Holy Land Tours

Travel Tips & Information

It is important to do some advanced studying before you arrive in Israel. May we suggest an excellent resource for you? This is a scripture reference guide for biblical sites in Israel. The name of the book is …”How to Walk in the Footsteps of Jesus and the Prophets” by Hela Crown-Tamir. It can be found at amazon.com. Type in Hela Crown-Tamir to review and/or order.

Baggage/Luggage

Several air carriers have implemented additional charges for checked baggage. These baggage fees, if applicable are not included in your total trip cost. Baggage fees are paid directly to the airline either at the time of online check-in or upon airport check-in.

Please refer to the list below to contact the airline for their detailed baggage acceptance policy and fee structure.

If your airline is not listed, please refer to the airline(s) website pertaining to your individual itinerary. Airline policies and fees are subject to change at any time by the airline.

Due to the often changing regulations among the many airlines, we strongly suggest passengers check the web sites of the airline they will be flying regarding the size and weight restrictions of both checked and carry-on baggage. Please note, airlines can change their restrictions without notice, so be sure to check the airline web site more than once.

Here is a partial list of airlines you can contact for their latest checked and carry-on baggage policy:

Aerosvit (VV) 212-661-1620212-661-1620
American Airlines (AA) 800-433-7300800-433-7300
Air France (AF) 800-237-2747800-237-2747
Alitalia (AZ) 800-223-5730800-223-5730
British Airways (BA) 800-247-9297800-247-9297
Continental (CO) 800-525-0280800-525-0280
Delta (DL) 800-221-1212800-221-1212
EL AL (LY) 800-223-6700800-223-6700
Iberia (IB) 800-223-6700800-223-6700
KLM (KL) 800-772-4642800-772-4642
Lufthansa (LH) 800-399-5838800-399-5838
Northwest (NW) 800-645-3880800-645-3880
Olympic (OA) 800-223-1226800-223-1226
Royal Jordania (RJ) 800-223-0470800-223-0470
Swiss Air (LX) 877-359-7947877-359-7947
United (UA) 800-241-6522800-241-6522
USAirways (US) 800-428-4322800-428-4322

Packing for a 10 ~ 12 Day Journey

TIP: Before packing, select one major color (examples: black, brown, navy blue) and coordinate all pieces to that color. Make a chart of the days you will be gone and list the outfits you will wear on each day. Take only what you yourself can carry. Don’t over pack; leave room to bring home souvenirs.

1. Pants and shorts: Bring two pair of pants. One should be of lightweight cotton and the other should be either heavier or lighter based on the season. Button-down wallet pockets are safest. In addition, bring a pair of Jeans. Shorts are optional as they are not allowed in religious sites. Women may want to add a skirt.
2. Shirts: Bring three to four shirts (mix of short-sleeve and long-sleeve) in a cotton/polyester blend. For winter, add one or two cotton long-sleeve turtle neck shirts to layering under these.
3. Accessories: Take just a few colorful scarves/ties, belts and sweater/shawls or vests to liven up your outfits. Please don’t bring expensive jewelry.
4. Sweater: Summer or winter, take a warm sweater in a dark color. It will serve as a coat, making you instantly dressed up, plus it won’t show dirt!
5. Jacket: Bring a light weight, water proof windbreaker. The kind with a hood is the best.
6. Shoes: Wear one pair of well-broken-in walking/hiking shoes. A second pair (hiking sandals or second pair of walking shoes) is optional in case the first pair gets wet.
7. Underwear and Socks: Five of each is enough if you plan to send out laundry or wash/drip-dry in your room. Otherwise, bring a pair for each day.
8. Money Belt: This is usually a belt-like bag that clips around your middle or hangs around your neck. Whatever style you select, it is essential to have one. Keep your money, passport, airline ticket and other irreplaceable documents in your money belt. You should basically live out of your money belt!
9. Travel Alarm: For those days you want to get up earlier than the set wake-up call. Be sure to put new batteries in and try it out for a few days before your trip.
10. Camera: Now is the time to go digital if you haven’t already! Be sure to put new batteries in and learn how to use it BEFORE your trip.
11. Rain Gear: Bring a collapsible umbrella and a rain poncho (you can buy an inexpensive folded travel version that takes up very little room in your day pack).
12. Day Pack: Bring a small shoulder bag or back pack that you plan to carry each day. It should have room for a bottle of water and any items you might need for the day, such as your bible, rain gear or a sweater, and/or medicines you need to take while out touring, etc.
13. Medicines: Keep in the original containers with prescription labels. Very Important Note: Place in your carry-on bag; do not pack in your suitcase. Bring a list of the medicines with their generic equivalents (your pharmacist can give this to you) as the doctors in another country may not be familiar with the brand name. Bring a copy of the original prescription if you have it and bring an extra supply with you if possible. Always include your doctor’s phone number.
14. Eye Wear: Bring an extra pair of glasses, extra contact lenses, and your prescription if you have it.
15. Personal Kit: Try to keep this kit as small as possible… Remember, you are on a journey and want to pack light. Bring travel sizes of the following: shampoo/conditioner, deodorant, shaving items, comb, and hair brush. Other items you might want are; ear plugs (hotels can have thin walls), sewing kit, first aid kit (including sore throat items and diarrhea remedy), sunscreen and sunglasses, insect repellent, extension cord, tissues and towelettes. Remember to place all liquids that are in plastic bottles in zip lock bags.
16. Health Kit: Vitamins, headache medicine, cold/flu remedies, cough lozenges, anti-diarrheal and/or constipation aides, baby wipes, antibiotic cream, Band-Aids, Benadryl.
17. As You Pack:Passport: Make several copies of your passport. Leave one at home with your emergency contact person. Put one in your carry-on luggage in a safe location. Your passport should be on your person at all times, preferably in your money belt or a zippered pocket; accessible for use at the airport. DO NOT pack your passport in your suitcase. Your passport expiration date must be valid more than 6 months after your return date in order to travel.
    Travel Documents: Make copies of your airline ticket (usually an e-ticket these days) and your itinerary. Leave one at home with your emergency contact person. Put copies in your carry-on luggage in a safe location. The originals should be in your money belt or secure pocket of your carry-on and accessible for use at the airport.
    Money: For shopping, bring cash (small, clean bills are best… in the Holy Land, you will need mostly one dollar bills), a couple of credit cards and as back up, a debit card. How much money should I plan to take with me? Because almost everything is included in your travel program, you will need money only for lunches (unless lunches have been included), beverages and incidental expenses. You should be able to satisfy your needs with $300 to $400. NOTE: If you plan to use your credit card and/or debit card more than once while overseas, call your card company BEFORE you leave to inform them of your itinerary. Otherwise, you will find your card privileges could be canceled in order to protect the card holder from fraud. Don’t pack money or valuables in your suitcase.
18. Electrical Current: In Israel, the electricity is 220 volts, if you are bringing electrical appliances to Israel it would be well advised to bring an adapter/converter.
19. Entering Israel: No shots and/or vaccines are necessary to enter Israel…no Visas are necessary for US citizens; only your passport and ID
20. Health Insurance: Take your health insurance ID card in case of an emergency. If you need medical assistance please notify the front desk of your hotel; as well as your Tour Leader and/or WWP representative. A doctor or emergency medical person will be summoned to the hotel to give you medical attention. Please notify your Tour Guide, Tour Leader and/or WWP representative if you become ill and cannot travel on any given day.
21. Special Needs: If you have special needs please notify WWP before travel on the tour begins. WWP will try to accommodate your request.
22. Proper Dress: Please be aware that in the Old City of Jerusalem there are places where shorts, bare midriffs and sleeveless tops are not permitted. Please contact your Tour Guide or Group Leader for more information.
    Practical Travel Information:

Phone Calls:

When calling from a foreign country, please be aware that many hotels charge a service fee if the call is charged to the room. Some even charge a service fee if the call is made collect. If you have a long distance calling card, most long distance companies now have access codes which will save the caller a significant amount of money. Please check with your long distance company to obtain this access code. Note: Israel is seven (7) hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, although during daylight savings time there be some variation

Lost Articles:

WWP does not assume any responsibility for items lost in hotels, busses or at points of sightseeing.

Lunch:

Lunches are not included in the cost of your travel program, but may be purchased along the way.

Beverages and Extras:

Water served at the table, in most hotels we use, is considered safe. Bottled water, coffee, tea, and soft drinks are always available at a supplemental charge. Outside the United States, beverages are not generally included with the meal except for coffee or tea at breakfast. Therefore, if you order beverages at lunch or dinner, you will be charged for them. Please settle for these extras before you leave the dining room. When paying a bill, remember that the change back from your dollars will almost always be in the currency of the country. Please do not expect nor demand American money. It is strongly recommended that you drink plenty of water during the day. Bottled water will be available for purchase daily on the bus.

Identification:

Please place luggage tags on your suitcases before you leave home. Place these on the handle of your suitcase. Wear Your Name Tag. This will give everyone in the group a chance to get acquainted; as well as help us to keep track of the party and facilitate the group’s passage through the various customs points.

Be A Considerate Traveler:

Remember you are traveling as a group and should consider the comfort and well being of the entire group at all times. If you are late getting on the bus, everyone loses valuable time. You should settle any personal charges you may have (such as laundry, telephone, etc.) directly with the hotel the night before you check out. This way you will not hold up the group at the last moment while you settle your personal bills. Please make plans to stay in the same hotel as your group. If you have to be absent from a day of touring for any reason, please notify your tour host, bus captain or guide as soon as possible. You will be given ample time to photograph scenery and points of interest, so please do not delay the group by continuing to take photos after we call “all aboard.” Please be prepared to rotate your seat on the bus daily. No smoking is allowed in the dining room or on the bus.

DVD/Video Purchases:

When purchasing a DVD or video in Europe or the Middle East, be certain you are buying the NTSC or American version. Do not buy a video on which the letters PAL appear; the PAL videos will not play on your American video machine.

In Israel:

It is NOT necessary to change currency. In fact, it is better if you use American money and avoid any exchange. Money is lost on the exchange and the shops would prefer to have the purchases made with American money. Please bring $50 in ones and several $5, $10 and $20 bills.

Credit Cards:

Major credit cards are accepted in many stores and shops throughout the Middle East and Europe (except Egypt). The “exchange rate” changes every day. Therefore, the number of American dollars needed to purchase an item changes daily. This change will be evident when using credit cards. The exchange rate may change (to your advantage OR to your disadvantage) before your credit company bills you.

Service Charges and Tips:

Before you leave the USA; WWP has already collected money for standard service charges and tips. WWP will distribute the tips to the guides, drivers, porters, waiters, maids, reception staff, etc. If you ask a special favor of a maid or porter, you should tip these persons as you would at home.

Shopping:

Although this is not a “shopping tour”, we fully understand the desire to bring home souvenirs. Time has been allotted for shopping. Shopping is done “at your own risk”. WWP assumes no responsibility for purchases at places recommended by any guide. Beware of merchants who sell low cost items only to vastly overcharge on expensive items. Avoid street peddlers, especially while touring. They are a hindrance to the group. Do not even say “NO” to them; ignore them completely. Peddlers are never allowed on the bus.

U.S. Customs Regulations:
A returning U.S. resident is allowed $400.00 in purchases duty free under the following regulations:
1) You must be abroad at least 48 hours.
2) Articles totaling $400 must be based on a fair retail value of the country from which they came.
3) Articles totaling $400 will be covered by customs exemptions provided they:
a) Accompany the returning resident
b) Are required as an incident of the trip
c) Are for personal, household and gift purposes
d) Are properly recorded with customs
4) Gifts may be mailed to the U.S.A. duty free but are limited to $50.00 gifts per person per day (does not include perfumes costing more than $5, tobacco, liquor).

Hotel Check-In:
Roommate and room assignments are pre-arranged for swift and efficient check-in; occasionally, your rooms may not be ready upon your arrival due to a Jewish Sabbath or some other circumstance. Your guide will instruct you on check-in procedures prior to your arrival.

Laundry Services:
Pick-up and delivery service is available through the hotels.

Traveler’s Insurance:
WWP does not provide traveler’s insurance, but does offer a link on its website for a travel insurance company with reasonable rates.

Israel’s Mean Temperature (Fahrenheit)

Distances