Tips for Israel trip ( based on trip
end 2003/early 2004):
Well, hope this
helps those who are planning to go soon.
Those who went recently do update me, so I can do revision Linda J
1. Items to bring
1.1
Towel & toiletries –
*for
Gideon's spring (if you are swimming) (can bring from hotel)
*we
did have lunch at a hot water spring call DAN (u can swim here too, pity We
were not informed!)
*for
Dead Sea => you can try to bring a towel from hotel (keep it low key) Wear
old t-shirt,shorts & undergarments that u can throw away, no point washing,
just throw it away. Shower there no doors only curtain!
1.2
Clothing –
Winter clothing - for Golan Heights; can
be as low as 5 Deg C in Nov. Should be colder in Dec/Jan.
Long John - Dec/Jan group can consider to bring
long john.
T-shirts - Suggest to bring many T-shirts as inner
layer.
Jumpers - Bring a few jumpers to keep warm
as outer layer.
Windbreaker - A good windbreaker is a must.
Glove /hat/ scarf – A wollen pull over
cap is good, one that fits and not get blown off easily!
Sneakers/Slipper – wear a good pair for
long walks & hiking. Bring slipper
for Dead Sea
(Actually
if u wore a long sleeve T and have a good overcoat should be sufficient, (was
for me!) I put on the long johns and a jumper for Golan heights and took it off
when we went for lunch later- note I was there when snow was on the floor, with
rain coming down, it was reallllly Very cold- But no worries u can go into the
restaurant and order hot soup & hot cocoa to warm up!- hee hee, to go
washroom it’s out into the cold and right at the back of restaurant)
*
Pack a set of clothing in your hand carry, in case your luggage goes missing!!
(it happened to me and 5 others, had to go buy clothing when I arrived!, the
rest of group thot I so shopperholic! )
1.3
Umbrella/raincoat - bring along umbrella or
raincoat, it does rain.
1.4
Bags - Bring extra bag or bigger bag to put the
things you will be buying.
1.5 Adaptor Plug 
2. Money
2.1
Exchange rate (approximately
in Jan 2004):
Shekels
US$1.00 :
4.4
S$1.00 :
2.5
Exchange rate in SuperMart @ Shopping
Mall at Jerusalem about = 4.1 Shekels to US$1
2.2
Acceptable currency: Most places accept US$ but the exchange rate is not as
good. A few shops only accept Shekels.
2.3
When shopping, check price tag is using US$ or Shekels. They may tag
differently even in the same shop.
3 Where/What to Buy
3.1 Jerusalem mall:
·
Lots
of clothing shop, with a dept store, about 2 household shop, food court
MUST TRY->Aroma Café is here!
–recommended by Amir nice coffee with chocolate.
·
*Most
shops in this Mall accept only shekels, so change before u shop
·
supermarket
@ basement - mineral water & local products like dried dates & figs
Local Chocolate, brand wording looks like
nify J
with Cow picture on front , red packaging
It cost 4.40 shekel for a pack with 8
pieces. Smaller bars 2.8 shekel, u can buy the assortment
In a big pack to try their different
types (It’s very nice !) Oh! For those of u who like the Metza
Bread u can get it here.
3.2
Ben Guryon Airport: (can buy on your return
trip)
Location- A big store around Gate 40
What to buy- Red wine at US$11.9, buy 3 get 1 free. Ave of 4 = US$9
each. Best red wine - Golan.
They had offer for the nify choc here buy 3 get 1 free.
·
Keep the Sheraton Hotel’s key card pack, can exchange for a pendent
at the airport., look for the counter
·
Also remember to claim your VAT (GST)
3.3
Qumran Cave:
-will have lunch at a
restaurant which also has a shop that sells dead sea product
Dead
Sea products - best varieties, may get good offers too. Can consider mud soap
as small gifts; packet of 9 for US$36.
Assorted small hand/foot cream, spa buy 3 for US$9.90
You
may use Credit card to pay here. Exchange rate is reasonable at about S$2.54
(for OCBC credit card).
3.4
River Jordan:
(This is where u get to
eat St Peter fish for lunch)
Generally,
things here are pretty expensive. Can still consider date honey & jam. 3
bottles for US$10.
3.5
Ancient Boat Museum: (Prices in US $)
Lots
of books here u can get on Israel
T-shirts
- US$14, buy 3 get 1 free. Better quality/variety.
Key
Chains – Can get 3 for US$10. Design/quality/variety may be better here.
Mezuza
-good variety wood & other type of finish
Ornaments
– some people bought ornaments from
here.
3.6
Olive Wood gift shop:
T-shirts - US$7,
cashier may charge US$8 but you can tell them we bought at US$7.
Same brand as
those in Ancient Boat Museum but variety/design aren’t as good.
-
4
for US$10 T-shirts, quality not as good. Same as those selling along the
roadside.
Buy
the Olive Wood communion cups from here, they
have the varies sizes
Ornaments
– some people bought ornaments from here
too.
Star
of David pendent, Breastplate pendent available here
3.7
Road side merchandise:
T-shirts:
4 or 5 for US$10, quality not as good. Design - quite ok. Size – need to
search.
Jerusalem
City photo – long ones. 1 types; 1 with building names, the other without. Both
at US$1 each. Advisable to get the one with building names.
3.8
Tiberius: (If staying in Sheraton Hotel)
Nice streets to
walk and shop- there is a dept store nearby
U
can get fresh fruits here there is a fruit shop not far from hotel that also
sells spices
U
can also get cheaper menorahs here
U
can get dried fruits / sweets/ chocolate/nuts etc at a shop nearby
(ask me to draw
a map for u where to buy what, if u
really going)
3.9
Jerusalem street (Old City)
-we had lunch here, then went to a shop that gives us a better discount (u
will be lead there by a guide, keep close together or else u get lost in the
maze !!! it’s actually free and easy a
bit after lunch, some went to a tower museum here
4.0
Mt of Beautitude
- just at the
entrance u can get trinklets, rings, pendants
4.1
Your names in Hebrew pendent /ring (gold/silver)
- your first day
there during dinner, the local guide will arrange for the jeweler to come
you place your order and u get it a few days
before your last day in Israel.
-U need to ask
your guide, as I was not informed and so did not order any!
4. Where/What to be careful - We were advised by the
local Tour Guide of the following
4.1 Mount Of Olive,
Jerusalem – many pick pockets. Don’t bring your whole wallet, just bring about
US$15 to buy T-shirts or Jerusalem City photo (the long one). (Bring small change as we had only like 15
mins and have to rush off)
4.2.
Jerusalem City, where the Arabs stay
- some pick pockets.
-The
shops may also cheat on the quality and price of items you may buy.
-
Need
to be daring to BARGAIN.
4.3 Dead Sea
– While at the Dead Sea, do NOT wash your face with the sea water. The sea
water will get into the eyes and it’d be painful and you can’t open your eyes.
If it happens, let others lead you to the washing point to wash your eyes.
Wear slipper in, as it has rough pebbles, might cut your feet, painful,
as it’s very salty water! If u have sensitive skin- careful, may not be too
good to stay too long (I had a bit of rash) and u might want to give the mud
bath a miss.
(Before hand ask around for those not
going into the water to take your photos- hand the camera to them after u have
changed. Ladies ONLY 6 shower compartments and only 3 had torn shower curtain,
so be the first to go into water and first to rush to shower! Then u can order
the expensive freshly squezzed orange juice and relax/or bring yr own water
4.4 Lost
Baggage- Must (INSIST) report lost baggage under your own name,
otherwise insurance cannot claim
-Do
not lock your luggage, buy a bag belt, as they need to open & check your
bag in Bangkok, if u
lock, they will intercom and ask for u, a lot of hazzle as u will delay
everyone. Pls remember your lock no hor!!
4.5 Long toilet
Qs - Ah… as usual there will be more ladies, so get the guys to go
toilet asap, then stand guard at the MALE toilet and let half the ladies use
the toilet, that way, it’s a lot quicker
5. Food
5.1
All meals provided –buffets at hotels
5.2 Mainly
Mediterranean food. 2 or 3 meals were Chinese food. (don’t expect great Chinese
food!)
5.3
Food at kibuts – very good
6. Water (Quite salty, so advisable to get mineral water)
6.1
Suggest to bring a small bottle of water along
wherever you go.
6.2 1st hotel in
Galilee (Sheraton) - NO mineral water provided
but there is a kettle to boil water. You can buy big bottle mineral water from
a nearby provision shop, 200m away. (Ask
the airline for a big bottle when on board, that’s what some did) Sheraton also gives u coffee/tea sachet in
room. {Many of us fill up plain water
during breakfast at the buffet!!!}
6.3
2nd hotel in Jerusalem (Regency) - has NO
mineral water/kettle. They may ask you to pay if you request for hot drinking
water at your room. You may top up your bottle during meals. (No coffee/tea
sachet in room)
6.4
Bus driver sells a bottle (500ml) of mineral
water at US$1
6.5
Tap water - was told by my bus Captain that the
tap water is drinkable.??
7. Photo taking
7.1
Try to ration your photo taking according to
the number of films you have brought along else you may not have enough.
7.2
Digital camera- u can download and save daily, so u can take lots daily.
8. Hotel facilities:
8.1
Sheraton Hotel - did not have time to explore.
8.2
Regency Hotel - there is a spa with hot water
swimming pool, 2 gyms, & massage service.
- Charges 35 Shekels
per day (gym/pool)
- Provides massage at extra cost.
Opening hours: Weekdays till 10pm
Fri till 5pm
Sat till 7pm
9. Bus Captains - Suggestions for Bus
Captains
9.1
Always do a head count before the bus moves off
9.2
When collecting tips for Tour Guide/Driver:
- Get a helper when collecting tips. He
can act as a witness as well
- Bring along a calculator, pen &
paper.
9.3
Suggest to get everyone to self-introduce on
the 3rd or 4th day.
10. VAT (Tax) Rebate:
10.1 You can obtain the rebate of 15.25%
to 18% of your merchandise from
Israeli airport upon returning if you spend more that US$100
10.2 The
shop will help you to fill up a form for claiming your rebate when you spent
more than US$100. You need to bring this form to the airport to claim your
rebate. Your merchandise can be packed in your check-in bag as they do not
require them to be present upon claiming VAT.
10.3
Understand that there are a few levels of taxes. Percentage of VAT rebate
depending on what/where you buy your merchandise.
10.4
There will be a US$4 admin fees when you claim your rebate.
11. Telephone Rates:
11.2 Phone Calls
11.2.1 Outgoing calls - Using the GlobalDial back service is so far the cheapest.
Cheapest - For SingTel,
call: *121* (country code) (tel no) #.
Wait for the operator to call you back after connecting to
the person.
Partner Comm: each outgoing call = S$7.69 /min !!!
11.2.2 Incoming call – Singtel AutoRoam = S$1.4
/min
11.3 SMS
11.3.1 Cellcom : each SMS = S$0.66
11.3.2 Partner Comm: each SMS =
S$1.34
11.4 Suggestion:
11.4.1
To
set your Network provider to Cellcom at Manual mode instead of Auto detect for
Network.
11.4.2
To
use call back service for outgoing calls.
12. Look
out:-
a-
Garden
of Gethsemane - clover leaves with spots
looks like blood sprinkling ~Jesus prayed till blood drop!
b-
Mount
of Olives- torn twig- u can see how long the torns are
c-
At
Temple Mount- on your right u can see Mt Olives and see the Palm Sunday route that Jesus took. When on Mt
Olive u look back toward this spot in temple mount.
d-
Sea
of Galilee outing- At breakfast bring along a bag to take lots of bread for
feeding the seagulls.
e-
Holy
Communion at Garden Tomb u can keep the cup for souvenir. Pretty cramp, wait
till all have had a chance to go in stay back a little to take photo in and
close the door to take photo at entrance of tomb.
f-
Marriage
Renewal vows at Tabhga & Holy Communion u can keep the cup for souvenir
g-
Church
of Holy Serpulcher- quite dark & eeri inside, but u can go take a look
h-
David’s
tomb, guys need to wear kipar , they have paper ones there for u”)
i-
In
Jerusalem, some young folks cannot sleep, so they went into town, walking
distant ok lor!
Not
advisable for older folks, rest u need it as u do a lot of walking. Go out in
groups if u have to!
j-
The
real Jordan river- look out for exposed land mines around (ah…no toilet
facility here!)
k-
Western
Wall- FOR FUN only hor- write your petition, you can slip it into the cracks in
the wall
U
gotta be tall, as most of the lower portion, no more space “)
·
The
Israel tour group does a special arrangement for the immigration staff to come
to the hotel
to process our luggage the last nite before
departure the next day, as the tour is arranged such that u tour right to the
last minute(no need waste time go airport early & wait). The luggage will
be taken to the airport direct for check in. U will have to pack an overnight
handcarry to last u till the next day. When they check your bags, they will ask
questions, if u had been in contact with any local person,etc after they check, then u lock your bags.
Lastly-
no worries if u miss this and that when on your first trip! I did and will want
to go back a second time and take in the sights I missed. It’s too much to
absorb on your first trip there. After I got back and exchange notes with
others who went on different months, I would want to go again to see what they
saw which I missed.
U
can do a dairy of your trip, bring a small note book and keep track, good for those who want to file
their photos properly according to dates and places. Also good as I have
forgotten what places I passed by which is not printed on our itinerary list.
I
downloaded this after my trip back, should have dome earlier, so can at least
do a bit of greeting in their lingo.
Well,
relax and enjoy God on your trip! Bon Voyage!
Do you speak english? Ata medaber anglit?
How to get to...? Eich Magi'im le…?
What is tour name? Eych korim lecha?
Picture Tmuna
Nice to meet you Nayim Mayod
What time is it? Ma hasha'a?
How much does this cost? Kama ze ole?
The bill, please. Cheshbon, bevakasha
All right/ o.k. Beseder
Please Bevakasha
Thank you Toda
I Ani
Mine Sheli
You Ata
(m), At (f)
Excuse me Sleecha
Good Evening Erev tov
Good morning Boker tov
Hello/Goodbye Shalom
Bon apetite Bete'avon
Hebrew Ivrit
Post Office Do'ar
What is this? Ma zeh?
A cup of tea Kos Te
A cup of coffee Kos Kafe
What? Ma?
What's Up? Ma kore?
How are you? Ma nishma?
What's new? Ma chadash?
When? Matai?
Where? Eyfo?
Why? Lama?
Yes Ken
No Lo
I do not understand Ani lo Mevin
To where? L'aan?
Ice Cream Glida
Water Mayim
Great (slang) Achla/ Sababa
Taxi Monit
Shopping Center Canyon
Restrooms Sherutim
Car Oto
Bus Otobous
Money Kesef
ATM Caspomat
Do you have? Yesh lecha?
Hotel Malon
I love Israel
