Hello FTers,

A friend and I will be in Israel for 9 days in late October. I think 9 days in Tel Aviv might be too long.

Does anyone have any recommendations as to where to stay 5 days in one location and 4 days in another? Or maybe 2 days? Five days in Tel Aviv and four in the Dead Sea?

Insight: My friend is 80 and I'm 52 -- and that may influence your suggestions.

Thanks!

David

Do some searches on this forum and you'll find a number of very good travel advice threads for Israel.

Hi David,

I'm new to this board, but I travelled to Israel & Jordan this past October.

I traveled with a Christian group, but I assume from your post that you & your friend might not be interested in the Judeo-Christian religious sites.

Are you interested in Jerusalem? You could easily spend five days there. The city is so rich in history that even a secular tourist would enjoy it...provided that history is one of your interests.

We stayed in the Regency Hotel located on Mt. Scopus. It came with a full Israeli buffet breakfast & has a very nice swimming pool.

We didn't tour Tel Aviv, but I've heard that it has very fine beaches. And I've heard that nearby Joppa is an interesting seaport. Caesarea Maritima would be a good day trip from Tel Aviv if you decided to spend a few days there.

I highly recommend spending a couple of days at the Sea of Galilee. We stayed in Tiberias at the Gai Beach Hotel. It has a nice pool, but you may also swim in the lake if you like. The Golan Heights are straight across from Tiberias, & the views of Galilee & the Jordan Valley are gorgeous from there.
Try a ride on the Jesus Boat. Very beautiful.

A couple of days at the Dead Sea should be enough. It will be warm enough to enjoy the activities, but not so ungodly hot at the time you go.
Masada is a must. If you get a chance, read "History of the Jewish Wars" by Flavius Josephus.

I'm sure that you & your friend will enjoy Israel.

I've lived in Israel and you MUST see Jerusalem! It is a fascinating city and unlike anywhere else in the world. Nine days in Tel Aviv is definitely too long, and there is lots to see elsewhere. Try to do at least 3 days in Jerusalem.

You can definitely have 5 great days in Tel Aviv. If you base yourselves in Jerusalem for the next 4 days (just don't do it over Friday and Saturday, as everything is shut down or prepares to be shut down for the Sabbath), then do a day trip on one of those days to the Dead Sea, etc.

The best way to do a side trip from Jerusalem is to hire a driver for the day. The three of us did it last summer for $150 for the whole day. He picked us up at 7 am from the hotel, drove us to Mt. Masada for a beautiful tour and view of the dessert, then onward to the Ein Gedi nature preserve, where we saw the most interesting animals whose names I can't remember, then on to the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found - we had a great lunch there and had a mini tour - and then we concluded with a trip to a local Dead Sea spa, where we seemed to have been the only tourists.

I don't have that driver's name, but I have a name and number of another cab driver, if you're interested.

If you want a posh spa on the Dead Sea, then go to LeMeridien Dead Sea, which just opened up. If not, then any typical beach resort will do. - But none of them are expensive anyways.

Having spent 6 months working in Israel, I am also well-versed on the J'lem and Tel Aviv nighttime fun, so let me know if interested. It's not Paris, so there is no Depot, but there are some must-see places in Tel Aviv.

Enjoy your trip.

BCH

The deer-like things are ibex.
The groundhog-like things are hyrax.

Both are great Scrabble words.

HAHAHAHA

No, 9 days in Tel Aviv is not nearly enough. The beaches are great, there are loads of great cafes and restaurants...

I believe the beaches do not apply much attraction to an 80 year old ...

I'll suggest 4-5 nights in Tel Aviv, using some of the days to take day trips to Haifa (don't miss the Bahai gardens) and Acco, Nazareth and Safed and many more options. Then stay 2-3 nights in Jerusalem and explore the city (and take a day to explore the dead sea). In your spare time you might want to spend a night up north and/or stay in one of the resort/spa hotels.

Hello Everyone,

Thank you all for your comments. I printed your responses and have it my "Israel" folder.

Beaches: aprichick, you're right, beaches are not an 80 year old. Also, it's not for me. I think if I were younger, I'd go. But if we stay at the beach, I would certainly walk along the boardwalk.

I think Bob (my traveling companion) wants to stay at the King David hotel in Jerusalem once we get there. He is only interested in staying in Tel Aviv for a day or two.

I must get a map of the area. It sounds as the whole nation of Israel is driving distance from Tel Aviv.

I will talk to Bob to see what there is to do and what he wants to do.

Seeing Masada is on the list. And, of course, Jerusalem. I wouldn't mind seeing Haifa and the Dead Sea.

FYI: I am using Amex miles to fly business elite on Delta. Bob bought a couch ticket on the same flight. What my birthday present to him for his 80th (which he doesn't know about yet) is that I called Delta and will be using my miles to upgrade him to business elite. Bob will be surprised.

I wouldn't have picked the Middle East is a place to visit. But since Bob brought up going to Israel, I am excited about going. Especially because world civilization started there.

David

P.S. Keep your comments coming!

You are correct - Jerusalem is 1 hour drive east of Tel Aviv, Haifa is 1 hour drive north. The farthest points are Eilat to the south (about 4 hours) and the Golan heights to the northeast - about 3 hours.

If you're going to be traveling by car, you might want to go to some of the wineries, among them, Dovster's kibbutz. I recommend Castel and Flam, they probaby do tours and tastings, but I'm not sure.

The dead sea is always popular and a good place to go float in the water.