Consider the season that you want to travel. Temperatures in the summer can become quite hot in Israel, especially in the desert area (Negev) and the Jordan Valley/Sea of Galilee area. Winter temperatures rarely drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit but rain falls through much of Israel's winter. An additional consideration may include the cost of the plane fare. Many travelers visit Israel in the summer and during Christmas break, and Jewish travelers often travel to Israel for the Jewish holidays of Passover (April) and Succot (late September or October). Plane fares dip in November, February, March and May.
Develop your itinerary. If you join an organized tour, look at the tour group's itinerary to ascertain their schedule and planned visits. Some tourists wish to see a wide variety of sites in Israel, but others will want to concentrate their visit on the sites that have significance to their religious faith. If you choose a tour group, choose one that meets your expectations regarding the itinerary. Different religious organizations and groups offer tours as do various tour companies. If you plan to travel individually to Israel, review the suggested tourist sites of different cities to plan out your itinerary.
Review travel options. If you take a tour with a tour operator, the tour organizer will arrange transportation. If you travel on your own, you can easily access public transportation in Israel. Busses travel to almost every city and town in Israel and train service between major cities runs regularly and frequently. Within each city, public bus companies provide service to almost every area. Jerusalem also has a special tourist bus (#99) that takes visitors on a bus tour of the city with explanations and opportunities to debark and see the sites.
Buy a good guide book if you decide to travel alone, or hire a guide. Guides in Israel must, by law, have a license that ascertains that they have passed the two-year tour guiding course. Some guides concentrate on a particular location or specialization in Israel while others will accompany tourists on a full tour of the country. Popular guide books about Israel include Fodors (fodors.com), Lonely Planet (lonelyplanet.com) and Frommers (frommers.com).
Plan out your accommodations. Large hotels exist in the major cities and some of the smaller towns and many cities and towns have a youth hostel that belongs to the Israel Association of Youth Hostels. In addition, travelers can find private bed and breakfasts, called "zimmers" in almost every Israeli location. Zimmers provide clean and pleasant accommodations at a lower price than many of the commercial establishments.
