Preparing to travel internationally is a huge task – and the tour itself is demanding as well! Answer all of your burning questions and get some packing tips from the experts who’ve been travelling for a lifetime.
Tour FAQS Israel FAQsConsider these tips to make your touring, and that of your fellow passengers, positive.
Based on my past experience with others travelers, the best ones exude these qualities:
Courage, patience, good humor, endurance, curiosity, seeking, love, friendship.
You will need a plug adapter and voltage converter if you plan on using electrical items, such as a blow dryer (btw, all hotels have blow dryers). Most laptops and phones will convert voltage, but you will still need a plug adapter. You can buy them on Amazon.
Consider getting a universal electrical adapter: https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Travel-Power-Adapter-International/dp/B07DQTL87X
Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of return to home country. E.g., if your tour ends on May 1, 2025, your passport should be valid past November 1, 2025.
Excludes
For a more immersive and personalized experience, I cap tour sizes to one bus.
This is a generalized list below. Adapt for your destination and circumstances.
Clothing
Electronics
Toiletries
Documents
Other
Additional Tips
Where possible, Exodus Tours seeks out 4 star (Deluxe) or 5 star (Luxury) hotels or accommodations.
Most mornings, everyone should be ready to load the bus by 7:30 am . And we are generally back at the hotel around 5:00 pm.
Cruises will be dependent upon port arrival and departure times.
Airfare to and from the tour destination is not included. Make sure that you book flights to arrive and depart at the appropriate times to make the tour.
Useful websites to search for flights:
The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Allianz, a trusted global travel insurance provider, can offer you a quote by clicking here.
Note that if you choose the “Classic Plan with Cancel Anytime” if you choose to cancel your trip for any reason you can receive up to 80% of tour cost for non-qualifying reasons and up to 100% of tour costs for qualifying reasons.”
[As of October 2023, Allianz does NOT provide travel insurance to Israel.]
Make sure your passport is valid for six months past the date of leaving the tour.
Most bathrooms and toilets are western style. However some countries in remote locations may have squatty potties. It’s probably not a bad idea to carry around a few extra tissues.
Our tour bus will have seating for all tour members. Depending on tour location, the bus will be different size (e.g., Peru = 35; Europe = 40-50; Israel = 50-60; Jordan + Egypt = 40-50; USA = 50; other worldwide destinations = 40-50). Verify with the drive and guide about leaving items items on the bus. Typically buses have plenty of luggage storage underneath the bus and will be ours for the tour. Typically we have a dedicated driver who will be with us the entire time who will keep the bus locked when we are not on the bus. Most tour buses do not have bathrooms on board (exception is the USA). On days that there are long drives we make regular bathroom and rest stops.
Pack based on the weather and time of year (see climate links below)
Scriptures: Bring an electronic version of scriptures (To save on packing weight and space).
Luggage: If you can pack everything in carry-on luggage it will reduce your checked luggage fees and the possibility of lost luggage
To arrive in Tel Aviv (Ben Gurion Airport) the afternoon of Day 2 of the tour (that means leaving the USA on Day 1 of the tour for overnight flight to Israel).
To leave from Tel Aviv (Ben Gurion Airport) after 7:00 pm on Day 9 of the tour, arriving home on Day 10 of the tour (unless you are doing a post-tour excursion, if so, contact me for details on return flights).
Search for flights on https://www.kayak.com/
Prices for airfare
This online article provides an overview of security at the airport.
https://www.vipbengurion.com/israeli-airport-security-checks-what-to-expect/
We will be traveling in heavily touristed areas. Much of the economy of Israel (and Jordan, and Egypt) is driven by tourism and they love visitors. You’ll be impressed by their hospitality. I often feel safer and more welcomed in the Middle East than I do in some American cities. Still, we take appropriate precautions. If it is unsafe to do the trip, we’ll reschedule. If on site we need to avoid locations and change plans for safety reasons, we will do so. The best metaphor I can use is that no one would cancel a trip to Disneyland over gang violence in Los Angeles. A tour to Israel is metaphorically similar.
As of October 2022, any tourist vaccinated or unvaccinated is welcome to Israel.
Hebrew, Arabic, and English
The hotels we stay at are comfortable, clean, and well appointed. Rooms tend to be smaller than American hotels. And most Israeli hotels provide queens instead of kings or two doubles instead of a queen. The hotels provide delicious, buffet style breakfast and dinners. There are refrigerators and safes in each room. There is a laundry line in the shower area for drying clothes. Signs will be marked in English and Hebrew. Note that on the Sabbath (Friday evening sun down to Saturday evening sun down) there are Shabbat elevators that run automatically and stop on every floor.
Make sure your passport is valid for six months past the date of leaving Israel. As an example, if your Israel tour finishes on April 28, 2024, your passport needs to be valid through October 28, 2024.
Nice casual or business casual is appropriate.
I recommend you bring a hat to wear to protect yourself from the sun. Most religious locations do not expect you to cover your head, except for men at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Consider sunscreen and sunglasses, too!
I recommend good walking or sturdy running shoes. Hiking boots would be too much and sandals may not provide enough support.
Bring comfortable walking shoes (preferably closed-toe)! Lots of walking, between 3-5 miles a day and on some days much more (such as when we are in the Old City Jerusalem).
If you plan on going through Hezekiah’s tunnel, you may want to have water socks or Tevas, or shoes that you are ok getting wet. You will also need a small flashlight. If you are claustrophobic, you will not want to go through this tunnel. It is very dark and quite narrow in spots.
You will also want to bring a swimming suit if you plan on swimming in the Dead Sea, the Mediterranean or at any of the hotel pools.
Though rare, items can be stolen (like phones or valuables). It’s recommended to have a neck wallet or front-facing small fanny pack to protect any valuables while we are out walking.
As much as possible, leave all valuables at home. No need to bring fancy jewelry or watches, etc. There are enterprising people who would be happy to relieve you of your fancy items.
Each hotel provides concierge laundry service, but it is very pricey! Many tourists prefer to do laundry by hand in the hotel room tub and then hang dry the clothes over the tub using the clothesline provided in each bathroom.
Each floor of the hotel typically has an ironing room.
Israel’s currency is the Shekel. You can use US dollars almost everywhere in Israel. So you don’t have to change US dollars into Shekels. If you prefer to use the local currencies, you can order them through your bank before you go or at ATMs while in Israel. You will need cash for lunches and souvenirs.
Typically, the exchange rates are better within Israel than here in the USA. However, in my experience, I would rather spend my time visiting the country instead of taking precious time looking for a place to exchange money.
Many in-country shops will have items priced in US dollars and Shekels. If you plan on spending more than a few hundred dollars on souvenirs, you will probably want to bring shekels with you. See USD to Shekel currency calculator here.
Jordan’s currency is the Dinar. (Fun etymological fact is that the word dollar and dinar come from the same ancient root but over the years the words diverged with the middle constant). Find a currency calculator here. Like in Israel, cash is king and most US credit cards are accepted.
Credit cards in Israel. Mastercard and visa are widely accepted. Check with your issuer about any foreign transaction fees they may charge. The exchange rate isn’t as great using a credit card. But I personally prefer the security and flexibility of using a credit card instead of cash.
Credit cards in Jordan. Similar to Israel, credit cards are accepted at larger stores, hotels, and restaurants. Be ready to have cash for local markets.
If you plan on using your credit card, you will want to advise your bank prior to departure. Often, the bank will put a freeze on your card when international transactions hit the card.
Consider these tips to make your touring, and that of your fellow pilgrims, positive.
Based on my past experience with others who have been pilgrims, touring Israel, they exude these qualities:
Courage, patience, good humor, endurance, curiosity, seeking, love, friendship
There is internet availability at the hotels. It is free at most of the hotels (at least in the lobby). Check with your cell service provider to see if your phone will work in Israel. I have used Verizon in the past in Israel without adding the international plan, but it is quite expensive roaming. They have $40/month plans and $10/day plans.
Charging: Consider bringing a portable, lipstick-sized charger to keep your phone charged during the day.
International phone plans: Can give you cell phone access throughout Israel. Check with your carrier for rates and availability.
For a more immersive and personalized experience, I cap tour sizes to one bus.
You will need a plug adapter and voltage converter if you plan on using electrical items, such as a blow dryer (btw, all hotels have blow dryers). Most laptops and phones will convert voltage, but you will still need a plug adapter. You can buy them on Amazon (just make sure it is for Israel and not Europe).
Consider getting a universal electrical adapter: https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Travel-Power-Adapter-International/dp/B07DQTL87X
Most mornings, everyone should be ready to load the bus by 7:30 am . And we are generally back at the hotel around 5:00 pm.
A variety of airlines service flights to Tel Aviv. The key airlines I’ve used to Israel are Delta, United, and American, written in order of my preference.
Most bathrooms and toilets in Israel, Jordan, and Egypt are western style. It’s probably not a bad idea to carry around a few extra tissues. But typically there is enough toilet paper and supplies.
Our tour bus will have seating for 50 (or 60) depending on the size of the tour. You can leave items on the bus. And there is plenty of luggage storage underneath the bus. It’s ours for the tour and we have dedicated driver who will be with us the entire time. He always keeps the bus locked when we are not on the bus. There are no bathrooms on the bus, but the few days there are long drives we make regular bathroom and rest stops.
