Holy Land Trip 2023: Pre-Departure Info

Itinerary

What’s Included

• Hotel Accommodations for 8 nights
• 8 Breakfasts and 7 dinners
• Prepaid Gratuities
• Tours and entrance fees to all points listed in itinerary, unless marked as optional
• Ground transportation to all activities indicated in itinerary, unless marked as optional

What’s Not Included

• Flights (unless purchased via Globus)
• Airport transfers (unless purchased via Globus)
• Lunches
• Passport and visa fees
• Travel Insurance (unless purchased via Globus)
• Vaccines
• COVID-19 Tests

Entry Requirements

• A passport valid for 6 months after your return date is required for entry into Israel. You must also have 1 blank page in your passport.
• A tourist visa is not required for American citizens visiting for less than 90 days. Please consult the U.S. State Department or your country’s corresponding Israeli embassy to confirm entry requirements.

Iman’s Contact Info

Phone / Whatsapp: +1-917-420-1893
Email: bookedbyiman@gmail.com

Operation/Ground Handler Numbers

Globus Travel Services S.A. (Lugano): +41 (0)91 9857377
Office hours: Monday – Friday, 8am-6pm

Round the World (Tel Aviv): +972 3 5163163
Office hours: Sunday – Thursday, 9am-5pm; Friday 9am-1pm

U.S. Embassy

Jerusalem Office
14 David Flusser Street, Jerusalem 93392 
Telephone: + (972) (2) 630-4000 
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: + (972) (2) 622-7230 
Email: JerusalemACS@state.gov

Tel Aviv Branch Office: +972 (0)3 519 7575

Emergency Numbers In Israel

Police: 100
Ambulance: 101
Fire: 102

Hotel	Arrival Date	Departure Date	No. of Nights
Dan Panorama Tel Aviv	October 2, 2023	October 3, 2023	1
Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Tiberias	October 3, 2023	October 5, 2023	2
Dan Panorama Jerusalem	October 5, 2023	October 10, 2023	5

Globus will make efforts to accommodate all bed configuration requests, but they are not guaranteed. Requests are subject to availability at time of check-in and may not be available in all hotels.

Israel’s hotel rooms and beds are smaller than in the U.S. For rooms with two beds, they will be two twin beds or larger. For rooms with one bed, they will have a double bed or larger, able to accommodate two people. In some hotels this may be two twin beds joined together with bedding to cover both beds, though it may be two separate duvets.

Checked Luggage

Porterage at hotels for one suitcase per person is included in the vacation price. Due to limited coach capacity and weight regulations, your checked bag should not exceed 30 x 21 x 11 in. (76 x 53 x 28 cm) in size or 50 lbs (22 kg) in weight.

We recommend consulting your air carrier as their baggage specifications may be stricter. Regulations within most airports require that travelers handle their own luggage through Customs. Test the weight of your luggage; you should be able to lift and comfortably transport it.

Take photos and make a list of items in checked baggage, and keep this in your carry on luggage, in case your bags are lost. You should not pack anything in your checked bag that is valuable or would cause great distress if lost.

Carry On Luggage

Your carry on luggage must fit into the overhead bins on the bus. It should not exceed 12 x 11 x 6 in. (30 x 28 x 14 cm). Wheeled bags are not considered carry on luggage for this trip.

You should pack medicines (with their original labels / prescriptions), essential toiletries (3 oz or less), printed copies of important travel documents, and enough clothing to last 2 days.

luggage Tags

For security purposes, we recommend you do not put your address on your luggage tags, only name, email address and a contact number. It is also a good idea to label your carry on luggage.

Put a label with your name, email address, and telephone number on the inside of your suitcase and hand luggage, together with a copy of vacation hotel contact details, in case it gets lost or delayed.

Luggage Trackers

Many travelers are now using GPS tracking devices to help locate their luggage when it goes missing. Apple Air Tags (iPhone compatible) and Tile are two popular options. Read this article for more options and how to purchase.

LOST luggage

In the unfortunate event that your luggage goes missing, you should make a “lost luggage” claim at the appropriate desk in the baggage claim area. If possible, a member of your party should advise the Globus representative of your delay.

Packing List

• Passport book & copy of passport ID page
• Flight information
• Globus Travel Documents (PDF)
• Travel Protection / Insurance
• Money belt (to wear inside clothing for security)
• Cross body purse or small backpack
• Medicines (in their original container) and a copy of prescriptions, along with the telephone/e-mail of your doctor. These should be packed in your carry-on.
• Sportswear / casual wear for daytime. No clothing with offensive language, political or religious slogans or icons.
• Smart casual outfits for evenings. Please no shorts, sneakers, or sweat suits when dining at your hotel.
• A dressier outfit / light jacket and dress shoes for an evening at an elegant restaurant.
• Light jacket, cardigan or shawl for cool weather in the evening
• Comfortable, broken-in walking shoes with rubber soles for slippery / uneven surfaces (e.g. sneakers, hiking sandals)
• Sandals
• Old swimsuit (Dead Sea salt can cause discoloration)
• Sunglasses
• Flip flops / water shoes
• Lightweight tops / T-shirts
• Shorts
• Long pants (loose-fitting is best for religious sites)
• Dresses or skirts
• Shawl / pashmina
• Hat (for protection from the sun)
• Toiletries
• Water bottle (the tap water is safe to drink)
• Wash cloth (not commonly provided by hotels in Israel)
• Umbrella or rain jacket
• Sunscreen
• Bug repellent
• Stomach medicine (Imodium, Pepto Bismal)
• Motion sickness medicine (Dramamine)
• Outlet adapter
• Luggage lock
• Portable phone charger
• Collapsible walking stick if you have mobility issues

ATTIRE for Religious Sites

Both men and women must have their shoulders, chest, and legs covered from the knees and below when visiting religious sites. Mini-skirts, shorts, and ripped jeans are not allowed. Backpacks also might not be allowed during visits to religious and historical sites.

Men are required to cover their heads at some religious sites (e.g. the Western Wall). Kippahs will be provided.

Printed Documents

I recommend printing out the following documents and carrying them in your carry on luggage:

• Globus Travel Documents (PDF)
• Flight information
• Passport ID page
• Travel Protection / Insurance
• Copy of the front and back of any credit / debit cards you will be bringing
• Hotel address and contact info

Pre-Trip Checklist

Read this article for a helpful to-do list before you depart.

Sign up for STEP, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. Run by the U.S. Department of State, it helps the local embassy reach you in an emergency.

Packing Resources

For the ladies, watch this YouTube video to hear a woman’s perspective on the best items to pack for a trip to Israel. She also shares her packing list.

For the men, this is another YouTube video offering a man’s perspective on what to pack for trip to the Holy Land.

If you prefer to read, this article and this one both offer helpful packing advice for men and women.

FLIGHTS

Consult your Globus Travel Documents packet and confirm your flight information is correct. This packet has details on where to meet your driver at the airport in Israel, if you purchased airport transfers, as well as who to contact if your flight is delayed or cancelled.

Most airlines allow passengers to check-in online, 24 hours before the flight departs. For those on the group flight purchased via Globus, use the Carrier Record Locator on your E-Ticket to check in. The airline is Lufthansa.

Airport Transfers

If you have a transfer on the regular tour start date, upon arrival in Tel Aviv, please proceed to passport control, collect your baggage from the luggage claim area and exit through Customs.

The Representative will be waiting for you outside custom/exit gate, inside the arrival area, at the EXIT GATE 02. Transfers from the airport to the hotel have been arranged in conjunction with other flights at approximately every hour.

In case you are not able to locate the Globus Representative, or you delay getting to GATE 02 for more than 1 hour after landing, please refer to the nearest information desk and ask to contact the Globus Representative phone (+972) 547737324.

Airport Security

Israeli airport security is one of the most stringent in the world. For this reason, it’s highly recommended that you arrive to the airport at least 3 hours before your flight.

If flying with El Al, expect heavy security and questioning before checking in to your flight, even if departing from the U.S.

Upon arrival in Israel, you will likely be asked why you are traveling to Israel and where you plan on staying. It’s a good idea to have a copy of your hotel details and itinerary. After answering the questions, you can continue to the baggage claim area.

When departing from Israel, your vehicle will pass through a security checkpoint at the airport. Before check in, an airport security official speaks with every passenger briefly. Questions are generally about what you did during your time in Israel and recent countries you have visited.

These conversations typically only last a couple of minutes. The key is to stay relaxed and answer the official’s questions. After the conversation, your bags will be passed through an x-ray machine and you’ll check in.

Security tends to flag passengers who have recently visited Arab countries for secondary screenings. If you are selected for an additional round of screening, all items in your carry on bag will be taken out and examined.

For more information on security measures at Ben Gurion Airport, read this article.

Climate

October in Israel is pleasant, with warm days and cooler evenings. Daytime highs are around 76ºF. Bring a cardigan for evenings as temperatures can fall to around 62ºF.

Time Difference

Israel is 7 hours ahead of New York City (Eastern Time).

Outlets & Voltage

You will need an outlet adapter for your electrical devices. Israel uses plug types, C, H and M (round pin holes) and runs 220 volts at 50 Hertz. Most small appliances are dual-voltage and don’t require a voltage converter. For larger appliances (e.g. shavers, travel irons) you will need a voltage converter.

Out-of-Pocket Expenses

Please budget anywhere from $10 to $20 USD per day for lunch, beverages, souvenirs, and tips not included in the trip package (see below).

Money

The basic unit of currency is the New Israel Shekel (ILS). Currently, 1 ILS equals $0.25 USD.

Many vendors and ATMs accept U.S. debit and credit cards. American dollars can also be exchanged in Israel. Exchange counters at Ben Gurion Airport generally offer poor rates of exchange. ATMs give standard rates and are the best method for getting cash. Be sure to confirm your debit card and credit cards work in Israel; ask your bank how much they charge for international withdrawals and transactions.

For security reasons, PIN codes are now generally required in Israel for both ATMs and purchases with credit cards. If you do not know your PIN number(s), please contact your bank or credit card company to be issued a 4-digit PIN code before departing your home country. Verify that the PIN code will be valid for use in Israel and inform your bank of your travel plans so you are able to use your cards abroad.

Tipping

Your tour package includes gratuities for the Tour Director and Driver. Hotel taxes, service charges and tips for baggage handling are included in the vacation price. Gratuities for housekeeping, wait staff, and local tour guides are not included. See below for recommended gratuities.

Local Guides: It is customary to tip Local Tour Guides for exceptional service; ask your Tour Director for advice.

Restaurants: Where the service charge is already included, round up the check/bill by the equivalent of a few dollars to show appreciation. If the tip is not included, 10% to 15% of the bill is standard. Tips are usually left in cash, not added to the credit card payment.

Housekeeping: 5 to 10 ILS daily is a standard rate.

Taxis: Tipping is not customary for taxis. Pre-negotiate taxi fares before starting your trip to avoid unpleasant surprises at the end of your journey.

Phone, Wifi & APPS

In order to use your phone in Israel you will need either an international plan with a US phone company or access to an available WiFi network. Most U.S. phone companies charge high roaming fees while abroad, so be sure to leave your phone in airplane mode while in Israel (unless otherwise specified by your phone carrier).

Whatsapp is a free app that allows you to make phone calls and send text messages via WiFi. I also recommend downloading Google Translate (Hebrew) and XE Currency Converter.

GlobusGo App

Prior to departure and throughout your vacation, you can log in to the free GlobusGo app to check flight, hotel and transfer information, review your itinerary, and customize your trip. The app includes offline maps, as well as a host of entertainment, sightseeing, dining, and shopping suggestions.

Use your full name and Globus reservation number to access the app.

Israeli Cuisine

A variety of food will be offered for meals, from traditional Israeli dishes to American cuisine.

Some local dishes to try include hummus, falafel, shakshuka (poached eggs with tomato), shawarma, and bureka (baked pastry with potato or cheese filling). This blog post provides a helpful intro to Israeli cuisine.

Shabbat

Beginning at sundown on Friday and ending at sunset on Saturday, Shabbat signifies the Jewish day of rest. Observant Jews do not work during Shabbat and this extends to using electronic equipment, driving cars, and cooking. Many restaurants and stores are closed. In some buildings, including hotels, elevators stop on every floor.