Israel: To go or not to go?
 

I've already posted this question on the Africa/Middle East forum, but am hoping for some additional insight from the Euro-travel community. This side seems to get more activity, and I have to make a decision quickly!

I have an unexpected opportunity to meet my 21-yr-old son for six days in Israel in early June. He will be completing a semester of study in Istanbul and is spending the next month traveling in Israel and Egypt before coming home. I found a reasonable fare on Continental, w/direct flight JFK/TLV and return.

I've traveled a good bit, but neither of us have been to Israel. I think it's a great opportunity to go, but have done NO research and am not sure if there are specific issues that I should be aware of (like getting back to the airport for my Saturday flight?) in making a decision. I realize, of course, that the political situation could change in a heartbeat which could mean cancelling the trip.

In short, I would love to hear from others who have been to Israel recently. We would most likely travel independently, although he is doing a GAP tour in Egypt. I can only hold my flight res until Thursday, so I have to make a decision quickly.

Thanks for any insights you can share!

The only public transportation that runs on Saturday would be most private taxi companies.

My daughter returned from a week-long trip last month and had a fabulous time.

If you are the type that is extra careful, you may prefer to avoid public busses. Although there hasn't been an incident for awhile, they are a favorite target.

Can anyone else offer suggestions? Just want to be sure I'm not making a mindless mistake! Thanks . . . (Yeah, I know, how can going to Israel be bad?)

I was there in February 2007. I had wanted to see Israel all my life but I put off this trip for years due to fears of what might or might not happen. Finally one day a poster on this board told me just to GO!! so I did. Now I regret waiting so long, it was a trip of a lifetime. The trip to Israel was my Mt. Everest, you know, the thing you've always wanted to do, but didn't because you were afraid. But once you are there you will find the media greatly exaggerates everything.

I will provide a link below to my trip report. I cannot say this enough: Forget all the crap you've heard on the news and JUST GO!!!! :-D

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34950006

P.S. The mindless mistake would be NOT to go. :-)

You re not making a mindless mistake. Go to Israel and have a wonderful time. There really is no other country quite like it. We have a large family in Israel who lead active and productive lives, including going shopping and eating out, and are a lot less worried about their own safety than we are of theirs here in the States. There really is tons of security everywhere and they are not too timid about 'racial profiling.'

Anna Roz

I've been countless times and I will be going again this summer. I live in New Orleans and I think it is probably safer anywhere in Israel!

Thanks so much to all of you for your positive comments -- I'm booking my ticket now! And if you have specific itineraries/tips you'd care to share, I'd be most appreciative!

Go through the old and new testaments and choose places that you would like to see. Chances are they are still there. Other than the standard places like Jerusalem and Masada, I really liked Safad in the Gallilee, and the area around Lake Tiberius is interesting and not far from Safad.

The view of the old city of Jerusalem from the top of the Mount of Olives is wonderful. I am not sure if one is still allowed to go there but I think so. If the Intercontinental Hotel is still atop the Mt. of Olives, the view from the dining room was great.

The Bahai Temple complex in Haifa is quite beautiful. We also found Acco, just north of Haifa to be of interest.

Best of all, if you can, hire a State licensed guide. They go through long and rigorous training and are very knowledgable.

Thanks again to all of you. I'm now looking for hotel suggestions, and posted on the Africa/Mid East forum. If anyone has suggestions and/or recent experiences for hotels under $150/night, please share.

Pittsburgher, I answered you on the other forum but regards to spending all 6 nights in Jerusalem would advise maybe two nights in the Haifa area to save too much time on roads. Driving in Israel is not always a "relaxing " experience. Maybe the first two nights in the north and then 4 nights in Jerusalem which can be a jumping point for the Dead Sea,Ein Gedi, Beersheba and tel Aviv Yaffo.

Israel is an amazing country! I have been there twice, once for 6 weeks and once for 2 weeks. I have family there and cannot wait to go visit them again. In Jerusalem a horn sounds to start the Sabbath. And you must visit all four parts of the old city. It is amazing how you are walking through the Arab quarter and then all of the sudden you land in the Christian quarter. It is probably comparable to walking from world to world in Disneyworld (i would guess, I have never been to disney, just heard of it). Also, somewhere, I do not remember because I had gotten turned around, I stumbled across a great candle shop.

And the falafel!!!! I do not like fried foods, but goodness. Also, if you can, check out the sight from Hebrew U. It is beautiful.

It is also worth it to climb Masada at the butt crack of dawn to catch the sunrise. It is so peaceful (with all the other tourists, LOL)

Ben Yehuda street has a lot of great places to shop. If you are jewish, there is a great little kippot shop just off of it. And when I say little . . .Maybe 3 people can fit in to look around. I hope it is still there, because they can make anything. A friend of mine had one made of his favorite music group, 311. He basically designed it.

And of course there is the Dead Sea. If not to just float, we walked down the beach a bit and started digging for mud. My skin and hair never felt better! Cover your self from head (hair and all) to toe.

Tel Aviv was very American, big Cityish. It is not as historical as Jerusalem. And if you go south to it will be very tropic. I felt I was in Hawaii.

I am so jealous. Have a great time!
It really is safe. The media always hypes things up. The report the bombings because they do NOT happen everyday. If it were not safe, my family would not be there. We had family that did not leave Europe and know what repercussions there could be.