Gil Travel - Group Tours Worldwide

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This amazing locale - Ein Bokek- on the southern shores of the Dead Sea is the recipient of a US$100M subsidy investment to build a 240-room hotel, with two indoor swimming pools and a helipad.  The funding comes from the beautiful and chic city of Moscow, considered one of the three richest cities in the world. Israel aims to boost the number of tourists to the country to about 5 million by 2012, from 2.3 million last year. About 9 percent of the visitors last year were from Russia. Russia and Israel signed a visa-free travel agreement this year, effective from September 20, which is expected to increase the number of Russian tourists to 400,000 in 2009. [source]

Moscow is home to some 400,000 people affected by psoriasis, a chronic skin disease which can be temporarily relieved with treatment at the Dead Sea. These people, along with other victims of skin disease, are expected to be the primary recipients of the subsidized vacations at the resort, set to open in 2011. The other half of the rooms will be used for commercial purposes.

It was the new visa regulations that made this project possible, encouraging an unprecedented $100 million worth of investment on behalf of the city of Moscow.

I am excited and honored to present the interesting information that UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has declared the Shrine of the Bab on Mount Carmel, one of Israel’s most renowned beauty spots, as a recipient of world heritage status by a UNESCO committee along with its sister shrine near the Old City of Acre.  The gardens were opened in 2001 with Baha’i faithful from around the world witnessing their inauguration.   Establishment of the World Heritage List in 1972 has promoted awareness of the need to both protect and preserve “cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value.”

UNESCO is working to create the conditions for genuine dialogue based upon respect for shared values and the dignity of each civilization and culture.

Visitors to this beautiful and scrupulously maintained venue will be struck with the peace and beauty of  19 ascending garden terraces, intricately planted with flowers, topiary, blossoming bushes and lawns and connected with stone staircases, reaching two-thirds of a mile up the side of Mount Carmel. 

Maintaining this architectural and natural wonder for the benefit of all who come to enjoy its offerings is in keeping with the value and philosophy of the Baha’i faith.   Lending greater import at this location is that the sites are the resting places of the founders of the Baha’i faith - the Bab and Bahaullah. (more…)

It’s not entirely the first place one thinks of when choosing international travel, but don’t you think any valid option is worth looking into? Why should Tel Aviv be any different; let me assure you, it is quite different from standard vacation locales. In fact ‘different’ is the key theme here, especially when it comes to culture. Sights to see abound and anyone visiting wont miss out on the plethora of attractions, but the ‘who’ might actually be more intriguing than the ‘where.’

(image: roiword)

1. Beaches for everyone (and every applicable lifestyle)
2. Mediterranean taste and cuisine
3. Scenic vistas and landscapes
4. Historical significance, right outside your doorstep
5. Relative vicinity of Jerusalem and other important landmarks

It is important to note both the cost of living for the demographics and how they seem to join symbiotically to make what Tel Aviv is today. With Jerusalem in such marginal vicinity, this area of the Mediterranean presents a sort of double-whammy to travelers seeking history and the beach. Speaking of beaches, Tel Aviv has a sort of ‘beach areas for everyone’ system. Orthodox-heavy areas will find ‘swim time signs’ for Men and Women and other groups might find their own niche whether they’re there for a view, sun-bath, surf or otherwise.

(image: atlastours)

6. Perfect place for attractions including surfing, water-sports, tours and more
7. A place that’s seen both beauty and strife
8. Music and atmosphere; surpassing time and culture
9. Stellar night-life and clubs
10. The people: symbiotically living in the crossroad of the world

Other than events, a visitor might want to scour the numerous flea markets, restaurants or simply get to talk with the denizens who make this exotic location their everyday lives. You might find their sincere search for peace in their home and abroad, and that this peace is applicable to everyone. Tel Aviv an accumulation of cultures centered in an unforgettable scenes and experiences and definitely shouldn’t be overlooked by any means.

Home…an image, a place, something to love, and sometimes you have to travel to get there. But once you’ve arrived, that feeling is like no other. Nefesh B’Nefesh is an organization that is a leader in educating and inspiring the Jews of the Diaspora as to the centrality of the Jewish State to the Jewish people and its desirability as a Jewish home. Their core mission: removing the financial, professional and logistical obstacles that prevent many individuals from actualizing their dreams of making Israel home.

Just last Tuesday, July 22, 2008, Ynet news reported the arrival of 88-year-old Frances Greenberg into the welcoming shelter of the land of Israel with the help of Nefesh B’Nefesh. Amazingly, Mrs. Greenberg, the only survivor in her entire family of the Holocaust, attempted to enter the land of Israel over 60 years ago on the ship Exodus, only to be denied entry - and was sent back to Germany in 1947. “It’s time to fulfill the dream of my youth,” she said to Nefesh B’Nefesh staff. “After 60 years, I am finally coming to Israel to stay!”

This July met another major Nefesh B’Nefesh milestone - the arrival of the 15,000th emigrant.

‘Israel to me is the safest place in the world’ - That approach has been the dominant attitude guiding the personalized programs for individuals and families who link into the Nefesh B’Nefesh aliya organization on their way home to Israel.

This May will see the 60 year celebration of Israel’s independence. For six decades, Israel has made great strides in creating a country that easily rivals many others that have been around for much longer. The economy is bolstered by many international agreements, which in turn lends itself to many exports and companies coming to Israel to do business. This, in turn, has led to a huge rise in tourism, which Israel is famous for. (more…)

Photo by Rodrigo Comisarenco

Before you travel to Israel, it’s a good idea to brush up on some cultural faux pas so you don’t step on anyone’s toes. Here are 9 tips for any traveler who might not be the most familiar with local customs. (more…)

There is a place in Israel that is a place of healing, regrowth, and learning. The KKL-JNF has strived to make a difference in the Jewish homeland, and that impact is seen as a glorious success. The learning came from the fact that it’s not always best to change the way nature operates, because 50 years ago, it was thought that the swampy areas of Lake Hula should be drained. Only by reflooding the area and allowing nature to take its course has the Hula Valley seen the return of wildlife and plant growth. (more…)

Photo by Matias Sanchez

Maybe you have heard about the “lost” Ethiopian Jewish tribes. It may seem a little far fetched to think some Jews originate in Africa - but it is true, and their story is nothing short of remarkable. (more…)

In 1996 the wine consumption in Israel was only 3.5 liters a head; by 2004 it had doubled to 7 liters a head. The local market is worth US $170 million a year. It is a small, vibrant, & successful industry with a variety and quality that will surprise those who have not visited Israel recently. Here we take a look at some of the best wines from Israel. (more…)

I’ve been to Israel about ten times, and each time was different. Sure, there is a feeling of wariness brought on by all of the publicity in the media regarding the conflict in Israel between the Jews and the Palestinians, but I never felt threatened during any of my visits.

About that media, interestingly enough, I just looked on CNN’s world headlines, and the “top world stories” today are about Kenya, Sri Lanka, Australia, China, the Arabs, Peshawar, and Colombia. I had to dig way down into the Middle East section to find that “at least 17 die in Gaza violence.” The conflict between the Israeli government and the Palestinians still runs strong, but since it’s old news, no one pays attention.

If you are planning to visit Israel, pay attention. Stay away from areas of unrest (the Gaza strip along the Mediterranean coast in the south and the West Bank areas, especially), and you should have no trouble at all. Israel needs tourism to survive, and tour operators go to great lengths to protect their trade and those who visit Israel.

(The first rule of staying safe is: Don’t stand out. Try not to look like a tourist. (The typical American tourist wears shorts, t-shirts, and baseball hats. Comfortable, casual, and even trendy clothing is not a problem in Israel, but men and women almost never wear shorts or baseball hats. If you want to blend in, stay casual, but choose jeans or pants, long sleeve shirts, and full, long skirts for women. This will allow you easy entrance into the religious sites, and if the material is light cotton, it will keep you cool and protected from the sun in the summer). It might help to check out some photos of what the locals are wearing these days. And by all means, don’t hang your camera around your neck. Keep it in a shopping bag (everyone shops).

(Of course, if you are in a tour group, you’re going to stand out.) Even so, the safest way to visit Israel is in a tour group. (You have safety in numbers, so don’t wander off.) Often vendors will try to get you to come into their shops when a tour is walking through an area. If you stop, you can quickly get left behind, and not know which way they went. Your tour guide will often let you shop in a certain area, and have everyone meet at a specific location at a certain time. Follow the guide’s directions. Some tourists are happy to stay in the group and are too timid and afraid they’ll get lost if they strike out on their own. Other tourists with a healthy dose of wanderlust will want to explore on their own, which is ok to do, even in Israel, if they follow a few rules of common sense)

If you are (traveling) on your own, don’t attract attention. Never drive a rental car into one of the areas of unrest. Study a map, and know the areas to avoid, especially if you are on your own.

Learn a few local words, and use them sparingly. Or better yet, don’t say anything if you can’t tell the difference between a Jew and an Arab. Saying “Shalom,” to an Arab will not help you blend in.

Put the phone number for the local embassy (U.S., if you are American) in your phone’s speed dial. Be sure to have the number for Jerusalem’s U.S. consulate or Tel Aviv.