We will check on the possibility for Group Air and advise the group as soon as we know. Otherwise, airfare will need to be purchased individually. Baird Tours will be recommending flight itineraries, but you may choose the airline and flight itinerary. Baird Tours is happy to assist you in making air arrangements.

Yes. For those with frequent flyer miles, you can certainly use miles to purchase your airfare but you need to make those arrangements through your airline account. If you have questions or want advice about your flight itinerary please call Darla or Jerry at Baird Tours.

We will provide a group transfer for those traveling as a group on the recommended itineraries. If you arrive at a different time, you will be responsible for the cost of your airport transfer to the hotel. Darla & Jerry from Baird Tours can assist with transfer arrangments.

Some travel insurance providers are not offering coverage to trips anywhere in the Middle East inlcluding Israel. If you purchase a policy, make sure it covers travel to Israel

If available, we highly recommend you purchase Trip Cancellation and Travel Insurance covering the cost of your trip. The cost to you of cancelling a trip due to sickness or injury to yourself or a family member, flight delays, lost luggage, medical costs during the trip are all covered if you purchase a Trip Cancellation and Travel Insurance policy. Coverage is subject to the amount of insurance purchased for trip cancellation and limited by other terms of the policy.

We suggest waiting to buy travel insurance until you have more money at risk than the cost of the insurance premium.

We’ve worked with Generali Global Assistance for many years and they are one of the largest insurance providers in the world. You can find their link by clicking the black oval button below these questions. (Note: Generali is currently in the process of changing its company name to Redion, so if you see that show up don’t let it confuse you.)

Normally we offer trip insurance through our Generali, our preferred provider, but they do not offer policies to Israel at this time.

All passengers are required to have a valid passport that does not expire in less than 6 months after our return day of travel.

Israel now requires all tourists to apply online for an ETA-IL, and Electronic Travel Application. Baird Tours will walk you through this online process once final payment has been made. The fee is less than $10 and you will need to pay this fee. We may be able to a group ETA-IL but we will advise when necessary.

Daytime temperatures in Israel are generally very pleasant in November with averages between 65-80 degrees and cooler nights 50-60 degrees. The Dead Sea weather is generally much warmer; 75°- 85°. The weather in Israel can change quickly from day to day depending on if it’s sunny, cloudy or raining. We recommend layering each day or taking a sweater or light jacket on the bus to be able to compensate for temperature and condition changes. In the Golan Heights it can be much cooler due to the elevation.

An Israel tour requires a significant amount of walking each day, approximately 2-3 miles per day. The walking is generally in short intervals but it can be up and down steps on dirt, ancient stones and rocky terrain and it will be necessary to keep up with the group. We highly recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes with soft soles and be sure to break them in ahead of your trip. If you are concerned about your ability to manage this level of walking please discuss your concerns with Darla or Jerry at Baird Tours.

While traveling in Israel, casual clothing is fine and very comfortable walking shoes with soft soles are a must. The weather can vary throughout the day; so layered, clothing is recommended. Plan to take a jacket and sweater and a water-resistant jacket in case of rain. This should keep you warm enough in the evenings or in the event of cooler weather. Brimmed hats or caps are recommended for sun protection and come in handy on sunny days. Women are not required to wear dresses at any of the sites and no one will need dressy clothes. Shorts and/or skirts above the knees or bare shoulders are not allowed at some sites for men or women. Each day we will advise you on clothing requirements. Be sure to pack a swimsuit for the spa and pools, baptism in the Jordan if you wish and also for the Dead Sea. Experiencing floating in the Dead Sea salt water is a must for everyone because it is such a unique and fun experience! You can experience the salt water in the sea and/or in the indoor warm salt water poos. We also recommend you pack a pair of aqua-shoes or shoes you can wear in the water for the Dead Sea or the Jordan River.

Camera, extra memory cards, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat/cap, aqua shoes, waterproof sandals, roll-up wind/rain jacket, small umbrella, swimsuit, notepad, Bible, journal, mobile phone, laptop, chargers, adapter plugs, short extension cords (with multiple outlets for dual voltage appliances). Compression socks help circulation, small travel pillow and blanket on long flights. A collapsible duffle is helpful in case you buy more souvenirs than your luggage can hold. Snacks to eat on the bus between meals can be helpful to bring. Bottled water will be readily available at sites and on the bus for purchase.

Carry-on Bag Packing: In case your checked luggage is delayed or lost you should pack any items that you must have upon arrival such as medications, glasses, contacts, chargers, along with an extra change of clothes, your walking shoes, and any items you can’t easily replace in a local store.

Please limit your baggage to one checked bag and one carry-on bag and a personal bag such as a purse, small backpack or laptop bag. Most airlines flying internationally will accept one checked bag WITH NO FEES with a maximum weight of 50 pounds (22 kg) and a maximum outside dimension of 62 inches (157 cm). If your bag exceeds the weight limit or size requirements, the airline will charge you a fee at check-in. Your carry-on bag should fit in the overhead bin. The maximum dimensions for a carry-on bag are 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches (22 centimeters x 35 centimeters x 56 centimeters). This includes handles and wheels. Be sure to confirm your airlines luggage policies and fees.

Remember the TSA limitations for liquids and aerosol products that can be in your carry-on bags is limited to 3.4 oz containers in a quart size baggie or container.

In Israel the outlets are European-style (not UK) that provide 220 volts of electricity. This compares to US outlets which have 120 volts. All US plugs will require a European plug adapter to fit in Israeli outlets. Hairdryers are provided at all hotels. Important: If you take any electrical devices other than those used for charging phones and computers, we recommend you purchase dual voltage devices (e.g. hair dryers, curling irons, etc.) Dual voltage appliances can usually be purchased at places like Target, Walmart, CVS and Walgreens. In our experience, voltage converters either don’t work or burn the device or your hair. Dual voltage appliances with a US plug will still need a plug adapter. Plug adapters can be purchased in luggage departments at Target, WalMart, etc. for less than $10.

Pro Tip: Bring a short extension cord with multiple plugs and USB/C outlets on one end. This is handy when you have several devices to charge at night.

US dollars are preferred by most vendors in Israel. If you are bringing US dollars greater than $20 bills be sure to have your bank give you the newer undamaged bills with the anti-counterfeit security feature. Hotels and larger stores will accept most major credit cards. Because many of the stores and vendors prefer US dollars, we encourage you to bring smaller US bills and $1 bills (we suggest 20-30 $1 bills per person) for easy purchases of water, snacks and cheap souvenirs. Additionally, most ATM cards can be used to get local currency (shekels). But check with your bank to be sure your ATM card can be used in Israel. It is not necessary to exchange money to shekels in advance of arriving in Tel Aviv, if at all. We suggest you notify your credit card company that you are traveling abroad and will be in Israel if you plan to use your credit cards so your purchases are not delayed for approval.

All gratuities are generously included in your tour package price to appreciate the services of your guides, drivers, waiters, hotel staff and luggage porters. You would only need to tip for meals in transit or for individual services you purchase such as spa treatments or beverages.

You should plan to pay for any beverages you order at lunch or dinner, bottled water on the bus, snacks, any individual services such as room service, laundry, spa treatments and souvenirs. Trip Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included.

If you are enrolled in either of these Trusted Traveler Programs you should be sure your ID numbers are added to your airline ticket. Participating in any of these programs is NOT required for travel. If you want to get Global Entry, which also includes TSA Pre-Check, here is some information. it will help you shorten the long security and passport lines within the US and upon return. Click here for enrollment center information. https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/enrollment-centers/ Just complete the online application and they will contact you to set up an interview. Enrollment in the Global Entry program can take several months for approval. If you get your Global Entry card your be sure to add your Global Entry number to your airline reservation.

If you are enrolled in a frequent flyer program with the airlines you use for the this trip be sure your ID number is assigned to your airline ticket.

We will provide audio receivers and an earphone to wear so you can easily hear the guides and pastors throughout the tour. You may bring your own earphones/headsets either for sound or comfort, such as earbuds or over-the-ear-headsets, etc but they must have a mini- jack like one that would plug-in to an iPhone or Android phone but NOT the new lightning plugs or Bluetooth. The small earphones like the airlines issue in economy can also me used for this but we will provide earphones as well.

For those with hearing aids, it is possible that you can connect your hearing aids to the audio sound via headsets while the guides and pastors teach. For more info on this if you have hearing aids, please contact Jerry Baird.