How to Plan a Trip to Israel

Israel is the Holy Land for the three major religions of the world today. That is why it is the center of so much attention and controversy. It is also why it is such a popular destination for hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Whether you are interested in visiting Israel for pure recreation, or for holy inspiration, this country is full of surprises around every corner, if you know where to go and what to look for.

Instructions

1. Make sure you have all of the travel documentation that you need. Whenever you are traveling abroad, you must never assume that a ticket and a passport are all you need to get into the country. When traveling to Israel, you must have a valid U.S. passport that does not expire for nine months from the date you arrive. There are no specific visas that one must obtain as a U.S. or Canadian citizen to obtain entry into Israel.

2. Bring your U.S. or Canadian license if you plan on driving while you are there. They are valid without having to obtain any further International Driving Permit.

3. Know where you can and cannot visit. While Jerusalem is always open to Western visitors, there are a great many places in and around Israel that are not always as welcoming and easy to access. Some places are very dangerous. Always check U.S. government travel advisories before traveling to find out what areas U.S. citizens are being warned against visiting. These areas can sometimes include Bethlehem and the West Bank, Jordan and Egypt. Also, the Temple Mount area in Jerusalem is closed to any visitor that is not Muslim during Ramadan and every Friday and Saturday.

4. Plan out which sites you want to visit. There is an enormous amount to do and see in Israel, and if you are visiting for just a week or two, it is impossible to do everything. The best thing to do, before you even step foot on the airplane, is take out a map and decide what is realistic and feasible. If you want to visit holy sites, you may find once you are looking at a map of the area that many of these shrines are located quite far away from one another. Break your site interests into different days. Try to group visits to places that are close to each other together so you have quality time to spend at each place.

5. Prepare for an emergency. If you take prescription drugs, talk to your doctor beforehand and take an extra prescription with you just in case you get stuck and need a new prescription filled. Be sure to take all of your contact information with you, as well, including numbers of your doctors back home, family members and closest friends. Give a key to your home to someone whose number you have with you, in case you need something taken care of while you're gone. Change as much money as you can into traveler's checks, because if they are lost or stolen they are insured and you can have them reimbursed.