TIP:  Before packing, select one major color (examples: black, brown, navy blue) and coordinate all pieces to that color. Make a chart of the days you will be gone and list (or sketch) the outfits you will wear on each day.

 

• Pants and shorts: Bring two pair of pants. One should be of lightweight cotton and the other should be either heavier or lighter based on the season. Button-down wallet pockets are safest. In addition, bring a pair of Jeans. Shorts are optional as they are not allowed in religious sites. Woman may want to add a skirt.

 

• Shirts: Bring three to four shirts (mix of short-sleeve and long-sleeve) in a cotton/polyester blend. For winter, add one or two cotton long-sleeve turtle neck shirts to layer under these.

 

• Accessories: Take just a few colorful scarves/ties, belts and sweater/shawls or vests to liven up your outfits.

 

• Sweater: Summer or winter, take a warm sweater in a dark color. It will serve as a coat, making you instantly dressed up, plus it won’t show dirt!

 

• Jacket: Bring a light weight, water proof windbreaker. The kind with a hood is the best.

 

• Shoes: Wear one pair of well-broken-in walking/hiking shoes. A second pair (hiking sandals or second pair of walking shoes) is optional in case the first pair gets wet. For cruises, the second pair should be sandals or flip flops for the beach.

 

• Underwear and Socks: Five of each is enough if you plan to wash/drip-dry in your room. Otherwise, bring a pair for each day.

 

• Money Belt: This is usually a belt-like bag that clips around your middle or hangs around your neck. Whatever style you select, it is essential to have one. Keep your money, passport, airline ticket and other irreplaceable documents in your money belt. You should basically live in your money belt!

 

• Travel Alarm: For those days you want to get up earlier than the set wake-up call. Be sure to put new batteries in and try it out for a few days before your trip.   

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• Universal Travel Adapter/ Converter:  Israel uses 220 volt current.   We recommend a BESTEK Universal Travel Adapter 220V to 110V for computers, tablets and phone charging.  If you're going to take a high wattage item like a hair dryer, we suggest a TRYACE 1875W World Travel Adapter and Converter Combo 240V to 110V.  Both are available on Amazon.  They are also available at stores in Israel, but will be a little more expensive.

 

• Camera: Now is the time to go digital if you haven't already! Be sure to put new batteries in and learn how to use it BEFORE your trip. 

 

• Rain Gear: Bring a collapsible umbrella and a Rain Poncho (you can buy an inexpensive folded travel version that takes up very little room in your day pack). 

 

• Day Pack: Bring a small shoulder bag or back pack that you plan to carry each day. It should have room for a water of bottle and any items you might need for the day, such as rain gear or a sweater, or medicines you need to take while out touring, etc. 

 

• Medicines: Keep in the original containers with prescription labels. Put in your carry on bag. Bring a list of the medicines with their generic equivalents (your pharmacist can give this to you) as the doctors in another country may not be familiar with the brand name. Bring a copy of the original prescription if you have it. 

 

• Eye Wear: Bring an extra pair of glasses, extra contact lenses, and your prescription if you have it. 

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• Flight Accessories:  It's a long flight from the US to Israel.  You may want to consider a comfortable travel pillow, compression socks to keep your ankles from swelling and maybe a padded seat cushion.

 

• Personal Kit: Try to keep this kit as small as possible... Remember, you are on a journey and want to pack light. Bring travel sizes of the following: Shampoo/conditioner, deodorant, shaving items, comb, hair brush. Other items you might want are ear plugs (hotels can have thin walls), sewing kit, first aid kit (including sore throat items and diarrhea remedy), sunscreen and sunglasses, insect repellent.

 

• Miscellanous Items: These items will come in handy as you travel... safety pins, moist towelettes, small power strip, extension cord, duct tape (small roll - great for repairs), travel mug (it's not just for liquids... use it to protect items as you travel, hide items when you leave the room, etc.), bandana(s) (have a million and one uses).

 

        As You Pack:

 

• Passport: Make several copies of your passport. Leave one at home with your emergency contact person. Put one in your carry-on luggage in a safe location. Your passport should be in your money belt but accessible for use at the airport.

 

• Travel Documents: Make copies of your airline ticket (usually an e-ticket these days) and your itinerary. Leave one at home with your emergency contact person. Put copies in your carry-on luggage in a safe location. The originals should be in your money belt or secure pocket of your carry-on and accessible for use at the airport.

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• Money: For shopping, bring cash (small, clean bills are best... in the Holy Land, you will need mostly one dollar bills), a couple of credit cards and as back up, a debit card. For emergencies, carry a couple of personal checks and emergency cash ($300 to $400 per person) which is not to be touch unless a true emergency arises (shopping does not count!). NOTES: If you plan to use your credit card and/or debit card more than once while overseas, call your card company BEFORE you leave to inform them of your itinerary. Otherwise, you will find your card privileges canceled in order to protect the card holder from fraud. If you prefer, you can bring your emergency cash in the form of Travelers Checks but you will pay a fee to buy them AND to use them, even is used in the USA.