Miscellaneous

Take an AM/FM radio.  Kol Yisrael (the Voice of Israel) offers 15-minute news bulletins in English at 6:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m.,  and 8:30 p.m.   Google  “Kol Israel” and  “English news” to find the  frequencies  of the newscasts  before your trip; they seem to change constantly.  Especially if you are driving on your own, you want to keep an ear on the news.  Israel Television also has a nightly English news bulletin on Channel 1 at 4:50

p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 4:30 p.m. on Friday, and 5:00 p.m. on Shabbat. If you want to take your laptop, many hotels now have wi-fi service, though often at charge of up to $15 USD a day.  You probably won’t need a voltage converter other than what came with the computer (check to be sure, but most handle 220 as well as 120 current), but you will need the three-pronged adapter for Israeli plugs. Israelis love and live by their cell phones, and you’ll find it very convenient to have one.  I have rented several times from Amigo (www.amigo-us.com), and have found it very easy to use and reasonable in price.  They mail the phone

to you before you leave, with a return envelope to send it back once you get home.  I only spent about $70 USD in charges each year. Take lots of sunscreen, sunglasses and sun hats.  Also, don’t forget to drink lots of water on hot days.  You’re dehydrating more than you think because, particularly in the drier

interior, you won’t feel sweaty.  You will need to force water frequently – if you wait until you feel thirsty, it’s too late and you won’t catch up.  The water in Israel is safe to drink everywhere, with the possible exception of small Arab villages.  I’ve gotten sick twice in such villages, but that may have been from food that was left out too long. Israeli hotels that aren’t luxury-level sometimes do not provide shampoo or enough soap,

so take them.  They also seem not to provide washcloths, if you care about that.  North American electrical appliances (other than the laptops) require a converter, which can be purchased there.  You’ll also need a plug adapter.  You can find these on the Internet as well.  If you are from a country that uses 220 volt current, you’ll only need the plug adapter.