Author Topic: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread (Read 2310736 times)

efflpetzel · « **Reply #4820 on:** March 13, 2015, 04:41:38 AM »

Quote from: Emkay on March 13, 2015, 03:54:35 AM

That being said it would break my heart to see someone on these forums pay 6k for a guide during their stay here, that price is infringing on monetary rape.

so I hope you've sent her a PM

Emkay · « **Reply #4821 on:** March 13, 2015, 04:42:35 AM »

Quote from: efflpetzel on March 13, 2015, 04:41:38 AM

so I hope you've sent her a PM

I will as soon as I get home and have a chance to look for the numbers I have

efflpetzel · « **Reply #4822 on:** March 13, 2015, 04:44:58 AM »

Quote from: Emkay on March 13, 2015, 04:42:35 AM

I will as soon as I get home and have a chance to look for the numbers I have

good boy.

shimino1 · « **Reply #4823 on:** March 13, 2015, 05:11:20 AM »

Quote from: SFS on March 12, 2015, 03:59:33 PM

1. A guide - I've contacted one that a friend recommended but at nearly $600 (US) per day I'm not sure if that's expensive or not. He does provide his own vehicle and drives us (2 adults and 1 tween). I've planned all our accommodations so that service is not being provided. Our trip looks like this, in general:

June 2 & 3 - Tel Aviv
June 4 & 5 - North (perhaps Haifa, Akko, etc. for which I have not planned accommodations yet)
June 5 & 6 - Scored the awesome Ritz Carleton on points!
June 6 -12 - Jerusalem (with Bat Mitzvah at Kotel on 6/9)

I'm not sure if I need a guide in Tel Aviv b/c there are several free walking tours and the Greeter tours.

North, I probably need a guide b/c I have no idea where to go because it's all so interesting.

Jerusalem - I know of a few things I'd like to do (Yad Vashem, Ramparts and Tunnel tours) but is $600 additional a day for a guide needed? Is it a good price?

Thank you all for your sharing so much that I've learned so much just reading. I appreciate your help and answers.

I wish I could supply you with some good numbers but all I have is advice:
DONT pay 600$ for a guide! Avarage salery in Israel is 7.5$ hour. You can find much cheaper guides.
I would suggest that for the day/s you are up north you should get a guide that knows his way around, for everything else (Jerusalem, Tel aviv) you do not need a guide. Yad vashem, Kottel tunnels, etc' all provide their own guides as part of the price and 95% of the time they have someone that speaks English.

Emkay · « **Reply #4824 on:** March 15, 2015, 08:02:45 AM »

Where can I get something notarized in the ramat eshkol area?

coralsnake · « **Reply #4825 on:** March 15, 2015, 09:48:37 AM »

Quote from: SFS on March 12, 2015, 03:59:33 PM

Hi there, I'm new(ish) to posting here but I've been a reader/lurker for quite some time. I'm in the near final stages of planning our daughter's Bat Mitzvah trip to Israel at the beginning of June.

I have a few questions, and hope you all can offer your expertise.

1. A guide - I've contacted one that a friend recommended but at nearly $600 (US) per day I'm not sure if that's expensive or not. He does provide his own vehicle and drives us (2 adults and 1 tween). I've planned all our accommodations so that service is not being provided. Our trip looks like this, in general:

June 2 & 3 - Tel Aviv
June 4 & 5 - North (perhaps Haifa, Akko, etc. for which I have not planned accommodations yet)
June 5 & 6 - Scored the awesome Ritz Carleton on points!
June 6 -12 - Jerusalem (with Bat Mitzvah at Kotel on 6/9)

I'm not sure if I need a guide in Tel Aviv b/c there are several free walking tours and the Greeter tours.

North, I probably need a guide b/c I have no idea where to go because it's all so interesting.

Jerusalem - I know of a few things I'd like to do (Yad Vashem, Ramparts and Tunnel tours) but is $600 additional a day for a guide needed? Is it a good price?

While I did save a ton on airfare, I am not in a position to add almost $6K for a guide for the entire trip.

Any suggestions would be wonderful.

2. Hair stylist/makeup artist - so, which I can't spend $6K for a guide, yes, I am asking about something seemingly frivolous like a hair stylist. Nonetheless, we are having family photos taken for the Bat mitzvah and since I won't be taking all of my hair styling equipment and makeup with me I was wondering if anyone has a suggestion for someone who does provide these services. It would be in Jerusalem and the flat we are renting is on Koresh near the Jaffa Gate.

Thank you all for your sharing so much that I've learned so much just reading. I appreciate your help and answers.

Regarding a tour guide- I think the going rate is around $450 a day. That's not including a car. But if you rent your own car, thatll save you a bunch of cash.

Having said that, You can find a much cheaper tour guide here:
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=46499.msg959696#msg959696

I would also just like to add that I just took my family there for my daughters bas mitzvah and got a tour guide. It was the most expensive part of my trip but totally worth it.

Because of the tour guide were busy every day all day. I've spent years in Israel but we did things that I never would have thought about and all the kids loved it. He also kept the kids engaged in the excitement of the land. Even the sometimes long drives come with a history lesson when you have a tour guide rather than the usual kids fighting in the backseat.

Mech · « **Reply #4826 on:** March 15, 2015, 10:00:08 AM »

Quote from: Emkay on March 15, 2015, 08:02:45 AM

Where can I get something notarized in the ramat eshkol area?

Do you have a bank account? Why not try going to the bank and asking them?

Emkay · « **Reply #4827 on:** March 15, 2015, 10:10:13 AM »

Quote from: Mech on March 15, 2015, 10:00:08 AM

Do you have a bank account? Why not try going to the bank and asking them?

Never Heard of that, they do that?

Mech · « **Reply #4828 on:** March 15, 2015, 10:11:22 AM »

Quote from: Emkay on March 15, 2015, 10:10:13 AM

Never Heard of that, they do that?

I can't tell you for sure they do it here but in america any bank notarizes.

SFS · « **Reply #4829 on:** March 15, 2015, 08:07:05 PM »

Quote from: Elshal on March 12, 2015, 08:56:50 PM

It's prett standard to pay for lunch and entrance to attractions

Thank you for your help and the PMs. I truly appreciate your kindness.

Quote from: Emkay on March 13, 2015, 03:54:35 AM

The world turns and is only functioning because of people that pay that kind of money for a tour guide in israel. And I'm not really complaining since the people that pay full price for flights and CC interest enable me to play my game I enjoy so dearly.
That being said it would break my heart to see someone on these forums pay 6k for a guide during their stay here, that price is infringing on monetary rape.

Emkay, I'm glad a CC veteran feels the same way about my dilemma. I want to have a great family vacation, and even though I've saved for many years for the Bat Mitzvah we didn't originally intend to have it in Israel so this is an additional expense to the (not so elaborate) party. Nonetheless, I'm new to DDF and wouldn't want to break anyone's heart. If you have any suggestions I look forward to them.

Quote from: shimino1 on March 13, 2015, 05:11:20 AM

I wish I could supply you with some good numbers but all I have is advice:
DONT pay 600$ for a guide! Avarage salery in Israel is 7.5$ hour. You can find much cheaper guides.
I would suggest that for the day/s you are up north you should get a guide that knows his way around, for everything else (Jerusalem, Tel aviv) you do not need a guide. Yad vashem, Kottel tunnels, etc' all provide their own guides as part of the price and 95% of the time they have someone that speaks English.

Shimiono1, my biggest concern is wasting time getting to/from places because I don't read Hebrew and while my daughter can, it's not so much on the fluent/conversational level. Then again, I have read so many guides that say most things are in English I should be OK. I guess if I'm totally stuck as long as I have wifi I'd be able to find someone here on DDF that would point me in the right direction.

Thank you all for your help, support, and kindness.

Quote from: coralsnake on March 15, 2015, 09:48:37 AM

Regarding a tour guide- I think the going rate is around $450 a day. That's not including a car. But if you rent your own car, thatll save you a bunch of cash.

Having said that, You can find a much cheaper tour guide here:
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=46499.msg959696#msg959696

I would also just like to add that I just took my family there for my daughters bas mitzvah and got a tour guide. It was the most expensive part of my trip but totally worth it.

Because of the tour guide were busy every day all day. I've spent years in Israel but we did things that I never would have thought about and all the kids loved it. He also kept the kids engaged in the excitement of the land. Even the sometimes long drives come with a history lesson when you have a tour guide rather than the usual kids fighting in the backseat.

Thanks coralsnake for your candid reply. I will check the link, so thank you for sharing it. I wasn't finding anything when I searched the forum. I'm concerned with my daughter not feeling that connection to Israel because it's just like visiting other places with mom and dad schlepping from museum to museum. We took a homeschool trip to Italy a few years ago and it included guides and that was often the best part of seeing all the broken down ruins and crumbling buildings. Now to keep searching to find something that's right for us. Much gratitude!

SFS · « **Reply #4830 on:** March 15, 2015, 08:10:47 PM »

Quote from: Emkay on March 15, 2015, 08:02:45 AM

Where can I get something notarized in the ramat eshkol area?

My understanding is that lawyer's offices have notaries. Here in the US they're all over (I'm a notary) but in Israel the only time I've ever worked with a notary was through a law office. This might help you find one that is near to you - https://yellowpages.cybo.com/IL/ramat_eshkol/notary/

coralsnake · « **Reply #4831 on:** March 15, 2015, 09:02:01 PM »

Quote from: Elshal on March 12, 2015, 08:56:50 PM

It's prett standard to pay for lunch and entrance to attractions

-1

Tour guides in Israel get free entrance to just about every place when they're giving a tour. You only pay entrance fee for yourselves.

SFS · « **Reply #4832 on:** March 15, 2015, 09:22:47 PM »

Quote from: coralsnake on March 15, 2015, 09:02:01 PM

Tour guides in Israel get free entrance to just about every place when they're giving a tour. You only pay entrance fee for yourselves.

Thanks for the clarification, Coralsnake. That makes sense since they go so often the places want to encourage them to bring their tours.

yid · « **Reply #4833 on:** March 15, 2015, 09:29:41 PM »

Quote from: SFS on March 15, 2015, 08:10:47 PM

My understanding is that lawyer's offices have notaries. Here in the US they're all over (I'm a notary) but in Israel the only time I've ever worked with a notary was through a law office. This might help you find one that is near to you - https://yellowpages.cybo.com/IL/ramat_eshkol/notary/

In israel, only a lawyer for over (i think 10 years) can be a notary. When I needed one, I went to town and walked around until i found a lawyers office and asked there.

Emkay · « **Reply #4834 on:** March 16, 2015, 05:21:04 AM »

Anyone looking to sell a printer for cheap or know where to find one?

ABC · « **Reply #4835 on:** March 17, 2015, 03:45:50 AM »

Quote from: Emkay on March 16, 2015, 05:21:04 AM

Anyone looking to sell a printer for cheap or know where to find one?

There's a store on rachov Petach Tikva in Jerusalem called something like "toner"
I bought mine on geula and kicked myself later.

YudiG · « **Reply #4836 on:** March 20, 2015, 07:57:39 AM »

Quote from: Emkay on March 16, 2015, 05:21:04 AM

Anyone looking to sell a printer for cheap or know where to find one?

i have an old hp that should work...free for taking..pm if interested

YudiG · « **Reply #4837 on:** March 20, 2015, 07:58:29 AM »

anyone spend some time in bat yam? what's to do in surrounding area? i've done traditional musuems in tel aviv area...tia

CS91 · « **Reply #4838 on:** March 25, 2015, 07:33:24 PM »

Anyone know of a gym in RBS that lets you pay per visit and doesn't require membership? Going to be there over Pesach so preferably one that is open during chol hamoed (does that exist in Israel?).

Emkay · « **Reply #4839 on:** March 26, 2015, 05:28:49 AM »

where can i find a dry cleaner in the Jerusalem area to press an expensive dress without burning or otherwise ruining it?

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Author Topic: Things To Do In Israel Master Thread (Read 2310736 times)