Fast Facts

American Express -- American Express International is at 32 Ben Yehuda St. (tel. 03/526-8837; for lost traveler's checks, call tel. 800/943-8694). Mail is held for American Express cardholders. Open Sunday to Thursday from 9am to 5pm and Fri 9am to 1pm.

Currency Exchange -- Especially convenient is Bank Ha-Poalim on Ha-Yarkon Street across from the Dan Hotel (near Mendele St.), which has a street-side ATM connected to Visa, Cirrus, and NYCE. There are numerous currency exchange offices along Ha-Yarkon and Ben Yehuda streets. They usually have exchange rates comparable to the banks, are open longer hours and involve less waiting in line. Avoid shady people offering to change money on the streets no matter what rate they quote.

Doctors & Dentists -- You can get a list of English-speaking doctors and dentists from the embassy, and often from your hotel's front desk. There is an Emergency Dental Treatment Center at 18 Reines St. (tel. 03/523-9241); or call Dental First Aid (tel. 800/773-773), which operates 24 hours a day.

Drugstores -- The Jerusalem Post lists under "General Assistance" the names and addresses of duty pharmacies that stay open nights and on Shabbat for the current week.

Emergencies -- For police, dial tel. 100. In medical emergencies, dial tel. 101 for Magen David Adom (Red Shield of David), Israel's emergency first-aid service and ambulance. For fire, dial tel. 102. Medical Help for Tourists (toll free) tel. 177/022-9110.

Hospitals -- For visitors with Blue Cross-Blue Shield insurance, call tel. 03/579-0081, or 03/755-3546 for information.

Hot Lines -- For the Rape Crisis Center, dial tel. 03/523-4819; Drug Counseling is available at tel. 03/546-3587. Dial the Crisis Counseling Hotline in English at tel. 800/654-1111 or 02/654-1111.

Laundry & Dry Cleaning -- Try 63 Ben-Yehuda St., near Bograshov, which advertises "6 Hour Cleaning and Laundry." Hours are 7am to 1:30pm and 3:30 to 6pm. If you want to do it yourself, 51 Ben-Yehuda St. has coin-operated machines. Figure NIS 25 ($5.50) for washing, soap, and adequate drying.

Libraries -- The British Council Library, 140 Ha-Yarkon St., near Gordon Street (tel. 03/522-2194), is open Monday to Thursday from 10am to 1pm and 4 to 7pm; Friday from 10am to 1pm.

Newspapers & Magazines -- See the special Tel Aviv events supplement published on Friday in the Jerusalem Post (available only in the Tel Aviv region).

Post Office -- Tel Aviv's Central Post Office is at 132 Allenby Rd. General hours for all services are Sunday to Thursday from 7am to 7pm, though limited services (telephone and telegraph) are open nights and on Shabbat. Telegrams can be sent at all post offices or by phoning tel. 171.

Radio -- Israel Radio news can be heard at 576, 1170, and 1458 kHz at 7am, 1pm, 5pm, and 8pm. BBC World Service broadcasts at 1322 kHz.

Safety -- Israel's largest city has less crime than most cities its size, but there is still enough that you must observe the normal precautions. Don't walk in deserted areas, especially the beaches, after dark.

Television -- There are three Israeli State channels and one English-language channel from Lebanon specializing in very old American TV reruns and Christian religious programs. Commercial channels and cable service have arrived in Israel over the past few years, and a selection of cable channels is usually available at better hotels.

Useful Telephone Numbers -- For all flight arrival and departure schedule information, including last-minute changes, call tel. 03/972-3344; for train schedules, call tel. 03/577-4000; for Egged Bus schedules, call tel. 03/694-8888; for the Airport Bus to Ben Gurion, call tel. 03/694-8888.