Author Topic: Something Fishy's First Trip to Israel - Planning Thread  (Read 45966 times)

Offline lunatic

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Re: Something Fishy's First Trip to Israel - Planning Thread
« Reply #140 on: March 12, 2021, 11:41:34 AM »
Givat Hatachmoshet (ammunition hill) is very cool - not big, but lots of history and its right off rechov Shmuel hanavi. When we went there, 10 years ago, there was a cool video with a model that showed all the details of the war there. And they offered us a free tour in english by some student there.

Also, for Isreal, renting an apt in the middle of a Jrslm neighborhood is so much better than a hotel. totally different experience. Save the hotel for other places

Offline yesitsme

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Re: Something Fishy's First Trip to Israel - Planning Thread
« Reply #141 on: March 12, 2021, 11:42:18 AM »
personal request go to kever shmuel hanavy and daven with all of us in mind, then go on to the roof top with your wide angle  lens and you'll have a beautiful view of the entire neighborhood rmot, jerlm, givat zeev and more

Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Something Fishy's First Trip to Israel - Planning Thread
« Reply #142 on: March 12, 2021, 11:43:53 AM »
If you are renting a car go to kever rochel on a Thursday night, its open 24 hrs? then... and the parking lot is much emptier.
No need for a tour

It's much quieter at night....
I enjoyed it more.. but to wach their own

He would also know about SFs neeeds:Def agree that if you are going to daven, just go and daven. On your own. Skip the tour. Was there at 130am this past week: found some really sincere yidden sitting on the floor saying tikkun chatzos, couples on the way home from their weddings, etc..

This talks to me.

Now to risk Szszalmy Szszilber's wrath, is it safe to drive yourself? Especially at night.
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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Something Fishy's First Trip to Israel - Planning Thread
« Reply #143 on: March 12, 2021, 11:45:15 AM »
I should be in Israel then. LMK if you need anything prepared.

There are many private, new vacation rentals in the area around Belz and Ramat Eshkol, etc. A few can be booked on AirBnb but most are more "heimish". Very dif experiance than a hotel which many seem to prefer.
In Tzfas I found the hotels especially underwhelming and sent time in beautifual Tzimmers. http://www.nofharashbi.co.il/gallery.htm check out the pics of this one. Notihing like Kabbolas Shabbos up there. (You should fit into the arizals mikva).

IsraelExtreme has many options of guided activities. Currently working on a list of things you can (but prob shouldnt) do on your own.

They have many options, most spacious seem to be these odd shaped minivans. Prices much much cheaper with an agent. Many take the train to Yerushalayim and rent here.
I have personally met @satturn and he is terrific. There is a guy Yankelowitz who does a very unique tour of as many gates to Haar Habayis as possible. DM for his number,

Thanks, all good info.

How does one find and book these "heimish" rentals?
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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Something Fishy's First Trip to Israel - Planning Thread
« Reply #144 on: March 12, 2021, 11:46:09 AM »
I don't know any of those places, and while they definitely look very interesting, I doubt that anyone that really cares about Kashrus would eat from any of these places.

Na Laga'at lists Rabbanut Tel-Aviv as their certification. The standard for Rabbanut kashrus in EY is definitely below what anyone that is scrupulous in kashrus would accept. Starting with what they will allow as ingredients, through the level of supervision.

For the other places, I didn't see any Kashrus information on the website, which serves as an indication to me that a high level of kashrus isn't an important feature for them.

Thanks for the heads up. I'll definitely be researching every place before I go.

Sounds like it's gonna be some job lol.
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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Something Fishy's First Trip to Israel - Planning Thread
« Reply #145 on: March 12, 2021, 11:46:32 AM »
He's hoping (expecting?) borders will be open to foreigners by the time he's scheduled to go.

Exactly
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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Something Fishy's First Trip to Israel - Planning Thread
« Reply #146 on: March 12, 2021, 11:47:05 AM »
How dare you deprive a DDF thread from going off on a tangent  >:(

ALOL
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Offline Dan

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Re: Something Fishy's First Trip to Israel - Planning Thread
« Reply #147 on: March 12, 2021, 11:47:31 AM »
Nope. I have the bulkhead which will hopefully be helpful, but who knows.

Maybe the 777, but I definitely don't fit into UA's 787 bulkheads. Problem is the 777 only flies the day flight. I'd rather have an additional day in Israel.

How does the LY bulkhead compare?
Wow, looks like UA has no 777s EWR-TLV through October.
But still I don't think you'll fit into the DL330 any better than the UA787.
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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Something Fishy's First Trip to Israel - Planning Thread
« Reply #148 on: March 12, 2021, 11:47:37 AM »
when you hear בלויע ואסער you go into the hiding -tip of the day

LOL what ;D?
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Offline Dan

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Re: Something Fishy's First Trip to Israel - Planning Thread
« Reply #149 on: March 12, 2021, 11:48:25 AM »
This talks to me.

Now to risk Szszalmy Szszilber's wrath, is it safe to drive yourself? Especially at night.
How good are you with making wrong turns and directions? One wrong turn at night and it won't be pretty...
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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Something Fishy's First Trip to Israel - Planning Thread
« Reply #150 on: March 12, 2021, 11:49:42 AM »
You need to do at least 1 night at the WAJ (buy a Hilton night cert on DDF or open an Aspire) and 1 night at the Ritzaliya (buy a 50K cert on DDF if you don't have one), just for comparison sake.

Staying in a luxury hotel can't compare to one with an insane kosher breakfast.

Other than that, a tzimmer up north is a must. Good luck doing all this in 10 days  :P

I'll leave the hotel comparing to the bloggers :P

I'd rather stay somewhere interesting than fancy and make my own breakfast. Personal preference.
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Offline Dan

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Re: Something Fishy's First Trip to Israel - Planning Thread
« Reply #151 on: March 12, 2021, 11:49:48 AM »
Thanks, all good info.

How does one find and book these "heimish" rentals?
On my first time in tzfas we went to a shul on Friday and started calling numbers on the bulletin board there with endless rentals. Rented for Shabbos a place from a family that was thrilled to be able to afford gas money to visit family because of our $100/night rental.
« Last Edit: March 12, 2021, 01:26:16 PM by Dan »
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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Something Fishy's First Trip to Israel - Planning Thread
« Reply #152 on: March 12, 2021, 11:51:10 AM »
Arrive Thursday or Friday morning and go right into Jlem for Shabbos is the way to go. Don't overthink the fast on sunday and cut the trip short for that. Maybe have a meaningful fast visiting the Avos that day?

Then you can spend the next Shabbos in Tzfas for a completely different, but still incredible experience. It also means you have more time up north and for the Golan without running back to Jlem.

Damn. This sounds incredible. Question is if I can pull off such a long trip. We shall see.
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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Something Fishy's First Trip to Israel - Planning Thread
« Reply #153 on: March 12, 2021, 11:52:08 AM »
personal request go to kever shmuel hanavy and daven with all of us in mind, then go on to the roof top with your wide angle  lens and you'll have a beautiful view of the entire neighborhood rmot, jerlm, givat zeev and more

Sounds like a plan to me.
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Offline Dan

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Re: Something Fishy's First Trip to Israel - Planning Thread
« Reply #154 on: March 12, 2021, 11:52:13 AM »
I'll leave the hotel comparing to the bloggers :P

I'd rather stay somewhere interesting than fancy and make my own breakfast. Personal preference.
An Israeli hotel breakfast is part of the interesting experience sir. Nothing compares.
And a night at the Ritz is a good base for the Blind museum and TLV stuff. I'd also suggest the Palmach museum in TLV.
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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Something Fishy's First Trip to Israel - Planning Thread
« Reply #155 on: March 12, 2021, 11:53:00 AM »
Wow, looks like UA has no 777s EWR-TLV through October.
But still I don't think you'll fit into the DL330 any better than the UA787.

Well hopefully it won't be worse....

Is booking LY with QF still a thing? Haven't been following.
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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Something Fishy's First Trip to Israel - Planning Thread
« Reply #156 on: March 12, 2021, 11:54:08 AM »
How good are you with making wrong turns and directions? One wrong turn at night and it won't be pretty...

Depends. Is Google maps reliable?

In general, what are the best practices for driving around the country safely?
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Online Euclid

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Re: Something Fishy's First Trip to Israel - Planning Thread
« Reply #157 on: March 12, 2021, 11:54:10 AM »
a family that was thrilled to be able to afford gas money to see family in Jlem because of our $100/night rental.
Being an American in some areas of Israel can really be eye opening and ego inflating.

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Re: Something Fishy's First Trip to Israel - Planning Thread
« Reply #158 on: March 12, 2021, 11:56:27 AM »
Well hopefully it won't be worse....

Is booking LY with QF still a thing? Haven't been following.
Should still be a thing. Definitely worth looking into.
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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Something Fishy's First Trip to Israel - Planning Thread
« Reply #159 on: March 12, 2021, 11:58:04 AM »
On my first time in tzfas we went to a shul on Friday and started calling numbers on the bulletin board there with endless rentals. Rented for Shabbos a place from a family that was thrilled to be able to afford gas money to see family in Jlem because of our $100/night rental.

Sounds like something up my alley then.

An Israeli hotel breakfast is part of the interesting experience sir. Nothing compares.
And a night at the Ritz is a good base for the Blind museum and TLV stuff. I'd also suggest the Palmach museum in TLV.

Sorry, a hotel breakfast just doesn't excite me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. What should I say.

Re. the Ritz, is it really worth spending an entire day in TLV on this trip? I'm thinking maybe we can do the Blind museum the last day before heading to the airport.
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