dead sea is just WEIRD!
Do spend plenty of time in Jerusalem. I wish I had spent more time in the old city, the holocaust museum, shopping, etc.
We also went to Bethleham on Christmas day... what luck huh?? A guide can arrange that for you if you want. Try contacting Isram tours.
We went with Insight tours on paper, but the tour was basically run by Isram.
Email me at [email protected] if you want more information.
Enjoy!
Mar 18th, 2007, 11:02 PM
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Regarding the Scots hotel, I just browsed yesterday evening through Lady Globes (a business magazine for woman) and they had this hotel advertised starting from 550 NIS (130 USD) per night (mid-week) or 650 NIS (155 USD) per night (weekend).
Unfortunately, this was in hebrew (e.g. it was published several times in the media here that hotels make two-tier price system for Israeli and for tourists).
Maybe you can try through a Israeli local agent how might pull a better price. Make sure it is a closed payed deal with a voucher because there were reports of hebrew speaking people making the booking for tourists, and when the tourist arrived to the hotel the price suddenly went up.
Incidently, the prices of hotels in Israel are expensive even for Israelis.
Many prefer for a 4-6 days getaway to fly to Turkey Because the additional flight cost is cheaper than the hotel price difference for 4-6 days.
Elad.
Unfortunately, this was in hebrew (e.g. it was published several times in the media here that hotels make two-tier price system for Israeli and for tourists).
Maybe you can try through a Israeli local agent how might pull a better price. Make sure it is a closed payed deal with a voucher because there were reports of hebrew speaking people making the booking for tourists, and when the tourist arrived to the hotel the price suddenly went up.
Incidently, the prices of hotels in Israel are expensive even for Israelis.
Many prefer for a 4-6 days getaway to fly to Turkey Because the additional flight cost is cheaper than the hotel price difference for 4-6 days.
Elad.
Mar 20th, 2007, 04:07 AM
#9
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LivinLarge: You may want to check out regent travel ([email protected]) and ask for Orit. They can book all your hotels for you and the rates are very good - much better than you quoted. The advantage of booking through an Israeli agent is that they can assist you if there are any problems along the way and you need to modify your trip. I am staying at Scots in August and got a much better rate. August is the high month so in June you should get a better rate. I was in Israel last July and the rate was less expensive than this year -rates go up in August. Unfortunately we never made it to Scots last summer because the war broke out - so we are going back this summer to visit the northern Galil. Do take the advice of posters here and stay on the safe highways. We drove route 2 (up the Mediterranean coast) to route 65 (We went to Tzfat before the war broke out). On your way back to Jerusalem take route 6 then cut over to Jerusalem. We found signage to be excellent in Israel. The cars we rented did not have a navigation system so before we left we bought a car compass just to make sure we were going in the right direction. If you venture down to the Dead Sea you should also consider seeing Massada. That is quite an experience. We did an organized bus tour for that - and while it was touristy- the guide was excellent and we were able to see Massada and spend some time at Ein Gedi for an enjoyable day.
Just want to add that even though we were there during the war we were lucky enough to be able to modify our trip and continue with our vacation. You will have a wonderful trip.
Just want to add that even though we were there during the war we were lucky enough to be able to modify our trip and continue with our vacation. You will have a wonderful trip.
