FAQ

Getting Fit: It is highly recommended that passengers begin a walking routine to get in shape prior to the trip. Passengers should expect to walk about 4 to 7 miles per day. Please consult your family physician regarding any physical conditions you might have that could impede your mobility.

Insurance: Group Rate travel insurance may be purchased through New Covenant Tours up to 35 days prior to departure. After that date insurance may be purchased from our website at www.newcovenanttours.com. Access to the Travel Guard page is on a panel on the left side of the NCT home page. (Our web page is currently down while it is begin rebuilt.)

Weather: No can predict with 100% accuracy the weather. The following information is provided to give you a reasonable expectation of normal weather conditions during the season of your tour.

December - February    rainy & cool 30 - 60 degrees

March - May dry & warm 60 - 80 degrees

June - Sept. dry & hot 80 - 95 degrees

October - Nov. dry & warm 60 - 80 degrees

Please note that at any time of the year evenings may be cool.

Clothing: Modesty should prevail, as many of the places you  will visit are considered “holy” sites. Modest shorts are acceptable during warm seasons of the year. However, some “holy” sites do not permit shorts or sleeveless tops to be worn at their site. Capri’s are ok for women but because of modesty issues, it is best for ladies to have their shoulders covered.

Your tour guide will alert you the day before modest dress will be required. Regardless of when you are traveling to Israel, it is a good idea to have a light jacket or sweater for the evenings, especially while in Jerusalem. Sunglasses and *hats and sunscreen of at least 30spf is recommended. Comfortable walking shoes are a must. Open toed shoes are not recommended. Flat  sole shoes with no arch support, may be comfortable at home, but not on a walking tour.

*You will receive a Sar El Tours ball cap upon arrival in Israel.

Medical Information: It is important that you consult with your family physician if you have any concerns about your physical ability to make this journey. If you are prone to easy upset of your digestive system, ask your doctor to prescribe a general antibiotic for you to take daily on your tour. Though most people have no issues with drinking the tap water in Israel, we recommend drinking only the bottled water. Bottled water will be available from your bus driver for $1.00. Just remember, Israel is not a third world country. They are well equipped to handle any medical issue that might arise.

Emergencies: Prior to leaving the United States, be sure to let your family know how they may contact you in Israel. You  will  have access to wi-fi on the tour bus and in the hotel rooms. If you bring a smart phone your family can contact you via email, Skype, or Facebook. We also highly recommend that each passenger download WhatsAPP onto their smart phone. Have key family members do the same stateside. You can text, call or send voice messages via the internet with WhatsAPP for FREE. This is a fun and effective way to stay in touch with your loved ones.

Luggage and Packing: You are permitted ONE checked suit case, one carry on and one personal item. Airlines are very strict on checked luggage weight limitations. carry on luggage size requirements. If your suitcase is over 50 lbs. you will be charged a fee by the airline. Carry on luggage must be able to fit under the seat or in the overhead compartments. Please visit your air carriers web site for more details and information about fees for 2nd checked bags.

Luggage Tags: You will receive luggage tags from New Covenant Tours. PLEASE USE THEM, even if you have private tags. This will help you and the group assist one another in the baggage claim area. If you wish to lock your luggage, you must purchase the TSA approved lock. Luggage straps and colorful ribbons are helpful in identifying your luggage.

Name Tags: Passengers will receive a NCT lanyard and name plate in their ticket packet. It is very important that you wear it. This will help your Israeli tour guide and driver learn your names, as well as identify you as a part of a group when receiving group discounts in stores.

Cash and Currency: You will be able to spend your US dollars in most shops. However, most stores do not want bills larger than 20’s! We recommend converting about $50 per passenger into shekels before you leave the airport. Most groups will do this in the baggage claim area. When making purchases with US dollars you will receive change in Israeli Shekels. The exchange rate is normally between 3.50-3.85 shekels to the dollar. This rate changes daily and you can check the rate at our website on the Links page. We recommend that each passenger bring about

$30.00 dollars in $1.00 dollar bills for small purchases such as soft drinks or water. If you bring traveler's checks you may cash them at most hotel front desks. However, there is a sizable fee charged and the exchange rate is never good. Because of this we do not recommend the use of traveler’s checks. Most stores accept VISA and American Express. MasterCard and Discover Card are not widely accepted. It is recommended to have a VISA card.

Important Note: If you use a credit card for purchases it is important to keep a close eye on your account for a few months upon your return to the States. Be vigilant in watching for any bogus charges. While it doesn’t happen often, it does happen.

Many people ask, “How much money should I bring?” This is a difficult question to answer. Every part of your tour is paid for except for your lunch. You should budget a minimum of

$15-$20 dollars per lunch. The average cost of a Falafel (Israeli sandwich) and soft drink is $12. If your group stops at a self serve cafeteria (which we try to avoid) you can expect to pay $15 or more. In an Israeli cafeteria each item has a price. Please be sure that you know what the cost per item is before putting things on your plate.

Important Note: Many of the hotels have safes in your hotel room closet in which you may place your valuables and extra cash. Hotels that do not have in room safes have safety deposit boxes at the front desk. We recommend that you use them.

WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THAT YOU CARRY ALL OF YOUR CASH ON YOU WHILE TOURING. Please heed this warning. If you plan to buy large quantities of souvenirs we suggest using your credit cards for those purchases to minimize the amount of cash you will need to have on your person. But as stated previously watch your credit card for fraudulent charges for a few months upon your return.

Important Note: If you intend to use your VISA Card or other credit cards while in Israel, call the 800 number on the back of your card and inform the card company of the dates and countries you will be visiting on your tour. This will help you avoid having your card rejected when making purchases.

Shopping: New Covenant Tours operates on a full disclosure basis in regard to shopping. Here is what you need to know and understand about shopping in Israel. Tourism operates on a commission basis. Your driver and guide will usually receive a commission from some of the stores and restaurants where you shop or eat. We work with reputable drivers and guides who know that we will not tolerate high pressure tactics to get you  into over priced stores. There are a few stores where we will recommend that you shop. This recommendation is not our guarantee of the lowest prices. It is our good faith statement to you that we have found these stores to be reputable and honest. We do encourage you to bless believers in the land by shopping in their stores.

Dead Sea Products: The Dead Sea is famous for its amazing minerals and many great hand creams and body products are made from it. We encourage passengers to purchase these items either at Masada or Qumran. This will bless your guide and driver. Warning: Do not purchase Dead Sea creams at the airport on your departure. The T.S.A will confiscate them when you go through regular US domestic security screening.

Diamond Shopping: Israel is famous for its diamond industry and many tourists enjoy the free tour they provide as well as the shopping opportunity. If you desire to shop at a diamond factory you should discuss this with your tour host and let him make arrangements with your Israeli guide if the factory is not a part of your planned tour. Be aware that the commission system is in place here too. If you appreciate your guide and driver let them make these arrangements for you as it will be a blessing to them. Most trips to the Diamond Factory are optional. The diamond factories may be visited in Tiberias or Jerusalem. Please tell your guide and host at the beginning of the trip if you have a desire to visit one. Do not let a taxi driver talk you into letting him take you to the factory or to Bethlehem.

Negotiating and Haggling: You may negotiate prices in most stores in Israel. Especially in the Arab Market it is expected. I do not recommend purchasing jewelry or coins in the Arab market as quality and authenticity are often questionable. When negotiating begin at no less than 30% of the price they are asking. Know when to walk away and never let a vendor put something into your hands.

Phone Calls: Calling from a hotel room is very expensive and should be avoided. We highly recommend that you use WhatsApp to make your calls. This app may be downloaded to your smart phone. You can text and make calls on it for FREE. Our touring bus will have free Wi-Fi so you will even be able to call from the bus.

Film and Photography: There is a no tax or charge for bringing non-professional video cameras or personal cameras into Israel. Be sure to replace your cameras batteries before coming to Israel and bring spares. Most groups will have a professional photogra- pher take a group photo on the Mount of Olives which may be purchased for $10.00 dollars. You are not obligated to purchase the picture.

Sar El Tours normally provides each passenger with a selfie-stick for your cell phone.

Packing:

#1. The most important packing tip we can give you is to pack at least three days worth of clothing in your carry

on luggage with toiletries. If your checked luggage is delayed, or heaven forbid lost, you will have some fresh clothes to wear. (Liquids must conform to TSA limits.)

#2. If you intend to use small personal appliances such as a blow dryer or electric razor, you will need an international voltage converter and adapter. Israel uses 220V. You can get a converter at Wal-Mart, Best Buy or Radio Shack.

Many of the hotels have built in blow dryers, but not all. Most American cell phones, iPads and laptop power cords Already have a converter box built into the cord. For those you will only need an outlet adapter.

#3. Bring your own wash cloths!!! Israel is not big on

the small wash clothes that Americans use. If you want one, bring one.

#4. Do not pack the following items in your checked luggage. cash, passport, pressurized containers such as cans of soft drinks or hair spray, or any glass items. For information on restrictions for carry on luggage please visit the web page of the domestic carrier for your flight. TSA regulations do not permit liquid carry on larger than 3 1/2 ounces.

#5.Passport: Make a copy of your passport in case the

original gets lost. You will receive a credit card sized copy of your passport from Israeli Passport Control. This card is your entry visa. This card should be kept on you at all times. Passports can be left in hotel room safes or safety deposit boxes. Reminder: Never pack your passport in your checked luggage.

#6. Helpful Suggestions:

a. Small plastic bags used by supermarkets are good to put wet or soiled clothing in. These come in handy after baptisms and after time floating in the Dead Sea.

Hydration: Water is essential to life and essential for good health on this trip! Remember this axiom, "If you wait until you are thirsty to drink water, you have waited too long". This is also true prior to, and on your flights to and from Israel.

The two days prior to your trip to Israel are essential times to be sure that your body is well hydrated. Begin a couple of days before the flight drinking more water than you normally do. If you are a heavy coffee or soda drinker try to match each drink with an equal or greater amount of water. After clearing security in most airports you may buy bottled water that you may carry on the flight with you. However, it is best to put it in your bags until after you are on the flight. Never pass up a stewardesses offer of water especially on the international portion of the flight. Long airline flights will dehydrate you. Dehydration will make jet lag harder to overcome and put you at risk of catching a bug. Water is LIFE my friends...Drink It!

Once in Israel your bus driver will have bottled water that may be purchased for $1. Drink more than you think you need. Most people do not get sick because of drinking the water in Israel. They get sick because they don’t drink enough water!!! Do you get the feeling that we are serious about drinking water?

In the hotels, drinks other  than  water  or  coffee  are  not included. If you desire a soft drink or glass of wine with your dinner it will be charged to your room and must be paid at time of check out. All of the hotels where you will be staying are Kosher hotels. No pork or shellfish products will be served. Breakfast is considered a "dairy meal" so no meat except for fish and eggs will be served. Don’t worry the breakfast buffets are amazing. The dinner meal is a "meat meal" so they will not serve any dairy products such as milk or butter. These products are not allowed in the dining room so please do not attempt to bring your own. The hotel dining rooms must observe strict adherence to the rules of Rabbinic Kosher. Please do not bring any food items into the dining areas.

Flight Travel Tips: You will be served meals on board the international flights. However, having a few snacks on hand is usually a good idea. Be sure to include water (if permitted) and some breath mints. I highly recommend getting a travel pillow for the flight and bringing a nice pair of extra warm socks so that you can kick your shoes off. Eye shades are nice too. The international part of your flight is about 12 to 13 hours. If you have trouble sleeping on planes we suggest bringing some sleep aid or ibuprofen. Be sure to have stomach medication close at hand as well. Access to a tooth brush and tooth paste is nice for freshing up a bit just prior to landing in Tel Aviv. If you get hungry in the middle of the night there are usually snacks (fruits & sandwiches) available in the galley. It is important to get up and walk and stretch a few times during the flight to facilitate good blood circulation.

The Dead Sea: We will take time to stop and have a float in the Dead Sea. It is impossible to sink in the water due to the high mineral and salt content. Your guide will give you safety tips before entering the water. You will need a modest swim suit and a pair of water shoes or old tennis shoes or shower sandals. Old shoes that you can just throw away after taking your swim. Shaving the morning of or night before is not recommended. WARNING: Do not wear jewelry into the Dead Sea.

Tipping: All tips for the hotel bell boys and waiters are included in your tour price. However if you feel that you have received outstanding service from someone in the hotels you may bless them with additional gratuities if you choose.

Love Offering for Guide and Driver:

It is standard industry practice to take up a love offering for the driver and guide at the end of the tour. This is added to the regular tipping fund. However, your tour price already includes ample gratuity for your guide and driver and no love offering will be received. If however, you feel led to bless them with more, please alert your tour host of your intention to do so. A distribution protocol must be followed in order to avoid conflict and hurt feelings.

Safety: Please do not let media hype overwhelm you with unnecessary fear. You are safer in Israel than in most US cities. While no one can guarantee what someone else may or may not do, you can be assured that the experience of many thousands, even millions of tourist before you, indicates a high degree of safety. Here are a some common sense things that you can do to protect yourself.

1. Never wander away from the group.

2. Never allow yourself to be surrounded by 2 or more street vendors.

3. Listen to your guides warnings and follow their instructions.

4. Purchase money pouches designed to be worn underneath your clothing.

5. Always inform others in the group of your intentions to enter stores or restrooms.

On The Bus: The following are suggestions that have come from many years of touring in Israel. Please read them carefully as they will make everyone's tour experience more meaningful.

1. Reserved Seating for the Guide and Tour Hosts:

The front two seats on either side of the aisle are reserved for the Israeli tour guide and the tour hosts. This is so that they may confer about any itinerary changes that might need to be made as well as keep them near the microphones for

teaching purposes while travelling. We understand that some passengers may need to sit towards the front of the bus due to motion sickness issues we ask that passengers not "hog" the front seats.

1. Don't Be "That Guy"  

Don't be the person who constantly interrupts the guide or tour host while they are teaching.

Don't be the person who makes the guide repeat things constantly because you weren't paying attention.

Don’t be the person who spends the entire trip looking through a camera lens and never actually sees the land.

Don't be the person who makes the trip all about themselves and never considers the needs of others in the group.

Don't Be the person who complains because they are shocked to discover that life in another country is not exactly as it is in America. (Please don't be that person.)  

Don't Be the person who wanders off and leaves the group wondering where you are and waiting for you.

Don't Be the person who keeps a problem to themselves and never tells the host and then is mad because he didn't fix what he didn't know was broken. Does this sound

like this has happened before...oh yeah it has!

Don't Be THAT PERSON

Instead

BE THIS PERSON...

Be the person who is ready to assist others on and off the bus and willing to lend a helping hand whenever needed.

Be the person who knows that God is control of everything

and that any changes or complications that may arise will never be bigger than God's ability to help you cope with it.

Be the person who has come to Israel to give and not just receive, to bless and not just to be blessed.

Be the person who has prayed intensely about this trip BEFORE you get to the Western Wall.

Be the person ready to let the countenance of the Holy Spirit be upon you at all times and to let your light shine as you

walk through the land and encounter the children of Israel who need to know Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah.

BE THAT GUY!

      Final Israel Tour Preparation Check List:

This checklist is not intended to be exhaustive. It is intended to help you remember some essential items.

1. Clothing:

  Comfortable walking shoes!

  Sunglasses, Hat or Visor, Sunscreen,

  Warm jackets and sweaters for evenings in Jerusalem.

  Warm socks or booties for the long plane ride.

  Swimsuit

  Water Sandals or old shoes for the Dead Sea.

Note: Flip-flops are fine for the Jordan River but are not effective in the Dead Sea as they tend to float off.

___Kitchen size plastic bag for wet clothes and dirty laundry.

___A good book to read on the flight. The BIBLE

___Three days worth of clothes in your carry on luggage!

___Umbrella (For groups in December - March)

___Shawl or scarf for the ladies.

___Towel for use at the Dead Sea and Immersions

2. Medicines:

___Stomach: Tums, Imodium,

___Chap stick

___Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Tylenol

___Prescription Medications. (Best kept in original containers.)

3. Passports and Credit Cards Reminders:

___Copy of your passport and emergency contact numbers in your luggage.

___Call your VISA or credit card company to give them dates for your out of country card usage.

___Give your emergency contact numbers in Israel to family or friends. Download WhatsAPP.

Do not pack cash or valuables in your checked luggage.

$30.00 in $1 dollar bills for easy water purchases.

4. Items for on the plane: (For Carry On Luggage)

___Stomach Meds. (Imodium AD, antacids)

___Advil/Tylenol

___Toothbrush and travel size tooth paste

___Chewing Gum

___Wet wipes

___Travel Tissues

___Light Snacks

___Sleep eye shades _ Ear plugs

___Reading material. (Or you can just watch movies.)

5. Other Items and tips:

___Bible, notebook for journaling, pen.

___Do not pack large liquid containers such as shampoo in your carry on luggage.

___All liquids in your checked luggage in zip lock bags. Do not pack pressurized containers in your checked bags. No liquids over 3 1/2 ounces.

___Voltage Converters: International voltage converter and adapter.

___NCT Luggage Tags and additional luggage identification helps. (ribbons, luggage straps etc.)

7. Things You Want To Remember To Bring: