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It is site that offers short term rentals in Tel Aviv. At home4trip.com we were able to search a huge database of great rentals in Tel Aviv. Everything was amazing and we were able to drive anywhere in Israel. Jerusalem is about 45 minutes by car. We even went to ancient Tiberias. When you get great service on one part of your vacation, it makes the whole thing amazing.
I recommend all visitors to go to the old city in Jerusalem where they can see the great history of Palestine. You can see really old churches and holy places. Also if anyone is going to Ramallah I recommend them to go to the old city also, which is called Ramallah Al-Taha. There you can see the old city of Ramallah and how it was before the occupation.
Security or land grab you decide - but the Separation or 'Apartheid' Wall as some Israeli activists call it - is an inescapable part of a visit to this part of the world.
Will interest cognoscentis of concrete architecture or grafitti ...
Look out for an original Banksy - a girl holding balloons - just the Ramallah side of the Qalandia checkpoint.
Many locations - within the border of the West Bank and around illegal Israeli settlements.
The stretch near Al Quds university is particularly 'impressive'.
Dheisheh is one of the largest Palestinian refugee camps - in reality a compact town of narrow lanes and tall buildings - 'the only way to build is up' said our guide Khamsi.
Khamsi took us from the Ibdaa centre - whose name means 'creativity' - from near the entrance and took us on what turned into a grafitti tour.
The grafitti is mostly of Handala - the cartoon refugee boy - cartoons include Handala clutching a sword the blade of which is a pen nib and him flying with a Palestinian flag.
Dheisheh is calm and the people friendly.
An important place to visit if you want to understand one part of the story that makes up the current history of this complex land.
Ibdaa Centre, Dheisheh Camp, Bethlehem
www.dheisheh-ibdaa.net
Lonely Planet says catch a service from Bab iz-Qaq in Bethlehem (3NIS).
I travelled with Rawda and Issa Khouriya who run a guesthouse near Ramallah and are happy to arrange trips at reasonable cost if you are staying with them. See their entry on this site.
No self-respecting Guardian reader should visit Israel and the Palestinian territories without experiencing the brutalist modern architecture of the massive checkpoint at Qalandia between Ramallah and Jerusalem.
You can visit Ramallah from Jerusalem - catch the no. 18 bus from the bus station close to the garden tomb by the Damascus Gate - and be whisked past it. You're not a security risk leaving Israel.
Catch the bus back and it's a different matter. Keep your ticket 6.50 NIS (about £1.20) as you'll be leaving your bus at Qalandia and getting onto another one on the other side.
Queue with your fellow passengers and admire their patience as they wait to go through the turnstiles.
Feel for the people trapped in the turnstiles between 'groups'. A woman carrying a toddler was stuck for 20 minutes despite calls to the guard to let her out while I was there.
Wait for the Stasi-like guard to check your passport only to discover it's a bored Israeli teenager dismissively shrugging you through.
Admire the chutzpah of the Israeli 'welcome' notice - 'have a pleasant stay in our country!'
Be thankful that you're a tourist and you don't have to do this every day to earn a living.
On the main road between Ramallah and Jerusalem. You can't miss it.
A Palestinian Christian village perched high in the hills above Ramallah. Jesus stayed here with his disciples to escape the intense atmosphere in Jerusalem. Nothing changes!
Taybeh has three churches, a brewery and a ruined Crusader church.
The Crusader church is built high and gives long views over the rolling hills around.
The brewery welcomes visitors, has a small shop and will show you a video of how come there's a brewery making modern beer in Palestine.
Drink Palestinian!
You will need to drive either from Jericho or Ramallah.
Taybeh is 15km north east of Ramallah. I travelled with friends but Lonely Planet says you can catch a servis for 10 NIS (around £2).
The students at the nearby high school recommend the ice cream at Baladna's. So do I!
I sheltered here from the rain and looked out on the busy main street and enjoyed five scoops of different flavours in one bowl. Wide choice - natural ingredients.
Refreshing and cleaned the palate - followed by an extra large traditional coffee.
A great way to while away an idle half hour or more.
Cost around 23 NIS - about £4.
Follow the main street from Al Manara towards the old city. Baladna is on the right.
A modern spacious and airy home from home just 8km from central Ramallah.
All mod cons including wireless internet alongside traditional Palestinian cuisine make this a place to refresh your batteries after exploring this fascinating land.
Rawda and her husband Issa will also take you on any tour you'd like. Their local knowledge keeps you safe and saves you money from some of the higher prices charged foreigners at some tourist attractions.
Have visited the Separation Wall, two refugee camps, Bethlehem and Jericho with them.
Highly recommended if you want to make your first visit to Palestine.
Jifna Ramallah, West Bank, Palestine
Contact: Rawda Khouriya
Email: rkhouriya@yahoo.com
Tel: 00972-2811485 Mob 00972(0)599587476
Kibbutz Ein Gev is beautifully located on the sea of Galilee. While it does have its own hotel, many young travellers go there to work as Kibbutz volunteers. It has a strong agricultural sector, growing bananas, mangoes, dates and catching the famous St Peters fish in the depths of Lake Kinneret. Volunteers can particpate in all these endeavours. While kibbutz volunteers work hard the beauty of Ein Gev pays for itself were you can climb mount Sussita or swim in the lake and get drunk in the Kibbutz pub.
A bus usually leaves twice a day from Tiberias on the opposite side of the lake from Ein Gev. A 20 minute ride along Lake Kinnert and you are there
It is great to be in Israel on Purim, or Independence Day, but avoid Yom kippur. For full run down of when to go and when not to go, see:
When in Hertzalia ( and there are other branches) try out Max Brenner's chocolate restaurant. Read more at the below address
Cheap as chips four-star hotel with excellent breakfast and immaculate rooms located in East Jerusalem near Damascus gate. Free access to the YMCA swimming pool and gym. $150 per night per room.
29 Nablus Road, Jerusalem, Israel. Tel: +972-2-6270800
www.jerusalemlegacy.com
The country is small so you can reach any place in Israel (well almost) in a few hours drive from Tel Aviv.
Tel Aviv by far has the best services, entertainment, hotels, and restaurants compared to any other Israeli city. Even if you don't like the hustle and bustle of a large city (the Tel Aviv metropolitan area has more than two million people) you should still consider the convenience.
And if you are into cities that never sleep (like Madrid and New York) then there are few that can compete with Tel Aviv.
The people are friendly and helpful, most speak English, crime is low (so you don't have to worry about walking at night), and the weather is warm and sunny most of the year.
Another tip: Don't miss historic Jaffa (located in southern Tel Aviv). Great shops, clubs, food, and the biggest outdoor flea market I've ever seen.
My daughter loves Tel Aviv (and I do too).
Check out some photos at: www.pbase.com/gilazouri/telaviv
Tel Aviv is on the Mediterranean coast, more-or-less in the centre of the country.
A well designed friendly bar serving a wide choice of excellent food and beverages to a crowd of young, vibrant locals who radiate a positive, relaxed vibe.
Great music and atmosphere - a taste of real Israel.
8 Pika Street, Haifa
+972-4-8114010
www.barbarossa.co.il
(site in hebrew only)
Cafe Mersand has apparently been an institution in Tel Aviv for decades (the Walllpaper* chic interior is original and absolutely authentic), but new youthful owners have recently taken over to make this one of the hippest, most relaxed places in central Tel Aviv to have a coffee break while watching the locals come and go.
The friendly young baristas turn out top quality espresso, cappucino and cafe latte, and the small kitchen does tasty sandwiches and cakes. They have laid back music (the Beatles featured when I was there last), artists doing film installations and a good selection of newspapers (Haaretz English language version of course). This place is a must for anyone who appreciates a non-chain, slightly left, cafe.
Corner of Ben-Yehuda & Frishman Streets
Tel: 03-5234318
The Old City is at the heart of modern Jerusalem. It is divided into 4 distinct quarters, each with its own individual character, but the most fun you can have is wandering through the meandering maze of markets in the Arab quarter, haggling with stall owners over the price of a backgammon set or an ashtray whilst listening to their (sometimes rather good) impersonations of Del Boy saying 'luverly jubberly mate'.
Is this your business?