Welcome to Israel. Please find below some useful information.
Airport security:
For national flights to/from Eilat: tourists must be at the airport for the security check 1.5 hours prior to departure.
For international flights: tourists must be at the airport for the security check 3 hours prior to departure; tourists flying business or first class, 2 hours prior to departure.
Arrival and Hotel Transfers
On your arrival, our Kenes Tour representative will meet you immediately after passport control. Our representative will lead the group to the bus where your guide and driver will be waiting for you. For travelers arriving in Israel on their own, there is transportation ready to take you to your destination.
From Ben Gurion Airport – there is a taxi stand outside the arrival hall. All rates are set from the airport to a specific town. No meter will be switched on.
If taking taxis outside of Ben Gurion Airport, be sure to ask the driver to use the meter. If he/she refuses, look for another driver who will. All licensed taxi drivers use white cars with a green “taxi sign” and have their name and license number inside the car.
Buses/Trains
All buses and trains stop operating an hour before sunset on Friday through to sunset on Saturday.
Handicapped Facilities
Israel places enormous importance on providing comfortable conditions for travelers with disabilities. Considerable efforts and resources have been invested to enable the handicapped to visit destinations and attractions and receive service comparable to that received by the general public.
When making dinner plans, check with your hotel as to recommended restaurants that can best accommodate your needs. Should you require handicapped facilities, please contact our office.
Time difference in Israel
Israeli Standard Time is seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, U.S.A.
Currency:
Israel Currency and Bank Information
The currency in Israel is the New Israeli Shekel (NIS). Each shekel is divided into 100 ‘agurot’ (singular ‘agura’). NIS bills are in denominations of 200, 100, 50 and 20 shekels. Coins are in denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10 shekels, and 50 and 10 agurot. One may bring an unlimited amount of local and foreign currency into Israel in cash, travelers’ checks, letters of credit and State of Israel Bonds. Foreign currency may be exchanged at any bank and at many hotels.
Bank operating hours (generally): Sunday through Thursday from 8:30 am ─12:30 pm and from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm.
TIP: The most convenient way to obtain currency is through Bank ATM machines, which can be found throughout Israel. Enter your numeric pin number and receive shekels debited in U.S. dollars to your account. The exchange rates are up to standard at the local banks.
Electricity:
Israeli currency is 220 vaults (USA is 110) ─make sure to bring adaptors or ask the hotel reception if they have available. Some hotels might ask for a deposit when handing out the adaptors/transformers.
|
Adaptors |
Israeli electric plug |
 |
Weather:
|
|
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| Jerusalem |
C
F |
6-11
43-53 |
7-14
44-57 |
8-16
44-61 |
12-21
53-69 |
15-25
60-77 |
17-27
63-81 |
19-29
66-84 |
19-29
66-86 |
18-28
65-82 |
16-26
60-78 |
12-19
54-67 |
8-14
47-56 |
| Tel Aviv, |
C
F |
9-18
49-65 |
9-19
48-66 |
10-20
51-69 |
12-22
54-72 |
17-25
63-77 |
19-28
67-83 |
21-30
70-86 |
22-30
72-86 |
20-31
69-89 |
15-28
59-83 |
12-25
54-76 |
9-19
47-66 |
| Haifa |
C
F |
8-17
46-63 |
9-18
47-64 |
8-21
47-70 |
13-26
55-78 |
15-25
58-76 |
18-28
64-82 |
20-30
68-86 |
21-30
70-86 |
20-30
68-85 |
16-27
60-81 |
13-23
56-74 |
9-18
48-65 |
| Tiberias |
C
F |
9-18
48-65 |
9-20
49-67 |
11-22
51-72 |
13-27
56-80 |
17-32
62-89 |
20-35
68-95 |
23-37
73-98 |
24-37
75-99 |
22-35
71-95 |
19-32
65-89 |
15-26
59-78 |
11-20
53-68 |
| Eilat |
C
F |
10-21
49-70 |
11-23
51-73 |
13-26
56-79 |
17-31
63-87 |
21-35
69-95 |
24-37
75-99 |
25-40
77-103 |
26-40
79-104 |
24-36
75-98 |
20-33
69-92 |
16-28
61-83 |
11-23
51-74 |
| Dead Sea |
C
F |
11-20
53-68 |
13-22
56-72 |
16-25
61-78 |
20-29
68-85 |
24-34
75-93 |
27-37
80-99 |
28-38
83-102 |
29-38
83-101 |
27-36
81-96 |
24-32
75-90 |
18-26
65-80 |
13-21
56-71 |
Dress
Casual clothes and good walking shoes are recommended for touring. Religious sites require modest dress, i.e. shoulders need to be covered; some churches require the men to wear long pants.
Water
Tap water is drinkable, but tourists may prefer to drink filtered or mineral water.
The Jewish Sabbath and Holidays
The Sabbath and all Jewish holidays begin at sundown and end the following night when it gets dark. Banks, businesses and public institutions are closed at these times. In major cities, many restaurants, movie theaters, nightclubs and shopping malls remain open. Please note that in Jerusalem, certain neighborhoods have restaurants and movie theaters open, but shops are closed, except for in East Jerusalem. On the holiday of Yom Kippur in the Fall, taxi services are available ─all other public transportation is not. The eve of Yom Kippur is traffic-free in most areas of the country, leaving the roads open for kids on bicycles and skates and pedestrians.
Suggested Tipping
Tips for your guide and driver are not included in the cost of your tour. The following suggestions are guidelines for tipping and are provided for your reference:
- 4 seater ─ $70 (i.e. 2 pax) per day
- 7 seater ─$90 (i.e. 3-5 pax) per day
- 10 seater ─$110 (i.e. 5-7 pax) per day
- 10-19 passengers: Guide $10, driver $5 – per participant per day
20 passengers and more: Guide $8, driver $4 – per participant per day
- Porter: Included in your package
Newspapers in Israel
The local, international newspapers and periodicals are available in a number of languages. For English, look for The Jerusalem Post or Haaretz English Edition, this comes bundled with the International Herald Tribune.