This site has a link on the Lonely Planet site !
Introduction
We went to Israel at the end of October 1998 and came back with mixed feelings.
On the one hand it's true that Israel has some magnificent sights:
- Jerusalem is a unique city, with the walls, the magnificent Tower of David-museum, the Temple Mount etc...
- Massada is fantastic, as well as some monasteries around Jerusalem.
- Eilat offers good snorkelling and other activities.
On the other hand, it's a very expensive country. A simple beer or soft drink will put you back 2 to 3 US$, and entrance fees for the sights are also quite high.
In return for these higher prices however, you will often get service which is more comparable with "western standards": you'll get a nice leaflet at the sights, signs are always in English, sights are often accessible for wheelchairs, there's often a free guided tour etc...
Our itinerary
- Tel Aviv - Jaffa - Ein Avdat - Mitzpe Ramon
- Tel Aviv - Caesarea - Acco - Golan
- The North: Nimrod - Banyias - Tiberias
- Jerusalem - Massada - Dead Sea - Ein Gedi - Jericho
- Eilat - Timna Valley
Travel guides
FootprintI bought the Footprint Handbook which I thought was very good. It has more then 700 pages of very detailed info and also includes a section on the Palestinian territories and Sinai. Recommended. Their accommodation section is much bigger then the LP's, especially for the middle and upper class hotels.
Edition January 2000.
Order the Footprint Handbook Israel now for only 15.37 US$ Lonely PlanetHas good info too, edition August 1999.
Order the Lonely Planet Israel now for only 14.36 US$ They also have a Jerusalem guidebook edition 10/99
Order the Lonely Planet Jerusalem now for only 11.99 US$ If you plan to visit more countries in the Middle East, the LP on the Middle East is propbably a more economical (and less heavy) option. It has info on Turkey, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE and Yemen. It has 912 pages, edition 1/2000.
Order the Lonely Planet Middle East now for only 19.96 US$ Rough GuidesI didn't read it, but the series is generally very good.Edition 9/98
Order the Rough Guide Israel now for only 15.96 US$ Let's GoAlso very popular, but I didn't read it.
Edition 12/2000
Order the Let's Go Israel & Egypt now for only 14.39 US$ Other books 
If you can't make up your mind, click on the Amazon.com logo and search for more books
Wegwijzer
For those of you speaking dutch, it is definitely worth considering becoming member of "Wegwijzer". This is a non-commercial organisation based in Bruges, Belgium. They have an incredible amount of info coming from guidebooks, leaflets but also reports from members. Since 2001 you can now get a lot of these reports online!! Membership is only 25 Euro a year, and this includes a good magazine they publish every 2 months. Have a look at
www.wegwijzer.be. I myself am a member since almost 20 years now.
Go to General info 1
