Preparation for Your Trip

Preparation Tips are listed in Alphabetical Order

International travel is exciting, but it presents some issues for us. From phone service, to electrical outlets, to currency (et al), it's all different "over there." You can be ready for these inevitable changes with a little pre-planning. The following are helpful tips to ensure a safe and comfortable journey.

Climate: Israel is considered to be a subtropical region, between the temperate zone and the tropical zone. The northern and coastal regions of Israel are characterized by dry summers and cool, rainy winters; whereas the southern and eastern areas are noted for having an arid climate.

The rainy season extends from October to early May, and rainfall peaks in December through February. Rainfall varies considerably by regions from the North to the South. Highest rainfall is observed in the North and central parts of the country and decreases in the southern part of Israel, from the Negev Desert to Eilat where rainfall is negligible.

Heavy snow falls only in the northernmost part of the Golan Heights where Mt. Hermon's summit (9,232 ft above sea level) remains generally snow covered from December to March. In other parts of the country snow is rarely observed. The following is a range of temperatures [Fahrenheit] for the month of February in the areas we will visit:

Jerusalem - rarely  below 45, rarely above 70 

Galilee - rarely below 55, rarely above 75

The Dead Sea - rarely below 60, rarely above 80

Clothing: Dress is casual throughout. Comfortable pants, knit shirts, and blouses are standard wardrobe. There is a "modesty dress code" for many places of worship; no bare shoulders or knees. This applies to both men and women. I suggest no shorts (unless pant legs can be quickly zippered on) or sleeveless shirts/blouses (tank-tops) of any kind.

One or two pairs of good walking shoes with crepe soles or sport shoes with good support are a must. Keep in mind that many streets are cobbled and slippery when wet.

Currency: The currency of Israel is called the new shekel (NIS). You can exchange money at the airport, banks, and in hotels. Most all of the places visited on a Holy Land tour will accept USD. Debit Cards and major credit cards are also accepted. The current rate of exchange is 3.25 NIS for 1 USD. [Aug. 2022]

Electricity: Israel (as well as most of Europe) utilizes 220/240 VAC (alternating current voltage) with a frequency of 50 Hertz. Because in the states we use 110/120 VAC at 60 Hertz, our electrical devices are not compatible with European voltage without conversion.  However, almost all newer U.S. electronics have built-in converters and run on both voltages and frequencies. Check to see if the devices you will bring with you have a built in converter. If not, adapters are easy to obtain online or in stores that sell electronics. NOTE: Although Israel has three-pronged outlets, a two-prong adapter is best because it will also fit in most Middle Eastern countries. 

Your electronic device will tell you if it runs on both currents, but you may need good eyes to see it. Just look for INPUT: 100v-240v, 50/60Hz.

Food: Israel has great food! The price of the tour includes two buffet meals each day - breakfast and dinner at our hotels. Gratuities are covered in the price of your tour, so no tipping is necessary. 

ANN J. says, "The breakfast buffets in Israel are unbelievable - just great."

DAVE S. says, "One thing is for sure - you are bound to find things you like and you won't go hungry."

DAVE W. says, "I eat only plant-based foods and I was worried that I wouldn't find enough to eat on our tour. Was I ever wrong! As far as I can tell, there was food for every diet at our hotels."

RAYMOND R. says, "Breakfasts at even the most lavish European 5-star hotels (e.g., Hilton) pale compared to an Israeli hotel breakfast spread. Bon appetit!"

Holidays and Festivals: More than likely, you will not be on a tour during a National festival or holiday. It is very likely, though, that you will be there on a Shabbat. The Shabbat begins Friday evening at sunset and ends on Saturday evening at sunset. Virtually all Jewish businesses, government offices, and transportation shut down. (Hotels and other businesses that cater to tourists may have staff available for service).

The major Jewish holidays are:

Rosh Ha-Shanah - New Years (September)

Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement and ending of the New Year celebration. (September/October)

Sukkot and Simchat Torah - the Feast of Tabernacles and the Rejoicing in the Law, is an annual pilgrim festival. (September/October).

Purim - The story of Esther. It has an almost carnival-like atmosphere. (February/March)

Pesach - An annual pilgrim festival, Passover celebrates the Exodus from Egypt. (March/April)

Shavuot - An annual pilgrim festival, the Feast of Pentecost commemorates the harvest (May/June).

Hanukkah -The Festival of Lights (December).

Luggage: You are allowed one piece of checked luggage. The size of this piece cannot exceed 62 linear inches (H+W+D). A common size is 27x21x14 inches.

You are also allowed one carry-on. The current size restriction for the carry-on is 19x14x22 (including wheels). I suggest a smaller piece if you have one. Airlines are getting more and more restrictive in their carry-on policies. When we make the carrier known, go to their website to see if there is a weight restriction for carry-on. In my travels, some carriers limit the carry-on weight to as low as 16 lbs.

You are also allowed one personal bag such as a purse, computer case, backpack, briefcase, et al. All personal carry-ons MUST fit under the seat in front of you.

Your luggage must have a name tag securely fastened to it. I suggest you put a copy of your itinerary with the name and address of our hotels included in your program inside your luggage in the unlikely event you and your bags get temporarily separated. This information will help minimize any delay in retrieving lost luggage.

Refer to your copy of Let's Go to Israel: A Christian Guide to the Holy Land (pages 24-26) for essential things to bring with you.

Medications: I have yet to find an official policy that states clearly what you are allowed, or not allowed, to bring with you into the country. In principle, bring whatever medications you need, or think you need, using the following guidelines:

Pack your medications in your carry-on luggage. That way, if your luggage is lost in transit, you won't be in immediate need of a doctor to get a prescription.

Bring enough medications to last your entire trip plus a few extra in the event of travel delays.

If you are taking a controlled substance like Vicodin, Oxycodone, Hydracodone, et al, bring them in the original labeled containers.

It's a good idea to bring a letter of need and a prescription from your doctor in case you and your meds get separated and you need to pick up a new supply. Most pharmacies in Israel will ask for a prescription written by a local doctor, but the only time this happened on one of my trips, the letter and prescription from the US doctor was sufficient.

With regards to over-the-counter medications, bring quantities that are reasonable for personal use. These can be mixed in a "baggie", if you wish, so long as you know what each different pill is used for. It might be a good idea to make a note in your phone as to pill color, markings, and dosage - you certainly don't want to take too much or too little of something essential when you are in unfamiliar surroundings and you have an unexpected memory lapse! 

Here is a SHORT list of over-the-counter drugs you may want to consider bringing with you. Medication for:

Diarrhea

Headaches

Insect bites

Allergies

Upset Stomach

Motion Sickness

Jet lag (if you are susceptible)

Passport: It is a good idea to put a copy of your passport in your luggage while traveling as well as leave another copy of it with your emergency contact person. While traveling in the Holy Land, you should keep your passport on your person at all times, or at least keep it in your purse or bag that you carry onto the tour bus, just in case of an emergency.

Your passport must be valid for six months past our return date.

Phone Service: Most of today's phones will operate in Israel. It may be as simple as contacting your service provider with the dates you will be abroad (there may be a fee associated with your international calls).

You can rent phones via the Internet or locally in Israel.

Use APPS for phone calls when you are connected to WiFi. WhatsApp, Skype, and FaceTime are three of the most popular APPS for making WiFi phone calls. There is no charge for calls when you are connected wirelessly using these APPS.

The critical issue when using your phone abroad is data usage. It can be VERY expensive! Before you travel abroad, be familiar with how to monitor your data. The Budget Minded Traveler has a "Cell Phone Guide" with excellent information regarding use of your cell phone overseas: https://thebudgetmindedtraveler.com

Safety: Without a doubt, the number one question I get from people when considering a trip to the Holy Land is: Is it safe?

I wish I could dispel all your doubts and fears in this post, but I really don't know how to do that. I can only tell you that in my dozens of trips, I have never had any fear of safety.

One thing that has helped me over the years, is a conversation I had with a tour company owner. He told me in the thirty-plus years he had been organizing tours, not even a single guest had been evacuated for safety concerns. He told me about evacuations for medical emergencies, family and business issues, and things of that nature - but none for safety!

Finally, I have found that for many, their perception of the danger in going to the Holy Land has a lot to do with the media and how it represent events there. At one of our reunions a man admitted, "I thought I would see a terrorist behind every bush." Nothing could be further from the truth. You are more likely to be injured driving from your home to the airport for your trip than of being attacked by a terrorist on your tour!

That being said, there are some things that you can do to avoid exposure to uncomfortable situations:

Always stay with your group and don't wander off to explore things on your own. Your guide and driver, by keeping in touch with tour operators, are knowledgeable of potentially troublesome areas and will avoid those places.

Remain low-keyed in your behavior and dress. Loud and obnoxious behavior only draws attention in your direction. Likewise, avoid wearing clothing that announces your nationality or advertises your side of a political conflict. On my first trip to the Holy Land, my tour host and mentor said, "Avoid the 'Ugly American' stereotype." Those words are just as valuable today.

Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is highly recommended. You can choose from a simple trip cancellation policy to a comprehensive policy that includes medical and hospitalization, loss of luggage, and trip cancellation. Your own insurance company may carry trip insurance or they may have a good recommendation. One of the many good companies is Travelex Insurance Services: https://www.travelexinsurance.com/

TSA Information: The following is the latest information from the TSA website regarding liquids with your carry-on luggage:

3-1-1 for carry-on = 3 ounce bottle or less; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3 oz container size is a security measure.

Be prepared! Each time TSA searches a carry-on it slows down the line. Practicing 3-1-1 will ensure a faster and easier checkpoint experience.

3-1-1 is for short trips. If in doubt, put your liquids in checked luggage.

Declare larger liquids. Prescription medications, baby formula and milk (when traveling with an infant or toddler) are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint.

Walking on our Tour: One of the top five questions I receive has to do with walking on our tour: Is there a lot of walking involved? Our tour bus will get us as close to the sites as possible. Still, we will average 3-4 miles per day. Keep in mind the walking is done in small increments throughout the day. You will have frequent opportunities to rest.

I highly recommend that you prepare for the tour by starting to walk now; about 1-3 miles per day. If you haven't walked recently, start slowly to build up your stamina. Consult your physician if you think you have limitations in this area.

Israel is a land of hills and valleys and we will walk up and down many of them. Many sites are archaeological sites that are hundreds, if not thousands of years old. So, the terrain is often rough and rocky. With tongue-in-cheek, I like to remind my guests that OSHA didn't exist in biblical times! Most likely there will be no handrails on steps, and the steps may not be uniform in size. Therefore, focus and concentration are sometimes needed to avoid trips or falls. 

Walking on a Holy Land trip is different than walking in a gym on a treadmill. Those are good to build up stamina, but I suggest you add outdoor walking as well. Traversing trails off the beaten path not only builds up your ankle strength, but will make you more proficient and confident as you negotiate uneven terrain.  

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