Tour FAQ’s

SUMMER

Summer in Israel is very hot and dry so be sure to bring along:

Protection against the sun: a wide-brimmed sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen

A bathing suit for water-related activities.

Comfortable walking shoes as well as water-shoes (flip-flops, crocs or sandals) are a must.

Evenings in Jerusalem and the Upper Galilee tend to be a bit cool, so a sweatshirt or pullover is recommended.

Modest dress for both men and women is required for visits to holy sites

WINTER

Winter in Israel is cooler and there is always a chance of rain. It can sometimes get very cold in certain locations like Jerusalem and the Northern part of the country:
Make sure to dress appropriately.

In certain locations, it is always warm. Your group is encouraged to pack a bathing suit as you will be visiting the Dead Sea.

Comfortable walking shoes as well as water-shoes (flip-flops, crocs or sandals) are a must.

Modest dress for both men and women is required for visits to holy sites.

While some airlines allow you to check two pieces of luggage at no additional cost, others place limitations on this due to new regulations in the airline industry. This means that you may be charged for checking your second bag.

If you are part of your airline’s “frequent flier” club or if you are traveling Business or First Class, you may be exempt from these charges. When purchasing your ticket we highly recommend that you consult with your ticketing agent and/or airline regarding checked luggage requirements.

In Israel, we operate on 220v. Most hotels have hairdryers in the bathrooms as well as an outlet (usually used for shavers) that can be used for 110v.

Electronic equipment that comes with its own converter (such as a laptop) can be used in Israel with no problem. However, the actual sockets in Israel are different from those in the USA and other regions, and an adapter is required. These are usually available at the front desk of the hotel.  They may also be purchased at your local electronics shop if you so choose.

The currency in Israel is the shekel (officially called the “New Israel Shekel” or “NIS”). ATMs in Israel dispense shekels from ATM cards from other countries. However, you may want to check with your home bank as there may be a limit to how much you can take out each day. Also, some banks in your home country may require you to notify them that you are leaving the country so that the card is activated for overseas transactions. ATMs can be found in the airport and throughout the bigger cities you visit. Credit cards are widely accepted in shops and restaurants. However, credit cards are not accepted by all vendors- especially those in outdoor markets- like Machane Yehuda in Jerusalem.

In Israel, it is customary to give a 12% tip to a server at a restaurant. A 15-20% tip may be given for exemplary service.  In general it is requested that tips be paid in cash only, and not included on your credit card. In some cases, service may be included. This should be clearly written on the bottom of your bill.

Service is not included on your bill.

The suggested tip for parties of less than 20 people is between USD $75- $125 per day.
For parties of 20 or more people, the suggested tipping policy is USD $5-$7 per day per person for the guide and USD $3-$5 per day per person for the driver.

The safety of our participants is of paramount importance. We work according to the directives of the Police Department, Israel Defense Force (IDF) and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI). These directives regulate the areas where travel is permitted, security precautions that need to be taken in various situations, activities that should be avoided and safety instructions. These directives are updated in real time and the itinerary is subject to change according to the security situation or extreme weather conditions, should the need arise.

While we will make every effort to be understanding, we are also bound by contractual obligations to our suppliers (hotels, guides, bus companies etc.). Therefore, we cannot obligate ourselves to refund participants who cancel their participation for whatever reason, subject of course, to our cancellation policy. For this reason, we highly recommend that participants purchase travel insurance so that they are covered under these circumstances.

Please note that most insurance policies require purchase within 14-21 days of your date of registration for the trip.

Israel Maven Tours has made arrangements with SMS Travel Insurance Center (Israel) of Omaha, Nebraska. SMS has over 25 years of experience as insurance brokers and can help you choose the policy that best meets your needs. Our contact person is Yonah Engel. Please mention this promo code when making your purchase: ISRAELMAVEN. For more information, please send an email to yonah@travelinsuranceisrael.com. You may also contact Yonah by phone in the USA at (402) 403-1053 or in Israel at 0522-873-665.
Please note that Israel Maven Tours cannot accept responsibility for any losses or expenses which you or any member of your party may incur as a result of failure to secure adequate coverage.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to Contact Us