GENERAL INFO

TRAVEL IDEAS

The Holyland Tour, 8 days
Classic Egypt, 9 days
Mystery & Magic of Egypt, 15 days
Nile Cruise, 5 days
Jordan, 5 days
Pyramids to Petra, 15 days

MORE TRAVEL IDEAS

Israel

ARRIVAL GUIDE

Food:

Israeli cuisine is essentially a combination of Oriental and Western cuisine, plus an additional distinct flavor brought by the many and varied nationalities which make up the Israelis. Some restaurants are expensive, though a high price does not necessarily mean a high standard. Table service is usual. There are many snack bars. Restaurants, bars and cafes catering for tourists usually have menus in two languages (Hebrew plus French or English).

National specialties:

Falafel, deep fried mashed chickpeas
Humus, ground chickpea dip
Tahini, sesame seed paste
Shishlik, charcoal grilled meet on a skewer
Kebabs, meat usually served in a pita bread
Gefilte fish, a traditional Jewish white fish dish
Chopped liver and chicken soup

National drinks:

The wines of Israel range from light white to dry red and sweet rosé
Gold Star and Maccabee, Israeli beer
Arak (an anise drink)
Hard Nut (a walnut concoction of Eliaz winery)

Bottled water is available and recommended. Milk is pasteurized and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are considered safe to eat

Things to know:

The Hebrew word kosher means food conforming to Jewish religious dietary laws. Milk, cream or cheese may not be served together with meat in the same meal. Pork and shellfish are officially prohibited, but it is possible to find them on many menus in non-kosher restaurants.

Shopping:

Average shopping hours are Sun-Fri 08:00-19:00; some shops close 13:00-16:00 and some early on Friday. Remember that shopping facilities are both Israeli and Arabic, and are therefore governed by two different sets of opening hours and methods of business. Jewish stores observe closing time near sunset Friday evenings before Shabbat (Saturday) and Arabic stores close Friday. It takes a while to realize that Sunday is a normal working day unlike in Western countries. For shoppers, Jewish stores are therefore open Friday, Arab markets Saturday and both are open Sunday when Christian stores close. Shops in hotels are often open until midnight.

Tipping:

A 15 per cent service charge is added to restaurant, cafe and hotel bills by law.

Banking:

Money can be changed in the small exchange bureaux found on most main streets, or at banks and hotels. ATMs are prevalent throughout the country and linked to North American systems. Most banks are open Sunday through to Friday until noon, though have afternoon hours as well on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Major credit cards are widely accepted, and so are travellers cheques, though commission on these is high.

Social Conventions:

Israelis are usually very informal but in keeping with the European style of hospitality. Visitors should observe normal courtesies when visiting someone's home and should not be afraid to ask questions about the country as most Israelis are happy to talk about their homeland, religion and politics. Often the expression shalom ('peace') is used for hello and goodbye. Dress is casual, but in Christian, Jewish and Muslim holy places, modest attire is worn. For places such as the Wailing Wall, male visitors are given a smart cardboard yarmulke (scull cap) to respect the religious importance of the site. Upscale restaurants, nightclubs and hotel dining rooms may require guests to dress smartly for dinner. It is considered a violation of the Shabbat (Saturday) to smoke in certain restaurants and many hotels. There is usually a sign to remind the visitor, and to disregard this warning would be regarded as discourteous to Orthodox Jews.

Security:

Travellers should exercise caution and avoid any demonstrations and heed any local advice regarding safety. Common sense safety precautions should be taken.