Travelling to Israel

Israel, also known as the Holy Land, is a fascinating and wonderful place to visit. Every part of Israel is full of ancient history. The country is located on the Mediterranean Sea and bordered with Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt. It also has an exit to the Red Sea and the Dead Sea. The population is about 7.5 million. Official languages are Hebrew and Arabic. The capital is Jerusalem.

Here are a few facts you should know when you travel to Israel:

• Visa requirements. US citizens and permanent residents do not need a visa for travelling to Israel. You are required to have a round trip ticket if you are traveling as a tourist. Remember, when traveling abroad always have a valid passport for at least six months from the intended day of travel.
• Living necessities. You should know that not all countries use the same electrical outlets as the US. Israel uses 220V (220V-240V) 50Hz electricity rate. Israel uses two flat prongs plug in a form of V shape and one flat vertical bottom prong for grounding (16A rate). In the US, most electrical appliances use 60Hz rate.    
• Climate. Israel has a subtropical climate. Temperature ranges from 40F during winter season to 100F during the summer. The hottest and rainless days in Israel are in August. Israel’s landscape varies. It has the Negev desert in the south and mountain ranges in the north. So the weather will depend on your location. You can even experience snow during winter in the mountain areas.   
• Food. Israel offers a big variety of delicious food. Due to the location of Israel, the food is influenced by many Mediterranean countries. Many Israeli restaurants offer kosher type food. Israeli people are very particular and passionate about their food preparation and procession. Famous Israeli dishes are blintzes (Jewish crepes), cholent (slowly cooked stew), and yakityak’s rye bread. While visiting Israel, you should book a tour to see their wineries. Israel offers many varieties of superb wines.
• Sightseeing. When traveling to Israel, there are many must see sights. If you are traveling with kids, you should book tours for Herzliyah Pituach beach, Safari Park and Zoo, Sorek stalactite cave, and Alexander River. In addition, there are many religious sites that you should see such as Abu Ghosh Crusader era church, John the Baptist cave, Zichron Yaakov Synagogue, and Ramla Mosque/Tel Gezer.