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Israel

Dan Panorama Haifa

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On our recent family trip to Israel, we stayed at Dan Panorama hotels in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and Eilat. Our visit to Haifa was a stopover on our way to the Northern Galilee region of Israel, so we only stayed one night at the Dan Panorama Haifa. Even though we didn’t get to experience many of their amenities during our short stay, we did experience the hotel’s major attraction. It sits high atop the city and provides spectacular views of Haifa and the Mediterranean coastline.

Dan Panorama Haifa
The view from our hotel room during the day.
The view from our hotel room at night.

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Dan Hotels

Dan Hotels is a chain of Israeli luxury hotels established in 1947. The chain owns and manages 18 hotels covering all of Israel’s most desirable locations. In fact, the most famous hotel in Jerusalem, the King David, is owned by Dan Hotels.

There are a few boutique hotels in the Dan portfolio, but for the most part there are Dan hotels and Dan Panorama hotels. The Dan hotels are the 5-star and 4-star luxury brand, while the Dan Panoramas are part of their more affordable, middle-tier brand.

Overall, there are some common themes I found with all the Dan Panoramas at which we stayed. Generally the hotels have nice rooms, great breakfast buffets, good facilities and fantastic locations. The bathroom showers, however, only have half-walls so water would spray everywhere and quite literally flood the bathrooms. In addition to flooding, they don’t have fans to combat humidity, so expect heavily fogged mirrors.

Location

A popular hotel for business executives, the Dan Panorama Haifa is a 21 story high-rise which sits high atop Mount Carmel in Haifa. The positioning of the hotel affords it amazing views of the city. Many rooms look out over the famous, gold-topped Baha’i Shrine, the city and Haifa port in the bay. The hotel is also connected to the Panorama Center mall, which has casual eateries, boutiques and entertainment venues. There’s plenty to do right outside the hotel, but if you want to venture out a little further, you have options. Right next to the hotel is the Carmelit’s Central Carmel subway stop. Taxis can also take you around the city for very reasonable rates.

The beautifully manicured grounds of the Baha’i Gardens.

Lobby

Built in 1986, the hotel has also undergone some recent renovations. It transports you back to the 1980s or 1990s with their self-described contemporary design with retro motif.

You see the retro motif theme as soon as you step into the lobby.

The Room

A cool technological feature of the hotel, is the elevator system. Instead of pressing an up or down button at every floor, you select the floor you want on a digital interface and an algorithm picks an elevator car to service your demand. As a result, the elevator knows how many people are at every floor and where they all want to go. This technology is much more efficient than the typical elevator system I’m used to using. It’s also kind of fun!

The elevator system is modern, efficient and fun.

The room was modern and clean, and probably part of the recent renovation. As I mentioned before, the view from the hotel room window was just amazing. I only wish the rooms had balconies as it would be a very cool place to sit and have a cocktail.

The spacious room had a TV, desk and a couple chairs so you could spread out.

The Bathroom

The bathroom is a little smaller than at the other Dan Panoramas we stayed at, but it served its purpose. As with the other hotels, there are no outlets in the bathroom, so if you need to use the hair dryer, you have to do so in the room itself.

The shower, however, just doesn’t make sense. Instead of a full glass door or curtain, the shower only has a half-wall. There was literally no way to shower without water spraying everywhere. We felt bad that we were basically flooding the entire bathroom, but there was really no way to shower without that happening.

Dining

That Dan Panorama Haifa has the smallest dining room of the four Dan hotels we stayed at. However, as you can see below, it has plenty of space for the number of guests.

Our room rate included a daily breakfast buffet, which was good, but not as good as the Dan Panoramas in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem or Eilat.

The sole reason it didn’t measure up to the other hotels is the selection. In the other three hotels, there were seemingly endless options. In Haifa, the selection was smaller, but what they did have was really quite good. Just not over-the-top indulgent like the other hotels.

Miscellaneous

The hotel has amenities to suit both business travelers and families on vacation. It has a comfortable, second floor lobby with bar, a business center, a swimming pool, and a large fitness center with sauna.

Bottom Line

The Dan Panorama Haifa is a very convenient place to stay, and you can’t beat the tremendous views of the city that it offers. The recently renovated hotel is clean, well-located and has all the amenities a traveler needs.

Trip Report Index

  1. Introduction and Planning
  2. The 7 Must Do Activities in Israel
  3. Dan Panorama Tel Aviv
  4. Dan Panorama Haifa
  5. Eight Lesser Known Activities Worth Doing in Israel
  6. Dan Panorama Jerusalem
  7. Masada
  8. My Dead Sea Experience and 6 Interesting Facts That May Surprise You
  9. Dan Panorama Eilat
  10. What and Where to Eat in Israel

Dan Panorama Tel Aviv

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On our recent family trip to Israel, we stayed at Dan Panorama hotels in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and Eilat. We began and ended our time in Israel at the Dan Panorama Tel Aviv, staying a total of four nights. As with any hotel there are pros and cons. On the positive side, the hotel is in a terrific location, has a nice pool area and a fantastic breakfast buffet. However, on the negative side, only some rooms have been recently renovated, and those that haven’t, are really dated.

In This Post

Dan Hotels

Dan Hotels is a chain of Israeli luxury hotels established in 1947. The chain owns and manages 18 hotels covering all of Israel’s most desirable locations. In fact, the most famous hotel in Jerusalem, the King David, is owned by Dan Hotels.

There are a few boutique hotels in the Dan portfolio, but for the most part there are Dan hotels and Dan Panorama hotels. The Dan hotels are the 5-star and 4-star luxury brand, while the Dan Panoramas are part of their more affordable, middle-tier brand.

Overall, there are some common themes I found with all the Dan Panoramas at which we stayed. Generally the hotels have nice rooms, great breakfast buffets, good facilities and fantastic locations. The bathroom showers, however, only have half-walls so water would spray everywhere and quite literally flood the bathrooms. In addition to flooding, they don’t have fans to combat humidity, so expect heavily fogged mirrors.

Location

The hotel is conveniently located across the street from the Mediterranean Sea and its beautiful beaches.

The view of the Mediterranean from our hotel room.

It’s also a short walk to the bustling Carmel Market, one of the largest open markets in Israel. There you can find a wide variety of affordable produce, spices, nuts, snacks, clothes and souvenirs. Also within walking distance is the Neve Tzedek neighborhood, which is a vibrant and trendy area filled with small alleyways, restaurants and art galleries. The ancient port city of Jaffa is also close by and features old restored buildings, art galleries, restaurants, sidewalk cafes and promenades.

Lobby

Built in 1986, the hotel underwent renovations in 2014. The first floor check-in area was part of that renovation and has a modern, trendy look to it now. Check-in was quite easy and we had keys to our room in just a few minutes.

The check-in area has been recently refreshed with a trendy look.

Behind the check-in area and up one flight of stairs is the hotel’s sprawling lobby and bar.

The Room

Our room was located on the 10th floor. As we walked down the hallway, we could see that the modern renovation had continued here with fresh carpet and wallpaper.

The room we stayed in at the beginning of the trip was one of the renovated rooms. It was clean, comfortable and modern. All rooms have balconies and many, including ours, have sea views.

For our one night stay at the end of our trip, however, we were put in a non-renovated room. You can clearly see the difference between them. Besides the dated look of the second room, it was also fairly dirty. There were stains in the carpet and nicks in the walls. Luckily we were only in this room one night and actually checked out at 2 a.m. to head to the airport. If we were staying any length of time, we would’ve asked to be moved to an updated room.

The Bathroom

The bathroom is a decent size with the typical amount of counter space you’d expect. It’s stocked with a hair dryer, complimentary toiletries and robes. One oddity was that there are no outlets in the bathroom, so if you need to use the hair dryer, you have to do so in the room itself.

The shower, however, just doesn’t make sense. Instead of a full glass door or curtain, the shower only has a half-wall. There was literally no way to shower without water spraying everywhere.

I’d prefer a full glass panel with door or at least a curtain to avoid flooding the bathroom.

Dining

The hotel restaurant has a huge dining room.

Our room rate included a daily breakfast buffet, which we really looked forward to each morning. It was a great way to start each day and give our bodies some energy before touring the city.

There were seemingly endless options to choose from, including an omelet station. The selection included western favorites like eggs, pancakes and waffles as well as middle eastern specialties like hummus and local fruits and cheeses.

My favorite Israeli breakfast item was the cheese boureka, a scratch made puff pastry. I think I had one every single morning!

The Dan Panorama Tel Aviv introduced me to cheese bourekas!

Miscellaneous

Since we were out touring every day, we didn’t spend a lot of time at the hotel using their facilities. It does have a spa which offers a full range of treatments in a newly designed space just off of the hotel lobby.

One afternoon we did go down to the pool to relax for an hour. The pool area is enormous and has plenty of deck chairs for lounging.

There’s also a small gym with cardio equipment that’s free for all hotel guests.

Bottom Line

The Dan Panorama Tel Aviv is worth putting on your list if you plan to travel to Tel Aviv. While not a 5-star hotel, it’s an above average middle-tier offering that is a good home base to explore the city from. The main reason to stay here is its terrific location within steps of the Mediterranean Sea, Carmel Market, Jaffa and the Neve Tzedek neighborhood. On the downside, there’s a chance of getting a non-renovated room which can be quite dated.

Trip Report Index

  1. Introduction and Planning
  2. The 7 Must Do Activities in Israel
  3. Dan Panorama Tel Aviv
  4. Dan Panorama Haifa
  5. Eight Lesser Known Activities Worth Doing in Israel
  6. Dan Panorama Jerusalem
  7. Masada
  8. My Dead Sea Experience and 6 Interesting Facts That May Surprise You
  9. Dan Panorama Eilat
  10. What and Where to Eat in Israel

My Dead Sea Experience and 6 Interesting Facts That May Surprise You

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The Dead Sea is unlike any other body of water in the world. With a salinity of 34%, it’s around 10 times more salty than the oceans. This salinity makes for a harsh environment in which plants and animals cannot flourish—thus the name “Dead”. The salinity makes the water so dense that you can easily float due to natural buoyancy. I couldn’t wait to experience the Dead Sea for myself.

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My Dead Sea Experience

After visiting Masada, our tour guide drove us to En Gedi Spa by which we would visit the Dead Sea. Our guide said this was a better spot to visit from since some Dead Sea beaches are closed or not people-friendly. Note that this facility isn’t a really a spa at all, so you should only consider it as a point of entry to the Dead Sea.

En Gedi Spa

Here’s my quick review of the facility itself. On the positive side, the “spa” has several sulphur pools (real black mud available), a freshwater pool, massage treatments and a tractor to take you to the Dead Sea and back. On the negative side, it’s old and a little run down, there’s an entrance fee, the cafeteria is grubby and the employees were pretty rude.

After arriving at the “spa” and witnessing a small shouting match between the front desk employees and our guide, we paid our entrance fee and went to the locker rooms to change. The locker rooms are not luxury by any stretch, but they serve the basic purpose as a place to change and wash off.

Originally the spa was built beside the Dead Sea, but because it’s receding, they now take visitors down by tractor. After about a five minute ride, we were at the Dead Sea. Halfway through the ride, you can get out and apply mud, but due to time restrictions we skipped it. It looked like fun though!

Arriving at the Dead Sea

As we walked down to the shore, we noticed the salt encrusted, harsh terrain where the lake’s water once was.

Walking into the lake, the water temperature was surprisingly hot. The water also felt slightly slippery or oily, thanks to the high mineral content. With the water about waist high, it was time to lay back and float!

When you don’t have to work at all to float, you can just take in your surroundings. It was very peaceful to just look around at the blue sky and beautiful mountains surrounding the lake. It was an unforgettable experience!

The Dead Sea
Floating in the Dead Sea is effortless!

After we were done floating around and taking pictures, we headed back to the spa on the tractor. Even after just a few minutes you can feel the salt residue on your skin as the water evaporated and dried. Back in the locker rooms, we rinsed off to get as much salt off our bodies and swimsuits as possible.

Here are a few tips to remember when visiting the Dead Sea:

  1. Keep your face and hands dry in order to avoid burning your eyes
  2. Don’t shave for a few days leading up to your visit; even open cuts or sores will burn
  3. Wear water shoes because the sea bed is comprised of very sharp salt crystals.
  4. Rinse off as soon as possible to avoid irritating your skin or ruining your swimsuit or other clothing that got wet.

6 Interesting Dead Sea Facts That May Surprise You

While still somewhat mysterious, we do know quite a bit about the Dead Sea, and some of what we know may surprise you.

1. The Dead Sea isn’t a Sea

The Dead Sea is actually a lake. One reason it’s known as a sea is that early scholars mistranslated the Hebrew word for lake as sea. In Hebrew, the word for sea is ‘yam’, compared to the word for lake, which is ‘yamah’. This translation mistake has stuck with us in English and other languages right up to the present day.

It also may have been mistaken for a sea due to its unique features. It’s salty and since most lakes are freshwater, a large salty body of water could appear to be part of an ocean. Another reason why it appears to be a sea is that there are no outflows. The Jordan River flows into it, but similar to a sea, no water flows out.

2. The Dead Sea’s Shore is the Lowest Elevation on Land

The shores of the Dead Sea sit about 1,400 feet below sea level, making it Earth’s lowest elevation on land. The lake itself drops another 1,000 feet beneath the water’s surface, making it the deepest hypersaline lake in the world.

The Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth that people can travel to and still be in open air.

The world’s lowest road, Israel’s Highway 90, runs along the shores of the Dead Sea.

3. It Spans Two Countries

The Dead Sea is bordered by both Israel and Jordan. The official border between the two countries directly bisects the middle of the lake. We floated on the Israeli side, but the lake is small enough that we could see the Jordanian mountains on the other side. It’s kind of wild to think you could float your way from Israel to Jordan.

4. The Dead Sea has Healing Properties

The Dead Sea area has become a haven for health research and potential treatments for several reasons. The water has very high mineral content, containing elements like magnesium, bromide and sodium, which are all great for the skin. The area also has higher atmospheric pressure, low levels of pollen and other allergens, and slightly higher oxygen content which can benefit people with respiratory conditions.

People rub mud from the Dead Sea on their skin as a treatment to make the skin healthier.

Finally even though its sunny year-round, many people believe the low elevation reduces the ultraviolet component of solar radiation, meaning it takes longer for the skin to burn here.

5. The Dead Sea is Receding

The Dead Sea is receding at a swift rate, with water levels dropping by three feet per year. For thousands of years, the lake has been losing its water content, with minerals becoming more and more concentrated. But in recent decades, the Dead Sea has been rapidly shrinking because of a diversion of incoming water from the Jordan River to the north. As the water level decreases, the characteristics of the lake and surrounding region may substantially change.

One affect this has had is the recent appearance of large sinkholes along the western shore—incoming freshwater dissolves the salt layers, rapidly creating subsurface cavities that subsequently collapse to form these sinkholes.

Salt crystallizes along the receding shores of the Dead Sea.

Israel and Jordan are currently working on a project to stabilize the falling levels of the Dead Sea by laying a water pipeline connecting it to the Red Sea.

6. The Area Around the Dead Sea Was Home to Ancient Religious Documents

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, hundreds of religious documents dated between 150 B.C. and 70 A.D. were found in caves near the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea. They became known as the Dead Sea Scrolls.

They include manuscripts or fragments of almost every book in the Hebrew Bible, all of them created nearly one thousand years earlier than any previously known biblical manuscripts.

Thanks to these remarkable finds, knowledge of Jewish society in Israel during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, has been greatly enriched.

Bottom Line

The Dead Sea is such a unique and interesting place. I’m so glad I was able to experience this mysterious natural wonder.

Trip Report Index

  1. Introduction and Planning
  2. The 7 Must Do Activities in Israel
  3. Dan Panorama Tel Aviv
  4. Dan Panorama Haifa
  5. Eight Lesser Known Activities Worth Doing in Israel
  6. Dan Panorama Jerusalem
  7. Masada
  8. My Dead Sea Experience and 6 Interesting Facts That May Surprise You
  9. Dan Panorama Eilat
  10. What and Where to Eat in Israel

The 7 Must Do Activities in Israel

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Israel is an amazing place to visit with so much to see and do. It’s religious and historical significance is very well known, but it also features an incredibly diverse climate, from deserts to beaches. I thoroughly enjoyed the two weeks I spent in Israel and experienced so many amazing things. If you’re planning a visit to Israel, these are the seven “must do” activities to add to your itinerary.

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Experience the Kotel (Western Wall)

Located in the Old City of Jerusalem, The Kotel, or Western Wall, is the most religious site in the world for the Jewish people. It also holds significant religious importance for other religions like Islam and Christianity. It’s the only surviving support wall from the second Jewish Temple.

Western Wall with Dome of the Rock Behind
The Western Wall with the Dome of the Rock showing in the background.

In the first century B.C., King Herod built the Temple Mount, which consisted of four support walls needed for the expansion of the Second Temple. The walls were built around the summit of Mount Moriah, where according to the bible, Abraham offered his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. This location was the center of spiritual life for the Jewish people.

When the Romans destroyed the temple in 70 A.D., only the western support wall survived. After the temple was destroyed, Jewish people started praying at the Western Wall since this was the closest spot to the site of the original temple.

The Temple Mount is also a holy site for Muslims. In Muslim tradition, this is where the Prophet Mohammed made his “Night Journey” to the throne of God. In the seventh century, when the Muslims conquered Jerusalem, they built the Dome of the Rock, the gold-topped Islamic shrine seen in many iconic photographs of the Old City.

Even though I don’t consider myself a very religious person, visiting the Western Wall was powerful. If you’re in Jerusalem, it’s a must-see. It’s free to visit and open 24/7, but remember to dress modestly. That means men should cover their heads and women should cover their knees and shoulders.

Visit Yad Vashem

Yad Vashem is Israel’s official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. The cornerstone of the memorial is the museum which is shaped like a triangular concrete prism cutting through the landscape like a knife.

The museum’s nondescript design was done with symbolic intention.

Architect Moshe Safdie designed this building with purposeful symbolism. The entrance is dark, reminding visitors of the darkness of the Holocaust. Once inside you notice that the museum is illuminated at its apex by a 656 foot-long skylight. Visitors will also notice the bright light coming from the exit and that the exit doesn’t seem very far away at all.

The museum is not very long but the path from beginning to end is not straightforward.

The light is a symbol of the hope Jews had during this terrible time. It’s also a symbol of the hope that Israelis have today for the future of the State of Israel. But the path to the light is not straightforward. Visitors must follow a preset route that weaves in and out of various rooms and galleries that branch off from the main hall. This again was done with purpose. It’s a reminder that reaching the light (the end of the Holocaust) wasn’t easy and had plenty of twists and turns.

Walking through the museum is powerful and although the topic is horrifying and difficult, it’s something every visitor to Israel should experience. What I particularly liked about Yad Vashem, is that they placed a lot of focus on families and the heroes of WWII, and not solely on the tragic events.

Some of the artifacts they have on display, however, are truly chilling. The one that sticks most in my mind is a German board game called “Jews Out!” In it, each player had figurines with large pointed hats meant to represent Jews, and the winner was the first person to remove all the figurines from the board. This was a disturbing example of the propaganda that taught young children about the Jewish people.

Yad Vashem is the second-most-visited Israeli tourist site, after the Western Wall, with approximately one million visitors each year. It does not charge a fee for admission and I would budget at least two hours to spend here.

Ascend Masada

Masada is an ancient stone fortress in Israel, located high above the Dead Sea on a tall, rocky mesa.

King Herod originally built Masada as a fortress and haven from enemies, complete with castle, storerooms, cisterns and a foreboding wall.

When the Great Revolt of the Jews against the Romans broke out in 66 A.D., a group of Jewish rebels took over the Masada complex. There, they held out for three years, raiding and harassing the Romans.

Although the rebels would not leave with their lives, Masada symbolizes the determination of the Jewish people to be free in its own land.

Visitors have two options to ascend Masada. If you like hiking, you have the option to climb more than 700 steps up the so-called Snake Path to reach the summit. If you opt for this method, you really need to start early in the morning—like when it’s still dark—in order to beat the oppressive summer heat.

The other option is by cable-car. This gets visitors to the top in a matter of minutes. In the summer, it’s often the only option as officials will close the hiking path for safety reasons.

Float in the Dead Sea

The activity I was most looking forward to in Israel was definitely floating in the Dead Sea. It’s such a unique and amazing body of water. Over the years, I’d heard many funny and interesting stories of people floating effortlessly—to the point where they could read a newspaper in the water. I couldn’t wait to experience it for myself.

Floating in the Dead Sea is easy and a bucket-list experience!

Since Masada overlooks the Dead Sea, people typically visit both on the same day. The Dead Sea is unlike any other body of water in the world. It is 34% salt, which is the reason why you can float without even trying. The Earth’s oceans contain around 3% salt, making the Dead Sea over 10 times more salty!

Read more about my experience at the Dead Sea and learn six interesting facts that may surprise you.

Shop at Outdoor Markets

Israel is home to many wonderful outdoor markets, called shuks. The best and most famous is Carmel Market in Tel Aviv. Here you’ll find vendor after vendor selling affordable produce, spices, nuts, snacks, clothes and souvenirs.

These gummies were made for Instagram!

Jerusalem also has a large shuk called Mahane Yehuda Market. This one is similar to the one in Tel Aviv, selling produce, spices, nuts, etc. However, it differs from Carmel Market, in that Mahane Yehuda has vendors that serve full meals like falafel and shawarma. There were also several vendors where you could stop for a cold beer.

Originally an open-air market, it’s now partially covered.
A beautiful assortment of dried fruits.

Hit the Beach

Israel has coastline bordering the Mediterranean, the Dead Sea, the Red Sea, and the Sea of Galilee. Some of the country’s best beaches are found in Tel Aviv, which has miles of coastline along the Mediterranean Sea. On most days, you’ll find people relaxing, sunbathing, swimming, picnicking and just enjoying the sun and surf.

Red Sea
Mediterranean
People enjoying a beach in Tel Aviv.

Get Active

If it’s an active vacation you want, Israel’s also got you covered. You can do any kind of water activity you can think of here. In the Mediterranean we took surf lessons and spent an hour trying to catch a wave. And in Eilat, some of our group enjoyed snorkeling in the Red Sea. You can also go scuba diving, waterskiing, paddleboarding, kayaking, whitewater rafting and lots more.

On land, you can go hiking in the mountains, ride camels through the desert or repel down a rock wall. The thrill seeker in your group won’t have any problems finding something to do!

Bottom Line

If you’re planning a trip to Israel, I highly recommend making time in your itinerary for these seven “must do” activities. Together, it’s a great mix of site seeing, history, religion, shopping, nature, relaxation and unforgettable experiences.

Trip Report Index

  1. Introduction and Planning
  2. The 7 Must Do Activities in Israel
  3. Dan Panorama Tel Aviv
  4. Dan Panorama Haifa
  5. Eight Lesser Known Activities Worth Doing in Israel
  6. Dan Panorama Jerusalem
  7. Masada
  8. My Dead Sea Experience and 6 Interesting Facts That May Surprise You
  9. Dan Panorama Eilat
  10. What and Where to Eat in Israel

Israel: Introduction and Planning

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My nephew, Evan, recently turned 13. According to Jewish law, when a Jewish boy is 13 years old, he is a considered an “adult” and becomes a bar mitzvah. Girls go through the same process, and it’s called a bat mitzvah. After lots of preparation and studying, the boy or girl goes through a religious initiation ceremony to become a bar or bat mitzvah. Once that’s done, many kids have big parties to celebrate this huge accomplishment.

However, Evan’s parents gave him a choice — have a big party or have his bar mitzvah ceremony in Israel as part of a longer trip. He loves to travel and so he chose Israel. As his aunt and uncle, Annie and I wanted to be there to share this accomplishment with him. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to take a bucket list trip and do it with family. In total, there are nine of us going and for several in the group, including me, this will be our first time in Israel.

About Israel

Israel isn’t the most common vacation destination for many people, so here are a few facts for those who aren’t familiar. The country is located in the Middle East on the Mediterranean Sea, bordering Egypt, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank. In terms of size, it’s just slightly smaller than New Jersey.

Israel has many different landscapes including beaches along the Mediterranean, the Negev Desert in the south, and mountains in the central region. It’s also home to the one of a kind Dead Sea, which is around 1,300 feet below sea level, making it Earth’s lowest elevation on land.

Jerusalem and Tel Aviv are the country’s biggest cities. Jerusalem is the capital and largest city, with a population of 602,100. It’s in the center of the country and is home to many sites of historical and religious significance for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Tel Aviv is a more modern city, and the commercial and industrial capital of the country.

Jerusalem has historical and religious significance for Jews, Christians, and Muslims.

Airfare

Everything for the trip was coordinated through a travel agent, so I didn’t research the flights myself.

We ended up on Austrian Airlines, flying from Chicago O’Hare to Tel Aviv through Vienna. I’ve never flown on Austrian Airlines and since international airlines seem more apt to treat passengers like human beings, I’m looking forward to the experience.

Hotel

The hotels were also booked through the travel agent as part of a package through Israel Experts. We’ll be staying at Dan Panorama Hotels in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem and Eilat. We’ll also spend two nights on a kibbutz in Galilee. I think for the most part, the hotels are 3 to 4 star type properties.

Transportation

What’ll be great about this experience is that our family will be on a private tour. We’ll have a guide the entire trip and our own large van to take us from place to place. Our guide meets us at the airport and then is with us the entire trip, so we really don’t have to worry about anything from a transportation perspective.

Itinerary

The trip is 14 days of private touring so we’ll hit virtually every must-see attraction and/or activity. Here’s a few highlights:

  • Several days in Tel Aviv
  • Touring the ancient city of Jaffa
  • Evan’s Bar Mitzvah at Neot Kedumim Biblical Landscape Reserve
  • Visiting the Bahai Gardens
  • Exploring Upper Galilee in all-terrain jeeps
  • Kayaking down the Hazbani and Jordan rivers
  • Seeing the Kotel — the Western Wall in Jerusalem
  • Visiting Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust museum and memorial
  • Ascending the fortress of Masada
  • Riding camels in the Negev Desert
  • Floating in the Dead Sea
  • Snorkeling in the Red Sea
  • Hiking in Red Canyon
  • Rappelling down into a crater in Mitzpe Ramon
The beaches of Tel Aviv at sunset.

Bottom Line

For me this is a once in a lifetime trip. I’ve never been to Israel and may never be back, so I’m going to soak up every sight and experience.

If you’ve been to Israel before, leave a comment with can’t miss things to do.

Trip Report Index

  1. Introduction and Planning
  2. The 7 Must Do Activities in Israel
  3. Dan Panorama Tel Aviv
  4. Dan Panorama Haifa
  5. Eight Lesser Known Activities Worth Doing in Israel
  6. Dan Panorama Jerusalem
  7. Masada
  8. My Dead Sea Experience and 6 Interesting Facts That May Surprise You
  9. Dan Panorama Eilat
  10. What and Where to Eat in Israel