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Local Tour Hosts: COVENANT DAUGHTERS INTL Dr. Ruth Pauline Plummer

Entry into Israel

Israel’s Ministry of Health requires that the Israel Entry Form must be completed within 10 days before boarding a flight to Israel. Complete the online forms
at https://corona.health.gov.il/en/flights/aa and bring a copy of the confirmation page.

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Travel tips

Bring along your Bible. It is Israel's best guidebook!

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What Should I Pack?

In Israel, you should plan to dress casually. It will be warm in Israel, a bit cooler in the Jerusalem evenings. Select clothes that can be worn in layers if the weather changes.

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Choose comfort over fashion. Wearing expensive jewelry is a good way to attract unwanted attention. For the things you’ll need to carry with you, you may wish to consider purchasing an inexpensive but light-weight travel pouch which attaches around your waist and is worn under your clothes or a “fanny pack” usually worn over your clothes. These will be available at most big box stores or airport concession shops before you leave on your way to Israel. Travelers have different opinions regarding carrying wallets and purses. Some people believe it's safer to put valuables in a pouch or conceal them, others opt to bring only minimal valuables or to leave them in hotel safes, most of the hotel rooms have safes. Whichever you choose, just remember that attracting attention as a tourist is not normally the wisest course of action.

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We would strongly suggest taking a photo copy of your passport page with your photo and keep that in your carry on suitcase. Always, however, keep your actual passport with you (and ideally on you) at all times while traveling and while you’re in Israel.

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Do not over-pack ... One checked suitcase and one carry-on is allowed. An overweight or second suitcase can cost you an extra $100-$200 depending on your airline. Your checked suitcase should not exceed 50 pounds. You definitely want to leave some room in your suitcase for souvenirs. Keep in mind that you'll probably be moving around a good deal, packing and unpacking is less fun than relaxing and touring. “Travel light” is the rule of thumb. Another good idea, if you are traveling with a companion, is to cross-pack. (This means that you would put half of your items in your companion's luggage and vice-versa.) If you have to deal with any lost luggage, this makes it much easier.

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It is highly recommended that you bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Women should bring a scarf, and be prepared to cover their head and shoulders at most holy sites. Packing anything that is military green or camouflage is not prohibited, but is very strongly discouraged.

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Pack a swimsuit for floating in the Dead Sea, which is one of the world’s most unique experiences. And for Baptism in the Jordan river, make sure you are fully covered under the robe with something that can be seen.

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Purchase your electric converters and/or batteries before you travel to Israel. Most Best Buy stores or equivalent carries these.

It is a good idea to have some cash with you for emergencies and small purchases. Most places will honor your debit or credit card, but please inform your bank that you will be traveling in Israel so they don’t block your card when you choose to use it. Beware of money changers on the street and the American dollar works great in Israel. Most businesses accept credit cards. Credit card companies usually give you good exchange rates. The current exchange rate is $1 dollar = 3.2 shekels.

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Consider bringing a journal, even if you don’t normally keep one. Your trip to Israel will be packed with many moving experiences. The time you invest in making some notes of your thoughts, feelings and impressions will serve you well. And most smartphones will provide you an excellent electronic journaling opportunity.

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Travel Insurance

Many seasoned travelers are not aware that their health insurance will not cover them outside of the country. This insurance may be purchased through TraveLand. For a minimal amount of money, travel insurance is a strong consideration. If you need to cancel your trip due to an unforeseen emergency or serious illness, and since most of your trip is now nonrefundable, travel insurance will provide you a refund if the unforeseen occurs. In the event you become ill during your travels, finding and receiving medical care may be very frustrating. Travel insurance also covers lost baggage, and worldwide emergency assistance coverage. We highly recommend you cover yourself with your own insurance company with such travel insurance.

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Here is the link for the insurance http://www.travelinsured.com/agency?agency=37486&P=COGIC

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Medications

Before you travel to Israel, ask your doctor to write a prescription for any medications you may be taking with you in the event they are lost. Keep all of your medications in their original bottles or packaging and be sure to pack them in your carry-on, not your checked luggage.

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Final Preparations

Leave your Israel travel information with a family member or friend, include a copy of your passport, your flight itinerary, travel itinerary, hotel names and phone numbers. Bring a copy of your passport along with you, perhaps even exchange copies with another travel companion.

 

Sizes and weight of carry-on luggage are determined by the airline, so be sure to check with the airline on dimension requirements before you leave. Keep important items and documents with you at all times.

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Do not keep travelers checks, money, valuables or travel documents in your luggage.

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Make sure your luggage is clearly tagged on the inside and outside.
Check-in time for international flights is normally three (3) hours prior to departure. When checking in at the airport, a passport (valid for six months after your return date) is needed as proof of identification to enter Israel.

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Do not leave your luggage unattended for any length of time (no matter how short) or accept packages from strangers to carry on to the plane for them.

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Departure Day !!!!!

You're at the gate, the group is excited and ready to begin the tour – and the anticipation mounts. The day you have been waiting for is FINALLY here. After taking off and checking out all the neat little amenities and freebies, the novelty wears off. Hours and miles across the Atlantic yawn ahead of you. Here are some tips that will make the journey more fun for you .....

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Dress comfortably for the flight. Wear comfortable clothes that allow freedom of movement as you will most likely be trying to sleep on the flight. Wear shoes that slip on and off easily, which will help out as you pass through security as well as on the aircraft. Consider buying “flight compression socks” to help prevent swollen legs and ankles. Also consider bringing along a “neck pillow” that usually makes sleeping a bit more comfortable.

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You can minimize or even avoid jet-lag if you do not drink alcoholic, caffeinated or carbonated beverages. Choose natural fruit juices and water.

Before you leave, choose a good book that will keep you occupied for most of the flight. Before your return flight, buy another - not only will it pass the flight time quickly but it will become a souvenir of your trip.

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Safety

Here is a little experiment that you (and your travel partner) may want to try. Watch a local news program for your community on television. Then ask yourself, based only upon what you have seen on the news, whether your city sounds like a safe place to visit! How would you answer someone with the concerns raised by what they saw on the news? You’d likely say, “This is really a very safe place. Of course there are some places you’d want to be careful, or avoid at night if you were alone; but overall – you’ll really enjoy a visit here. Just come ahead, and plan on having a marvelous time.”

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The same is true about Israel! Forget just about everything you have read in the newspapers or seen on TV; because the media tend to focus on the negative aspects of everything. Overall, Israel is a very safe place to visit. Many of us consider Israel to be THE SAFEST place to visit. You are far more likely to run into trouble in any major U.S. city than anywhere in Israel.

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Communications

If you have a need or desire to call back home while in Israel, your cell phones may work but roaming charges and air time can be expensive. Simply contact your cell phone provider and request their international plan while in Israel. Be sure to let them know tat you need the plan to call the USA from Israel and NOT the plan to call Israel from the USA. Internet access is available in all hotels and on our bus. If for some reason you need assistance while in Israel, you may access emergency services by dialing 101.

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Climate

July temperatures are usually in the high 85's (31C) & 95's (34C).
Tel Aviv, and Tiberias will be hot and humid (like New York or LA). Jerusalem is dryer and cooler, particularly at night. Masada and the Jordan Valley are extremely hot (possibly above 95F (34C)...but dry.

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Tipping

COVENANT DAUGHTERS HOLY LAND TOURS collects $120 US dollars cash at the departure gate, or when you arrive in Israel. Why? Because Israel has strict guidelines for tipping and knowing when to tip, how much to tip, how often to tip, etc. can quickly become a tedious chore. We avoid this by recommending a collection of $15 per person per day (total $100) in the beginning of the trip to cover all the tips and gratuity throughout.

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The gratuity assessment is based on:

$7 a day PP for the guide
$5 a day PP for the diver
$3 a day PP for hotel dining room, maid service, and staff

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Shopping

Israel is a good place to buy souvenirs. Some of the old towns in Israel have bazaars, but the ultimate is to be found in the Old City of Jerusalem – Arab flea market style bazaar. Favorite things to purchase include leather goods, pottery, crafts, olive-wood carvings and hand blown glass.

We will have opportunities to shop and our guides could be helpful, but we do not want to create a shopping spree instead of a guided tour. There will be designated shopping opportunities.

Value Added Tax (VAT) Refund Tourists who have purchased items with a value exceeding $100 (including VAT) in stores that are registered with the Ministry of Tourism or in stores participating in the VAT-refund plan are entitled to a refund of VAT when they leave the country.

Stores that offer VAT refund service have a special sign.

To receive VAT refund, ensure that you get a receipt with a list of all the items you have purchased and details of the purchaser. The receipt and purchases must be put into a sealed bag. Then, at Ben Gurion airport (Israel) you should go to the “Change Place.” If you wish to send the items that you purchased with your luggage, you must

declare the purchase at the security check, and present your passport, flight ticket, purchases and receipts at the counter. The attendant will open the bag, examine the contents, sign the receipt, and refund the VAT in any currency minus a commission. The VAT refund can also be sent to your address abroad for an additional charge.

There is no VAT refund for the following items: food, drinks, tobacco products, electrical appliances, cameras, film or other photography equipment.

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Meals

Our tour package includes a full Israeli breakfast. If you have never been to Israel, prepare to be amazed. An Israeli breakfast buffet typically includes eggs served a variety of ways, cheeses of several kinds, rice, pastas, an assortment of breads, salads and fresh vegetables, a wide array of fish dishes, humus, a wide variety of olives, huge grapefruits and oranges, fruits of every sort, and much, much more. (It is not an exaggeration to say that you’ll want to bring your camera to breakfast!) Once you see the breakfast – you’ll understand why we do not include lunch!

We also provide for a full dinner each night we are in Israel, And this too is a FEAST, an array of familiar delicious dishes next to the local less familiar great dishes.. Overall, you’ll find the food in Israel to be excellent, tasty, healthy, and extraordinary.

We will stop for lunch during our daily tours (for those who didn’t fill up on breakfast...). A typical lunch can range from $15-$35. This can range from a sandwich and drink to a full meal.

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Electric Current

Most hotels in Israel will have 220 volts AC 50 Hz. You will need to bring
along the necessary converters and/or adapters to operate any 120 volts, 60 Hz appliances such as hair dryers, flat irons, clippers, electric razors, etc. You need no converters for cell phones and laptops.

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Current Rate of Exchange

The currency in Israel is the shekel, sometimes called the new shekel (NIS). As the economy fluctuates, it is wise to keep an eye on rates of exchange as you approach your departure date. We recommend that you withdraw money from ATM machines in Israel in order to get the best exchange rates (current rate is approx 3,2 NIS per 1 $US).

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Departing Israel

Israel's airport security is probably the tightest in the world, so we will arrive in plenty of time to pass through security and have our bags examined.... 3 hours before departure is highly recommended.

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Odds and Ends

Wear very comfortable shoes. The streets of Jerusalem can be hilly and uneven in places. You should NOT buy new shoes and bring them with you. Wear them first, break them in and make certain they are comfortable and sturdy. You do not want to realize when you are walking on the Mount of Olives that your new shoes are just a little too tight or too slippery.

Sight-see with your hands free! No one wants to walk around the city holding ten different shopping bags. Be sure to wear modest clothing when visiting any religious shrine.

Three languages are spoken in Israel: Hebrew, Arabic, and English. Communication should not be a problem.

Israel meets western standards of sanitation and no special precautions need to be taken. Both the water and food are safe to consume and medical facilities are quite up to US levels and are more than adequate, but we recommend ALWAYS drinking bottled water and not from the faucet.