HOW TO road trip around ISRAEL like A pro

Last Updated: 2/2/20 | February 2nd, 2020

This guest post from Anastasia Schmalz and Tomer Arwas of Generation Nomads. They have spent an substantial amount of time traveling Israel and today are going to share their knowledge to help you road trip around Israel on a budget!

Having visited Israel frequently and completed three road trips across the country, we can confidently say that there is no better way to explore it than in your own car.

The road facilities is well maintained throughout the country, and distances between destinations are short. You can start your day floating in the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, and watch the sunset a couple of hours later from the deck of your wooden cabin in the Golan Heights or on a Mediterranean beach.

Additionally, having your own automobile indicates that you can check out places off the beaten path that buses and trains don’t reach. For example, on our route from Masada to Tel Aviv, we took a spontaneous detour to check out a standard Bedouin desert village, which wouldn’t have been possible if we didn’t have a rental car.

Over the years, we have developed up know-how and resources that help us to make our road trips a smooth and wallet-friendly experience.

Budgeting: What will your daily costs be like?

Israel has become one of the most expensive vacationer destinations in the world in recent years and, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the cost of a check out can exceed expensive cities such as Zurich, Paris, London, and Moscow. here are some average costs:

Accommodations (per night):

Hostel: 85 NIS ($24 USD) per bed in a 4-bed dorm room

Hotel: 300 NIS ($83 USD) per room

Airbnb: costs starting at 175 NIS ($50 USD) per room or for the entire place

Food:

Main course on the menu of a restaurant: 60 NIS ($17 USD)

Street food meal (e.g., falafel or shawarma sandwich, with a drink): 25 NIS ($7 USD)

Car rental:

Rental: 80-140 NIS ($22-39 USD) per day

Gas: Although costs vary, expect to spend 6–7 NIS ($1.67–1.95 USD) per liter of gasoline

How to lease a automobile in Israel

As you’re planning to explore the country in your own wheels, renting a automobile at the airport might seem like the most rational step to take. However, if you plan to spend a couple of days in Tel Aviv first, we encourage renting the automobile later, in the city center. The reason is that by choosing up and returning the automobile at the airport, the rental price will be subject to an additional tax. Furthermore, you will avoid the headache of vehicle parking in Tel Aviv, where finding a vehicle parking spot feels like being Tom cruise in Mission: Impossible.

There are lots of automobile rental companies in Tel Aviv that can help set up your rental, or you can select the pickup location online if you decide to reserve a automobile before your trip. We recommend comparing costs on sunnycars.com, or calling or walking as much as brokers directly. Rental charges are dependent on the seasons and usually start around 80 NIS ($22 USD) per day.

There are lots of options for renting your automobile in the city center. most rental business are found on HaYarkon street near the Dan Tel Aviv Hotel, where you can walk from one to another to do some price comparison before selecting the one that fits you best.

There are several smaller automobile rental companies that have a lot more attractive costs than the large players. We have frequently rented cars and trucks from those business without any issues.

These are some of our suggested rental agencies:

Auto Shay, HaYarkon St 130, Tel Aviv-Yafo

TIR, HaYarkon St 132, Tel Aviv-Yafo

Eldan, Kaufmann St 10, Tel Aviv-Yafo

Hertz, HaYarkon St 144, Tel Aviv-Yafo

Shlomo Sixt, HaYarkon St 122, Tel Aviv-Yafo

Europcar, HaYarkon St 80, Tel Aviv-Yafo

When comparing deals, be sure to take into account the type of insurance policy as well as the number of kilometers included; for the travel plan suggested below, you can expect to log a total of 850 to 1,000 kilometers. Also, check ahead if your driver’s license is valid in Israel by calling a rental agency and verifying the demands directly with them.

Driving safety tips for Israel

Driving in Israel is normally safe and comfortable. The road facilities is in good condition, with good signage. Nonetheless, Israeli drivers tend to be impatient and pushy, which must be taken into account if you are not used to driving under these conditions.

One crucial aspect to consider in the planning of your trip is driving (or not driving) in the Palestinian territories, including the West bank and Gaza. There are set regulations to abide by when entering the area. You will have to pass through army checkpoints on your way in and out and elaborate on the reasons why you wish to drive through. Moreover, do not rely on your GPS as may not work properly. Although the West bank is now considered to be relatively safe, you must check with local authorities and your own country’s travel warnings for the latest travel advice.

Our suggested Driving Route

Start: Tel Aviv-Yafo —> Jerusalem —> Bethlehem —> Jericho —> Ein Gedi Nature Reserve —> Masada —>Dead Sea —> Tel Aviv —> Caesarea —> Zichron Ya’akov —> Haifa —> Acre —> Rosh Hanikra —> Galilee —> Golan Heights —> Beit She’an —> Tel Aviv-Yafo

How to navigate around Israel

Car rentals normally charge an extra fee for renting a GPS system. To save money, get an Israeli SIM card instead. For 50 NIS ($14 USD), you can get a two-week unlimited data package from local company Partner. This also allows you to stay linked with family and friends, check out restaurant reviews, and keep your Insta story going.

With Internet on your smartphone, there are several valuable apps you can use to navigate Israel during your road trip. iPhone’s built-in Maps app and Google Maps work quite well, but when in Rome, do as the Romans do: Waze is Israel’s most popular navigation app, as well as a social platform that screens traffic and links drivers on the road. The advantage of Waze is that it’s based on the most accurate traffic tracking system in Israel and will always find you a best alternative route to skip traffic jams or inform you about speed cameras.

How to Park Your automobile in Israel

In major cities like Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, or Haifa, vehicle parking can be problematic. finding a vehicle parking spot might require cruising around for 20 or even 30 minutes. When booking an lodging in one of those cities, try to inquire whether they offer on-site parking. This will save you time and frustration.

If you do find street parking, make sure to abide by the rules. The curb of the streets is marked with the following color codes:

Blue + white = Paid parking

Red + white = No vehicle parking allowed

Solid gray = complimentary parking

Gray + yellow = Kiss and drive (you may not leave the car)

Another option in major cities is vehicle parking lots. They are a lot more expensive and may charge a fixed price for the full day or by the hour.

Good news: On Shabbat (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) vehicle parking is complimentary of charge everywhere.

Here are some apps you can use to navigate your way around cities:

Moovit – This is the locals’ app for inspecting real-time bus arrival information and planning trips.

Google Maps – It is getting a lot more accurate in recent years and can also be used to check real-time bus arrivals.

GetTaxi – The Israeli version of Uber, it’s a taxi-booking app that allows you to pay with a credit scores card.

2 final tips on Driving around Israel

First, the best time of year for a road trip around Israel is during spring (April-June) and autumn (September-October), when weather is most pleasant. Unfortunately, the good weather also indicates that these the busiest months. Additionally, these are also the months with the most Jewish holidays, which are the busiest and most expensive times to check out (see below for a lot more info). wintertime months are rather unpredictable, and you won’t be guaranteed beach time, unless you had down south to Eilat. July and August are the most popular months of the year — even locals don’t spend much time outdoors, instead going from one air-conditioned space to another. Although rental cars and trucks are equipped with A/C, the heat and humidity can become intolerable during those months, and sightseeing can seem like a chore.

Second, Shabbat is the Jewish holy day of the week, from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday, and, besides weekly Shabbat, there are also lots of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim holidays throughout the year.

So how will these affect your trip?

First, Jewish holidays (many of which fall in the spring and autumn) are normally busy periods in Israel, and costs of accommodations and automobile rentals rise. Second, Israel is a Jewish state, indicating that during Shabbat and other holidays, lots of businesses (besides non-kosher restaurants) are closed. This may include some automobile rental companies, as well as shops, grocery stores, and museums. This is especially true in a lot more religious cities and towns, such as Jerusalem. On Yom Kippur, Judaism’s most somber holiday, it is prohibited to drive. Moreover, there are observant Jewish communities where driving on Shabbat is unwelcome and even dangerous, such as Jewish Ultra Orthodox neighborhood in Jerusalem: Mea She’arim.

Lastly, Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter attract lots of tourists and pilgrims to holy sites such as Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem. Muslim holidays are not officially part of the national holiday calendar, but are still celebrated by the large Muslim population residing in Israel. Muslims observe Friday as the holy day of the week, indicating that Muslims sites and businesses are closed.

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Having done three cross-country road trips over the last two years, our experience is that there is hardly any betterway to explore Israel than in your own car! A well-maintained road facilities and short distances between (most) destinations make Israel a road trip–friendly country.

Planning your trip outside of the main Jewish holidays, renting your automobile from less expensive agencies, and using beneficial apps for navigating and vehicle parking in cities will give you the smoothest experience possible while assisting you to save money.

Anastasia Schmalz and Tomer Arwas run the millennial blog generationnomads.com. feeling stressed out from their 7-7 and wondering if there is a lot more to life, Anastasia and Tomer decided to leave their tasks as service consultants in Amsterdam, NL. On October 2018 they hopped on a one-way flight to travel the world, with the intent to redesign their lifestyle. during their travels, they took up the challenge of understanding why millennials feel stuck in their careers and seek change. Their mission is to help millennials unfold their best lives. On their blog, they cover a range of topics supplying actionable tips and resources on navigating occupation (gaps), producing a location independent lifestyle, and getting closer to financial freedom.
 

Book Your trip to Israel: Logistical tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner or Momondo to find a low-cost flight. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned. start with Skyscanner first though because they have the biggest reach!

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest stock and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and low-cost hotels.

Don’t forget travel Insurance
Travel insurance will secure you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s detailed protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it lots of times in the past. My favorite business that offer the best service and value are:

Safety Wing (for everyone below 70)

Insure My trip (for those over 70)

Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)

Looking for the best business to save money With?
Check out my resource page for the best business to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.