From the Sea of Galilee in the north to the Red Sea in the south and every point in between, you will be in awe of the sights, sounds, smells and overwhelming history of Israel. Virtually every city in Israel will invite you to partake in its biblical history, but will also offer treats such as cool caves, clean sandy beaches, tunnel tours, local festivals, shopping, museums and of course, dining. In Jerusalem, you can visit the Tower of David, Solomon's Stables and Temple Mount. Nearby caves include Beit Guvrin National Park and Stalactite Caves. In Tiberias, on the coast of the Sea of Galilee, there are seven National Parks and 10 beaches, with Gai Beach offering an amazing water park! Tel-Aviv Jaffa offers a surplus of entertainment options, from National Parks and museums to theaters and beaches. And camel rides! You cannot go to Israel and not embrace a moment of the desert life that includes the camel. Israel is also one of the few countries which encourage pilgrimages for the purpose of volunteering. There are specific opportunities for the elderly, those interested in forestry, for youth and for the disabled.

Getting to Israel

Booking a flight to Israel will not be difficult. Major airlines from all around the world fly into two International Airports; one in Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion International Airport and another, Ovda Airport, which is located near the city of Eliat, at the southernmost tip of Israel. Ovda is owned by the Israeli Air Force, and may cease to exist when the new international airport in Eliat is completed sometime in 2010.

Airports

There is a third international airport not serviced globally, primarily serving travelers to and from Jordan, Cyprus, and Turkey. This airport is Haifa International Airport, used primarily by Arkia, Israir, and the military. Sde Dov Airport, also known as Dov Hoz Airport, is located in Tel Aviv. Domestic travel to other cities within Israel is a bit challenging to obtain. You can take busses or trains to many destinations, but the most commonly used mode of transportation is a 'shared taxi' or sherut. Private taxis can be quite expensive and it should be noted that bus and train travel is not available on Shabbat, which is Friday afternoon to Saturday sunset.

Airlines

Three major airlines, based in Israel, fly to and from most major international destinations. El Al is Israel's largest airline with the widest choice of scheduling options. The other two are Israir Airlines and Arkia Israel Airlines. The most affordable tickets on El Al are in 'Business' or 'Platinum Class'. El Al is also considered one of the safest airlines in the world. Arkia is the second largest airline and handles the majority of domestic flights within Israel, in addition to its international services. They offer fair flight prices and good service. Israir Airlines, on the other hand, started their operations as a domestic airline only and run a much more streamlined and 'no frills' operation, offering very affordable rates with a minimum of amenities.

Other Money-Saving Tips

It is best to make your travel plans with the Israeli Holy Days in mind. Passover, Yom Kippur, and Rosh Hashanah are the largest of these holidays, with flights being extremely expensive. Most tourist establishments are not open during these holidays. If going to a single destination, you should be able to take care of all of your booking yourself. In the event that you are planning to visit multiple destinations, you should either do a fair amount of research and book online or get with a travel agent to make all of your travel arrangements so as to avoid those holidays and to get the best deals.

In Closing

If you are dreaming of going to Israel, make the time and make it happen! You may come away with a renewal of your faith or with a new appreciation of the biblical history of this ancient country. At the very least, you will be thankful that you made the trip!

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