Tips & Advice
Question
What's the dress code?
Answer
Weddings in Israel are MUCH more casual than the United States. Men can wear shirt with a collar (polos are fine) and either nicer shorts or jeans (jackets will be out of place). Women can wear a sundress or a cocktail dress. Friday will be casual attire and Saturday will be beachwear.
Question
What should I prioritize for a 1 week trip?
Answer
If you have 1 week to spend in Israel, our top recommendations are the Old City of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. You should also take one day on either end of Haifa to explore the Golan Heights, including Acre and Safed. It is best to go from Haifa to Tel Aviv (and reverse) by the train. Traveling from either Haifa or Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is best by bus. Women taking a tour of the Old City of Jerusalem should be sure to dress modestly.
Question
If I have longer than a week what should I see?
Answer
After the major cities in the center, it is fun to travel south to see the Dead Sea, Masada and - if there is time and you don't mind the longer drive - Eilat. Resorts to relax may be found in either the Dead Sea or Eilat. If you enjoy scuba-diving or snorkeling, Eilat is great for that.
Question
Should I rent a car?
Answer
If you plan on staying solely in Haifa, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, a car is probably not necessary. If you do plan on renting a car, check if your hotel in Tel Aviv has parking as parking in the city is notoriously difficult. To travel between Haifa and Tel Aviv, the train is your best option. To travel between Haifa / Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, the bus is your best option. Best options for navigating each city is as follows - Jerusalem: Most of the attractions in Jerusalem are located in the Old City and are walkable. Tel Aviv: Electric scooters are common (for which you need a phone plan) and Gett and public transportation are fairly strong. Haifa: Haifa is navigable by Gett, however, if you want to take advantage of some day trips outside of Haifa, you will need a car.
Question
What side of the road do you drive on?
Answer
The right side, same as the US. Make sure to plan for traffic as it can get bad throughout the country. Road signs are all in English (as well as Hebrew and Arabic).
Question
What's the policy for tipping?
Answer
Tipping is common for restaurants, food delivery, bars and tour guides - NOT for cabs. 15-20% is standard. If you wish to tip with a credit card, you must do so in ADVANCE of the waitress/waiter ringing the total (i.e. tell them the full amount to charge).
Question
Should I exchange money?
Answer
Yes. Most places take credit card but you will need cash. The post office will always have the best exchange rate.
Question
Can I get by with English?
Answer
All hotel employees should be able to speak English. English is also common at tourist sites and in Tel Aviv. Outside of these areas, it will be a bit less common and we recommend downloading the Google Translate App on your phone and installing Hebrew in advance.
Question
Is marijuana legal?
Answer
No but it's extremely common (people will smoke on the street).
Question
Should I get a phone plan?
Answer
All phone repair shops (very numerous) sell local SIM cards which provided unlimited talk/text and ~30 GBs of data for less than $30/month. It is easy to buy and swap out for your American SIM card for ease of communication and getting around. Free WiFi is NOT as common in Israel so we recommend someone in your group has cell service and a data plan.