In this article, we will consider a vacation in Israel on our own and prices for food, transport, and other financial nuances. We will find out how much an air ticket from Russia costs, where to find cheap flight options, where to go and how to apply for a visa for Russians.
Israel is a country of four seas - the Mediterranean, Red, Galilee and the Dead. Although, in fact, Galilee and the Dead are not seas at all, but lakes. The first is mentioned as the sea in the gospel, and the second - in the works of the ancient Greek scientist. So they remained "seas" to the present time.
The relatively inexpensive cost of travel, the ability to combine beach, medical and excursion vacations make this country attractive for tourists. If you are one of those who are planning to travel to Israel on their own, then this guide will answer the most important questions.
Prices for flights to Israel from Moscow
Many independent travelers want to know how to get to Israel cheap. The answer is to start planning your trip in advance. After all, it is known that the earlier you buy tickets, the more attractive the price will be. The only exceptions are tours to Israel - here you can just wait for "last minute" offers.
You can compare the cost of a package vacation from the largest tour operators on the sites Travelata or Level travel.
Well, for cheap tickets go to Aviasales. Thanks to the convenient search, you can find the cheapest months to travel.
If you want to relax on the Mediterranean or the Dead Sea, then you need to buy tickets to Tel Aviv. The cheapest month for a flight, according to the Aviasales service, is March 2021.
A flight from Moscow with 1 stop in Istanbul will cost only 10,968 rubles per person.
But in March you don't buy in the Mediterranean, the water is cool 18-19 °, although the air temperature is 20-25 °. But August is a great time to relax on the Mediterranean coast. Tickets for August will cost more - 16 667 rubles.
For lovers of the Red Sea, tickets need to be bought to the airport of Eilat or Ovda (59 km from Eilat - charters fly from September), although from Tel Aviv you can reach this resort in a few hours, but the road will be tiresome, although it will help to save some money.
In August, a flight from Moscow to Eilat will cost 31,217 rubles per person.
But since Eilat is considered a year-round resort, you can relax there in the autumn-winter period, and the prices for flights at this time are much lower.
- Pick up a plane ticket:
It's time to think about where to live. Here you can consider two types of accommodation: rent a private accommodation on the shores of the Dead Sea or choose an inexpensive hotel.
If you decide to rent an apartment, house or villa, we recommend using a selection of the best options without intermediaries in the resorts:
- accommodation in Eilat;
- accommodation in Haifa;
- rental housing in Tel Aviv.
Prices in hotels by the sea
If you are traveling to Israel on your own, then you will find a large number of options for accommodation: apartments for rent, hostels, hotels and even houses by the sea.
If you are considering staying in Tel Aviv for August, hurry up - 99% of accommodations, according to Booking.com, are already booked. Indeed, finding low prices for this period was not an easy task. Still, it is still possible to find options.
Where to stay in Tel Aviv cheap?
- Overstay-TLV Backpackers Hostel is a hostel located near the historic town of Jaffa and just a 15-minute walk to the beach. Guests of the hostel celebrate the homely atmosphere that reigns in this place and the convenient location - you can get to the city center by bus, and nearby there are many restaurants, cafes, shops and souvenir shops that are so popular with tourists.
The cost of living in a dormitory room for men and women will cost 1,075 rubles per day, including breakfast, and for 2 weeks you will pay 15,049 rubles.
- Peer Guest House Tel Aviv is a small guest house located in the historic quarter of the resort. It will appeal to lovers of delicious food - there are a large number of restaurants, cafes and the Carmel Market, beloved by tourists, nearby. One of the main advantages of this accommodation option is the proximity to the beach and the low price. Guests celebrate the good work of the staff and delicious coffee.
A double room will cost 64,368 rubles for 2 weeks of rest.
- Galileo Hotel is a hotel located in a calm and quiet area. The beach is just 7 minutes' walk away, and the neighborhood's lively street with shops, cafes and more is just 300 meters away. The rooms are equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable stay of guests, and from the hotel terrace you can admire the amazing views of the city.
The cost of a double room will be 96,303 rubles for 14 days.
Accommodation options in Eilat
For those who come to admire the beauty of the Red Sea, Eilat offers a large number of accommodation options, so rest assured that your trip to Israel and attractive prices will make this vacation unforgettable.
One of the cheapest accommodation options is Arava Hostel. Small rooms for 6 people, equipped living area and kitchen, shared bathrooms - in a word, everything you need to stay here is available. This option is suitable for budget travelers - a fairly simple design, no frills. There is a sun terrace and the beach is a 10-minute walk away.
At the same time, both an advantage and a disadvantage of this accommodation facility can be considered the proximity of the airport - only 500 meters, so do not be afraid if planes begin to take off and land right over your head. Although, for Eilat, this is a normal situation, since the airport is located within the city.
The cost of living in a hostel will be 23,640 rubles for 2 weeks, which is very budgetary compared to a hotel stay.
- Best hotels in Eilat →
The best hotels in Israel by the sea
- Exodus Villa - a modernly equipped guest house is located 8 minutes walk from the beach.
The waterfront is just 1.5 km away. A distinctive feature of this house is that there are economy rooms, which are only a room with a large double bed and a shared bathroom, a shared terrace and kitchen area, and deluxe rooms, which are more spacious and with a private bathroom. The terrace has a jacuzzi that can be used by all guests of the villa.
Two weeks stay in a double room will cost 45,029 rubles per person in an economy room and 53,324 rubles in a deluxe room.
If you are planning to travel to Israel with a child, then you should choose hotels of a higher category. There, in addition to comfortable living, you can find activities for children.
- For example, guests of the Isrotel Riviera Club 3 * hotel are offered a kids club with instructors-educators.
This way you can be sure that your children are in the safe hands of professionals. However, you will have to pay more for comfort and service.
A double room will cost 198,144 rubles for 2 weeks.
Visa to Israel, registration
Israel is a country where, if not all, then a lot of things know about security. Therefore, be prepared for the fact that passport control can arrange interrogation with prejudice and inspection of baggage. Questions are quite standard, for example: "Who are you traveling with?", "What is the purpose of the trip?" and the like, but detailed answers will await them.
However, this does not mean at all that you may not be allowed. On the contrary, representatives of the border and customs service are 100% fulfilling their duty to ensure a high level of security in the country.
Since 2008, a visa to Israel for Russians is not needed. But you must definitely have with you:
- Passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of departure from Israel;
- Return ticket (printed);
- Confirmation of hotel reservation;
- Insurance (you can get it on Tripinsurance);
- Proof of your solvency (bank statement, cash, job certificate or credit card).
How to get to Israel cheaply?
How to get to Israel by sea, train, bus and just the cheapest way? Consider the best options for getting around the airport and within the resort areas.
In order to avoid surprises, please note that during the Sabbath (Saturday), Jews are prohibited from working. Those. from Friday evening to Saturday, neither taxis nor buses operate. The only available option to get to the resorts of Israel is a fixed-route taxi or car rental, which is available on Shabbat only at Ben Gurion Airport (Tel Aviv).
On other days, you can get to the resorts in several ways:
- Public transport (buses, trains);
- Taxi or transfer;
- Rent a Car.
For those whose route runs to Tel Aviv, the most convenient way to get to the resort is by train. It departs from the air terminal located on the ground floor of Terminal 3. The main advantage of trains is round-the-clock movement (except for Shabbat). The approximate cost of the ticket is 250 rubles (15 shekels), children under 5 years old - free.
By bus, the route is not very convenient, as there is no direct flight. You can take a shuttle bus to the airport-city stop and from there take a regular bus to Tel Aviv (# 268). The bus schedule can be viewed on the website: https://www.egged.co.il/
Route taxis also operate on Shabbat, and the price is often lower than by bus. They are sent from terminal number 3. One of the advantages of minibuses is that the drivers will take you to the desired address.
Taxi is a rather expensive way to travel, for example, from the airport to the center of Tel Aviv, a trip will cost about 3800 rubles (230 shekels).
It is best to rent a car in advance, but you can also do this upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport. The average cost of renting a car is from 2500 rubles, and 1 liter of gasoline will cost 77 rubles. Many tourists use the popular online car booking service Economybookings, the service finds the best prices and free options.
If you are going to relax in Eilat, then it is easy to get from Eilat itself (the airport is within the city limits), but from Ovda airport the most convenient way to get to the hotel is by bus (# 282). The fare on the Ovda-Eilat bus will be 415 rubles. (25 shekels). The convenience of this option is that it departs 45 minutes after the arrival of any of the flights.
Another way to get to Eilat is by shuttle bus, in which you will need to book your seat online in advance on the website: www.eilatshuttle.com. The cost of the trip will be 480 rubles (29 shekels), but they will take you to the hotel.
A taxi to Eilat will cost 6000-8000 rubles, but if you are traveling in a large company, then this may be justified. You can order a car online using the popular Kiwitaxi.
Food and meal prices
Signature Israeli dish - falafel will cost 170-300 rubles in local cafes. One dish in an inexpensive restaurant with European cuisine can cost from 600 to 1200 rubles, coffee - 120 rubles.
You can save on food by buying groceries in stores and shops. Prices for basic food in Israel:
- 1 liter of milk - 60 rubles;
- 1 kg of potatoes - 60-120 rubles;
- Bread - 120 rubles;
- A bottle of water - 60-80 rubles;
- 1 kg of apples - 100 -130 rubles;
- A pack of pasta - 60-120 rubles.
(Prices shown in the guide are valid for August 2021)
In Eilat, food prices are cheaper than in the rest of Israel, as it is located in the free economic zone.
If you haven't decided when to go, then we read the material about a beach vacation in Israel.
What to visit on your own?
Israel is unique in that you can combine a beach vacation with a rich excursion program, especially since Israel is really rich in sights and a standard vacation is hardly enough to see half of it. Well, since the question of visiting popular places worries most travelers, we will tell you about the most popular places in this country.
Of course, the first place on the list of places to visit is Jerusalem - the shrine of the Israeli land, a real open-air museum: the Western Wall, the Temple of the Lord, the city museum, which presents a huge collection of archaeological finds from ancient times, are places that every tourist should visit.
Holocaust memorial Yad Vashem - a museum that will not leave you indifferent. This is a story that is impossible to listen to without mental anguish. This museum is a tribute to the memory of the Jewish people who survived the hardships of the Holocaust. Not recommended for impressionable adults, as well as children under 10 years old.
Set aside one day to visit the Dead Sea to understand what it is like to lie on the surface of the water and read a book, but remember that you can swim in salt water for no more than 20 minutes a day. The resort offers a wide range of health recovery treatments.
Timna Parklocated in Eilat offers to look at the famous mines of King Solomon, bizarre rock figures and cave paintings - and all this in the middle of the desert.
Bahai Hanging Gardens with a wonderful view of Haifa and the Mediterranean Sea will be remembered by tourists for its beauty, unusual and well-groomed views.
Golan heights - the most beautiful place in Israel: waterfalls, lakes and volcanoes, incredible beauty, breathtaking panorama opens from a bird's eye view. Arm yourself with cameras and chargers, because it is a real crime not to capture these beauties.
Galileo - it is here that the birthplace of Jesus - Nazareth is located. Walking through holy places, taste the most delicate cheeses and delicious wines and visit the Sea of Galilee is the minimum program for a tourist.
These are the main attractions, but not all, and no reviews of an independent trip to Israel can replace the real impressions of these places, so arm yourself with everything you need, book tickets, a hotel or a tour and go!
You will be interested to know other answers to your travel planning questions in our section about inexpensive vacations in Israel.
