Hello everybody,
I would like to ask a few questions:
1/ if it's a big trouble if we travel during the period of Sukkot in Oct 09? everything will be closed?
2/ if our flight arrive in tel aviv in the mid night, is it hard to arrange transportation to leave the airport?
3/ in case we will travel to the Dead Sea during Dec, would it be too cold to jump into the water?
4/ is Israel safe for female travellers?
Thank you very much for your help!
Monica
Edited by: kudumomo
The first and last days are holidays on which most things are closed, but this year they fall on Shabbat so it won't make any difference - no public transport and most things closed. The intermediate days (October 4 to 8, and till about 4 p.m. on Friday October 9) things will be open, but all tourist spots, national parks, etc. will be crammed with families because kids are off school then and many workplaces close for the whole week. Public transport runs as normal, but will be very crowded. Shops etc. are open as normal.
Which night, and transport from the airport to where? If it's a Friday night there is no public transport, but if you are going to Jerusalem the Nesher shuttle runs 24/7 and will take you to any address in Jerusalem.
It won't be very hot in December at the Dead Sea. Did you mean December or October? October will definitely be warm enough.
Absolutely safe. Use your common sense and you will be fine.
Thanks Shuffaluff , it's very kind of you!
Since you're expert, I would like to know your opinion.
We get available period to go to Israel from 4 -17 Oct indeed, but viewing from the Jewish holiday http://www.chabad.org/calendar/holidays_cdo/aid/36263/jewish/Holiday-Schedules.htm, we see the following holidays
2-9 Oct: Sukkort
9-10 Oct: Shemini Atzeret
10-11 Oct: Simchat Torah
and then we hesitate if we shall change to Dec, that's why I asked if it will be too cold to jump into the Dead Sea in Dec... Of cos we prefer to go in Oct as we believe the weather would be nicer. So what do you think?
so basically every fri evening until sat evening, no public transportation, is it correct?
Thank you very much in advance!!!
M.
Correct, no public transport from about two hours before sunset on Friday until after dark on Saturday, throughout the year. The precise times depend on the season of the year - obviously it's earlier in winter than in summer, although the total number of hours is the same.
October 10, for example, from about 2 p.m. on Friday (meaning buses reach their destination at that time) until about 6:15 p.m. on Saturday.
December 11, around an hour earlier for each.
December can be cold and rainy, but if it does rain it's usually not for more than a couple of days at a time. In October the weather is generally still very warm and pleasant, although a sudden downpour isn't unknown.
Since this year all the religious holidays you have listed fall on Shabbat, the practical implication is that you won't even notice them. In some years they are midweek, which means far more disruption - not only is there no public transport on Shabbat, but there is also no public transport on the midweek holiday, which is enough to drive even the religious absolutely crazy.
Note that "10-11 Oct. Simchat Torah" applies only outside Israel . This isn't the place to explain why. In Israel Simchat Torah is on 9-10 October.
Do you wish to avoid these holidays or want to be in Israel then in the hope of seeing something interesting? Truth is, there won't really be anything to see, except that during the week of Succot there will be a lot of succa booths (temporary huts) in the streets and on balconies of apartment buildings.
There are no religious holidays in December. Hanukka (December 12 to 19 this year) doesn't affect anything except that kids are off school. It is not a major holiday.
Thanks again for your quick quick reply!
I just wish to go to Israel with nice weather, so I bet it would be alright to travel in Israel during Sukkot this yr like as what you said, it falls on the Shabbat! so it's not a very big disruption then if I go in Oct! :)
Just to make it clear: The religious holidays are on Oct 3 and Oct 10. There is no public transportation, many restaurants are closed and you have to check tourist sites to see if they are open or have limited hours. National parks are open.
Oct 4 to Oct 9 are 'semi-religious' holidays, which means that there is public transportation and everything is open - attractions, restaurants, festivals, etc. But schools are closed and many people are on vacation for the entire week, so, as Shuffaluff said, all tourist spots, national parks, etc. will be crammed with families.
I just wished to add some information as I have been running trips to Israel all year round for a few years now:
1) in terms of travlling to Israel on high holy days, its really depends where you are trying to travel. Jerusalem for example will have no bus services, kosher restaurants wont be open, etc Tel aviv on the other hand will have many more restaurants open and a limited bus service. in terms of going to the dead sea over this time, that should not be a problem.
2) again it depends where you are going and actually what time you get through customs, the nesher (sort of an inter city mini bus) runs through the nights, and trains run pretty much through the night as well to most destinations on the coast.
3) Dead Sea wont be that hot in December, but definately warm enough to go in and have a float
4) as stated, perfectly safe
#6 not entirely accurate (from one who has been living in Israel for decades!)
There will be no intercity bus services in the Jewish sector, which is nearly the whole country, on Shabbat. The holidays the OP is talking about are on Shabbat. These days will be a normal Shabbat in every respect from that point of view. Almost all restaurants in Jewish (west) Jerusalem will be closed. Some restaurants in other parts of the country will be open. East (Arab) Jerusalem will be open as normal; it's a weekday there. There will be no public buses running to the Dead Sea, but there may be organised tours.
Nesher is not "an intercity minibus". It is a shuttle service from the airport to Jerusalem only, 24/7, taking you to wherever you want to go in Jerusalem. The Tel Aviv-Jerusalem sherut will run.
Nobody in their right mind would want more than a very quick dip in the Dead Sea anyway, regardless of the time of year! It's repulsively slimy, but it's one of those things you want to do once in your life.
Thank you to EVERYONE!
I think...if the big holiday falls on the Shabbat...it's ok...as anyways there is once per week...
I prefer being in a crowded tourist place than being under the cold weather...
and I 'd like to know if the organised tours operates during the Shabbat? Maybe we can go to Dead Sea from local tour during the rest day...
Once again, thank you very much!!! :)