Israel Travel Guide

Visas and Passports to Israel:
If you are a Canadian or US citizen, you do not need a visa to travel to Israel, but a passport valid for at least six months is required.
Please note that if you have an Israeli passport, you must use your Israeli passport to enter and exit the country.

Also, when entering Israel, you will receive an AL-17 form. Save this form until your departure.

Local Time:
Israel is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time and 10 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time. At 7pm in Israel, it is Midday in New York.
It should also be noted that Israel has its own dates for switching to daylight saving time, and during the autumn the difference between Israel and GMT may only be one hour.

Currency and Exchange Rates:
The Israeli currency is the New Israeli Shekel (NIS). Each shekel is divided into 100 Agorot. The banknotes are in denominations of 20, 50, 100 and 200 Shekels. Coins are in denominations of 1, 2, 5, and 10 Shekels, and 5, 10, and 50 Agorot. ATMs are widely available in cities and towns and are easily the best way to access funds conveniently.
Traveler’s checks are NOT widely accepted in Israel, yet if you feel compelled to bring them, you can exchange the traveler’s checks (and cash) commission-free at post offices.
Foreign currency may be exchanged at any banks and at many hotels. Most banks’ operating hours are: Sunday through Thursday from 08:30am – 12:00pm and from 4:00pm – 6:00pm.

Shops:
Shops are open daily from Sunday to early Friday afternoon, and certain shops may re-open late on Saturdays, after dark, for a few hours.
Tel Aviv is always the exception when it comes to the weekend, and most cafés and restaurants are open for business all day.

Restaurants & Cafes:
Israel has experienced a real culinary boom over recent years, with a host of international restaurants opening in the cities – most notably in Tel Aviv.
Some of the restaurants are kosher, meaning they adhere to Jewish food laws regarding the way meat is handled by butchers, they keep certain foods off the menu (such as pork or shellfish) and both dairy and meat products are never available in the same establishment.
The majority of meals on offer at dairy restaurants will be suitable for vegetarian diners, although most meat restaurants will also have a fair selection of vegetarian dishes available. Having said this many of the trendier restaurants in the big cities, especially Tel Aviv, are non kosher, with a variety of options available.

Helpful Links:
Exchange Rates: http://www.bankisrael.gov.il/eng.shearim/index.php
Currency Converter Calculator: http://coinmill.com/ILS_calculator.html

Suggested Tipping:
-For a guide driving for up to 3 passengers – $70 per touring day in total
-For a guide driving 4-6 passengers – $90 per touring day in total
-For a group of 5-9 passengers with a separate driver: $100 per day for the guide – $50 per day for the driver
-For a group of 10 – 19 passengers: $10 per participant per day for the guide – $5 per participant per day for the driver
-For a group of 20 passengers and more: $8 per participant per day for the guide – $4 per participant per day for the driver
-In the case where a field coordinator/hostess is included in the package: $2 per participant per day for the hostess or a minimum of $50 per day in total
-In the case where a security guard and/or a youth counselor is included: $1 per participant per day

Electronic Appliances in Israel:
The electric current in Israel is 220 volts AC, single phase, with a frequency of 50 Hertz.
Electrical items such as blow dryers, electric shavers, computers and other appliances may require adaptors or converters.
We recommend purchasing the necessary adaptors/converters prior to your departure.

The two types of plugs are shown below:

Emergency Phone Numbers:
Police: Dial 100
Ambulance: Dial 101
Fire Department: Dial 102

Transportation:
Israel’s Egged Bus Company offers frequent buses between cities and within cities.
For schedules and information, visit their website at: http://www.egged.co.il/Eng/

Israel also has a Railroad system that links major cities.
For more information on routes and fares, visit their website at: http://www.israrail.org.il/english/index.html

Taxis run in all cities and are always available, even on Shabbat.
To reserve a group taxi (sherut) by phone, call 02-623 1231 or 02-625 7227 / 3233 / 5332

Measurement and Weight: Israel uses the metric system exclusively.
A kilogram equals 2.2 pounds and a kilometer is 0.62 miles.

Weather Forecasts and Average Temperatures:
Read below for the average temperatures, in Fahrenheit, for the following cities in Israel:

For daily weather forecasts, click here: http://www.israelweather.co.il/english/week.asp