Israel
The information below is provided by Lonely Planet readers and is not verified by Lonely Planet. For the official lowdown, contact your nearest embassy or check out our Travel Links.
Travel Tips
Many of the places you may want to go to in Israel will be significantly Arabic speaking (Jerusalem) or majority Arabic speaking (Nazareth). Add to this the current, absolutely real tensions, shifting security sweeps, and the maze-like quality of these popular sites, and you quickly realize a multi-lingual tourguide/security detail/chauffeur can remove a lot of headache from the experience. You can then concentrate on what you came so far to see. You can also learn a lot about the 'real' Israel with someone who can translate the talk radio or TV broadcast in the falafel joint you stop at for lunch or when they include you in a conversation with the Arab shopkeeper, which may be the only meaningful exchange with an Arab you can obtain safely now. And with business so bad, you can negotiate a good rate for a tourguide that should get you more time than you could otherwise afford.
Anon, USA (Jan 03)
Moving About
Trains: Since there are automated ticket-machines on every station, accepting credit-cards and cash, buying tickets on-board the trains isn't allowed. Those who are found on-board without the ticket, pay triple price.
Vladi Dvoyris, Israel (Feb 03)
The bus No. 16 to the Jordanian border no longer runs. If you get in a taxi and opt to have the metre off, it is only 15NIS, as opposed to 25-30NIS with the metre on. Just ask the cab driver.
Michelle & Roy Lei, UK (Jan 03)
Gems, Highlights & Attractions
Ok, so Eilat does lack the cultural experience that can be found just about everywhere you turn in the rest of Israel... but it is more than worth a visit. We decided to spend the last week of our trip, not to mention the last of our money lapping up the sunshine in this glorious resort. If you have the opportunity to swim with the dolphins in the marina, you must take it! It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Do not forget your diving certificates, equipment is easily hired. Snorkelling is however, just as fun and there is so much to see. Eilat can be very expensive, especially for food and drink. There are plenty of reasonable places to eat, particulary in and around the shopping centre on the beach. On our last night we ended up sat on the beach, facing Jordan, awaiting the sunrise. As the sun rose over the rusty coloured mountains it was truly breathtaking.
Nikki Mcglinchey, UK (Mar 02)
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