Think of Israel and the words ‘top of the list holiday destination’ are not the first that come to mind. But this fabulous country, despite its war torn history, is a fascinating place for any discerning traveller to visit. Here are some amazing facts to get your mind ticking.
Rental Agreements Cancelled when Messiah Arrives
Yes, you read it right. In Jerusalem, the majority of apartment leases include a clause that stipulates that when the Messiah comes, the lease no longer stands and the tenants must vacate the premises. This is absolutely unique to this country.
Kosher Kitchens
For very religious Jewish families, following the strict kosher laws is extremely important. Some families have three kitchens that include one for dairy, one for meat and one that is only used during Passover, and each has its own set of pots and pans! For those living in smaller houses with only one kitchen, there is a lot of cleaning to do! The process of purifying the room and removing all crumbs is called removing Hametz.
Israel Makes Great Wine
It is hard to believe that in the middle of the Negev Desert sits a wonderful winery. Owned by a small family, the Carmey Advat winery produces 6000 bottles every year. If you are passing, stop in for a tasting, or why not stay for a weekend in one of the cabins? Wine tasting costs 25 nis (£4.50) per person, but if you buy a bottle it is free.
Israel’s Beaches
Israel has 137 official beaches on only 273km of coastline. Quite incredible! The beaches lie on one of four different Seas: Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Dead Sea, and Sea of Galilee.
Pigs Can’t Touch the Ground
There are, interestingly enough, a few pig farms in Israel, but they are anything but ordinary. Pigs are not allowed to touch the land and so are kept several inches off the ground on wooden platforms.
Money Money Money
The bank notes in Israel have braille on them. This is not the norm among other currencies. Currently Canada has braille on its notes and Australia is considering adding it to theirs, but here in the UK, we have no such thing. Perhaps we need to think about it?
Party On!
Every Tuesday in Tel Aviv there is a rollerblading party. Around 300 skaters hit the streets every week in this social gathering that some consider to be almost spiritual. Fancy giving it a go? Get your skates on then!
Beating The Jelly Fish Sting
A group of Israeli scientists recently invented a jellyfish sting repellent. After analysing the Clown Fish for more that 10 years, the leading scientist, Lotan, developed the cream to mimic the defensive secretions that the Clown Fish uses to fend off the potential dangers of a jellyfish sting, even when swimming in the vicinity of lots of jellyfish with their wandering tentacles.
The cream prevents the sting from happening, rather than treating it once someone has been stung. It is a revelation!
These interesting facts should definitely have whetted the appetite for a visit. Read on for how to get there.
How To Get There
Israel’s main airport is Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport and there are many major airlines linking it to other European destinations. From the UK, the journey to Tel Aviv takes 5 hours. El Al, which is the national airline of Israel, and British Airlines provide regular direct flights, but if you are looking for a cheaper deal, try easyJet, who fly from London Gatwick and London Luton – although not every day. If you want to fly with El Al, be advised that they do not offer flights leaving or arriving in Tel Aviv during Shabbat (Friday evening and Saturday), which is to be expected in Israel.
Transfers from the airport can be booked with us in advance. We offer a door to door service and transfers that can be organised on a private or shared basis, depending on your budget and group size. Book for you return journey too and you can rely on seamless travel on both legs of your trip.
Currently, Israel is not connected to the rest of Europe by rail, but you can travel by boat, if you have your own. Private vessels can dock in any one of the many marinas. We offer transfers from the main ports, including Eilat and Haifa.
Most visitors and holidaymakers arrive by plane into Israel. Transfers are an easy and popular way of getting to your final destination from any port of entry, comfortably and with minimum fuss.
About Shuttle Direct
Shuttle Direct is a well established transfer company offering a cost effective way to travel from a huge range of airports, train stations and cruise ports in Europe and North Africa.
Our easy to use website provides an advance booking service. Choose this option and you will be met on arrival before being transferred to your accommodation in good time. With the choice of private or shared transfers, the team at Shuttle Direct are on hand to ensure that the final leg of your journey is as stress free as you would want it to be, no matter what your budget.
