Barcelona to Haifa Isreal transportation options
Sep 8th, 2023, 03:15 PM
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Barcelona to Haifa Isreal transportation options
On 20th November 2023, we have a 2nd cruise going out of Haifa, we will be in Barcelona for 4 nights after the first cruise. What is the best way getting to Haifa? Which airline? Do I need to change my hotel reservation in Barcelona and get to Haifa on the 19th or is leaving on the 20th good enough to embarking the cruise?
Your suggestions and information is much appreciated.
Your suggestions and information is much appreciated.
Sep 8th, 2023, 03:52 PM
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The flight from Barcelona to Haifa takes approximately 4&1/2 hours. Travel time in Haifa, from the airport to the port takes approximately 1&1/2 hours. That is already 6 hours. It will take time to depart the plane, pick up your luggage and get to the train or taxi. An (hour to an hour and a half?) Someone else can give a good estimate of the time required for that. It has been too long for me to remember accurately, but we did a lot of walking. You might want to see if a taxi can take you right to the ship. Up to 7 hours at that point.
It will take time to get from your hotel in Barcelona to the airport. Again, someone more knowledgeable about that can respond, but you would need to be at the airport an hour or two before the flight, plus the travel time, so two or three hours. You are now up to at least 8&1/2 hours of travel time, with at least one flight plus two trains, taxis or busses and will be totally exhausted by time you reach the ship on the 20th. If you go on the 19th, you will have a bit less travel time that day and could be rested and have most of a day for sightseeing on the 20th. Unless you have been before or plan to return, I would opt for the most time in Israel.
For certain, I would not do all the travel on the day of boarding. Why take chances on delayed or cancelled flights? Why not make boarding day as relaxing and stress free as possible?
It will take time to get from your hotel in Barcelona to the airport. Again, someone more knowledgeable about that can respond, but you would need to be at the airport an hour or two before the flight, plus the travel time, so two or three hours. You are now up to at least 8&1/2 hours of travel time, with at least one flight plus two trains, taxis or busses and will be totally exhausted by time you reach the ship on the 20th. If you go on the 19th, you will have a bit less travel time that day and could be rested and have most of a day for sightseeing on the 20th. Unless you have been before or plan to return, I would opt for the most time in Israel.
For certain, I would not do all the travel on the day of boarding. Why take chances on delayed or cancelled flights? Why not make boarding day as relaxing and stress free as possible?
Sep 8th, 2023, 03:55 PM
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Barcelona to Haifa Isreal
Correction: my hotel booking in Barcelona ends on 11/19, we will fly out of Barcelona on November 19 and stay one day/night at Haifa. The cruise leaves at 11PM on 11/20. There are not many choices for none
stop flight from BCN to Haifa, booking direct with El Al is $189, booking with Gotogate is $169. Not familiar with Gotogate, is it a third party travel agency? Is it reliable?
Your reply is much appreciated.
stop flight from BCN to Haifa, booking direct with El Al is $189, booking with Gotogate is $169. Not familiar with Gotogate, is it a third party travel agency? Is it reliable?
Your reply is much appreciated.
Sep 8th, 2023, 04:31 PM
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Also, need recommendation for one night stay after arriving airport Tel Aviv @4:40pm and what to do on the day of 11/20 before embarking by 11PM. How to get to Haifa seaport? Taxi? Bus? for two of us, husband and I.
Sep 9th, 2023, 08:49 AM
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In Tel Aviv, we took a "free" walking tour of Old Jaffa that was very good. I believe it was from this company: https://www.neweuropetours.eu/tel-aviv-walking-tours. We, of course, did tip the amount we would have likely paid had they charged up front. We enjoyed our walk so much, we took another tour with them of the more modern part of Tel Aviv that afternoon.
We also took a day trip from this company: https://www.touristisrael.com/best-w...tel-aviv/26425 that we enjoyed. Depending on your budget, they could likely create a private tour for you and drop you off in Haifa. We took a group tour but had noticed they picked people up from both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem for that tour. We asked to be picked up, with our luggage, in Tel Aviv and dropped off afterwards in Jerusalem since that was the next place we planned to visit. They were able to do this for us for a slight fee.
Otherwise, it looks like a train from Tel Aviv to Haifa takes a little more than an hour and is not expensive.
I hope someone with more experience visiting in this area can chime in.
We also took a day trip from this company: https://www.touristisrael.com/best-w...tel-aviv/26425 that we enjoyed. Depending on your budget, they could likely create a private tour for you and drop you off in Haifa. We took a group tour but had noticed they picked people up from both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem for that tour. We asked to be picked up, with our luggage, in Tel Aviv and dropped off afterwards in Jerusalem since that was the next place we planned to visit. They were able to do this for us for a slight fee.
Otherwise, it looks like a train from Tel Aviv to Haifa takes a little more than an hour and is not expensive.
I hope someone with more experience visiting in this area can chime in.
Sep 10th, 2023, 09:48 AM
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In Tel Aviv, we took a "free" walking tour of Old Jaffa that was very good. I believe it was from this company: https://www.neweuropetours.eu/tel-aviv-walking-tours. We, of course, did tip the amount we would have likely paid had they charged up front. We enjoyed our walk so much, we took another tour with them of the more modern part of Tel Aviv that afternoon.
We also took a day trip from this company: https://www.touristisrael.com/best-w...tel-aviv/26425 that we enjoyed. Depending on your budget, they could likely create a private tour for you and drop you off in Haifa. We took a group tour but had noticed they picked people up from both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem for that tour. We asked to be picked up, with our luggage, in Tel Aviv and dropped off afterwards in Jerusalem since that was the next place we planned to visit. They were able to do this for us for a slight fee.
Otherwise, it looks like a train from Tel Aviv to Haifa takes a little more than an hour and is not expensive.
I hope someone with more experience visiting in this area can chime in.
We also took a day trip from this company: https://www.touristisrael.com/best-w...tel-aviv/26425 that we enjoyed. Depending on your budget, they could likely create a private tour for you and drop you off in Haifa. We took a group tour but had noticed they picked people up from both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem for that tour. We asked to be picked up, with our luggage, in Tel Aviv and dropped off afterwards in Jerusalem since that was the next place we planned to visit. They were able to do this for us for a slight fee.
Otherwise, it looks like a train from Tel Aviv to Haifa takes a little more than an hour and is not expensive.
I hope someone with more experience visiting in this area can chime in.
German Colony is interesting with many cool restaurants and bars, also good lunch spots. Wadi Nisnas for falafel, houmous and such, of great quality.
And do try the cable car. As it departs from the Bat Galim beach, you can include that too.
Sep 10th, 2023, 12:26 PM
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We were docked in Haifa for three or four days (can’t remember for sure) and did not feel like doing any booked tours.
Our absolute favorite thing was taking the train up to Akko for a day! It is a wonderful, truly ancient city with layers of history, culture, religions, architecture, etc. We did it mostly on our own, but included one short walking tour. It is easy to do and well worth the time.
We took the train one day to Caesarea. We like archeological sites and found this evocative and interesting; lots of walking, however, and not a lot of still standing things, so you need imagination. We did really enjoy it though.
One day, we walked in Haifa, saw the gardens, rode the cable car lift (nice views), walked on the beach. It was the least interesting day, but still rather nice.
So, if Tel Aviv interests you, stay there, tour, then go on to join the ship. If it is of less interest, go on to Haifa for the night and go to Akko for the day before joining the ship. We did not go to Tel Aviv, so can’t properly compare it with Akko, but can highly recommend Akko.
Looks as if you are on Norwegian Epic. We cruised on it in the Caribbean the first season. We really like the ship a lot. Hope you do too.
Also, if it is the itinerary going to Ephesus, etc, it is great. One heads up. We had the whole day and formed a loosely put together group with other travelers standing outside the travel welcome center and hired a driver with a van for the day. Cheap, easy and we were in charge. However, you have only a half day, starting very early, so you might want to book something ahead or join a group from your cruise on Facebook or cruise-critic and book something together. At the site, you can join a guided group or guide yourself. We missed the terrace houses, but people who went thought that was a highlight.
Take warm jackets. It got chilly in November.
Our absolute favorite thing was taking the train up to Akko for a day! It is a wonderful, truly ancient city with layers of history, culture, religions, architecture, etc. We did it mostly on our own, but included one short walking tour. It is easy to do and well worth the time.
We took the train one day to Caesarea. We like archeological sites and found this evocative and interesting; lots of walking, however, and not a lot of still standing things, so you need imagination. We did really enjoy it though.
One day, we walked in Haifa, saw the gardens, rode the cable car lift (nice views), walked on the beach. It was the least interesting day, but still rather nice.
So, if Tel Aviv interests you, stay there, tour, then go on to join the ship. If it is of less interest, go on to Haifa for the night and go to Akko for the day before joining the ship. We did not go to Tel Aviv, so can’t properly compare it with Akko, but can highly recommend Akko.
Looks as if you are on Norwegian Epic. We cruised on it in the Caribbean the first season. We really like the ship a lot. Hope you do too.
Also, if it is the itinerary going to Ephesus, etc, it is great. One heads up. We had the whole day and formed a loosely put together group with other travelers standing outside the travel welcome center and hired a driver with a van for the day. Cheap, easy and we were in charge. However, you have only a half day, starting very early, so you might want to book something ahead or join a group from your cruise on Facebook or cruise-critic and book something together. At the site, you can join a guided group or guide yourself. We missed the terrace houses, but people who went thought that was a highlight.
Take warm jackets. It got chilly in November.
Sep 11th, 2023, 10:25 AM
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We were docked in Haifa for three or four days (can’t remember for sure) and did not feel like doing any booked tours.
Our absolute favorite thing was taking the train up to Akko for a day! It is a wonderful, truly ancient city with layers of history, culture, religions, architecture, etc. We did it mostly on our own, but included one short walking tour. It is easy to do and well worth the time.
We took the train one day to Caesarea. We like archeological sites and found this evocative and interesting; lots of walking, however, and not a lot of still standing things, so you need imagination. We did really enjoy it though.
One day, we walked in Haifa, saw the gardens, rode the cable car lift (nice views), walked on the beach. It was the least interesting day, but still rather nice.
So, if Tel Aviv interests you, stay there, tour, then go on to join the ship. If it is of less interest, go on to Haifa for the night and go to Akko for the day before joining the ship. We did not go to Tel Aviv, so can’t properly compare it with Akko, but can highly recommend Akko.
Looks as if you are on Norwegian Epic. We cruised on it in the Caribbean the first season. We really like the ship a lot. Hope you do too.
Also, if it is the itinerary going to Ephesus, etc, it is great. One heads up. We had the whole day and formed a loosely put together group with other travelers standing outside the travel welcome center and hired a driver with a van for the day. Cheap, easy and we were in charge. However, you have only a half day, starting very early, so you might want to book something ahead or join a group from your cruise on Facebook or cruise-critic and book something together. At the site, you can join a guided group or guide yourself. We missed the terrace houses, but people who went thought that was a highlight.
Take warm jackets. It got chilly in November.
Our absolute favorite thing was taking the train up to Akko for a day! It is a wonderful, truly ancient city with layers of history, culture, religions, architecture, etc. We did it mostly on our own, but included one short walking tour. It is easy to do and well worth the time.
We took the train one day to Caesarea. We like archeological sites and found this evocative and interesting; lots of walking, however, and not a lot of still standing things, so you need imagination. We did really enjoy it though.
One day, we walked in Haifa, saw the gardens, rode the cable car lift (nice views), walked on the beach. It was the least interesting day, but still rather nice.
So, if Tel Aviv interests you, stay there, tour, then go on to join the ship. If it is of less interest, go on to Haifa for the night and go to Akko for the day before joining the ship. We did not go to Tel Aviv, so can’t properly compare it with Akko, but can highly recommend Akko.
Looks as if you are on Norwegian Epic. We cruised on it in the Caribbean the first season. We really like the ship a lot. Hope you do too.
Also, if it is the itinerary going to Ephesus, etc, it is great. One heads up. We had the whole day and formed a loosely put together group with other travelers standing outside the travel welcome center and hired a driver with a van for the day. Cheap, easy and we were in charge. However, you have only a half day, starting very early, so you might want to book something ahead or join a group from your cruise on Facebook or cruise-critic and book something together. At the site, you can join a guided group or guide yourself. We missed the terrace houses, but people who went thought that was a highlight.
Take warm jackets. It got chilly in November.
Sep 11th, 2023, 11:18 AM
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How is what I wrote about Haifa hate? Seems like a deliberate misinterpretation of what is only a personal opinion/experience.
I believe I said we liked it, just found it the least interesting of our days there. I can walk on beaches many places, have taken cable cars with great views many places and seen some quite wonderful gardens. I still enjoy all of that, just found Akko, IMHO, so much more interesting and memorable. I personally love Rome and London and prefer either to NYC, but that does not mean I hate NYC. I like plain grilled chicken, but personally enjoy Thai coconut chicken more. Finding one thing or place or experience less interesting than another does not mean you hate it.
I believe I said we liked it, just found it the least interesting of our days there. I can walk on beaches many places, have taken cable cars with great views many places and seen some quite wonderful gardens. I still enjoy all of that, just found Akko, IMHO, so much more interesting and memorable. I personally love Rome and London and prefer either to NYC, but that does not mean I hate NYC. I like plain grilled chicken, but personally enjoy Thai coconut chicken more. Finding one thing or place or experience less interesting than another does not mean you hate it.
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