Travel Guide for Israel
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Here you will find travel information and insider tips about Israel that has been cooperatively contributed by other friendly Hospitality Club members. Please become active as well, and share your vast budget travel and backpacking knowledge with other members and the internet community - it is very easy to edit any information here (more info in the Help File). We hope that these Travel Guides will quickly become a great and fun resource. If you want to print this guide out to take with you, we have prepared this Printer Friendly Travel Guide for you. Enjoy!
For Introduction, Top Things to See and Do, Neighboring Countries, Who is coming?, Want more guests!, Hospitality Club Meetings and the geographic navigation please see the main Israel Page.
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Basic Facts |
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Official Country Name: Israel
Capital: Jerusalem
Population: ~6-7M
Telephone Code: +972
Time Zone: +2
Area:
total: 20,770 sq km
land: 20,330 sq km
water: 440 sq km
Land boundaries: 1,017 km
Language(s): Hebrew and Arabic are official languages, but everybody speaks English
Ethnic Groups: Jewish, Muslim, Christian
Highest Mountain: Mt. Hermon
President/Head of State: Moshe Katzav
Government: Democracy
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Attractions and Things to See and Do |
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1. Israel has more museums per capita than any country on earth Including the legendary Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
2. Israel has a network of international-standard spa
resorts in the Galilee, at the Dead Sea and at Eilat.
3. Israel's club scene - particularly in Tel Aviv and
Jerusalem - is part of the Ibiza-Amsterdam-London scene,
drawing DJ's and club fans from North America
and Europe to all-night parties.
4. The Israeli la ... more |
Maps |
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Map of Israel with road system |
Off the Beaten Path and Insider Tips |
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Suggested Itineraries |
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1 Day, 1 Week, 2 Weeks, 1 Month ... |
Transport |
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Transportation:
Intercity public buses
Israel's Egged Bus Cooperative is the world's second
largest bus company (second only to London Transport),
offering frequent service between every city, town,
village, kibbutz and settlement in Israel. Services are
airconditioned, low-cost and efficient. Tel Aviv's Central
Bus Station is the world's largest. Most bus service halts
at sundown Friday and resumes at sundown Saturday.
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Accommodation |
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If you do not want to stay with other HC members, or noone is available, here is what other members suggest. Hostels Hotels Camping Other Options |
Food and Drinks and Local Specialties |
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Hummus
More popular than peanut butter! Healthier than
hamburgers! More fun than tuna fish! Hummus is the fastest
food of the Middle East and one that really
has no American equivalent. Its memory for untold
millions of tourists, pilgrims, travelers and
journalists who have tasted it, sung its praises, then
missed it mightily back home, have lifted hummus
to cult food status all over the world.
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Money and Costs |
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Currency
Israel's currency is the shekel, also called shekel hadash (new shekel); its name derives from an ancient biblical currency; the shekel replaced in 1980 the older Israeli pounds (lira yisraelit), which are now collectibles. Due to extreme inflation, the currency was again changed in 1985, hence the "new" shekel. Pay attention if you change money on the black market, they may try to give you pre-1985 out-of-use bills. On the fl ... more |
Visa and Documents and Embassies |
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Who needs a visa? How to get it? Embassies & Consulates, of the country abroad and in the country.
If you are a E.U or USA citizen a visa is not required. Check the Israeli embassy in your country prior to travel.
If your passport has stamps from other Middle East countries be prepared for a long wait and questioning.
Remember why you are there and remain calm and relaxed in response to their questioning. If you have any plans regarding visit to Palestine (excluding th ... more |
Borders and Customs |
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Post and Communications and Internet |
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Post, Telephone, Fax, Internet Access ... |
Questions and Answers or Forum |
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Here anything goes, you can post questions you have, and other members will answer you. If you do answer, please send the reply directly to the asking member as well, and try to integrate the information into the categories above. If too difficult to do, just answer right here and a volunteer will integrate in the future. Also, you can put thanks notes in here. Add new questions on top so they show up on the Travel Guide page. Please post messages not related to traveling or the aim of the Hospi ... more |
Hospitality Club Meetings |
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Use this section to add more info if you organize meetings and events (you can add a short note on the main country page). You can also invite other members to parties, sports events, whenever you would like to meet up with someone. |
Travelogues |
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Have you written a story about a trip to this country? Just paste your text in here and share your experience with other members. |
Photos |
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Here you can include photos that are hosted somewhere on the internet. As with maps, you have to make sure that it is ok for us to use the photos here (so they should be either your photos, or you should ask the owner), and that it is allright to call them up from here. |
Activities and Sports |
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Nightlife and Entertainment |
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Bars, Cafes, Discos, Cinemas...
Israel Has many cafes, restaurants and clubs
They stay open untill late infact Telaviv never sleeps.
Some places close on Saturday and Jewish holydays, but many stay open.
The Middle eastern (oriental, Mizrachit) restaurants are usually cheap and the food there is very good and tasty.
Popular and typical dishes at an oriental restaurant are:
1st course Hummus (Minced chick peas)
Salat (Mixed tomato and cucamber salad)
... more |
Population and People |
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Culture and Conduct or Local Customs |
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Language and Useful Phrases |
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Events and Holidays |
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Festivals, Sports, Concerts, Public Holidays... |
Climate and When to Go |
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Geography |
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Environment and Flora and Fauna |
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Dangers and Warnings |
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Tourist Traps |
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Health |
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History |
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Government and Politics |
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Economy |
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GDP, GDP per head, Annual growth, inflation, Major Industries, Major trading partners... |
Arts |
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Music, Literature, Theater, Movies ... |
Media |
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Newspapers, Radio and TV, Magazines ... |
Religion |
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Volunteer Opportunities and Work |
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Organized Tours |
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What to Bring or Packing List |
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Shopping |
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Books and Further Reading |
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Guidebooks, Travel, History and Politics
Please enter Amazon links to the books - we will put info on how to do this here shortly. This way we hope to get a bit of funding for the running of the club, if someone buys the books you recommend. |
Other Information |
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Could not fit it into any of the categories above? Put it here...:-) |
External Links |
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Official Country Website:
Only add really valuable resources here. Also, please ask the webmaster of the site you link here to add a link back to the Hospitality Club. If the link exists, please add (L) behind the URL of the link. |
Offtopic Messages |
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Here you can add messages that are not exactly related to the aims of the Hospitality Club (but related to the country). Do you need a visa invitation? Looking for an internship, job or a flat to rent? Just add this here, and if you are lucky other members will read it and contact you. Remember: do not send messages like this directly to members - after giving you this space here, we will fight spam even more strictly! |
Disclaimer: The Hospitality Club has no control over the information above and accepts no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone using this website. Please correct false information or send us feedback about it.
Copyright: Feel free to use the text on your website as long as you notify us and include a clearly visible link to www.hospitalityclub.org above the text. |
