Arriving in Israel? Make the most of your visit by learning and following the laws…
Did you know that in 2018, more than 4 million tourists visited in Israel???
Yes, tourism in Israel is booming, and there are many reasons.
From places that are holy to people from all over the world, to rare wonders like the Dead Sea…whatever you plan to see, there are some things that are important to know if you intend to come to Israel yourself or invite friends from abroad to enjoy its landscapes and sites.
Entry into Israel – The law states that in order to enter Israel, no matter what the purpose, an entry permit is required (of course, if you are not an Israeli citizen)
We won’t list every type of permit and visa available – we will leave that to lawyers.
But we will talk about the visa that most interests you – a tourist visa, also referred to as a B / 2 visa (“b” is the first letter of the Hebrew word for “visit” – “bikur“).
This visa is most common because, unlike other visas (such as a work visa or immigration) that require stacks of documents and bureaucracy, it is much easier to acquire, and for a good reason. Do you want to visit relatives in Israel? Or just travel around the country? Just ask and you will receive a visa….
Preparing Visit to Israel. To start the process of obtaining a visa, visit the following link: Visa for Israel
Once you have a B / 2 visa, do not forget some important points (which may cost you dearly if you don’t pay attention to them).
1.
The tourist visa is only valid for 3 months!
2.
If you want to extend the visa you can do so and get a permit of up to two years in the country as tourists. But don’t take a risk and walk around with an expired visa.
3.
The B / 2 visa does not allow you to work in Israel. Not even volunteer…
4.
Want to volunteer? No problem. All you have to do is submit an application at the Ministry of Interior, and replace your B / 2 visa with a B / 4 volunteer visa.
5.
Have you found an opportunity to do some business while you’re here? A business meeting or two between one tourist site and another will not affect your visa. But if you aim higher and farther and schedule meeting after meeting, you may find yourself deported, since regular business activity is prohibited for tourists. But there is also a way to get around this problem. The Interior Ministry offers a solution to encourage business and international investment in the country, and has issued a new visa.
The B/5 Investor Visa will allow you to come to a net country to do business. (Of course you can walk the road, between sitting and sitting, if you fancy). So if your goal is business, apply for this visa in advance. And if you came as tourists then decided to invest, apply for a change of visa type, and then be sure that when you set out to make a lot of money, you do it honestly!
6.
Have you fallen in love with the country and want to stay here and also earn a living? That’s already a little (actually, a lot) more complicated…. First you will have to return to your place of residence, and then from there apply for a work visa, which is completely different from a tourist visa.
7.
Even if you have a tourist visa, it does not mean that you are completely protected. Because if you break the law or get in trouble, you may find yourself right on the plane back to where you came from…
Have we scared you? Well, that wasn’t our objective. Like many others, we too believe in and encourage tourism in Israel, so after reading this, do yourself a favor and deal with the bureaucracy so you can be worry free and really have fun enjoying everything our country has to offer. We are waiting for you!
With that we conclude this brief post about information preparing visit to Israel. To learn more about Israel, and specifically about the Dead Sea, visit the blog home page, at the following link: Dead Sea Information
The Dead Sea extends over a particularly vast area, and as such, its selection of its beaches is huge and diverse. So how do you decide which beach to go to?
To make things easier, we’ve prepared a list of recommended beaches for you:
This is the northernmost beach on the shores of the Dead Sea. In the past, the beach was open to public with free access. Today most of the beach is fenced off, and can only be entered for a fee. On the other hand, it offers many more facilities, activities and luxuries than it did when entry was free. Kalia Beach boasts everything from well-maintained toilets and dressing rooms, to a restaurant and bar overlooking the sea.
Pros: Only a half hour drive from Jerusalem. Suitable for anyone and for any purpose.
This beach, like Kalia, used to be a free beach open to the public. And like Kalia, Biankini also underwent a transformation and is currently a pay-for-entry beach.
If you want to stay close to civilization but feel far away – for example, if you want to feel like you are in the Sinai desert – this beach is your best choice. Its atmosphere and design are very reminiscent of quaint, simple Sinai beach camps.
You can spend a few hours at the Biankini beach floating in the Dead Sea and covering yourself with mud, or you can extend your visit to one or more nights in the charming guest cabins and suites.
In addition to bathing in the sea, this beach offers regular swimming pools for those who are sensitive to the mineral saturated sea water, and also natural mud pools.
Pros: If you’re into a no frills, bohemian atmosphere, this is the perfect place for you.
Against: The costs are high, and the entrance fee alone is a large amount of money to part with for a dip in the sea.
Ein Bokek Beach – in the hotel area.
Unlike the beaches on the northern end of the Dead Sea, Ein Bokek Beach will not cost you a dime.
And unlike in the past, when the beach was soiled and dirty, today every visitor will enjoy the extensive efforts invested in maintaining a clean and attractive site.
You can enjoy laying on the sand (which incidentally is not from the area, but has been imported here with the sole purpose of tourist comfort), taking a walk on the charming promenade, and using the public bathrooms and showers. At Ein Bokek Beach you will also find lounge chairs and umbrellas for rent. And if you don’t want to spend money you are totally welcome to bring your own beach gear.
Pros: An expansive beach that spans the entire hotel area, from the northern part (Ein Bokek) to the south (Zohar Hot Springs), allowing you to get a good tan without spending money. (Except parking fee)
Cons: The beach is far away from any locality, and if you do not stay in one of the hotels or happen to arrive from Arad, travel time will take up a good portion of your day.
Warning!!!! Ein Gedi beach is sometimes closed due to the danger of sinkholes, and it is closed more often than not. It is advisable to check out the status of the beach before arriving.
Entry to Ein Gedi Beach is also free. The big plus here is that you can choose to take advantage of one or all of the following – a free natural beach, great parking, and the possibility of setting up tents and camping out.
Alternatively, you can pamper yourself at the elegant and luxurious Ein Gedi spa complex, which offers all the delights of the Dead Sea – for a fee of course.
And if you can’t decide how to spend your day, you can just arrive and make your plans on the spot.
With that we conclude this brief description of recommended beaches at the Dead Sea. For the full list of beaches, go to the following link: Bathing Beaches at the Dead Sea.
Information for a tourist visiting Israel – Don’t say we didn’t tell you!
Things you should know before landing in Israel…
Welcome! It’s wonderful you are here! Now you can get started trying to make sense of everything without encountering any difficulties – the money, the language, the electricity, the traffic and more …
So, just before something happens to put a damper on your fun, here are some rules, guidelines, and tips to help you more easily integrate into the Israeli landscape:
Money! You can’t live without it…
The currency in Israel is shekels. But as is the case in any developed country, credit cards are also gladly accepted everywhere. And if you have an international card, you can also withdraw cash from any ATM.
So first of all, save yourself a headache and don’t come with a foreign currency that you will need to exchange. But if you’ve already arrived with money from your home country – you can find exchange stores and banks almost everywhere. Just make sure nobody tries to cheat you out of the correct exchange rate.
The Weather
If you come from a cold country, take into account that it is always relatively warm in Israel (unless you go up to the Hermon Mountain on a snowy winter day).So make sure you dress in layers that you can put on and peel off as needed.
Have you arrived in the summer? Come equipped with lots and lots of sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and clothes that are as light and airy as possible. Apart from the heat, many areas of the country also suffer from high humidity, and sweating is never fun…
Electronics Devices
No one travels around the world without a charger for their mobile device, and if you are well-organized, you probably have a shaver and even a small iron in your suitcase… Make sure they are compatible with 220 V outlets. And if not, bring along a transformer or adapter. Most of the electric sockets in Israel have 3 holes, but they are also fully suitable for European plugs.
If you get stuck without a charger or adapter, both can be purchased in stores around the country. But you have to admit that it’s best to get equipped in advance.
Transportation
How will you be getting around? Public transportation in Israel is quite impressive. You can choose between trains, buses and even flights (to Eilat…).
But remember! Public transportation on Friday afternoon and Saturday is almost non-existent, so don’t count on it for weekend travel. However, you can hire a driver through a local app called “Get Taxi”, which offers a service similar to the American “Uber”.
Are you considering renting a car? No problem!
You are permitted to drive in Israel with a foreign driver’s license, but you must still be familiar some important traffic rules. Otherwise you might get slapped with a fine…
In Israel, all passengers in the car must be belted from the beginning to the end of even the shortest trip. Children up to the age of 8 must travel in car seats or boosters.
Did you drink? Have you smoked anything for fun? Don’t drive. It is both forbidden and dangerous.
Make sure the vehicle you are renting comes with a hands-free kit for your cellphone, or purchase a Bluetooth headset. In Israel, it is forbidden to hold or even touch a phone while driving.
Follow the traffic signs and do not exceed the speed limit.
Inside the cities make sure you don’t travel in the yellow-painted lanes – they belong to public transport only.
With that we conclude this brief post about information for tourists visiting Israel. To learn more about Israel, and specifically about the Dead Sea, visit the blog home page, at the following link: Dead Sea Information
