Areas in Tel Aviv

Hi, I'm staying in TA for 2 nights and I'm trying to get a sense of where to find a place to stay. I want to be relatively centrally located, but perhaps in a more relaxing/peaceful part of the center that's still convenient to move around quickly. Any areas come to mind? Neve Tzedek and Florentin keep coming up, but I really don't know.
If these are the key spots, are there any specific areas or intersections to try to get close to within these districts?
Thanks for your time.
Adam

Bus travel in Israel/Palestine, Nazaeth, Capernaum, Tiberias

I spent ten days traveling about Israel and Palestine, mainly by bus: many thanks to those who gave me good advice beforehand. I'd like to add some of my own.

Travel by bus isn't so simple. Bus stops may bear the route numbers of the buses which stop there, but there's seldom a timetable, and never a map. At larger bus stations (e.g. Afula), one can ask the staff, and they'll know which bus gets you to your destination, at what time, and from which stand: otherwise, it's all a great secret. Likewise sheruts: they bear a route number, but no other indication of where they're going.

Make sure you stand in the correct bus shelter for the route you want, or the bus for which you've waited may sweep straight past you. Israeli and Palestinian companies appear to run parallel networks in places, but not exactly the same routes. Fame and fortune await whoever can come up with a reliabl... more »

Northern Italy to Israel - cheapest route?

Hi everyone!

I'm hoping to visit Tel Aviv, Israel in late July/early August. I'm based in Verona, Italy which is fairly close to Venice. I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the cheapest way to get to Tel Aviv from Verona? Going by plane is definitely a good choice - but which airlines would be the best in this case?

Thanks a lot in advance!

My itinerary for going to Israel alone.

Hi everyone :)

I'm going to Israel for the first time, in 3 weeks and after doing some research this is my itinerary. I thought it would be worth posting it on here to check it's all ok.

Day 1 / Saturday 20th june - arrive, stay at friends house.

Day 2 / Sunday - spend the day in Tel Aviv, and get a tourist visa for Jordan from the embassy. Stay at friends house

Day 3 / Monday - Get a train from Tel Aviv to Akko, stopping off at Caesarea and Haifa along the way, stay in a hostel in Akko/Acre.

Day 4 / Tuesday - Go east to Tiberias, see the Sea of Gallilee etc, stay in hostel in Tiberias. Travel by train/bus?

Day 5 / Wednesday - Travel south and cross border into Jordan, go to Amman and stay in hostel overnight. Train/bus?

Day 6 / Thursday - Go south to Petra and stay somewhere overnight - Rocky Mountain Hotel maybe?

Day 7 / Friday - see more of Petra, then tra... more »

Is it good to spend Christmas in Israel?

I want to spend a meaningful Christmas this year. I want to know the atmoshere of Christmas in Bethlehem. Will the streets , churches and houses decorated by christmas lights? Will the shops or restaurants be closed during Christmas period? Any Christmas market? How do people celebrate? Also, what about the weather? Thanks

Recent Jordan River/Sheikh Hussein border crossing experience

Here are my recent experiences crossing from Israel to Jordan via the Jordan River/Sheikh Hussein/Northern crossing. My crossing was May 23 2013 and I did it solo (female with US passport).

I started at Nazareth, from which I caught the 11AM bus to Afula (11.80 NIS), and another bus around 11:45 to Beit She’an (11.20 NIS). From most destinations, the bus transfer will be at Afula, which is the major bus station in northern Israel. It is a large station with many facilities including snacks.

The Beit She’an station is small and on the hot side of the road. There is no taxi stand near by, although the occasional taxi passes on the road. I’ve heard that these taxis charge a lot to the border, and I’m not surprised, since there seems to be very little in terms of options. However, I did take a bus to the border. The 16 leaves several times in the early morning, several times in the ... more »

Going back to Israel after denied entry?

Greetings,

I was denied entry into Israel in 2002 at the Beit Shean border crossing. I'm thinking of going back (with El Al, no less) but since one of the boarding questions is "Have you been to Israel before?", I suppose that I would have to disclose this incident right away since either "yes" or "no" wouldn't be quite accurate an answer.

Although the reason for my denial of entry was the laconic "decision of the ministry of interior", I have to admit it was probably the name/addresses/phone numbers of Syrian nationals that were found in my wallet that did me in. I had been to Syria on the same trip and, travelling by bicycle, being invited over for food, drinks, and sleep was pretty much to be expected -- now try explaining that to a 20-year-old border guard.

And, according to Israel's embassy in Ottawa, the mere fact that I was using the Beit Shean crossing w/o being Isr... more »

Border crossings to Jordan

Could anybody give me the links to the websites of the three border crossings to Jordan?(I'm aware that there is no VOA via Allenby Bridge)
Thnx in advance!