holiday in israel?
Discussion
for anyone who did the free jet2 flight comp. on friday, you should have an email if you've won by now.
i did and am pushing for israel, so was wondering if anyone here has been, what there is to see/do and what you thought of the country.
flights are into tel aviv, but i fancy checking out jerusalem etc. and also wondered if its possible/safe to visit palestinian territory. with the area being somewhat of a hot news topic i wouldn't mind seeing both sides, though obviously not if it means ending up chained to a radiator.
also, whens the best time to go?
i did and am pushing for israel, so was wondering if anyone here has been, what there is to see/do and what you thought of the country.
flights are into tel aviv, but i fancy checking out jerusalem etc. and also wondered if its possible/safe to visit palestinian territory. with the area being somewhat of a hot news topic i wouldn't mind seeing both sides, though obviously not if it means ending up chained to a radiator.
also, whens the best time to go?
well tel aviv is some distance for a bottle rocket so i'd be safe there, just seems silly to go and just tart about on the beach.
my dad went in the early 90's but hasn't much to offer as it was strictly business. his host was ex-mil and one of his stories involves guns and a high speed getaway. i am all for a bit of colour, just so long as its not crimson leaking on the floor.
my dad went in the early 90's but hasn't much to offer as it was strictly business. his host was ex-mil and one of his stories involves guns and a high speed getaway. i am all for a bit of colour, just so long as its not crimson leaking on the floor.
Tel-Aviv is the best city I have been to other than NYC, Nice and Rome (I have travelled a lot). It has the most amazing nightlife, food and the girls are gobsmackingly hot - either on the beaches with teeny-weeny bikinis or in Army fatigues.
Jerusalem at night is simply beautiful. It is all sympathetically architectured and lit up at night is great. The historical sights are very moving, even for an atheist! It is an hour or so from Tel-Aviv by bus and imho, the best way to get there for an overnight stay and 2 days there is enough.
Masada, Jericho and Jaffa all worth a visit as is Eilat.
Jerusalem at night is simply beautiful. It is all sympathetically architectured and lit up at night is great. The historical sights are very moving, even for an atheist! It is an hour or so from Tel-Aviv by bus and imho, the best way to get there for an overnight stay and 2 days there is enough.
Masada, Jericho and Jaffa all worth a visit as is Eilat.
Excitement seems unlikely unless you somehow manage to get into Gaza 
I've been on business a few times and it's just like anywhere else, with the not unwelcome addition of fit girls wandering around with machine guns (if you like that kind of thing 
). Can't help with any ideas for things to do I'm afraid as my leisure time was restricted to watching the sun go down over the Med from one of the many beach bars in Tel Aviv - which was all very pleasant at the end of a working day but hardly worth travelling for!
Summer will be stinking hot, winter never really gets cold but you probably wouldn't want to spend too much time on the beach. There's very little rain to speak of at any time of year. August is traditional holiday season so hotels and flights will be jam packed - avoid if you can.
I would guess that going to the West Bank isn't too hard but I suspect your travel insurance will be void as last time I checked it was on the list of Foreign Office 'no-go' areas. Gaza is obviously sealed off at the moment and even if it wasn't I don't think you'd get in.
I've been on business a few times and it's just like anywhere else, with the not unwelcome addition of fit girls wandering around with machine guns (if you like that kind of thing ). Can't help with any ideas for things to do I'm afraid as my leisure time was restricted to watching the sun go down over the Med from one of the many beach bars in Tel Aviv - which was all very pleasant at the end of a working day but hardly worth travelling for!Summer will be stinking hot, winter never really gets cold but you probably wouldn't want to spend too much time on the beach. There's very little rain to speak of at any time of year. August is traditional holiday season so hotels and flights will be jam packed - avoid if you can.
I would guess that going to the West Bank isn't too hard but I suspect your travel insurance will be void as last time I checked it was on the list of Foreign Office 'no-go' areas. Gaza is obviously sealed off at the moment and even if it wasn't I don't think you'd get in.
Go for it. It is the most incredible country - the cradle of civilisation etc etc. Probably the safest country in the world away from the border flash points and Hamas rocket range. More contrast than you can imagine (moonscape desert, mediteranean resorts, coral reef diving, ancient cities, etc all within a few hours drive of each other.
Be aware though: if you are flying El Al rather than charter on Thompson, Monarch etc the security at the El Al security channel is VICIOUS! You'll need to arrive three hours early and you'll be questioned extensively by Israeli security people in great detail. (eg What is the purpose of your visit? "Diving Holiday", Where is your dive card? Where did you learn to dive? How many times have you dived before? Have you been to Israel before? Yes. Where did you stay? Where did you go? Who did you meet there? What are their names? Where do they live"
It's all designed to put you under stress and reveal telltale signs of nervousness.
Be aware though: if you are flying El Al rather than charter on Thompson, Monarch etc the security at the El Al security channel is VICIOUS! You'll need to arrive three hours early and you'll be questioned extensively by Israeli security people in great detail. (eg What is the purpose of your visit? "Diving Holiday", Where is your dive card? Where did you learn to dive? How many times have you dived before? Have you been to Israel before? Yes. Where did you stay? Where did you go? Who did you meet there? What are their names? Where do they live"
It's all designed to put you under stress and reveal telltale signs of nervousness.
+1 on airport security. Easily takes 3 hours and be prepared to unpack/repack your cases at least twice and be questioned at the airport road entrance, at the building entrance, in the x-ray queue, while packing/unpacking for the umteenth time, at passport control, at 2nd x-ray, at gate etc etc.
The only thing that makes it bearable is having gorgeous security girls searching through your used underwear so take your best calvin kleins ;-)
Everyone speaks good English and like to practice it so you'll have no hebrew language problems.
You may want to avoid having the israeli stamp on your passport if you plan to travel to any muslim countries in the future e.g. maldives, indonesia.
The only thing that makes it bearable is having gorgeous security girls searching through your used underwear so take your best calvin kleins ;-)
Everyone speaks good English and like to practice it so you'll have no hebrew language problems.
You may want to avoid having the israeli stamp on your passport if you plan to travel to any muslim countries in the future e.g. maldives, indonesia.
Amaboknaai said:
Tel-Aviv is the best city I have been to other than NYC, Nice and Rome (I have travelled a lot). It has the most amazing nightlife, food and the girls are gobsmackingly hot - either on the beaches with teeny-weeny bikinis or in Army fatigues.
Jerusalem at night is simply beautiful. It is all sympathetically architectured and lit up at night is great. The historical sights are very moving, even for an atheist! It is an hour or so from Tel-Aviv by bus and imho, the best way to get there for an overnight stay and 2 days there is enough.
Masada, Jericho and Jaffa all worth a visit as is Eilat.
+ 1Jerusalem at night is simply beautiful. It is all sympathetically architectured and lit up at night is great. The historical sights are very moving, even for an atheist! It is an hour or so from Tel-Aviv by bus and imho, the best way to get there for an overnight stay and 2 days there is enough.
Masada, Jericho and Jaffa all worth a visit as is Eilat.
A visit to Ramallah is also worthwhile.
They will stamp your passport when you arrive & depart. That will make it difficult to get into Syria etc.
If you are concerned about this, you can ask them not to stamp the passport -they oblige and will provide a piece of paper which will have the incoming stamp and you have to give this up on the way out.
sounds just my cup of tea, thanks for the replies! i am especially heartened by the comments on the ladies
flying bargain basement superbudget airline so it should be a 'fun' experience. i heard about security from my dad, when he visited he had about 80kg's of electrical equipment and calibration devices. you can imagine they wanted to know every single detail and was questioned at gunpoint for about 4hrs on total!
i remember him having 2 passports at the time, one for arab countries and one for israel, to avoid hassle. one firend who wants to go has previously been to iran, will he be ok?
re: touring the country, hows it like driving over there or is it better to use trains/buses?
flying bargain basement superbudget airline so it should be a 'fun' experience. i heard about security from my dad, when he visited he had about 80kg's of electrical equipment and calibration devices. you can imagine they wanted to know every single detail and was questioned at gunpoint for about 4hrs on total!
i remember him having 2 passports at the time, one for arab countries and one for israel, to avoid hassle. one firend who wants to go has previously been to iran, will he be ok?
re: touring the country, hows it like driving over there or is it better to use trains/buses?
garycat said:
+1 on airport security. Easily takes 3 hours and be prepared to unpack/repack your cases at least twice and be questioned at the airport road entrance, at the building entrance, in the x-ray queue, while packing/unpacking for the umteenth time, at passport control, at 2nd x-ray, at gate etc etc.
The only thing that makes it bearable is having gorgeous security girls searching through your used underwear so take your best calvin kleins ;-)
Everyone speaks good English and like to practice it so you'll have no hebrew language problems.
You may want to avoid having the israeli stamp on your passport if you plan to travel to any muslim countries in the future e.g. maldives, indonesia.
I'd suggest getting a second pasport - perfectly 'normal' and easy to do - apply using the standard form for a replacement and tick the right box. Then you have one with the Israeli stamp in and one that you can use with the more strict Muslim nations in. You also can travel with one whilst the other is in the post having a visa stamp put in it.The only thing that makes it bearable is having gorgeous security girls searching through your used underwear so take your best calvin kleins ;-)
Everyone speaks good English and like to practice it so you'll have no hebrew language problems.
You may want to avoid having the israeli stamp on your passport if you plan to travel to any muslim countries in the future e.g. maldives, indonesia.
Israel is lovely country - visited on business few times and managed to travel around a bit and see much of the place. There are lots of Palestinian settlements you can go and experience - and have no problems whatsover - it's not really the Palestinians you need to avoid - just the more militant groups like Hamas, etc. That means Gaza is out, but believe me aside from experiencing almost ghetto-style life, you would not want to go there. Some great beaches in and around Tel Aviv and Hertzeleya and superb nightlife. Jerusalem is a 'must' and the Yad Veshem Santuary very impactful. Bethlehem only a short drive out of Jerusalem. The Dead Sea is a little touristy but you have to 'do it' - and try and take in Masada fortress whilst you're there. Hebron worth a trip. Biggest problem with Isreal I've found is that it's kinda like the SE of England in many ways - people are pretty rude, there is way too much trafiic, the trains are crap and most public amenities work very poorly.
But, and it's a big but, HOT, HOT women
enioldjoe said:
Do it. Make the effort and do a Desert Trek in the Negev. Camels, Jeeps, camping out under the stars, that sort of thing.
Amazing stuff!
Make sure you go and see the Ramon Crater, too.
We were on a road driving through the Negev which passes right through a large military camp, heading to an industrial Kibbutz. About 3 or 4 miles short of the camp we came over the brow of a dune/hill to find a helicopter gunship about 50 yards in front of us and about 5m higher than us with it's front canon training on us. I nearly shAmazing stuff!
Make sure you go and see the Ramon Crater, too.
t myself. My Israeli companion however laughed and explained that the helicopters often use civilian vehicles for 'target tracking' practise on that road. I did want to stop and take a picture but he warned me that probably wouldn't be agood idea.....Did a quick tour of Israel back in December 1997. Very interesting country IMHO and not just for the history and scenery. We did:
Ramon Crater
Massada
Dead Sea
Qumran Caves
Jericho
Tiberias
Golan Heights
Safed
Acco
Haifa
Nazareth
Caesarea
Jerusalem
Mount Scopus, Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane
Yad Vashem
Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulchre
None of us are remotely religious, but it was very interesting from a history point of view. I would go again.
Ramon Crater
Massada
Dead Sea
Qumran Caves
Jericho
Tiberias
Golan Heights
Safed
Acco
Haifa
Nazareth
Caesarea
Jerusalem
Mount Scopus, Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane
Yad Vashem
Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulchre
None of us are remotely religious, but it was very interesting from a history point of view. I would go again.
Amazing place- was very surprised by it to be honest, as was not what i was expecting.
Oh, and +100000 re: the airport security.
I fly BA there, so no hassles at LHR, and just immigration on entering israel...
but to get out of the country at TLV airport on ANY airlin is an absolutely horrible experience.
Aside from that, wonderful place.
Oh, and +100000 re: the airport security.
I fly BA there, so no hassles at LHR, and just immigration on entering israel...
but to get out of the country at TLV airport on ANY airlin is an absolutely horrible experience.
Aside from that, wonderful place.
Edited by GCH on Thursday 5th February 12:44
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