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Planning a Trip
In this section, the where, when, and how of your trip are discussed -- the advanced planning that gets your trip together and takes it on the road
Destination Israel: Red Alert Checklist
A valid passport not due to expire for at least 9 months is necessary for entrance into Israel, Jordan, or Egypt (Sinai).
A U.S., U.K., or Canadian driver's license is valid in Israel; if you plan to rent a car, be sure to bring yours.
The Middle East being a volatile area, always check to see if any travel advisories have been issued by the U.S. State Department (http://travel.state.gov), especially regarding Egypt, Jordan, and the West Bank.
If you plan to attend specific performances at the Israel Festival, the Jerusalem Festival, or at the Jerash Festival in Jordan, booking in advance is a necessity. Same with performances of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO) or the New Israel Opera.
Make sure your favorite attraction is open. Remember that the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is closed to non-Muslim visitors on Fridays, Saturdays, and during the entire month of Ramadan. Plan your trip accordingly, and, because admission hours are constantly changing, reconfirm hours upon arrival. If a pilgrimage to Bethlehem (in the West Bank) is part of your travel plan, check with the State Department about travel advisories.
Did you find out your daily ATM withdrawal limit? Many smaller banks, especially savings institutions, do not charge withdrawal fees when you use your ATM card at a foreign ATM machine belonging to the PLUS, CIRRUS, or NYCE systems. It could be worthwhile to set up an account at a bank that does not charge for foreign ATM withdrawals. Israeli banks presently charge a nominal fee of NIS 3 (65¢) for each withdrawal.
Do you have your credit card PINs? If you have a five- or six-digit PIN, did you obtain a four-digit number from your bank? Many five- or six-digit PINs will work at Israeli ATMs that accept foreign ATM cards, but some do not. Check with your bank as to whether your card will function in Israel.
If you bought an e-ticket, do you have the credit card you bought your ticket with or a frequent-flier card? To be safe, print your e-ticket.
If you purchased traveler's checks, have you recorded the check numbers, and stored the documentation separately from the checks?
Did you bring your ID cards that could entitle you to discounts, such as AAA and AARP cards, student IDs, and so on?
Did you bring emergency drug prescriptions and extra glasses and/or contact lenses?
Online Traveler's Toolbox
Veteran travelers usually carry some essential items to make their trips easier. Following is a selection of handy online tools to bookmark and use.
Airplane Food (www.airlinemeals.net)
Airplane Seating (www.seatguru.com and www.airlinequality.com)
Maps (www.mapquest.com)
Time and Date (www.timeanddate.com)
Travel Warnings (http://travel.state.gov, www.fco.gov.uk/travel, www.voyage.gc.ca, or www.dfat.gov.au/consular/advice)
Universal Currency Converter (www.xe.com/ucc)
Visa ATM Locator (www.visa.com); MasterCard ATM Locator (www.mastercard.com)
Weather (www.intellicast.com and www.weather.com)
Jerusalem Post (www.jpost.com)
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
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