your life in Israel

Simple Tips To Get Great Discounts On Hotel Bills

2012-01-16T09:27:00.001-08:00

Sometimes, we need to travel out of town or out of the country and the only place to stay is a hotel. Many business people or marketing executives out there are spending most of their life in hotels due to frequent travels. Just like securing your home with a home security device like ADT Alarm Systems when you are away on a vacation or business trip, securing your wallet during the trip from huge hotel bills too is very important to make your trip peaceful. If this is the case, you should know the different ways to save money while staying in a hotel. This article will speak about some simple methods to reduce accommodation costs.

The best place to look for good rates is online because most establishments these days post promos through their company website. While browsing, you may even find a site that offers airline tickets and hotels which is good for companies who don't have corporate rates. Once you have found a few good choices, compare what each one is offering and then get whoever is offering the best deal.

If you have only purchased an airline ticket and have not found yet a place to stay, look at the local phone book and then make inquiries the moment you land. Unlike the first option, this is going to be quite challenging especially if you are looking for a place and calling from a public phone. When you are talking to someone from the hotel, ask if they offer any discounts. It is possible that one of your credit cards you have may entitle you to a 10% discount and you will never know until you ask.But what if you don't have to ride a plane but travel by car? You can still find ways to save money for a hotel by visiting the local gas station, restaurant, rest area or visitor's center that usually give out free coupons or even brochures. Such discounts could save you $10 to $20 per night so you can use the money on something else. If there are no promos and no coupons, try your luck and see if you can negotiate a reasonable price for staying in the hotel. There is a chance you could get it if you happen to be a member of the military, a club, a certain school, part of a union or part of a professional organization.

If the hotel be unable to give you a discount, don't waste your time there and consider other places which you may have not considered before. You might have avoided some of the hotels for rooms being smaller and the service they give may not be equal to what you have experienced in the past but there could be other things which may surprise and even impress you during your stay. But the best way to save money on a hotel is still to book in advance. Most hotels give good rates when you book 6 months or longer in advance compared to booking a reservation a week or two before your actual arrival.

Things are far more different though when you are part of a contingent and you are reserving for a large number of people for the next few days. This is because even if hotels give you a discounted rate, they still make money because the guests will not only sleep in the rooms but also use some of the amenities the hotel offers including eating in the restaurants or health clubs. There are ways to save money when staying in a hotel. You can look for good deals online, calling them once you get there or simply by using your charm so good luck when you are looking for a place to stay.
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הובלות

2012-01-15T19:33:00.000-08:00

הובלות הם היום דבר שבשגרה ואנשים רבים נעזרים בשירות זה לצרכים שונים. זו יכולה להיות הובלה של דירה, של בית עסק, של משרד או של חפץ יקר ערך כמו כספת או פסנתר – שירות הובלות הוא הפתרון המושלם והחסכוני העומד היום לשירותינו. כיוון שהובלת חפצים עשויה להיות משימה לא קלה, גוזלת זמן ואנרגיה, שכן עלולה לגרום נזק לתכולה אותה רוצים להעביר. לכן, פנייה לחברת הובלות מקצועית, כמו חברת אילן הובלות בעלת 17 שנות ניסיון בתחום וכמות רבה של ממליצים, תהפוך את החוויה למהנה, מהירה ופרודוקטיבית. עם זאת, כדי שההובלה אכן תהיה כזו רצוי להיערך אליה בהתאם ולחשוב היטב כיצד בדיוק תרצו לבצע את ההובלה.

הובלות – חפשו ממליצים

שירות הובלות הוא כאמור דבר נפוץ ומקובל במחוזותינו ובכל העולם. עם זאת, חשוב לציין כי זהו פרויקט לכל דבר אליו יש לגשת בכובד ראש. הכוונה היא לעבודה מקדימה שיש לערוך בטרם מזמינים חברת הובלות. העבודה הזו מתחילה בסקר שוק במהלכו תחקרו חברים או בני משפחה לגבי חברת הובלות עליה הם ממליצים. אפשר גם לקרוא ברשת האינטרנט באתרים הקשורים להובלות סיפורים ובתגובות של ממליצים אחרים. חברת אילן הובלות היא החברה בעלת ממליצים רבים, הן עסקיים והן פרטיים, הכל בזכות המסירות, המקצועיות והאמינות שאנו מעניקים ללקוחותינו.

הובלות – ערכו רשימות

בטרם מזמינים חברת הובלות, כדאי לערוך רשימות של התכולה אותה תרצו להעביר, פרטים מדויקים של יעד העברה, כולל כל האילוצים שלו (קומה, גדול, נגישות וכו'). הדבר יקל עליכם בעת סגירת המחיר וקבלת השירותים הרלוונטיים מחברת הובלות. אפשר למשל להזמין הובלה סטנדרטית ואפשר להזמין מנוף הכולל הרכבה ופירוק של הרהיטים – הדבר תלוי בסוג התכולה עצמה, בקומה ובמיקום אליהם צריכים להעבירה.

הובלות – מיינו חפצים

במקביל לחיפושי ממליצים על חברת הובלות זו או אחרת מאוד מומלץ לבצע סינון ומיון של כל התכולה אותה רוצים להעביר. הדבר מאוד יקל עליכם בעת ההובלה שכן יפנה לכם המון מקום. תמיד תוכלו לתרום בגדים או רהטים לאנשים הנזקקים או לחלופין למכור מה שאתם לא צריכים. במקרה הכי גרוע אפשר גם לזרוק – העיקר שלא תוסיפו להובלה חפצים מיותרים ותיהנו ממקום פנוי. לאחר מכן תוכלו לבחירתם לארוז לבד או להיעזר בשירות אריזה של אילן הובלות. אנו מעניקים שירות של אריזה החוסך ללקוח זמן יקר ויחד עם זאת גם עושה סדר בבלגן עם כל הקרטונים.

Tel-Hai

2011-10-31T12:06:00.000-07:00

Tel Hai is a historic site that commemorates the heroism of the Hula Valley pioneers who stubbornly defended their homes to the death. Nearby Kiryat Shmona is named after the eight (Shmona in Hebrew) pioneers who perished here.

Tel Hai was founded in 1916 by a group of Hashomer guards. Hashomer was an organization that believed that only Jews should guard Jewish settlements. After the First World War, Tel Hai and other Galilee settlements were transferred to French rule and suffered in the Arab revolt against the French. In January 1920 two Tel Hai members were killed in an Arab attack, and on the 11th of Adar, 5680 (March 1, 1920), six more died when hundreds of Arabs attacked the settlement. Among the fallen was Yosef Trumpeldor, the guards’ young commander.

Tel Hai was abandoned, but the battles did not end for another few months, after which the settlers returned to rebuild their homes. Since then, Tel Hai has been a symbol of heroism. Each year, on the 11th of Adar, an official memorial ceremony is held for Trumpledor and his comrades at the cemetery in nearby Kfar Gil’adi, where the young fighters were buried in a common grave. A statue of a roaring lion stands in the cemetery, sculpted by Avraham Melinkov in 1926, as an expression of their strength.

Tel Hai remains just as it was. The buildings are made of basalt stone, with red tiled roofs, preserving the settlement that thrived here in the early years of Jewish settlement in this region. The courtyard houses a museum that reconstructs the life of Tel Hai’s founders and an audiovisual program in seven languages portrays the battle and the heroism. Children can solve historic riddles and try on period costumes and all around the courtyard are sculptures and antique farming equipment.

Near the Tel Hai courtyard is Tel Hai College and a youth hostel that overlooks scenic Hula Valley. West of Tel Hai is a sculpture-lined path featuring stone and bronze sculptures, and to the east is Tel Hai Industrial Park, which houses an interesting photography museum and an amusing antique car museum.

Eilat

2011-10-30T12:01:00.000-07:00

Over the years, the city of Eilat has become the ultimate resort city with hotels and beaches packed with thousands of Israeli vacationers and tourists from around the world, who come to relax in the country’s southernmost spot.

In the winter it mainly attracts tourists from Europe who prefer vacations in a warmer and more pleasant climate while Israelis flock to the city in the summer. The secret of this little city’s charm is its special location in the northern end of the Bay of Eilat. The combination of a hot climate, a tropical sea and a breathtaking background of wild, bare granite mountains has turned it into a tourist gem all the year round.

Eilat’s location made it strategically significant during the many historical periods in which it served as a port – starting in the days of King Solomon (who built a large fleet of ships which he sent to Ophir), through the Nabataeans, the Romans, the Arabs, and the Crusaders, all of whom ruled the Land of Israel.

The modern city of Eilat was established in 1950. In the early 1950s, a quay was built in the new city, and subsequently a port which became the basis for the new city’s economy. Towards the end of the 1960s, the tourism industry started developing in the city, and today Eilat is a paradise for tourists, travelers and vacationers.

The bay is one of the major attractions, thanks to the beautiful beaches, the developed water sports and some of the best diving spots in the world. In the south of the city is the Coral Reserve, with splendid tropical fish among the reefs. Within the precincts of the reserve is the Underwater Observatory, with a marine museum that displays collections of fascinating sea animals. Not far from the observatory is the Dolphin Reef with its resident school of dolphins.

The city’s many and varied restaurants suit all tastes, and there are also clubs, colorful shops and a promenade along the northern shoreline which holds vibrant bazaars during the summer. There are additional attractions for youngsters and families, such as an amusement park, a new “Kings City” (a high-tech theme park for all the family based on the Bible and Bible stories). Eilat also has an IMAX movie theatre offering a 3-D experience, and many more leisure time activities.

The Arava region north of the city and the Eilat Mountains is an arid desert. But in between the exposed mountains there are many nature and beauty spots as well as archaeological and historical sites, which make Eilat a good starting point for special trips in the area, such as camel treks, jeep tours and more.

a little information: The Non-Jewish

2011-10-29T11:57:00.000-07:00

The large non-Jewish minority in Israel is Arab, representing about one fifth of the country’s population. Most of Israel’s Arabs live in Arab settlements in the Galilee, on the eastern coastal plane and in the northern Negev. There are also large concentrations of Arabs in mixed cities such as Haifa, Jerusalem, Acre and Ramle.

The vast majority of Israel’s Arabs are Sunnite Moslems, with only about one tenth being Christian (mostly members of the Greek-Orthodox Church). Among Israel’s Arabs are the Bedouins, Moslem Arabs whose forefathers lived as nomads. Israel’s Bedouins have moved into permanent settlements mainly in the northern Negev, but also in the Galilee. The Druze (see below), although a separate religious community, are also Arabs.

Israel has more ethnic and religious groups. Here are the main ones:

Druze: Members of a religion that developed from Shiite Islam in the 11th century, and whose adherents are concentrated in Syria, Lebanon and Israel. Some 115,000 Druze currently live in Israel, in 17 settlements on Mount Carmel, in the Galilee and on the Golan Heights.

Circassians: Members of a Moslem, non-Arab people whose came from the Caucasus. When their country was captured by the Russians in the 19th century, many Circassians immigrated to the Ottoman Empire, and some arrived in the Land of Israel, where they established the villages of Rikhaniya and Kafr Kama.

Samaritans: Members of a national-religious community whose religion is very close to Judaism. The Samaritan community developed following the Assyrian conquest of the Kingdom of Israel, when members of the Kingdom of Israel who remained in the land combined with members of peoples exiled by the Assyrian kings to the region. In ancient times, the community was large and strong. However, unsuccessful rebellions during the Byzantine Period along with pressure exerted by the Moslems on the Samaritans to convert to Islam gradually reduced their numbers. There now remain some 700 Samaritans, half of whom live in Nablus (Shkhem) and half in Holon (Kholon.)

Population of Israel

2011-10-28T11:53:00.000-07:00

The State of Israel has some 7.4 million inhabitants.

The most prominent characteristic of Israel’s the population is its high diversity. Besides the main division of the country’s inhabitants into Jews (80%) and Arabs (20%), there are many more subdivisions. The Jews, for example, are divided into religious and secular, while the latter include various immigrant communities who preserve their culture. Likewise, the Arabs are divided into Moslems, Christians and Druze. Alongside these groups, Israel has additional small ethnic religious groups such as the Circassians and the Samaritans, and small Christian communities from Europe such as the German Beit El community in Zikhron Ya'akov.

Another major characteristic of the Israeli population is its rapid growth rate, which is atypical for developed countries. Since the establishment of the State, the population of Israel has increased almost tenfold, mainly due to the immigration of Jews from round the world. Today, Israel is a densely populated country, even though large regions are thinly populated. The population of Israel is young (the median age is 28.3 years), its infant mortality rate is low (5.8 deaths for each 1,000 births), and the life expectancy is high (78.7 years).

Food & wine in Israel

2011-09-30T11:48:00.000-07:00

Like the United States, Israel is an ethnic melting pot of cultures, religions and immigrants. As a result, the food scene in Israel is extraordinarily diverse and also of a very high standard. 80% of Israelis are Jews of whom more than half were born in Israel. But most of their parents, grandparents or great grandparents came to Israel from more than 120 countries, bringing with them foods, recipes and food traditions from six continents. And the 20% of non-Jewish Israelis have their own food traditions too. Israel is also a part of the Western world, and very little happens in Los Angeles, London, Tokyo and Paris that doesn’t find its way to Israel within a few weeks. Put all this together and you have the ingredients for one of the most dynamic, fascinating – and delicious – food scenes in the world.

If you’d ask an Israeli 25 or 30 years ago what is the country’s typical fare, chances are the answer would be felafel, humus, tehina, with a side order of couscous or gefilte fish. A lot has happened in 25 or 30 years. All these dishes still exist, of course, indeed the first four are ubiquitous. But Israel has it all now, from hamburgers (Israel’s first McDonald’s opened in the 90’s) to pizza to sushi (more sushi restaurants per capita in Tel Aviv than in any city on earth, including Tokyo), to the cuisines of India and China, to some of the finest influences of Paris, Brussels, Lyon, Barcelona and New York – the Israel food scene is utterly sophisticated and in step with the latest trends. Many of Israel’s leading chefs have studied, prepped, apprenticed at some of the finest restaurants in the world.

But there’s more. There are restaurants in Israel that serve cuisines that exist nowhere else on earth: particularly the cuisines from areas now devoid of Jews, where large Jewish populations created their own eclectic cuisines, such as in Salonika, Dubrovnik, Tripolitania, Mesopotamia, Persia, Yemen and Bukhara.

There are two elements that make food in Israel so unique. One is our location on the shores of the Mediterranean. Like Turkey, Greece, Italy, France and Spain, our cuisine reflects the warm sun, the olives that grow on our trees, the olive-oil we press, and the breads, fish and meats that have made the Mediterranean the source of what is considered by many as the world’s healthiest diet and, quite simply, the source of the best things to eat. Secondly, Israel produces the most splendid quality of fruits, vegetables and dairy products. From the legendary Jaffa oranges first exported to Europe in the 1930’s, to the kiwis, star fruit, citrus, tomatoes, peppers, flowers, yoghurts and cheeses we export today.

Rural Tourism

2011-09-29T11:36:00.000-07:00

Throughout Israel, from north to south, in kibbutzim and moshava farming communities, in towns, villages, community settlements and every beautiful corner of the country, pampering guest rooms with all the accessories have been built to offer you a rustic vacation, far from the noisy cities and close to nature, an arms length from Israel’s primal landscapes and wonders. There is a saying that in order to really get to know a country, you have to live among its inhabitants, learn their customs, chat with the locals and learn how they live. Perhaps this is the reason behind Israel’s flourishing rural tourism and its increasing popularity among tourists.

The rural experience will provide you with an opportunity to see the far-flung communities and meet their residents, most of whom are farmers who welcome you and offer you charming vacation rooms and suites, right next to their fields and in their orchards. These accommodations are also located near many historical sites and attractions, so that you can quickly and easily reach every part of the country, while at the same time learning about the different types of communities and various life styles.

Rural tourism has developed considerably in recent decades and now offers a warm alternative that includes accommodations in a rustic atmosphere in the heart of nature, with delicious meals from the best of the local produce. There is a wide range of guest rooms, family vacation units or pampering wooden cabins with breathtaking views of the landscape, either scattered among the green fields of kibbutzim or perched on mountaintops and hillsides, in the heart of orchards and pine groves, along the beach or beside rivers. Some cabins come with wonderful surprises, such as double Jacuzzis and scented candles for a romantic atmosphere, while others offer agricultural activities, such as harvesting fruit in season, a visit to the cowshed or sheepfold, horseback riding, a ride in a wagon drawn by a tractor, visits to fruit and vegetable packing plants and olive oil or wine presses. There are also swimming pools, playground equipment for children and hammocks, for relaxing with a view of the horizon. All you have to do is give yourself up to the quiet pastoral surroundings and sink into never-ending tranquility.

Rivers and Seas

2011-09-28T11:33:00.000-07:00

With little rainfall, the water in most of Israel's streams is seasonal. Israel's largest river is the 250-kilometer Jordan which runs from the Hula Valley south through the Kinneret to the Dead Sea. The Jordan originates in three short tributaries – Dan, Hermon and Snir – which travel through lovely landscape and attract many tourists.

There are also a number of perennial rivers in the coastal plain, including the Taninim (crocodiles) and Yarkon Rivers. Several steep streams descend eastwards from the mountainous region, some creating beautiful canyons (including Amud, Tirtsa, Prat, Kidron and Arugot). Israel's largest streams cut impressive canyons through the Negev landscape. The most prominent southern streams include Tse'elim, Tsin, Paran, Besor and Ha-Arava. In the winter months, there is a danger of flooding in the Negev streams.

Israel's main bodies of water are the Kinneret and Dead Sea. The Kinneret is the largest body of fresh water, a popular swimming site and also the location of many of Christianity's holy sites. The Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, attracts many nature-lovers as well as tourists interested in the waters' curative powers. The rest of Israel's bodies of water, including the remnants of the Hula Lake, are much smaller.

Geography & Nature in Israel

2011-08-30T11:29:00.000-07:00

Israel is divided into three main regions lengthwise: the coastal plain, the mountain region, and the Jordan Valley Rift.

Coastal plain

The country's western strip, stretching from Rosh Ha-Nikra in the north to the Sinai Peninsula in the south. The plain is 4-7 kilometers wide in the north, expanding as it moves southward to about 50 kilometers.

The soil in the coastal plain is fertile; there are several water sources, and the region includes the country’s major transportation arteries. The coastal plain is densely populated with most of Israel's major cities, including Tel Aviv and Haifa. The plain is divided from north to south into the Galilee Plain, the Acre Plain, the Carmel Plain, the Sharon Plain, the Mediterranean Coastal Plain, and the Southern Coastal Plain. East of the coastal plain are the lowlands – moderate hills that create a transitional region between the coast and the mountains.

Mountain region

The mountainous region stretches from Lebanon in the north to Eilat Bay in the south, between the coastal plain and the Jordan Valley Rift. Its highest peaks are the Galilee's Mt. Meron at 1,208 meters above sea level, Samaria's Mt. Ba’al Hatsor at 1,016 meters and the Negev's Mt. Ramon at 1,037 meters above sea level. Most of the less densely populated mountainous region is stone or rocky ground. The climate in the northern mountainous regions is Mediterranean and rainy, while the southern sections are a desert. The key stretches of the mountainous region are the Galilee in the north, the Carmel, the hills of Samaria, the Judean hills, and the Negev highlands.

The contiguity of the mountainous region is interrupted at two points by major valleys – the Yizre'el (Jezre'el) Valley separating the Galilee mountains from the hills of Samaria, and the Be'er Sheva-Arad Rift separating the Judean hills from the Negev highlands. The eastern slopes of the Samarian hills and Judean hills are the Samarian and Judean deserts.

Jordan Valley Rift

The rift extends the entire length of Israel from the northern town of Metula to the Red Sea in the south. The rift was caused by seismic activity, and is part of the Afro-Syrian rift which extends from the Syrian-Turkish border to the Zambezi River in Africa. Israel's largest river, the Jordan, flows through the Jordan Valley and includes Israel's two lakes: the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), the largest body of fresh water in Israel, and the salt water Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. The Jordan Valley is divided from north to south into the Hula Valley, the Kinneret Valley, the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea Valley and the Arava.

Golan Heights

The hilly Golan region is east of the Jordan River. The Israeli Golan Heights are the end of a large basalt plain, mostly located in Syria. North of the Golan Heights is Mt. Hermon, Israel's highest peak at 2,224 meters above sea level.

Travel For The Handicapped

2011-08-29T11:21:00.000-07:00

Israel places enormous importance on providing comfortable conditions for travelers with disabilities. Considerable efforts and resources have been invested to enable the handicapped visit destinations and attractions and to receive service comparable to that received by the general public.

The Israel Government Tourist Corporation, the executive arm of the Ministry of Tourism for developing infrastructure, has initiated numerous projects designed to make dozens of tourist sites throughout the country accessible. We encourage travelers with disabilities to come to Israel to travel, tour, and visit these sites. New sites have been made accessible and old sites have been renovated to make them more suitable.

For example, the summit of the Massada fortress near the Dead Sea is now accessible, and wheelchairs can now reach the upper level of the site. A special area on Masada has been adapted so that persons with visual disabilities can touch and feel the surroundings. Other sites, such as the Knights’ Halls in Acre (Akko), and the esplanade and amphitheater in Caesarea (Keysariya) have also been made accessible for the handicapped.

Medical Tourism

2011-08-28T11:18:00.000-07:00

Israel has become a centre for people seeking specialised treatment who want high levels of expertise and substantially reduced costs. Firstly, the therapeutic benefits of the Dead Sea mean that many international medical tourists travel there every year. There are three categories of patients that seek treatment at the Dead Sea; those with dermatological conditions, those with rheumatological diseases and those with lung diseases. Treatments are based on a mixture of factors that are unique to the Dead Sea; mineral salts, Dead Sea mud, the oxygen rich atmosphere and the mineral sulphur springs of the region as well as the attenuated ultra-violet radiation.

Today, Israel has become a world-leader in cancer treatment. Most hospitals offer full-service and high-quality facilities and an expertise in oncology that has become world-renowned. Whilst the global average success rate for IVF is 20% per cycle, the success rate achieved in Israel is 25-30% per cycle. Not only is the treatment cheaper, so is the medication. Another area in which Israel ranks amongst the best in the world is in the orthopaedics industry. Patients arrive from all over the world for treatment for bone, ligament and joint deficiencies.

Aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery techniques used in Israel have been adopted by doctors all over the world. These range from corrective procedures to more commonly-known cosmetic procedures.

Medical centres and hospitals offer treatment to overseas patients and have multi-lingual staff in order to be able to communicate with overseas patients.