8 Important Things That You Should Plan in Advance Before Visiting Israel
Visiting Israel is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The sights are beautiful, the culture is rich and exciting, and there’s so much to do. However, if you’re not careful about planning your trip, it can also be a very stressful experience. Here are some tips for how to plan for visiting Israel so that you can make sure that your trip goes off without any problems or worries:
Book Your Hotel Stay in Advance
Booking a hotel in advance is important to get the best deals. If you don’t book in advance, there is a good chance that you will not be able to find a room when you arrive.
You can also find great deals on hotels that usually have a very good reputation. They offer many amenities, such as free WiFi, laundry service, swimming pool, etc., at discounted rates when making reservations well before your trip. If you’re visiting Israel, search online for a hotel chain booking portal or holiday planning website. Look for hotels that have excellent reviews and offer the best value.
If you are looking for more information and details about booking your stay in Israel, you can find it here. Preparing and searching for such websites will help you make the most of your budget and not waste time on your arrival in Israel.
Choose Your Season Wisely
Estimates by Statista predict that in the upcoming years, there will be a gradual rise in the number of foreign tourists visiting Israel, reaching 5.68 million in 2025. Therefore, when planning a trip to Israel, it’s important to keep in mind your travel dates. The best time to visit is between March and May, when the weather tends to be moderate, and the crowds are not too large.
The worst times of year for traveling in Israel are July and August, as these months see very high temperatures during the day. Unfortunately, it comes along with increased humidity, making it hard for people who aren’t used to such conditions.
As far as winter goes, December through January can get quite cold at night. Therefore, you should bring warm clothes if you plan to stay overnight outside cities where most hotels have built-in heating systems.
Avoid Religious Holidays
If you’re not Jewish, you already know that religious holidays are a big deal in Israel and can be very expensive. And if you’ve never been to Israel before, it’s even more important to plan your trip around the country based on the religious holiday schedule.
If this is your first time visiting Israel, avoiding Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) and Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles) is highly recommended. These two holidays occur at or near the same time as Rosh Hashanah and Passover, respectively. As a result, hotels are either fully booked or at a higher rate than usual during those few weeks in September/October.
If you try to visit during this time frame without booking ahead of time, there’s no guarantee that there will be any available accommodations left by the time it comes around.
Stay Close to Your Hotel
The World Tourism Organization states that in the first 07 months of 2022, with visitors reaching 57% of pre-pandemic levels, international tourism showed encouraging indications of recovery. It is a good sign for your travel to Israel. To make the best out of it, staying close to your hotel is a great way to save money on transportation. It will also aid you in getting back to your hotel quickly if needed.
It also means that you’re within walking distance of the nearest restaurant or bar, which can be convenient if you want something quick after a long day of sightseeing. If the city has good public transportation and plenty of restaurants within walking distance, staying near the center may not be necessary.
However, if this isn’t the case, and especially if it’s cold out, consider staying closer to downtown, where there are more options for food and entertainment nearby.
Book Religious Services at the Wall in Advance
The Wall is a holy site for all three Abrahamic religions and serves as the meeting place for Jews, Muslims, and Christians. It’s located in the Old City of Jerusalem and is surrounded by many other tourist attractions, including shops, restaurants, museums, synagogues, and churches.
Book your services in advance to ensure that you get service at the Wall when you want it. For example, if you’re visiting during the high season or any time around the Jewish holidays, make sure that you reserve before so that your spot will be secure when you arrive.
Booking early also gives you more time to explore other sites around Jerusalem. In addition, it results in not feeling rushed or stressed about finding a place for prayer services later in your trip.
Plan Ahead for Holy Sites
According to Israel’s Ministry of Tourism, 2.2 and 2.5 million people may travel in 2022. While planning your trip to Israel, it’s important to remember all the holy sites you want to visit. Some of the most famous holy sites include:
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Jesus was said to have been crucified, buried, and resurrected.
The Dome of the Rock sits on top of another site called Temple Mount. It is also known as “Haram al-Sharif,” which contains two mosques, Al Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock, and is also considered sacred by Muslims.
The Western Wall is located in Jerusalem’s Old City, one of Judaism’s holiest places.
Plan a Trip to the Golan Heights in Advance
The Golan Heights is a great place to visit. It’s a part of Israel, and several things make it particularly interesting as a travel destination. First, the Golan Heights are home to some of Israel’s most beautiful scenery: terraced vineyards, rolling hills, and picturesque villages that date back thousands of years.
Second, the area has been inhabited since Biblical times. As a result, many ancient ruins remain visible today, in addition to modern attractions like wineries and olive oil presses operated by residents.
Finally, while they’re not quite as famous as other sites nearby, such as Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, the Golan Heights have their unique flavor. In large part, thanks to their distinct atmosphere, which can best be described as both laid back and sophisticated at once.
Think Carefully Before Leaving Jerusalem on Saturdays
If you’re planning on leaving Jerusalem on a Saturday, you must think carefully about the implications. Saturdays are the only days of the week when all businesses are closed. Thus, if you need anything from a pharmacy or supermarket, for example, then this can be problematic.
Similarly, public buses and trains don’t run on Saturdays either. It means that if traveling across Israel is part of your itinerary, this will also be an issue. Finally, public services such as post offices and government offices also aren’t open on Saturdays.
Being Prepared Is the Best Way to Enjoy Your Time in Israel
To bring your vacation to life, you must be prepared for your trip. Israel is a beautiful country, but it can be difficult if you don’t know where to go or what to do. The best way to avoid having a bad time at a destination is by planning and ensuring everything goes smoothly. It means having the right information about your destination, for example, with the help of maps.
Also, knowing how much money or currency you’ll need is essential. Finally, have all of your travel documents in order before going somewhere new so that when the time comes, they’re ready to go.
