‪Decide

Consider what kind of a trip your family would enjoy most. There are many advantages traveling throughout Israel as a small group or family. You have the opportunity to relax and enjoy sites at your own pace or to easily change the itinerary when you find something more exciting to explore. The key to a successful trip is great planning before your arrival so that you know all of your options in advance.

Kinds of trips to consider:

·         Biblical Christian sites

·         Outdoor adventure and sports

·         Learning Israel’s culture and personality

Plan

Sit down and make a list of what you want to achieve on your trip. Contact a Tour Operator to get pricing. They can help you create a custom itinerary or you can use a  Suggested Itinerary. Consider using an experienced Tour Guide that can bring depth and perspective to all the places you’ll visit. It is best to plan at least 4 - 5 months in advance for reasonable pricing. Tour operators will require deposits to secure flights, car rental and hotel accommodations. Check the upcoming Congresses/ Conventions Schedule to find something you may enjoy during your trip.

Some excellent planning tools are: Maps of Israel, Different options of Getting to Israel, a Road Distance Chart, a reference page regarding Facilities for the Disabled, information about the Weather in Israel,  and helpful links for Transportation in Israel.

Learn

Learn about the biblical importance of going to Israel. Some inspiring topics could be:

·         Jerusalem is where God says He dwells

·         Israel is where Patriarchs lived and where the Glory of the Great King will return to rule and reign in Jerusalem the eternal city of God

·         Take the journey with Abraham and discover the covenants that God made with the people of Israel, the land of Israel and His Holy Mountain, Mt. Zion

Prepare

Have family meetings to discuss the itinerary and to coordinate details of the tour. Basic topics that everyone will need are:

·         The State of Israel – an overview

·         Emergency Services in Israel

·         Communications in Israel

·         Health Care in Israel

·         Money & Currency in Israel

·         Electrical Appliances

·         Dress codes and what clothes to bring

·         How to relate in Israel’s modern culture

·         Learn some basic Hebrew phrases

·         How to pray for the trip and for Israel

Arrive

Your tour operator can coordinate everything necessary for your first impression in Israel. When you deplane, you will first go through passport control to have your passports stamped, before arriving to the baggage claim.  After your group has gathered their luggage, there is an area to claim items at the Israeli Customs department (see Immigration & Customs for more details).

There is a designated area at the airport where you can get taxis or transportation to your hotel. If you rented a car, find out where the location of the car rental desk is. Many are located inside the airport.

Depart

When the time has come for your departure, there are important items to be aware of. Please make sure that everyone has the following information: Leaving Israel.