13 Things to Know Before Travelling to Israel

Photo: Becca Gomby
Photo: Becca Gomby
Rebecca Gomby

Israel is an amazing country with an incredible amount of variety within her borders. The country holds cultural and historical importance to a variety of peoples, and simultaneously blends old customs with the new. Ready to visit this gem in the Middle East? Here are some things you should know before you’re on the move.

“Ata medaber Anglit?” – Do you speak English?

People sometimes fear language barriers when they travel abroad, worrying that they may not be able to communicate their basic needs. Have no fear while traveling to the Holyland, nearly 85% of Israelis speak English, and locals are always happy to help answer tourists’ questions (both out of their warm nature but also to practice their English).

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Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
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CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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The People are as warm as the climate

Israelis are some of the warmest and most inviting people. Be prepared to receive invitations to social events, personal apartments, or family gatherings just because Israelis want you to feel included in Israeli life. Shabbat dinner (Friday evening dinner) invitations are common for visitors, and one of the best ways to taste the amazing local foods and meet new people.

A view of the Kinneret. Photo: Becca Gomby @bgombz

The “Sheket” (Quiet) of Shabbat

Unlike the rest of the world, the Israeli working week starts on Sundays and ends on Thursdays. Fridays and Saturdays comprise the weekend days for the country. On Friday evenings, the Jewish Sabbath comes in at sunset, and public transportation and many businesses will shut down for the weekend. In more secular cities, some stores and restaurants remain open during Shabbat, but in religious areas, prepare for everything to close down early on Friday (usually by 15:00 or 16:00 depending on when Shabbat comes in), and not to reopen until Saturday evening at sunset.

Here, there, getting everywhere

Israeli public transportation is efficient and reliable. The country has a comfortable railway system, an excellent bus system that has inter-city buses and intra-city busing, monit sheruts (shared taxis), private cabs, and in Tel Aviv-Yafo, the Tel-O-Fun shared bike system. For almost every transportation method, there’s an app for that! The Israeli railway system has an app, Moovit is the go-to method for trip-planning via bus, Gett Taxi is highly recommended for cab rides, and Tel-O-Fun has its own app as well. If you’re renting a car, Israeli drivers can be aggressive, so use caution. Speed limits are in kilometers per hour, and for all your navigation needs, make sure to download Waze!

Tell me more about Monit Sheruts

Monit sheruts (or shared taxis), are typically small yellow and white vans which can hold up to approximately 10 passengers. Sheruts can run between cities, typically dropping their passengers off at major city hubs or the central bus stations, or they run within particular cities, where the number of the monit sherut corresponds to the local bus line number and follows that specified route. On these sheruts however, you can ask the driver to stop wherever you would like along that specific route.

The waiting game

While Israelis are warm, kind, and friendly, they can be a bit aggressive. You will quickly become a “fryer” (sucker) if you queue up for lines while in the grocery store or at the bus stop. Learn to come to terms with being a little pushy during your visit.

No shame game

Israelis are very much straight shooters. They say what they mean very directly and often ask what may be perceived as impolite questions (about salaries or cost of living etc.). No offense is meant and there is also no shame in not answering these questions.

Ibn Gabirol Street, Tel Aviv. Photo: Becca Gomby @bgombz

So what is the currency here, anyway?

The New Israeli Shekel (NIS), is the local currency. 1 NIS is equal to about 28 cents USD. While credit cards can be widely used, having cash on-hand is always a good idea. Buses, cabs, and smaller purchases are all best served with cash.

Tips for tipping

As mentioned previously, having some cash on-hand is always helpful. Most places accept credit cards, but often restaurants do not allow you to put the tip on your card. Make sure to have cash ready for such occasions. Customary practice is to tip 10% of the bill (more if the service was excellent).

Smokers, rejoice

Israelis with cigarettes in-hand, are a common sight. Smoking is allowed nearly everywhere (excluding public transportation and indoor shopping centers or museums), but open air markets, city bars, restaurants, and local hangouts are all fair game. Israel has also recently decriminalized marijuana, so do not be surprised if the smell of weed permeates the air. Also, be sure to visit a nargila/ hookah/ shisha bar while traveling. Nargila is a water pipe used for smoking flavored tobacco and is a common social practice among many Middle Eastern countries.

Hugs for Everyone!

If visiting from a more Western region, you may immediately notice that people greet each other very affectionately. Greetings can often involve hugs and kisses on the cheeks. Additionally, the concept of personal space is also less prevalent than in Western countries. People have no problem standing in tight crowds or very close proximity to one another in casual settings.

Politics

Be ready to talk about “the situation” with many Israelis you meet. These conversations often turn into lively debates regardless of what your point of view may be.

Coffee

If you don’t like it already, now is as good a time as any to cultivate a taste for coffee. Whether it is “ness” (miracle) coffee with milk, or Turkish “mud” coffee, Israelis love their coffee. You will see a plethora of cafes and coffee shops throughout cities and smaller towns in Israel. The drinking of one’s coffee often signifies a respite from the daily grind, with locals savoring the rich tones of their beverages at local eateries each day.

Coffee is love. Photo: Becca Gomby
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