TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The following Terms and Conditions apply to any booking made between a client and JJ Travel in Israel Ltd. (hereafter JJ Travel).
Quotes & Prices
All quotes and prices are in USD ($) and are based on the currency exchange rates at the time of issue. JJ Travel reserves the right to change prices based on fluctuations in exchange rates.
Services and prices contained within quotes are only confirmed once a booking has been made in writing and/or with the payment of a deposit.
Prices are based on pre-arranged tour services, schedules, mileage, hotel accommodations and other variables. If a client changes an itinerary or requests extra services additional pricing will be required.
Deposits
Individuals
Unless otherwise stated all tours and services require a non-refundable deposit of $150 (per participant). If your booking is made less than 46 days prior to the start of the tour, full payment is required.
Groups
Deposits for group payments will be determined at the time of the quote for the particular tour.
Full Payment
Unless expressly stated the following applies to all tours and services booked with JJ Travel.
- All tours and services must be prepaid.
- All payments must be in USD ($).
- Full payment must be made 46 days prior to the start of the tour or service. If the booking is made less than 46 days prior to the start of the tour or service, full payment will be taken immediately.
Payment Methods
Credit Card – JJ Travel accepts VISA, MasterCard, American Express and IsraCard. Payment can be taken over the phone or online.
Bank Wire – JJ Travel accepts International bank wires. All fees and associated costs must be born by the client.
JJ Travel does not accept cash payments for tours or prepaid services in cash. Cash payments can be taken in some circumstances for incidentals and extras whilst in Israel.
Bookings and Reservations
Bookings and reservations are only considered confirmed with written notification from JJ Travel.
Cancellation
All cancellations must be received in writing. The dates below refer to the date the written cancellation is received by JJ Travel. Tour deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable.
- Cancelation 46 (or more) days before the tour date – full refund.
- Cancellation 45-31 days before the tour date – 50% refund.
- Cancellation 30 days before the tour date – no refund.
Tours and Services
Changes
JJ Travel endeavors to conduct all tours as described. However, we reserve the right to change the tour itinerary. Tour itineraries may change due to safety/political/climatic or other reasons.
Before the tour – as much as possible clients will be notified before departing for their destination. However, in some cases clients may be informed of changes at the start of the tour.
After the start of the tour – it is sometimes necessary to make changes to itineraries when a tour is in progress. Clients will be notified of such changes when confirmed. JJ Travel is not liable for any additional expense incurred when such changes may be made.
Missed tour sites or activities are not refundable or transferable in any way.
Inclusions and Exclusions
It is the clients responsibility to be aware of inclusions and exclusions of their tour package. This information is part of the ‘tour details’ document and can be found on the tour website and is sent via email once a booking has been made.
Your Responsibility On Tour
Clients are responsible to ensure they attend all activities of the tour on time. Failure to do so may result in missed sites or activities and extra personal expense incurred.
Clients are to remain with the tour group at all times. Separation from the group could result in being left behind and the subsequent rejoining of the group would be a personal expense.
All clients are required to abide by the law, be compliant with security services and be sensitive to cultural and religious groups, individuals and places. Clients must follow the instructions of their tour guide and/or JJ Travel representative.
JJ Travel reserves the right to remove any client from a tour at its sole discretion.
Liability
JJ Travel accepts no responsibility for the direct or consequential loss or damage of personal belongings.
The client acknowledges that there may be an amount of risk to clients’ health and/or safety involved in traveling and touring in a foreign destination. To the full extent permissible by law the client hereby assumes all such risk and releases JJ Travel Ltd. and any parties acting on behalf of JJ Travel from all claims and causes of action arising from participating in such a tour.
Travel Documents
It is the responsibility of the client to ensure that they have all the necessary documents to travel to the countries of their intended itinerary.
Passports and Visas
All travel to Israel, Jordan and Egypt requires a passport with a minimum of 6 months validity from the time the trip ends. It is the responsibility of the client to ensure that their passport meets this basic requirement and is carried with them at all times. As part of the booking process JJ Travel requires that you send a copy of your passport to be held securely and only used by JJ Travel in the case of an emergency. JJ Travel is not liable for any inconvenience, expense or loss resulting from not providing this document.
It is the responsibility of the client to ensure that VISA documents are valid and appropriate for the countries and activities intended. Visas should be carried at all times.
JJ Travel Documents
Please note that all documents issued by JJ Travel will be sent electronically, by email to the email address provided by the client at the time of booking. JJ Travel cannot accept any liability for issues arising due to non-receipt of documents whether because of incorrect information and contact details being submitted to JJ Travel or any other reason. It is the responsibility of the client to ensure they read all information sent to them by JJ Travel. JJ Travel is not responsible or liable for any issues arising due to a lack of knowledge of the sent information. All clients need to bring all the necessary documents (in print form) when travelling.
Travel Insurance
JJ Travel requires that all participants in tour activities or similar services have valid travel insurance. Your travel insurance should provide cover against personal accident, death, medical expenses and emergency repatriation with a recommended minimum coverage of US $200,000 in each of the categories. We also strongly recommend that your insurance covers cancellation, curtailment, personal liability and loss of luggage and personal effects.
Health and Medical
Clients must inform JJ Travel of any special needs, requirements or medical conditions in advance of the tour. JJ Travel will do its best to accommodate any such requirements but is not liable in any way for any loss related to such requirements.
In some cases JJ Travel may deem a person’s health condition unsuitable for a given tour and reserves the right to refuse tour applicants or remove a client from a tour at its own discretion.
JJ Travel is not responsible for any medical condition occurring during the tour.
All tour participants must have valid medical insurance.
Photo and Marketing
Clients consent to JJ Travel using pictures taken of them during the tour and grant a perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide irrevocable license to use such images for JJ Travel marketing and promotional purposes.
Privacy Policy
As part of the booking process, JJ Travel collects personal information necessary for conducting its business. This information is held securely and is not given to any third parties who are not inherently involved in the conducting of the tours or services for the customer. Personal information and travel history are retained. Credit Card information is stored securely until 30 days from the end of the tour and then destroyed or redacted.
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.