ISRAEL USEFUL INFORMATION

TRAVEL ADVICES

Travelling abroad is extremely important to possess the information about different features and rules of the country of your visit. There are lot of tiny things which can help a traveller to avoid difficulties and to make his stay comfortable.

CELLULAR PHONE

Cellular phones are in widespread use in Israel.   Should you wish to rent a cellular phone from a local network, these can be rented from one of the three cellular phone networks at Ben Gurion Airport.  It's important to note that it is against the law in Israel to talk on a cellular phone while driving without using a speaker phone. 

INTERNET AND EMAIL

Most hotels provide internet access for guests and the deluxe hotels have internet connections in the guests room.   There are Internet cafes in the major cities which charge by the hour.

TIPPING

No tip is expected for taxi rides.  At restaurants, a 10%-15% tip is considered correct.  It is usual to tip your tour guide and coach driver at the end of your visit.   Hotel rates include a service charge, although tips are normally given to porters, housekeeping and the front desk staff.

SHOPPING

Most stores are open from Sunday to Thursday between 9:00 am and 19:00 pm. Stores which are closed for a break between 14:00 pm and 16:00 pm have a sign with their hours posted on the door. In some cities, stores are closed on Tuesday afternoons.

Stores close at midday on Friday and open again on Sunday morning. Stores close in mid afternoon on the eve of Jewish holidays and remain closed throughout the holiday. Shopping centers that do not cater to the religious population are open on Saturdays. Coffee houses and restaurants that do not serve kosher food usually remain open on Saturdays.

Moslem-owned businesses usually close on Fridays, and Christian-owned businesses are closed on Sundays.

EMERGENCY HOT-LINES

In Israel, There are separate emergency hot-lines. The main ones are:

• 100 - Police
• 101 - Ambulance
• 102 - Fire brigade
• 1207-Home-front Command

Those number are available free of charge from all public payphones, local landlines and local cellular phones. 

ELECTRICITY

Electric Current:
In Israel, Jordan & Egypt: Power supply is 220-volt AC, 50 Hz cycles, although most major Hotels usually offer a built-in 110 volt electric razor transformer.