Jerusalem Travel Forum

1. How long is the drive from Red Sea to Dead Sea?
2. How long is the drive from Dead Sea to Masada?
3. How long is the drive from Masada to Jerusalem?
4. What is the best hotel in Tel Aviv? Hilton? Dan?
5. How long is the drive from Jerusalem to Bethlehem?
6. What are the top 5 things to see in Tel Aviv?
7. Is it true that US citizens can get a visa on arrival in Israel - even if I'm coming by land via Jordan?
8. Will Israel place visa and entry and exit stamps on a piece of paper instead of my passport since I travel around the world and many countries would not allow me to enter if I have an Israeli stamp in my passport?
9. How easy is it to walk from place to place in Jerusalem, e.g., Wailing Wall to Dolorosa to Dome of the Rock to Mount of Olives? Time to walk between major tourist sights?
Thanks.

1. You can't take a rental car across the border.
2. Masada is on the Dead Sea - 5 minutes about.
3. Masada to Jerusalem is about 1 1/2 hours at most, could be less depending on the time of day. Long, boring, desert road. If you ride the bus you can watch out the windows and enjoy the views of a rock desert (not sand).
4. Don't know.
5. Jerusalem to Bethlehem is about 1/2 an hour, but again you can't take a rental car across the border.
6.
7. Yes
8.No promises. The immigration might agree to stamp a piece of paper, then again they might not...
9. Jerusalem is eminently walkable. The Old City is only walkable. If necessary you can always take a taxi to the top of the Mt. of Olives.

How long does it take to walk 100 meters? Depends on you... How fast do you walk? How long do you spend browsing the sites?

US citizens don't need a visa to enter Israel. Doesn't matter where do you come from. Notice that if you enter Israel from Jordan, even if the Israeli passport control wouldn't stamp your passport, the Jordanians will. A Jordanian stamp from the border crossing with Israel is enough for countries like Syria or Lebanon to refuse your entrance.

You can waslk around the old city (Wailing Wall, Dome of the Rock, Via Dolorosa) but the Mount of Olives is quite a walk from there. It's not impossible to walk, but you better drive or take a taxi.

You can see routes and driving times everywhere in Israel (in English) at: http://www.emap.co.il

In Tel-Aviv, you should visit old Jaffa, Neve Zedek, the old port, the street market in Nachalat Binyamin st (Tusdays and Fridays) and the beach. You better have a look at the relevant pages on VT.