It is just coincidence that Jerusalem’s International Annual Half Marathon, the 18th, falls on March 18th this year. Participating in sports events of this kind is definitely being alive, and bringing more life to the city.

As in previous years participants come from all over Israel and all over the world. The route begins and ends in the Givat Ram Stadium of the Hebrew University and goes through some of Jerusalem’s unique and pictoresque landscapes. The route will take runners on a slightly hilly and challenging route and past the Shrine of the Book, housing the Dead Sea Scroll, the Israel Museum, the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, and the Jerusalem forest.

The Marathon is set with two lengths: half marathon of 21.1 km and the fun run of 10 km. There are 18 different race categories, split by gender and age, from below 16 to 73 and above. 6 prices will be given out.

Participants of the half marathon are invited to participate in a gala dinner of pasta the evening before the race. All runners will receive a t-shirt and a certificate and medal.

Price for participation is $25-$40. Registration can be done online through marathon page in English on the municipality’s site www.jerusalem.muni.il.

If you are lucky you may run side by side with Nir Barkat, the mayor of Jerusalem, and an avid marathon runner himself.

Israel may be a small country, but it is one of the countries in the world with an extraordinary long and complicated history and cultural differences. Many can find their way around by themselves, but the function of the guide, on a group tour or in private guided tour, is to make it all come together into something comprehensible.

Me and my car, Mt. of Olives, Jerusalem

Private guided tours are tours for one to 10 people, all traveling together in one vehicle. The average is family tour of 2-6 people. All vehicles used for transporting tourists in Israel must be lisenced and qualified. They are all quite new, luxury airconditioned vehicles. Only one type of person is allowed to drive such cars, and that is a fully lisenced qualified guide.

Time is Money -  The time spent in Israel is precious, and should be used to the fullest. By having a local, knowledgable guide in charge, you know that you will accomplish the itinerary and possibly more.

Flexibility -  You spent time before the visit setting up an itinerary. You want to complete this, but you are in Israel also to have a holiday. In a private guided tour, your are in charge of when to start, when to end, where to eat. You can even make changes on the spur of the moment.

Getting There – Using a local guide will save you a lot of time and headache. The guide knows the country, knows which roads to take and at what time of the day, knows the best places to park, especially important in the cities. Though Israel has quite a good road posting and traffic signals, and in three languages at that, you can relax while the guide gets you there safely.

Avoiding Israeli Drivers – Your guide will also know the ins and outs of the traffic, will know how to handle Israeli drivers and their very special traffic rules (often against the official traffic laws).

Comfort – You travel to Israel in relative comfort, you chose a hotel for the greatest comfort. Your touring experience should be in the same class, comfort for you and your family.

Understanding What Happened – The function of the guide is also to tell you the history and special events that has made Israel so unique. No visit is chronological, so it can become very confusing. Your guide will also be able to give you those little details that hopefully will make it come alive, and maybe even make some sense.

Asking Questions – Your guide will explain and talk to you about both the old and the new, how one has influenced the other. You can ask all the questions you want, and get answers.

Off the Beaten Path – You want to get off the beaten path and see something that is of special interest to you. Your guide will arrange that with one or two phone calls. You need reservations for special sites, your guide will set it up, whenever possible.

Shopping and Eating Out – Guides in Israel also know of the good shopping places, even the off the track places. They often know special restaurants, the places where Israeli also go. The locals always know the best places.

Meeting Israelis – You are free to stop where you want. You can start up conversations with Israelis as you are touring. Despite the rumors Israelis are open and friendly people to themselves, but even more to visitors. No visit to Israel is complete without a chat now and then with a local.

I said advantages and disadvantages. Not many of the last. The biggest is probably the cost. I am aware that not all can allow themselves the financially higher cost of touring Israel this way. Another disadvantage (at least for some) is that you don’t really get to mingle with other
travellers. Israelis can be met at any time (see above).

So the advantages really outnumber the disadvantages. For anyone wanting to tour Israel in with a private guide and car please contact me for free consultation.
If private car touring is not for you, and you still want to tour Israel, feel free to contact me and I can and will advice for group tours also.

On traveling to any country one of the basic items of planning is how to get around. In all countries there are usually several modes of transportation. Which one is chosen will depend on age, interests and not least financial considerations.

Alternative Transportation

Often this subject is not dealt with in depth by various travel agencies or information sites, causing many travelers to either waste a lot of time or using money intended for other purposes. With proper information before setting out and before arriving to the desired destination a lot of unnecessary headaches can be avoided.

I am not expert on world travel possibilities. My expertise is my country of residence, Israel. My knowledge on this subject is not just from living here, but also from meeting and working with foreign visitors as a official licensed guide, for groups and as private guide.

The topic of transport will be divided into two parts: public transport and private transport. I will try to give the pros and cons, the ins and outs of both major categories as well as their sub-categories.

Public Transport

Your urban and interurban buses

Egged Bus

The original mode of transport was by bus, but on urban routes and interurban routes. Until recently there was pretty much just one bus company, Egged, a government subsidized cooperative.
Egged been privatized and meeting competition from new companies has made bus traveling better, but sometimes a little more complicated.

All towns in Israel have central bus stations, and all bus companies have stations there for the interurban routes. Information on which company and which bus to use can be had from the information counter or via each company’s website (usually also in English).

Many urban routes pass the central bus stations, so that getting there or continuing the travel is reasonably easy. Once in a city it will be obvious which company has the concession there. Egged is still by far the largest company, and if you are traveling between the major cities, you are most likely to be using their services.

Information about all Israel bus companies, check out this site

Your Trains

Though Israel has a very extensive and fully developed road system, it was considered a necessity to develop and modernize the rail system. This very much stems from Israelis love of their car, causing terrible congestion, particularly in the central part of the country. Since busses use the same road system as cars, train was the logical solution.

This system has been and is still under construction for almost 20 years. It is today possible to travel from the north (Nahariah) to Be’er Sheva in the Negev. The system began in Tel Aviv, and it is in Tel Aviv there are the main stations for changing lines.

The system also goes inland, although not yet to Jerusalem, due to the special topographic conditions involved in building the line. It is under construction, but will take many more years before this line is operational.

Most towns have one train station, though some of the larger ones like Tel Aviv and Haifa, have several. Busses usually connect to the stations from most part of the towns. In addition there are usually large parking areas adjoining the stations.

Information on routes and departure times can be had through Israel Railways website (also in English).

Dare the Taxis

Taxis are taxis all over the world, and Israel being part of the world is no exception. By law all taxis must have a taximeter, and they do. By law the driver must turn on the meter as soon as the taxis drives with passengers, and they don’t always do.

There are plenty of taxis around. They are easily identified, as they must be white and they all have that yellow “cap” saying taxi. Even though white is a popular color for cars in Israel, taxis are still easy to spot, as the taxi number is written on the side.

*  It should be noted that all buses and trains stop for Shabbat and all Jewish Holidays. Taxis operate, but at a different rate, and in reduced numbers.

Private Transport

Car Rental

There is an abundance of car rental companies in Israel, including the large international companies. These as well as the large Israeli rental companies have offices in the airport, so if this is your preferred mode of transport, you can pick up and drop off the car in the airport.

It is fairly easy to find one’s way around Israel, as there are excellent road signs in three languages, Hebrew, English and Arabic. You may occasionally get a good laugh, as the road department sometimes seem to go easy on translation or spelling.

The main problem with driving is having to deal with Israeli drivers. They can be very aggressive, and not too courteous. At least those are the drivers that are most noticeable.

Guided Coaches

Tour Bus

This mode of transport is of course the preferred one for group tours. In fact it’s the only sensible mode of transport for group tours.

Private Guided Car

This is the mode of transport and getting around for the more affluent traveler, or the traveler who does not want to deal with public transport, or wants to get the most of his/her time in Israel.

One type of private car

The private car is driven by a licensed tour guide, so getting from A to B is no issue. At the same time much knowledge and understanding of the country will be gained from this method of getting around.

Now you have the breakdown on How to Get Around in Israel. Which method you prefer, which method suits you best, is up to you to decide, when you plan you trip to Israel.

This little video is in honor of all the busy women, who still find time to have fun, exercise their bodies (they all look great) and entertain the hope of winning a weekend trip for two to Paris plus $1000. This event was sponsored by a foot care specialist and took place on July 17 in the refurbished Tel Aviv Harbor. How is that for advertising.

I wonder, if the specialist actually endorses the continual wear of stilettos and other high-healed shoes, or maybe another way of attracting additional clients. Whatever, it seems that all had a great time, and I am sure business once again thrived in Tel Aviv Harbor.

Whatever, it seems that both participants, their families and the spectators had a great time. Now, interestingly, the event took place the day after the opening of the Maccabiah Games.

Many of you come from far away. Many of you are here for the first time, many of you may have visited Israel before. But to all of you, being here is always exciting, and for athletes and their families it must be double exciting.

One – how well will he or she do in the field?
Two – how much of Israel will we have time to see?

Since none of us here at Your Guide to Israel can do much on number one, we can only do a little on number two, and that is to offer a special discount to all athletes and/or their families or friends, trainers and other participants on touring services in Israel.

Our services are for guiding and our speciality is guiding in private luxury vehicles, specially lisenced for tourists. We cover the whole country, from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and Masada. From Eilat in the south to Metullah in the north, which of course is also
the Galilee and the Golan. In short – all of Israel.

Our guides speak not only excellent English, but many of them speak other languages as well, so if you happen to be from a non-English country that should not stop you from receiving the best guiding possible.

Our special discount of 10% is on all guiding and touring services, no matter if you only order one day tour, or you want several days. No matter if it is now during the games, or if you stay on for a few days afterward. I will even extend it so that if you order touring services now,
but can only do them later, you will still receive that special discount.

As I said, this is our way of honoring your coming to Israel and participating or supporting participants in the Maccabiah Games. Please help us to honor you.

Tourism Updates:

Netanyahu Stops VAT on Tourism

Special Events to Bring Israelis and Participants together

Whenever you visit a country, there is always the question of where to stay. There really does not seem to be that many options – a hotel at some level or another, for younger people possibly a hostel, or private lodgings and it is quite easy to find all even before you get here.

When staying in hotels there are again many options, depending on what class of hotel you want. If you opt for the higher class hotels, up until recently you had to choose one of the large hotels, like King David, David’s Citadel, the Inbal to mention just a few in Jerusalem, or the Dan, David Continental, Moriah in Tel Aviv, again to mention just a very few.

But not all like to stay in these large hotels, and yes they are all excellent. Which one depends very much upon taste, budget or possibly miles accumulated in other places. Almost all hotels in the large cities in Israel are located within walking distance of most frequently
visited places.

But a new trend has grown up in recent years, and that is the smaller boutique hotels. Tel Aviv has had a few, but both Jerusalem and Haifa are now very much on the market as well. Most of the boutique hotels are in old buildings that have been converted to be a hotel, which in itself gives them a unique quality.

I have become acquainted with three, two in Jerusalem and one in Haifa (the newest).

Jerusalem

Room in Dan Boutique

The Dan Boutique was the first in Jerusalem. It belongs to the Dan chain of hotels, and is a older small hotel converted. It is situated within reasonable walking distance of the Old City, and central Jerusalem as well as the charming German Colony. It has 126 rooms in three classes as well as spacious lounge area and reasonable parking space.

Lobby in Harmony Hotel

Harmony Hotel is situated in the heart of downtown Jerusalem. It is converted to a boutique hotel from a number of old buildings of Nahlat Shivaa neighborhood, the first to be built outside the wall of Old Jerusalem. It is quiet despite its location. It is surrounded by some of the most active streets in Jerusalem, teeming with shops and restaurants of all levels. It is within easy walking distance of the Old City. Breakfast is served in the modern lobby. It also has good parking facilities.

Haifa

Room in Colony Hotel

The Colony Hotel is the newest of the boutique hotels. It is situated in the Old German Colonoy and was originally built as a hotel over 100 years ago. It has undergone massive restoration just like the rest of the German Colony, one of the oldest areas in Haifa. The German Colony in Haifa has become a sought after eating area as well as office and shopping area. The magnificent Bahai Gardens can be seen from many of the rooms.

All three hotels have many additional features. I have linked them, so you can check them out  yourself.
These, as well as other hotels, can also be booked through Your Guide to Israel.