Toll Free (USA & Canada) +1 866 978 2997
LANGUAGE
Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages of Israel. Other languages include English, French, Hungarian, Polish, Russian, Spanish and Yiddish. A large proportion of the population speaks English.
RELIGION
Judaism (approx 76% of the population), Islam (approx 17% of the population) Christianity (approx 1.6% of the population) & other
LOCAL TIME
Israel Standard Time (IST) is 2 hours ahead of GMT.
ELECTRICITY
220 volts - Sockets are of the European, two-pronged variety.
PASSPORT & VISA
A valid passport is required by all nationals. All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour. Please ensure that passport/s are valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the intended date of return and contain between 2-6 blank “Visa” pages. You should have at least two free pages in your passport. Please access the Travel & Visa Requirements Section on the top of this page for the latest visa entry requirements for the country/ies you are visiting. Passports are required; in addition, travelers are also advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is the sole responsibility of the traveler.
LOCAL CURRENCY
The monetary unit in Israel is the New Shekel (ILS). New Shekel (ILS; symbol ₪) = 100 agorot (singular, agora). Notes are in denominations of ₪200, 100, 50, and 20. Coins are in denominations of ₪10, 5, 2 and 1, and 50 and 10 agorot.
XE.com is a useful site for currency conversion.
MONEY EXCHANGE, CREDIT CARD & ATM
Banks and Bureau de Change facilities can be found everywhere in Israel. US Dollars are the easiest to exchange, but most major currencies are accepted. ATMs are widely available and credit cards are also generally accepted.
Banking hours:
Sun-Fri 0830-1200 and Sun, Tues, Thurs 1600-1800 although these can vary slightly between banks
COMMUNICATION & EMAILS
Telephone:
All hotels offer direct dial phones, but these can be pricey. Calling cards can be bought from newsagents and used in phone booths, or newsagent coin-operated phones. The international dialing code for Israel is +972.
Mobile phone:
Mobile phone connections are excellent, even in rural areas, and roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. It is possible to rent mobile phones or sim cards in Tel Aviv airport.
Internet:
Internet is widely available, and Wi-Fi is commonly found in cafés and hotels.
Post:
Post office branches can be widely found throughout the country. Postal services include registered mail, express, EMS and poste restante. FEDEX and DHL are also represented. Airmail to Europe or the US takes up to one week.
Post office hours:
May vary but are generally Sun-Tues and Thurs 0800-1200 and 1530-1830, Wed 0800-1330 and Fri 0800-1200. All post offices are closed on Shabbat (Saturday) and holy days, although central telegraph offices are open throughout the year.
CLOTHING
As a general guideline, clothing should be lightweight, loose fitting, hard-wearing and easily washed. In Israel's hot summer months, cotton clothing is much more comfortable than man-made materials like nylon. You should bear in mind that Israel has conservative attitudes towards dress, particularly in remote and religious areas. Clothes should be casual and practical: convention demands that long trousers are worn when visiting Jewish and Christian holy places and women must cover their arms, legs and head. The issue is not nearly of such importance in ‘touristy’ areas where you can be just about as casual as you like.
WEATHER & CLIMATE
While Israel’s climate varies from region to region, the rule of thumb is that Israel is temperate and has two main seasons – cool and rainy between April-September and warm/hot and dry, which is roughly October-March. Israel’s climate is not extreme, so you can actually travel at any time of the year. The start and end of summer is particularly nice, so October and November and March-May is the ideal times to travel.
MEALS
Approximate costs for meals and snacks not included are shown below:
DRINKS
Tea and coffee are provided with breakfast but all other drinks (i.e. bottled water and soft drinks) are at your own expense. Approximate costs for drinks bought in a shop in the street are shown below but note that prices in restaurants and hotels can be as much as double those specified.
It is not recommended that you drink the local tap water in Israel. However, bottled water, carbonated soft drinks and fruit juices are widely available throughout the country.
FOOD
Israel’s diverse population is reflected in its varied culinary styles, and food forms an integral part of life, from socialising to family gatherings or religious events. From top gourmet restaurants to sumptuous street food, the country’s wonderfully varied tastes, foods and styles are one of the highlights of a trip. Most restaurants are moderately priced and of high quality, although street food is a great cheap option. Table service is the norm, except at the many fast-food outlets, and restaurants, bars and cafés catering for tourists usually have menus in both Hebrew and English.
Restaurants, cafés and bars rise and fall with popularity, and it is not uncommon to see queues down the street for some of Tel Aviv’s most popular eateries. Kosher and non-Kosher restaurants can be found throughout the country, although more secular cities such as Tel Aviv have considerably fewer kosher restaurants than Jerusalem.
Café culture is huge and there is little that Israelis would rather do than sip lattes or strong Arabic coffee in one of the outdoor cafés. Funky, artistic, chic or cozy, cafés are the place to be seen. All serve food which ranges from hearty breakfasts to sandwiches and light lunches.
Bars serve high quality food until the small hours and stock all international brands of spirits and soft drinks. Alcohol is expensive however, including local brand beers.
Specialties:
Things to know:
The Hebrew word kosher means conforming to Jewish religious laws. There are several detailed rules although not eating dairy in the same meal as meat and avoiding pork and shellfish are the most significant to visitors. Eateries in Israel will display a kosher certificate denoting whether they abide by these rules. In Tel Aviv many restaurants and café’s do not serve kosher food, although in cities such as Jerusalem most will be kosher.
SUGGESTED TIPPING SCALE:
Tipping is a way of showing your appreciation and will be welcomed by the recipient, although if you decide not to tip in a particular circumstance, this doesn’t mean you’ll receive a lower level of service. Ultimately, tipping is discretionary and should be done at a level that feels comfortable.
Here are some guidelines that you may find helpful:
|
Services |
Tipping amount Per Person/Day |
|
|
|
Individuals (Min. 02 pax) |
Groups (10 & above) |
|
Drivers |
$US 5.00 |
$US 5.00 |
|
Assistant Driver |
- |
$US 2.50 |
|
Guides |
$US 10-20 |
$US 10-20 |
|
Bellman at hotels/check-in or check-out |
$US 2.00 |
$US 2.00 |
|
Meals |
12% of the total amount |
12% of the total amount |
HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES
As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for the latest health information.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance. Your home country health plan may only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Indus Travels can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance; however, they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased. Most insurance companies do have exclusions in their coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are not insurable.
