HO FAMILY & FRIENDS TOUR 2020
A Family Tour of the Land of the Bible
Day One – Saturday, 12 December – Arrival Day
Check in available from 15:00.
Free day – rest and recover from the flight and enjoy Jerusalem.
Overnight: Eyal Hotel, Jerusalem
Day Two – Sunday, 13 December – Jerusalem
Meals included: Breakfast
Tour Orientation Meeting – meet your guides and JJ Travel tour operators to prepare for the tour. The time will be confirmed.
Kokia House – see the amazing film – “The All-inclusive Land” and learn about the seven species in Deuteronomy 8:8.
Overnight: Eyal Hotel, Jerusalem
Day Three – Monday, 14 December – Jerusalem
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Genesis Land – a themed look at how Abraham lived.
Mt. of Olives – with panoramic views of Jerusalem, the Holy City, this mount is where the Lord ascended from and to where He will return.
Garden of Gethsemane – at the foot of the Mount of Olives this is where Jesus prayed prior to His crucifixion. There will be time for personal prayer and reflection.
The Garden Tomb – a possible site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus.
Overnight: Eyal Hotel, Jerusalem
Day Four – Tuesday, 15 December – Jerusalem
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
City of David – explore the earliest history of Jerusalem and this archeological site. This includes the 2700 year old Hezekiah’s Tunnel, still flowing with water from the Gihon spring to the Siloam pool.
Mount Zion
The Upper Room – as mentioned in Acts 1 and 2.
St. Peter in Gallicantu – a possible site of the house of the High Priest Caiaphas where the Lord was questioned before crucifixion. And where Peter denied the Lord three times.
Israel Aquarium
Overnight: Eyal Hotel, Jerusalem
Day Five – Wednesday, 16 December – Dead Sea
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Qumran – explore the site of the discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls – the oldest known bible manuscripts.
Masada – a fascinating archeological site set on a plateau, overlooking the Dead Sea, where Herod built his fortified palaces and where the Jewish zealots held out against the Romans.
Dead Sea – experience floating on the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, and enjoy the benefits of the mineral rich mud. In addition the Dead Sea itself you will have access to hotel spa facilities including a heated Dead Sea water pool, jacuzzi, sauna, and a swimming pool, changing rooms, showers and a lockers for your personal items.
Overnight: Eyal Hotel, Jerusalem
Day Six – Thursday, 17 December – Jerusalem
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Western Wall – this famous site is considered the holiest place in Judaism.
Western Wall Tunnels – go underground to walk on streets from the time of Jesus and learn about the history of Jerusalem and the building of the temple.
Temple Institute – see the preparations for the rebuilding of the temple.
Ramat Gan Safari Park
Overnight: Medi Terre Hotel, Netanya
Day Seven – Friday, 18 December – Caesarea and Nazareth
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Free time
Caesarea by the sea – this ancient port city was the location of the house of Cornelius (Acts 10). Paul was imprisoned in Caesarea (Acts 23) and it was here he declared he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision (Acts 26:19).
Nazareth Village – this re-creation of a first century village gives insight into daily life at the time of Jesus.
Overnight: Nof Ginosar, Sea of Galilee
Day Eight – Saturday, 19 December – Galilee and the Golan
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Boat sail on the Sea of Galilee
Capernaum – Jesus lived in Capernaum (Matt. 4:13) and conducted a large part of His ministry in and around the town. It was in the synagogue in Capernaum that He declared He was the bread of life (John 6).
Caesarea Philippi (Banias) – this site, at the foot of Mount Hermon is of one of the sources of the Jordan River. In Caesarea Peter received the revelation that Jesus is the Christ and the Lord declared He will build His church (Matt. 16:16-18).
De Karina Chocolate Factory
Overnight: Nof Ginosar, Sea of Galilee
Day Nine – Sunday, 20 December – Megiddo and Jaffa
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Meggido (Armageddon) – at the crossroads of trade and military routes linking Egypt, Asia Minor, and Mespotamia this area has a turbulent history. Revelation 16:16 states that Antichrist and his armies will be gathered here for war.
Kibbutz Ein Shemer – experience life on a kibbutz. This hands on tour will give you and insight into the life of the pioneers of modern Israel.
Jaffa – walk through the narrow streets of the ancient port city of Jaffa including the house of Simon the Tanner.
Overnight: Tal Hotel, Tel Aviv
Day Ten – Monday, 21 December – Depart Israel
Meals included: Breakfast
Depart Israel from Ben Gurion Airport
These hotels have been chosen for their quality and comfort and to add something a little special to your tour.
The tour price is per person, based on two people sharing a room. All upgrade options are also priced per person based on two sharing.
Hotels and Upgrades
Eyal Hotel, Jerusalem
Location: City Center Jerusalem
Available in room: bathroom, mini fridge, AC, safe, television and smart TV, desk and coffee set, free Wi-Fi.
Upgrade options (per person):
$35.00 – Classic Room with small balcony with a view to a green patio wall
$165.00 – Junior Suite with small balcony with urban view.
Medi Terre – Azimut, Netanya
Location: Seashore of Mediterranean Sea in Netanya
Available in room: TV, Wi-Fi,environmentally friendly materials,climate control system, large bathroom or shower room with rain shower
Upgrade options (per person):
$55.00 – Deluxe Room with balcony with panoramic view / two connected rooms
$121.00 – The Suite consists of a spacious living room, luxurious bedroom with a huge double bed, a separate dressing room and an individual dining room
Nof Ginosar – Galilee
Location: Ginosar, Galilee
Available in room: air conditioning, mini-bar/small refrigerator, coffee/tea maker, safe-deposit box, telephone, cable LCD-TV, private bathroom, hair dryers
Upgrade options (per person):
$30.00 – Grand Deluxe Room with balcony with garden furniture overlooking a picturesque landscape
Tal Hotel, Tel Aviv
Location: Tel Aviv (close to the beach)
Available in room: TBD
Upgrade options (per person):
$11.00 – Executive Room
Arriving early or departing late?
If your flight arrives earlier than the scheduled arrival day or you are departing later than the secheduled departure day we can arrange a night in the tour hotels.
$82.00 – Pre-Tour night at Eyal Hotel, Jeruusalem (per person)
$110.00 – Post-Tour night at Tal Hotel, Tel Aviv (per person)
Airport Transfers
Taxis and airport Shuttles are readily available at the airport terminal. However, if you would like JJ Travel to arrange transport for you please contact Irina, your Tour Operator irina@jjtravelinisrael.com
Airport VIP Service
Transportation not included in the VIP packages.
Arrival Packages
Bronze
Number of People: 1-6
Price: $163.00 (Additional guests: $22/guest)
Service: Meet and greet at Passport Control / Fast-track passport service / Assisted baggage collection and escort out of the terminal to transportation.
Silver
Number of People: 1-6
Price: $196.00 (Additional guests: $26 / guest)
Service: Meet and greet at the aircraft / Fast-track passport service / Assisted baggage collection and escort out of the terminal to transportation.
Platinum
Number of People: 1
Price: $462, Additional guests: $325
Service: Meet and greet at the aircraft / Transfer by luxury vehicle to the Masada Lounge / A VIP agent will take care of all arrival procedures (passport services, baggage collection) and escort you from the lounge to transportation.
Departure Services
Bronze
Number of People: 1-6
Price: $163, Additional guests: $22/guest
Service: Meet and greet at Terminal 3 at Gate 03 / Baggage assistance / Security procedures performed in the VIP hall / Flight check-in / VIP dedicated security screening for passenger and carry-on items / Fast-track passport services.
Silver
Number of People: 1-6
Price: $196, Additional guests: $26
Service: Meet and greet at Terminal 3 at Gate 03 / Baggage assistance / Security procedures performed in the VIP Hall / Flight check-in / VIP dedicated security screening for passenger and carry-on items / Fast-track passport services / Escort to Duty-Free shopping area / Lounges or gate (Per guests preference)
Platinum
(All of the following takes place in the Fattal Terminal rather than Terminal 3)
Number of People: 1
Price: $462, Additional guests: $325
Service:Meet and greet at the Masada or Arbel Lounges / The VIP agent will take care of all departure procedures (security and check-in processes, baggage deposit and passport services) and escort you from the lounge to a luxury vehicle that will deliver you to the aircraft gate or steps.
Please review the itinerary when purchasing your flights. We have limited rooms available one night before (pre-stay) and one night after (post-stay) the tour. These rooms are an additional cost and are subject to availability.
Airport
The airport for your arrival and departure is Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv. This is approximately 30 minutes from Tel Aviv and 50 minutes from Jerusalem by car. There are airport shuttles and taxis. We will send more information about how to get from the airport to your hotel closer to the time of the tour.
Arrival Time
The first date of the tour is arranged as an arrival day only, so there is no need to arrive before this date, unless you want to. Check-in at the hotel will be from 3:00pm. Hotel rooms the night before the arrival date are an additional cost and are based on availability.
Departure Time
You can leave any time on the departure day – the last date listed on the itinerary. There are no tour activities scheduled on this day. The check-out time from the hotel will be 11:00am. If your flight is later you will need to leave your room but will be able to leave your bags securely at the hotel if you want to go out.
Key Facts
Tour Dates
Israel Only: 12-21 December 2020
Tour Price
Adult: $1635.00
Child (2-12): $1209
Child (under 2): Free
Adult prices based on two sharing a room.
Child prices based on the child as the third in a room with two adults.
Includes
- Professional certified tour guide
- Fully air conditioned tour bus
- Unique 150-page tour book – “Touring Israel According to the Vision of God’s Economy”
- All tour site entry fees
Excludes
- Air tickets
- Airport transfers
- Travel insurance
- Tips for guides, drivers, and hotel staff
- Meals not specifically mentioned in the itinerary
- Hotel Extras
Any Questions?
Helpful Information
Important Information
Travel Insurance
It is required that you take out travel insurance for your trip. For further information please refer to our Terms and Conditions.
Passport Copy
JJ Travel requires that you send us an electronic copy of your passport prior to travel. This is in the event of an emergency or loss of your passport, while on the tour. It is also a requirement that you bring a copy of your passport with you and keep it in a place separate from your actual passport.
Itinerary Pace
In order to see all the sites and get the maximum from the itinerary the tour must maintain a certain pace. In the interest of everyone on the tour we ask that you cooperate with the tour guide and tour leader to keep the schedule.
Payment
Unless otherwise agreed pre-payment is required by bank wire or credit card.
Accommodation
Check-in
Check-in time is usually around 15:00. If you arrive significantly before this time and want access to your room it may be that you have to pay for an additional night. Check-in times on the Sabbath (Saturday) can be significantly later than 15:00.
Extras
It is your responsibility to settle the bill for any ‘extras’ (drinks, WiFi, additional meals etc.) upon checking out of the hotel. If for any reason a bill is not settled JJ Travel will request payment from you and add a 5% handling fee.
Solo Travellers
Unless otherwise stated, all tour prices are based on two people sharing a room. If you are travelling alone you have the option of paying a ‘single supplement’ for sole occupancy of a room. If you are unable to pay the single supplement we strongly encourage you to find someone to accompany you on the tour.
If neither of those are an option, we will do our best to place you in a room with another participant on the tour of the same gender. However, we cannot guarantee that this will be an option. If we are able to find a roommate for you, this will be your roommate for the duration of the tour as changes to room arrangements during the tour are not typically possible.
Upgrades
At some hotels, it may be possible to request an upgraded room. If the option is not available to you at the time of booking please contact us for more information.
Arrival Information
Passport and Immigration Control
All travelers must ensure they hold a passport that is valid for at least 6 months at the time of traveling to Israel. At passport control you may be questioned regarding your visit to Israel, answer simply and truthfully. State that you are coming on a tour of Israel and if necessary, present your documents from JJ Travel showing that you are attending a tour. Passport control will give you a small blue and white piece of paper, this is your permission to stay in Israel (instead of a stamp in your passport). It is important to keep this with your passport you may be required to present it to officials while in Israel and when you leave the country.
The Sabbath and Religious Holidays
The Sabbath begins just before sunset on Fridays and ends just after sunset on Saturdays. Stores and some restaurants begin closing on Friday afternoon and will not open again until Saturday night or Sunday morning. Similarly, public transport is also very limited during this time. The extent of this depends on the location, for example, it is most noticeable in Jerusalem, but it applies across Israel. Similar circumstances apply to some of the religious holidays. If you are in Israel when this happens you will be informed beforehand.
Tour Book
JJ Travel provides each participant a tour book - Touring Israel According to God's Economy - to accompany the tour. The tour book brings to life the Biblical sites and puts each place into the context of our daily Christian experience.
Electrical Items
The electrical supply in Israel is 220V AC. The plug type is a 2-pin (European) style. It is advisable to purchase an adapter prior to your trip if you need one. Most hotels provide hairdryers and have 110/220 electric shaver outlets. Please be aware if you are traveling from the USA or another country that uses 110V you will need to bring appliances that can be switched to 220V or bring a transformer. Chargers for laptops, phones, cameras etc. are generally fine as they have the transformer built-in. If you are in any doubt about your appliances check before you leave.
Wifi and Internet
Most hotels provide free Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi will be available on JJ Travel tour buses. During the tour there may be WiFi access at various restaurants and coffee shops, but when out of the bus during the day access to Wi-Fi will be limited.
Money Matters
Currency
The national currency in Israel is the New Israeli Shekel (NIS). Each Shekel is divided into 100 Agurot (singular Agura). NIS bills are in denominations of 20, 50, 100 and 200. Coins are in denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10 Shekels and 10 and 50 Agurot.
Credit Cards
Standard international credit cards are accepted throughout Israel. There will be some small vendors that do not accept credit cards and will require cash. To ensure your card will work while in Israel contact your card provider prior to departure.
Money Exchange and ATM’s
It is advisable to have your money needs taken care of before the start of the tour, although money can be changed at the airport on arrival. However, if you are arriving in a large group please be aware that this can take time. There will also be opportunities to change money at the hotel (this can be expensive) or in the cities you are staying in. The most simple and convenient way to get Shekels is to use a bank ATM machine with a credit card. The rates at these are often favorable. However, please note that tour itineraries are full and time is very limited. You can calculate the value of your currency in Israeli Shekels at www.xe.com. We recommend that you have at least 350 Shekels (approximately $100) before the start of the tour.
Emergency Fund
We strongly recommend that you have you have access to an emergency fund of approximately $200 while on your trip.
Tips
It is recommended and customary to tip the guides and drivers for the tour. We suggest $5 per person per day for the guide and $3 per person per day for the driver. This can be in USD ($) or Shekels. Our suggestion is that this is organized and collected as a group. It can be given daily or as a lump sum at the end of the tour. JJ Travel or your tour leader may help facilitate this by collecting the money, but it is paid directly to the guide and driver.
Transport
The tour transport will be an air-conditioned bus. Significant amounts of time will be spent on the bus and the driver, who works in coordination with the guide, is an important part of the tour. Depending on the size of the tour there may be very few empty seats so you should expect to sit next to someone. If you suffer from travel sickness please bring appropriate medication with you.
Meals
Meals Included
To see specifically which meals are included as part of your tour package please refer to the itinerary.
Breakfasts
Hotel breakfasts in Israel are buffet style. There will be a wide selection of salads, breads, pastries, eggs etc. along with tea, coffee, and juice.
Lunches
Lunches that are included as part of your itinerary will vary in type but will be a good-sized meal. Soft drinks to accompany these meals are usually an extra to be paid for by you in cash. When lunch is not included as part of your package you will be taken to a place where you can purchase your own lunch. Lunches can vary in price depending on the type and quantity of food but it would be safe to budget the equivalent of $10-$15 (USD).
Dinners
Dinners in the hotels will generally be buffet style with a choice of meats, rice, pasta and potatoes etc. and a large selection of salads. Typically water, tea, and coffee are included but other beverages such as soft drinks will be extra and charged to your room. Eating out in the evening will vary in price depending on the type of food. You can pay around $10 for street food (falafel, kebab etc.) up to $20-$30 or more for a sit down meal.
Snacks
Due to the physical nature of the tour it is advisable to have snacks with you. The days start early and are active and it can feel like a long time from breakfast to lunch.
Departure Information
Upon departure you should plan to be at the airport three hours before your scheduled flight time. As part of the security process you will be asked some simple questions when you leave Israel. Answer truthfully, accurately and to the point. If you are travelling with others on a flight, for security reasons, it is advisable that you check-in together.
Tour Guide
It is a legal requirement that all tours in Israel have a professional Israeli-registered guide. These guides undergo an extensive education program in history, archeology, geology, flora and fauna and more. At JJ Travel we choose the guides that we work with very carefully. Guides may be Jewish, Arab, believer or non-believer, but all guides are selected based upon our understanding of the participants of the tour and of the specialist nature of the tours we conduct. The guides fulfill two main functions. First, they take care of the group while touring, not only making sure that everyone is safe and well and that the schedule is maintained, but also that everyone is enjoying the tour. Secondly, the guide provides an explanation of the various tour sites.
What to Bring
We recommend that you travel light – one suitcase and one bag to use daily on the tour. You will move hotels during the tour and so being able to move your luggage around easily and pack and unpack quickly will be much more convenient.
- Passport and copy of passport.
- Visa (if necessary).
- Airline tickets.
- JJ Travel booking confirmation document.
- A photocopy of your passport. Keep this in a different place than your passport. In this way should you lose your passport you will have this copy.
- Travel insurance documents.
- Comfortable walking shoes.
- Day bag – a small bag or backpack for use during the tour.
- Water footwear – if you are planning to take a dip in the Dead Sea you will need footwear you can get wet. The ground in and around the Dead Sea can be very uncomfortable to walk on with bare feet.
- Umbrella or waterproof coat (winter months). Between the November and March it is possible to get caught in rain showers while on the tour.
- For other clothing items please refer to the information on the weather and climate in Israel for the time of year that you are travelling. It is important to note that a significant amount of time on the tour is spent outside.
- Due to the religious sensitivity of some tour sites, females need to have some form of clothing that will cover the knees (skirt or trousers) and also cover the shoulders. In some places males are also required to wear long trousers. This only applies to a few days on the tour and you will be informed ahead of time by your guide or tour leader.
- Sunscreen.
- Insect repellent.
- Water bottle – bottled water can be bought, but it is convenient to have a refillable bottle.
- Camera/cell phone/tablet for pictures. Don’t forget the charger or spare batteries. Extra memory cards can also help – you will want to take a lot of photos.
- Electrical adapter – see the information below.
Cell Phones
There are a number of options available to you if you would like to have cell phone access whilst in Israel.
- Rent an Israeli phone or purchase an Israeli SIM card. SIM cards can be purchased at the airport in the arrival hall or in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv.
- Use your own cell phone as it is with your current number. You may need to speak to your provider to ensure this will work and check to see if you can purchase a special plan. This is often an expensive option but maybe necessary if you need to keep your current number.
- Ask for an Israeli number from your current provider.
Weather
In general Israel enjoys warm dry summers (April-October) and mild winters. More specific information can be found in the tables below. A current weather forecast can be found on the Israel Meteorological Service website.
Monthly temperatures by region (min/max)
| Jerusalem | Tel-Aviv | Tiberias | Eilat | Dead Sea | ||
| Jan | C | 6-11 | 9-18 | 9-18 | 10-21 | 11-20 |
| F | 43-53 | 49-65 | 48-65 | 49-70 | 53-68 | |
| Feb | C | 7-14 | 9-29 | 9-20 | 11-23 | 13-22 |
| F | 44-57 | 48-66 | 49-67 | 51-73 | 56-72 | |
| Mar | C | 8-16 | 10-20 | 11-22 | 13-26 | 16-25 |
| F | 47-61 | 51-69 | 51-72 | 56-80 | 61-78 | |
| Apr | C | 12-21 | 12-22 | 13-27 | 17-31 | 20-29 |
| F | 53-69 | 54-72 | 56-80 | 63-87 | 68-85 | |
| May | C | 15-25 | 17-25 | 17-32 | 21-35 | 24-34 |
| F | 60-77 | 63-77 | 62-89 | 69-95 | 75-93 | |
| Jun | C | 17-27 | 19-28 | 20-35 | 24-37 | 27-37 |
| F | 63-81 | 67-83 | 68-95 | 75-99 | 80-99 | |
| Jul | C | 19-29 | 21-30 | 23-37 | 25-40 | 28-39 |
| F | 66-84 | 70-86 | 73-98 | 77-103 | 83-100 | |
| Aug | C | 19-29 | 22-30 | 24-37 | 26-40 | 29-38 |
| F | 66-86 | 72-86 | 75-99 | 79-104 | 83-101 | |
| Sep | C | 18-28 | 20-31 | 22-35 | 24-36 | 27-36 |
| F | 65-82 | 69-89 | 71-95 | 75-98 | 81-96 | |
| Oct | C | 16-26 | 15-28 | 19-32 | 20-33 | 24-32 |
| F | 60-78 | 59-83 | 65-89 | 69-92 | 75-90 | |
| Nov | C | 12-19 | 12-25 | 15-26 | 16-28 | 18-27 |
| F | 54-67 | 54-76 | 59-78 | 61-83 | 65-80 | |
| Dec | C | 8-14 | 9-19 | 11-20 | 11-23 | 13-21 |
| F | 47-56 | 47-66 | 53-68 | 51-74 | 56-71 |
Average monthly rainfall (mm)
| Jerusalem | Tel-Aviv (Costal Plains) | Tiberias (Galilee) | Eilat | |
| Jan | 133 | 127 | 90 | 3.5 |
| Feb | 118 | 90 | 73 | 5.8 |
| Mar | 93 | 61 | 57 | 3.7 |
| Apr | 25 | 18 | 20 | 1.7 |
| May | 3.2 | 2.6 | 4 | 1 |
| Jun | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0 |
| Oct | 15 | 26 | 14 | 3.5 |
| Nov | 61 | 79 | 50 | 3.5 |
| Dec | 106 | 126 | 81 | 6 |
Health
As part of the registration process, you will be asked some simple medical/health-related questions. This information is treated in the strictest confidence. In some cases, JJ Travel may deem a person's health condition unsuitable for a given tour. If you have any questions regarding these matters please do not hesitate to contact us.