Israel welcome

Our concierge & Information services takes care of every detail .We're happy to suggest new tourist attractions activities and Information. We will be happy to assist you in planning your stay in Israel , as well as to advise you about different tour routes and the many worthwhile destinations in Israel worth visiting including museums , attractions , shopping and cultural activities. info@israelwelcome.com 

Ben Gurion international airport is the largest and busiest international airport in Israel.The airport is located near the city of Lod ,15 KM (9 MI) southeast of Tel Aviv 44 KM ( 27 MI) from Jerusalem and 115 KM (71 MI) from Haifa.The airport is located on highway 1,the main Jerusalem-Tel aviv highway.For arrival and departure information in English visit the Ben Gurion Airport website .Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport is a busy hub of activity. Enjoy easy access to both Jerusalem (about 40 minutes) and Tel Aviv via rental car, taxi service . Located a short distance from Tel Aviv (about 20 minutes), Ben Gurion Airport’s new terminal offers ease of access and all the appropriate amenities. Rent a phone, use the bank or buy some last minute gifts.    

Passport Control Upon arrival to Israel, visitors need to present their passports and entry forms; forms will be given on board your flight. Airport Security checks are routinely carried out for your protection and safety. Expect to be asked about the contents of your luggage – whether you packed your bags yourself and were they in a supervised place before reaching the airport. Do not take any mail, packages or unknown items from anyone before or after arriving at the airport. Departing Israel Via Ben Gurion Airport Airline Check-In: Passengers must check in at Ben Gurion International Airport at least three hours prior to departure time.

A dual-channel customs clearance system operates at all Israeli airports and at the Rafah Terminal -- Israel’s southern border crossing. Visitors without any Goods to Declare may pass through the Green Channel upon exiting the Arrivals Hall. Passengers bringing in items other than those listed below, even if exempt from duty, must declare them and use the Red Channel.If you have any doubts as to which channel to pass through, then you should enter the Red Channel in order to be sure.

Transatlantic flights allow two (2) checked pieces of luggage per person and one (1) carry-on bag. Please check your carrier’s regulations as to the weight and size of the bags.

Standard meeting assist . Pax are met upon arrival and assisted through security and border crossing procedures on both sides of the border and directed to their waiting driver. 

Fast Passport service . Clients are met prior to passport control and taken through the diplomatic passports channel for a fast and hassle free experience. Steward then takes pax through rest of the process to their waiting car as per the standard service.

VIP Airplane service . For the ultimate in VIP service at the airport. Pax are met as they leave the airplane and are driven by private vehicle across the tarmac (1 and half kilometres) to the diplomatic passports lane. Steward escorts through the whole process onto waiting driver.

Ben Gurion Airport Transfer . It is better to spend just 5 minutes booking an Israel airport transfer than to be ripped off by a taxi driver or find that the driver did not know your language or vehicle did not meet your comfort expectation. Our private airport transfer will provide you with the comfort of knowing that after you arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, our driver will be waiting to pick you up and take you and your luggage straight to your destination, without any hassle.

Ben Gurion Airport Transfer . Don't wait around on arrival at the airport with all those bags hoping for a taxi. Enjoy the freedom of a waiting car and driver by pre-booking your private taxi transfer! private airport transfer will provide you with the comfort of knowing that after you arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, a chauffer will be waiting to pick you up and take you and your luggage straight to your destination,without any hassle.Having passed through customs and the baggage claim area, passengers will be welcomed by the driver holding a sign with their name on it.

Throughout the year, other than on holidays, most businesses/offices are open on the following days: Stores: Sundays - Thursdays 08:00 - 19:00 Fridays  - 08:00 - 14:00 (some stores close in the afternoon between the hours 13:00 - 16:00) .
Offices: Sundays - Thursdays 08:00 - 19:00 (continuously) Fridays (closed) Saturdays - all businesses are closed on Saturdays apart from restaurants, coffee bars, cinemas and shopping centers near the large cities.

Bring comfortable shoes, a sweater, clothes you can layer and an all-weather coat. In the heat of summer, bring sunscreen and a hat. Some religious sites do not allow shorts or sleeveless shirts. If you are traveling in the winter, do bring a winter jacket, rain gear and sweater. An umbrella is also recommended in the winter. Modest clothing is required for most holy sites. For men - long pants and casual shirts. Women - skirts and blouses (with sleeves). Hats are a good idea year round.

Our concierge & Information services takes care of every detail .We're happy to suggest new tourist attractions activities and Information. We will be happy to assist you in planning your stay in Israel , as well as to advise you about different tour routes and the many worthwhile destinations in Israel worth visiting including museums , attractions , shopping and cultural activities. info@israelwelcome.com 

The israeli Shekel (NIS) is divided into 100 cents (agorot).The money in circulation is as follows:Metal coins(1 agora=NIS 0.01) 5,10,50 agorot coins.1,2,5,10 Shekl coins; Paper Bills the Shekel appears in bills in values of 20,50 100 and 200.Currency exchange rates

If you plan to bring small electrical appliances to Israel,keep in mind that Israel uses a 220 volt electrical current and the outlet types are different as well (two circular prongs).In order to avoid "frying" any electrical items,bring voltage convertor (note:this is already built into most laptop computers).You will also need a simple adapter to plug your items into the wall.Most hotels provide hair dryers and virtually all hotel rooms have 110/220 electric shaver sockets.It is easy to buy a plug adapter or a new local plug at any electricity shop in israel or can purchase prior to your departure.

Health care in Israel is not free and any form of medical treatment can be expensive. Check that you have full insurance cover for emergency treatment, hospitalization and medical evacuation to your country. If you cannot obtain cover for a specific illness, ensure that extra funds can be sent to you easily. Hospitals will insist on payment and may take legal action to delay departure until bills are met. We strongly suggest purchasing appropriate trip insurance covering medical, baggage and trip cancellation as needed. If you need any emergency medical service, then just dial 101 and the ambulance will reach your place within few minutes. Don’t forget to keep the police helpline number which is 100 , Dial 102 to get the emergency fire service.

An Israel tour is not complete without sampling the culinary delights of Middle Eastern food. In Israel, eating is a popular pastime, and although there a huge variety of restaurants serving international cuisine, for many Israelis the basic Middle Eastern dishes are old favorites, and ideal for a relaxed afternoon meal with friends, a bite to eat on the go, or while on vacation.

Israel is reasonably well equipped for catering to travelers with special needs. Airports, public transportation and many tourist sites are wheelchair friendly and most hotels have special rooms designed for handicapped travelers. When making dinner plans, check with your hotel as to recommended restaurants that can accommodate your needs best. Should you require handicapped facilities please contact our office.

The Sabbath and all Jewish holidays begin at sundown, and end the following night when it gets dark. Banks, businesses and public institutions are closed at these times. In major cities, many restaurants, movie theaters, nightclubs and shopping malls remain open. Please note that in Jerusalem, certain neighborhoods have restaurants and movie theaters open but shops are closed, except for in East Jerusalem. On the holiday of Yom Kippur in the fall, taxi service is available - all other public transportation is not. The eve of Yom Kippur is traffic-free in most areas of the country, leaving the roads open for kids on bicycles and skates and pedestrians.

Internet access in Israel: Some hotels have pay-for access in their rooms, or have service available in the lobby or hotel business center. Many hotels now have free WiFi as well. You can also access the Internet by stopping in for a cup of coffee at Aroma or other local cafes – enjoy your espresso along with free WiFi service for customers.

Israel uses the metric system. Clothing and shoe sizes are also different. Here are some tables to help you make conversions.

To place a collect or credit card overseas call from a public telephone, dial 1822, 1838, or 1848 and you will be connected to an operator from one of the three long distance companies. Recently, the international telecommunications market was opened to competition, resulting in significantly lower rates on international calls dialed from Israel. To make an overseas call, use one of the three companies offering international service. Information on rates to all countries, operator assistance and the like is available through the following toll-free numbers: Bezeq International 1-800-014-014 Barak 1-800-013-013Golden Lines (Kavei Zahav) 1-800-012-012 .

Public phones Are operated by a telecard, a computerized card that initially bears from 10 to 150 message units, depending on the quantity purchased. Cards with a greater number of message units cost less per unit. Telecards are available from post offices, some stores and from machines in various public buildings. Make sure your telecard has enough message units, or you'll be cut off in the middle of a conversation. There are public telephones in the lobbies of most hotels.

Rent A Car . Beat those long lines after airport check-in,and book your Rental car online now! Pick your car choose your dates,and get ready to hit the road. locations throughout Israel including Jerusalem , Tel aviv , Haifa , Netanya , Nazareth , Beer Sheva , Eilat , Galilee and Ben Gurion international airport.

The State of Israel is located in the Middle East on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It borders Lebanon in the north, Syria in the northeast, Jordan in the east, and Egypt on the southwest, and contains geographically diverse features within its relatively small area. Also adjacent are the West Bank to the east and Gaza Strip to the southwest. Israel is the world's only Jewish state, with a population of about 7.37 million, of whom about 5.57 million are Jewish. It is also home to other ethnic groups, including most numerously Arab citizens of Israel, as well as many religious groups including Muslims, Christians, Druze, Samaritans and others.

Standard time in Israel is GMT+2 but during the summer , Israel operates on daylight saving time , wihich is three hours ahead of Greenwich. According to the local low ,summertime begins on the last Friday before April 2nd and wintertime begins on the saturday between the jewish new year and Yom kippur ( usualy around the end of September or beginnig of October.) 

Travel to Israel requires a passport valid for at least the next six months. Every visitor to Israel must hold a valid passport.Visitors may remain in Israel for up to three months from the date of arrival,subject to the terms of the visa issued.Israel grants an automatic visa upon entry to the country to citizens from a large range of countries -including the US,all EU countries and a long list of countries in Asia,Africa and Americas.You may extend your visa for a fee at offices strewn around the country .