Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site whuts.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!whuxl!whuts!6243tes
From: 6243tes@whuts.UUCP (STERKEL)
Newsgroups: net.travel
Subject: Travel to Isreal--Questions
Message-ID: <330@whuts.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 18-Oct-85 17:21:18 EDT
Article-I.D.: whuts.330
Posted: Fri Oct 18 17:21:18 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 19-Oct-85 08:24:27 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 59

Interested in actual experiences of people who
traveled to Isreal in the last two years.  I
will be with a church group that will tour Isreal 
for a week in early February, 1986.  I am spe-
cifically interested in your direct experiences
and advice on the following:

   1.  Do I take dollars and exchange to shekels?
       or exchange to shekels here, or take tra-
       veler's checks and exchange/redeem into 
       shekels there, or stick to dollars and do
       all bazaar purchases in dollars.  (note: 
       the Isreali tourist bureau in manhattan,
       NYC stated that immediate conversion to 
       shekels was mandatory; the tour guide says
       that the shekel is worthless the "good old
       American dollar is far more desirable and 
       that is the *only* way I will get bargans".
             (help, I am confused)

    2.  Is the heavy use of American Express or 
        VISA encouraged?  If so, why, and which one.

    3.  Cities/Towns that are *not* recommended for 
        wandering around in alone, (or specific parts
        of a town).

     4.  Health concerns.  Your favorite diarhea, air
         sickness, etc. concoctions, and more seriously,
         are they, in your experience, needed in Isreal
         (food and water, etc.).

     5.  Weather in Isreal in February (brrrrrrrr?), 
         be specific on best combinations of clothes.

     6.  What passes for acceptable attire for dinner in
         in a first class hotel restaurant.

     7.  Things *NOT* to do, tacky things that the typical
         American (ME) would not know to avoid, cultural 
         oversights and slights. etc.

If there is sufficient response I will summarize the responses 
(flames allowing) and post on the net.travel in one month 
(about 15 November 1985).  To avoid tying up the net, please
mail responses to me at the address above which I hope is:

       ihnp4!whuts!6243tes

in any case, I will acknowledge all mailings "return post" 
style so you *will* know that you made it to me within two (2)
business days.


thanks.

              Terry

.