Filipino's can now travel to Israel with a Philippine passport visa free; all thanks to the government of then President Quezon. His open door policy welcomed around 1300 Jewish refugees fleeing the Holocaust in Europe to the Philippines in the 1930s.
VISA ON ARRIVAL
Upon arrival in the Holy Land, you will be allowed a 90-day entry. You are not permitted to work with this visa. There's no fee to pay for this but be ready to provide details on your activities in the country. As of 2013, Israel has stopped stamping passports upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport. They will give you a small piece of paper instead which says B2 Stay Permit or Tourist Visa. This will serve as the permit to enter the country and a substitute for a stamp in your travel document. Keep this with your passport at all times until you exit from Israel.
SECURITY
Israel's border patrol is one of the strictest in the world, both arrival, and exit. Be patient. This is also for your own good.
I think my being a Filipina with a lot of Iraqi stamp on my passport did not help. I was detained for half an hour together with Arabs where our only form of understanding was the word "mushkila" or problem.
I thought exiting the country would be easier but I was wrong. I spent three teary-eyed hours standing in total. This includes interrogation, bag, and body search.
I was asked weird questions on my exit like:
- type of house I live in Iraq
- how many people live in the house
- who I live with, their names and nationalities.
- who I work with, their names and nationalities
- if I knoew Arabs and what are their names
If exiting the country, I would advise that you arrive at least four hours before departure. I was so nervous I'd get offloaded the entire time I was standing in security!
Upon unpacking my bag in my country of residence, I saw a card inserted in my bag informing me of the bag search done. I think they were happy to know that I have one traveling bag full of souvenirs.
ISRAELI NEW SHEKEL
I think Israel is an expensive country to travel in. Its currency is called the Israeli new shekel or ILS or NIS(₪). As of writing, 51 PHP equals to 1 USD equals to 3.51 ₪.
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| I really love the design of Israel's currency. |
Can of Coke 8₪ $2.28 ₱115.99
500 ml Water * 5₪ $1.43 ₱ 72.75 (This is just ₱10 in Pinas!)
Basic Lunch 50₪ $14.26 ₱725.48 (Around ₱100 and you're ok.)
Dorm Hostel Tel Aviv $20
So basically, plan on spending around $50 per day and this is tight already. This excludes transpo and entrance fees.
*Tap water is perfectly potable here so that's my common go to.
FAST FACTS
- Israel was established as a state for the Jewish people, following the Second World War.
- The Jews comprise 75% of the population.
- Israel is considered part of the Holy Land (together with areas of Jordan, Egypt and the Palestinian Territories).
- Almost everyone understands English here.
- The three major monotheistic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—all have historical ties to the region.
- In getting around Israel, be aware of the Sabbath: from Friday at sundown to Saturday at nightfall, train and bus services are not available in Israel
ELECTRICITY
Israel commonly uses the Type H three pronged standard and Type C plug type.
I bought the cheapest basic adapter at Old Jaffa for 20₪ ($6 or ₱290). Yes, guys! The common adapter which we can buy for ₱20 is sold for ₱290 here!
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| This one even looks better 'coz mine was made of cheap plastic. |
MUST SEE
- Old Jaffa
- Tel Aviv. Check out my list of free things to do in Tel Aviv!
- Jerusalem
- Dead Sea. They say however that the Dead Sea is nicer in the Jordan side. Been there, done that.
- Masada
- Sea of Galilee
MUST EAT
Food here is basically the same as everywhere in the Middle East-Levantine.
- Falafel. The national food.
- Shakshouka. My favorite as this is not a typical Iraqi cuisine!
TO AND FROM BEN GURION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Ben Gurion International Airport vice versa Tel Aviv
- Flo Shuttle 68₪ or 17₪
- Arrives and departs every hour but needs to be booked online in advance.
- If you missed your ride, you can always take the next shuttle.
Only because I used the train and bus system at night and it was a hassle. I ended up paying a taxi to take me to the hotel. The total cost was almost the same as getting the shuttle.
Ben Gurion International Airport vice versa Jerusalem
- Shuttle Bus
- run every hour, 24 hours a day, 6 days a week (excluding Shabbat)
- The last service will be at 14:00 on Friday afternoon and first service after Shabbat at 19:00 on Saturday evening
- Pickup at Ben Gurion Airport will be on the arrivals concourse (arrivals level) of Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 which is the same level as the airport taxi stand.
- Ride Bus line 485 and pay 16 ₪ in cash or approximately $4.50. You can also book online but I think the latter is unnecessary. When I took the bus, I was the only passenger for the entire one hour trip from Jerusalem to Ben Gurion International Airport.
- The service will stop at designated stops in Jerusalem City (6 stops in total including the Central Bus Station, and Givat Ram-Hebrew University area), and will follow a specific route.
- Will drop near the Light Railway which you can take to the Old City
From Ben Gurion to Jerusalem(Hourly Schedule)
- Station 1: Ben Guryon Airport - Derekh HaMamri'im Ben Guryon Air Port Terminal 3
- Departure: 00:00
- Station 2: Ben Guryon Airport - Nesher Ben Guryon Air Port Terminal 1
- Departure: 00:21
- Station 3: Ben Guryon Airport - Sderot Ha'aliya Authority Sadot HaTe'ufa Ha'aliya
- Departure: 00:23
- Station 4: Sho'eva - Exit to Road 1 East Shoresh Interchange
- Alighting: 00:47
- Station 5: Head Quarters Yehuda - Exit to Road 1 Hemed Interchange
- Alighting: 00:50
- Station 6: Jerusalem - Sderot Shazar ICC Jerusalem Shazar
- Alighting: 01:03
- Station 7: Jerusalem - Yoel Zusman Weizman 9 HaElyon Zusman
- Alighting: 01:06
- Station 8: Jerusalem - Eliezer Kaplan Haknesset Kaplan
- Alighting: 01:07
- Station 9: Jerusalem - Shemuel Stefan Weiz Israel Museum וייז
- Alighting: 01:08
- Station 10: Jerusalem - Sderot HaMuseonim Science Museum Sderot HaMuseonim
- Alighting: 01:09
- Station 11: Jerusalem - Sderot HaMuseonim Sderot HaMuseonim Eliezer Kaplan
- Alighting: 01:10
From Jerusalem to Ben Gurion (Hourly Schedule)
- Station 1: Jerusalem - Rupin Road Prime Minister Office Rupin Road
- Departure: 00:00
- Station 2: Jerusalem - Eliezer Kaplan 1 Kaplan Rupin
- Departure: 00:02
- Station 3: Jerusalem - Eliezer Kaplan 2 Haknesset Kaplan
- Departure: 00:03
- Station 4: Jerusalem - Yoel Zusman Court HaElyon Zusman
- Departure: 00:03
- Station 5: Jerusalem - Yafo 220 Takhanat Central Yafo
- Departure: 00:06
- Station 6: Head Quarters Yehuda - Exit To Interchange He
- Departure: 00:18
- Station 7: Head Quarters Yehuda - Exit to Road 1 West Shoresh Interchange
- Departure: 00:22
- Station 8: Ben Guryon Airport - Nesher Ben Guryon Air Port Terminal 1
- Alighting: 00:45
- Station 9: Ben Guryon Airport - Sderot Ha'aliya Authority Sadot HaTe'ufa Ha'aliya
- Alighting: 00:47
- Station 9: Ben Guryon Airport - Derekh HaMamri'im Ben Guryon Air Port Terminal 3
- Alighting: 01:02
SEASON
WHAT TO WEAR
Tel Aviv is perfectly liberal. You can show as much skin as you want. In fact, it is just common to see shirtless men walking or biking around or women in cute summer dresses.
SECURITY
Travel to Israel is relatively safe especially when there is no tension between the Israeli and Palestine. However, men or women bringing a gun to public places while wearing casual clothes is a norm.
I'm usually a single female traveler who travels as cheap as I can. I find more adventure and meet more friends that way. The prices I listed here are for mixed dorms.
These hotels are also strategically located that all the key touristy places were just in walking distance. I was a happy camper!
So here are the places I stayed in:
Tel Aviv: Milk and Honey Hostel @ 21 USD per night. Conveniently located just 5 to 10 minutes walk to Old Jaffa. It's also around 15 to 20 minutes walk to the Bus Station for Jerusalem.
Old City of Jerusalem: Hebron Youth Hostel @ 12.50USD per night with free dinner every night. Do not let the name of the hotel deceive you. There were also young at heart staying in the hotel. Dinner is pretty much the same-noodles, stew, and vegetables but hey it is free and the staff is super friendly. What I love about it is its stone architecture and being smack in the middle of the Old City. So charming to wake up and see the hustle and bustle.
Bethlehem: with Deema at 171 Star Street just across the Bethlehem Tourist Information Center @ 2USD per night. You'll get a room all to yourself! But this is in Palestine. Contact her at 0598800838 or just knock on their door.
I feel like I'm getting old for bunk beds but hey, this is the cheapest way to see the world other than Couchsurfing.
UNIQUE ACTIVITIES
Try to volunteer in a kibbutz or an archeological dig in the summer! You can even stay in the kibbutz for free!
You may also be lucky to find someone doing a mitzvah for the day. I met a mother and her three children all under the age of five giving away shekels and candies. I asked her what it was and she explained mitzvah for me. She asked me nothing but to pay it forward. I ended up giving this to the bus driver and WC cleaner at the airport. I think it is a wonderful concept and something I'd like to duplicate in the future as well.
VAT Refund
You can get VAT refunds when leaving the country for individual receipts in excess of ₪400.I've had a wonderful time in Israel and I'm sure I will be back to explore it again someday. I hope you'll have a great time exploring the Holy Land as well and don't forget to take a dip in the beach!
Written on September 9, 2017
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