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| Israel
Getting There - International Travel |
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Air
Travel along Israel’s border with Lebanon, and close to the
Israeli side of the Israel / Gaza Strip border, is recommended
against. Care is advised at crossing points between
Israel and Jordan. All travel to the Gaza Strip outside Gaza City
is recommended against, plus all travel to the West Bank and the
Gaza Strip at night.
There is a large threat from terrorism and military
activity in Israel and in the Occupied Territories. If planning
to travel to Israel or the Occupied Territories, nationals should
be incredibly careful about personal security arrangements.
Due to current travel and other restrictions, there
are limits to the level of consular assistance provided in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip for most nationals.
United Kingdom / Palestinian dual nationals are subject to complex
Israeli travel restrictions. Crime is usually not
a problem in Israel or the Occupied Territories, however sensible
precautions should be taken.
Israel’s national airline
is El Al Israel
Airlines (LY). Other airlines serving Israel include British
Airways, Air Canada, South African Airways, Continental Airlines,
Air France, Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa, and United Airlines.
Approximate flight times
Approximate times are as follows: |
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It takes 4 hours 30 minutes traveling from London to Tel Aviv.
It
takes 5 hours traveling from London to Eilat.
It takes 17 hours traveling from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv.
It
takes 11 hours traveling from New York to Tel Aviv.
It takes 10 hours 55 minutes traveling from Singapore to Tel
Aviv.
It takes 14 hours 35 minutes traveling from Sydney to Tel
Aviv. |
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Tel Aviv International airport
Tel Aviv (TLV) (Ben Gurion International) is 20 kilometres (12 miles)
south east of the city. An EGGED bus runs every
30 minutes between 5.00 am and 11.00 pm (the travel time is 25 minutes),
and United Tours shuttle bus no. 222 runs hourly
from 4.00 am to 12.00 am to the Tel Aviv railway station, before
stopping at all hotels along Hayarkon St.
There is also a taxi service (the travel time is
20 minutes). A shared sherut (taxi service) is available, charging
a fixed amount per passenger.
The El Al airline bus goes to the airport terminal
in Tel Aviv. Departure depends on El Al flights. The best way to
travel to Jerusalem, which is 50 kilometres (31 miles) away, is
by sherut.
Airport facilities
Airport facilities include restaurants, banks,
duty free shops, general shops and tourist information.
Eilat International airport
Eilat Central Airport (ETH) is 20 minutes away from the city. The
airport bus departs every 15 minutes, and taxis are available to
the city (the travel time is 15 minutes).
Airport
facilities
Airport facilities include light refreshments, a duty free shop
and a souvenir shop.
Departure Tax :
There is no Departure Tax.
Sea
Major international passenger ports
are Ashdod and Haifa. Foreign yachts sailing to Israel may use these
ports of entry as well as Eilat and the marinas of Herzliya, Ashkelon
and Tel-Aviv.
There are standard sailings of car / passenger
ferries from Greece (Piraeus) and Cyprus to Haifa. Cruise lines
run to Ashdod and Haifa from Venice and other Mediterranean ports.
These cruise companies include The Cruise People, Louis and Viamare
Travel LTD.
Road
Road access to Israel is generally limited. There
are 2 crossing points from Egypt into Israel. Travellers are permitted
to cross the border on foot, by bus or in privately owned cars only,
taxis and hired cars cannot cross. Rafiah (Rafah), the main point
of entry, is located about 50 kilometres (31 miles) southwest of
Ashqelon (open 9.00 am to 5.00 pm).
4 bus companies supply services
between Cairo and Tel Aviv and Jerusalem via Rafiah. EGGED Bus no.
362 leaves Tel Aviv for the Rafiah terminal daily and Rafiah for
Tel Aviv at Taba, just south of Eilat, which is open 24 hours a
day. A regular bus service is offered between Taba, Santa Katerina
(Sinai) and Cairo.
It is possible to enter Jordan via the Allenby
Bridge near Jericho, about 40 kilometres (25 miles)
from Jerusalem. The Allenby Bridge border opening hours are Sunday
to Thursday from 8.00 am to 12.00 am, Friday 8.00 am to 3.00 pm.
EGGED buses and taxi services are also accessible to the bridge.
At present, every tourist passing through here must acquire an entry
visa to and an exit visa from Jordan. Exit fees
are only payable on leaving for Jordan. Nationals of countries who
are required to attain an Israeli visa in advance should do so before
visiting Jordan, as such visas cannot be obtained at the Allenby
Bridge.
The Arava Checkpoint crossing is located 4 kilometres
(3 miles) north of Eilat. It is possible to cross the border in
both directions. Nationals are advised to check whether visas are
required for this crossing with their local embassy. The opening
hours for the Arava border checkpoint are Sunday to Thursday from
6.30 am to 11.30 pm, Friday and Saturday 8.00 am to 8.00 pm (closed
on Yom Kippur and the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha).
The Jordan River Crossing (Sheikh Hussein Bridge)
can be crossed by holders of United Kingdom passports valid for
at least 6 months from the date of entry and persons with dual nationality
as individuals or in groups.
Entry visas for Jordan or Israel can either be organised through
travel agents who will make the required arrangements or can be
provided on arrival for all those who have planned pre-arranged
visas (except for Israeli passport holders who must make arrangements
through travel agents).
Travel agents are asked to coordinate the arrival time of buses
with the management of the crossing point. All UN cars (on official
business or not) and vehicles with foreign registration will be
permitted to cross freely without paying any fees, however, Israeli
cars with diplomatic plates will not be allowed to cross the border.
Transfer of passengers between the Israeli
and Jordanian checkpoints will be carried out by a shuttle service.
Transfers on foot is not permissible. The Jordan River (Sheikh Hussein)
border crossing hours are Sunday to Thursday 6.30 am to 10.00 pm,
Friday and Saturday 8.00 am to 8.00 pm (closed on Yom Kippur and
the Jordanian festival on the 1st day of the Hijirah Calendar).
There is no access to Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic. Mobile
telephones are not permitted on buses crossing the border. |
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