Tel Aviv-Yafo Travel Forum

Hello,

We will go to Israel next week and plan to go to Tiberias/Galilee and visit Caesarea, Haifa, Acre, Nazareth, Sea of Galilee, etc.. Maybe it will take 2-3 days. We are not sure if we can take this trip by ourselves. Which way is better? By train? rent car? Or join a group tour?

Is it safe to drive for foreigner?

Thank you in advance:)

No problems driving, the road are ok and signs are also in English but the traffic is terrible and as you drive to visit cities also parking can be a problem. Having a groups tour is not such a bad idea but the best I would say will be to use the bus as there are frequent buses between all these cities they will take you to the cities centres and from there you can tour the places. Between Tel-Aviv, Haifa and Acre there are also comfortable trains. Bus company link is: www.egged.co.il/Eng/ train is: www.rail.co.il

Thank you, Gili.

Our initial planning is stay at Galilee or Tiberias for 2 night. If we take train or bus, sounds we need to stay at Haifa one night and Galilee/Tiberias one night. I noted that it will take 2 hours from Tel Aviv to Haifa by bus. Will check the time of train.

Thank you!

You probably checked the slower bus, the normal express bus should make it in an hour ;-)

I would take a car. I have done this trip three times in the last four years. The roads are great but the drivers are crazy. I drive in NYC so it did not scare me. My passenger was from Holland and she was terrified. I found parking to be quite easy in all the places you mentioned.

Israel is great place to visit and tour.

I agree with NYTim. If your budget allows for it, definitely rent a car for a trip like that. Besides being much more convenient, you will save LOADS of time. Traffic isn't too bad, except for the rush hour around Tel Aviv and Haifa. Also, you can always find parking at a reasonable price, if not for free.

Shalom, Shalom:
I also agree with Tim, taking a car will allow you to arrive at places when YOU want and to leave when YOU want. Israel does have a decent public transport system, but they run on a time schedule, and the old axiom says that any time schedule is EXACTLY the times you do NOT NEED ^O^.
Your ability to see so much will depend on renting a car and it is EASY to drive in Israel, the traffic at most times of day is not heavy. Try to avoid cities between 7-9am and then 5-7pm, usually the rest is okay.
Parking in some of the cities can be a problem, but there are parking lots which are not overly expensive. Parking at most public places like parks and attractions, ancient ruins and nature parks is usually included in the price of entrance.
You mentioned Tiberius, Sea of Galilee, Galilee, Caesarea, Haifa, Acre, Nazareth, etc...that is a lot to see in 2-3 days. Is that all the time you have or are you planning on staying longer??
Safe, yes very safe with the one exception of the drivers...not that Israeli drivers are worse than what I have seen in many countries in Europe, but just a note to drive carefully. As Gili pointed out almost 100% of the signs are in English as well as Hebrew and Arabic.
Get yourself a recent and good map and you will have NO problems.
Now for the ultimate question...why ONLY THE NORTH...I think the SOUTH of Israel is far more beautiful, anywhere south of Jerusalem and Kiryat Gat ^O^
Whatever you decide and whatever you do, enjoy.
Martin

Thank you for all your kind information and advice!

I plan to take 3 days trip from Tel Aviv - Galilee - Jerusalem. I think I am comfortable to rent a car now.

Some more questions need your help:

1. how many days I need to reserve the car? Is it ok for 1-2 days advance?

2. I plan to start the trip from Friday, weekend in Israel. Will the car rent company work?

3. If I pick up the car in Tel Aviv and drop off it in Jerusalem, do you know how much additional fee I need to pay?

4. where can I get a map? Is it enough to rent a GPS?

one more, do you have any idea to rent a celled phone? Can I rent it in airport without any booking in advance?

Thank you:)

Hi guys
I think that
1. It is up to you for how many days you need the car
2. The questions about when to return the car and where you should ask directly the rent a car company: you can try AVIS, Hertz and more just search online.
3. While staying in Tel Aviv it is not advisable to have a car - see www.telaviv4fun.com/transportation
Wish you a great trip

Mary

I plan to take 3 days trip from Tel Aviv - Galilee - Jerusalem. I think I am comfortable to rent a car now. SOUNDS GOOD !!

Some more questions need your help:

1. how many days I need to reserve the car? Is it ok for 1-2 days advance?
YES I BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE FINE, THERE ARE USUALLY CARS AVAILABLE.

2. I plan to start the trip from Friday, weekend in Israel. Will the car rent company work? IF IT IS IN THE AIRPORT AND YOU ARRIVE BEFORE THE SHABBATH, THAT IS BETWEEN 1PM AT THE EARLIEST TO 5PM AT OTHER PLACES. CHECK WITH THE CAR RENTAL AGENCY HOW LATE THEY ARE OPEN AT THE AIRPORT ON A FRIDAY.

3. If I pick up the car in Tel Aviv and drop off it in Jerusalem, do you know how much additional fee I need to pay?
NO, BUT WE HAVE OFTEN DROPPED OFF CARS AT DIFFERENT DESTINATIONS AND IT USUALLY COSTS ABOUT A THIRD OF THE RENT FOR A DAY.

4. where can I get a map? Is it enough to rent a GPS?
YOU CAN PICK UP A MAP FROM THE CAR RENTAL TO GET YOU STARTED. PICK UP A BETTER MAP AT A STEINMETZKY BOOK SHOP (THERE MAY BE ONE IN THE AIRPORT). A GPS IS GREAT, BUT I ALWAYS BACK IT UP WITH A GOOD MAP JUST TO KNOW WHERE I AM.

one more, do you have any idea to rent a celled phone? Can I rent it in airport without any booking in advance? THERE ARE PHONE RENTAL COMPANIES IN THE AIRPORT JUST TO YOUR RIGHT AS YOU LEAVE THE LUGGAGE COLLECTION AREA AND PASS THROUGH CUSTOMS. AGAIN THEY MAY BE CLOSED IF YOUR FLIGHT ARRIVES AFTER THE SABBATH.

The car will serve you well for a trip up north or to the south. Finish your car trip north/south, then return the car at the airport and take the train or bus from there to continue your trip to Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem, this will save you some money.
Martin

Thank you, Mary and Martin!

I will arive Tel Aviv next Wed. and visit Tel Aviv and Jaffa for 2 days. After that I will go to north of Israel. Will car rent company work on Friday in Tel Aviv-yafo?

Hi Martin, my flight arrive airport in early morning, around 4am. Will the phone rent company work during that time?

I will stay in Israel for 11 days and have not much time to travel to south of Israel, maybe next time:))

Thank you all for your kind help!

Thank you, Mary and Martin!

I will arive Tel Aviv next Wed. and visit Tel Aviv and Jaffa for 2 days. After that I will go to north of Israel. Will car rent company work on Friday in Tel Aviv-yafo?
WHEN YOU ARRIVE IN TEL-AVIV, CALL YOUR CAR RENTAL AGENCY AND FIND OUT WHAT TIME THE CLOSE FRIDAY, THEY DO WORK ON FRIDAY, JUST CLOSE EARLIER.

Hi Martin, my flight arrive airport in early morning, around 4am. Will the phone rent company work during that time?
THIS IS THE WEB SITE FOR THE AIRPORT FACILITIES:
http://www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Airports/BenGurion/InformationforTravelers/ShoppingFoodServicesCommerceandDevices/

I will stay in Israel for 11 days and have not much time to travel to south of Israel, maybe next time:))
SORRY TO HEAR THAT YOU WILL NOT BE COMING TO THE SOUTH.

Thank you all for your kind help!
NO PROBLEM, ENJOY YOUR TRIP, BUT HOPEFULLY YOU WILL VISIT THE BEAUTIFUL PART OF THE COUNTRY (YES THE SOUTH) NEXT TIME.
MARTIN