I was wondering if you have any guidance on the modesty rules (clothes lengths, head coverings etc) for an unmarried, gentile female like myself visiting Israel? I know that the locals make a certain amount of allowances for tourists but I want to ensure that I respect all the rules (particularly at the religious sites on the tour) and do not inadvertantly cause offence by not packing for every occassion.

Really looking forward to this trip - many booked so far?

Thanks

Mandy

So, on this trip there are a few religious sites that you will visit and yes, you will need to dress modestly. The most disciplined in enforcing the dress code is the Church of the Annunciation. Generally the rules are;

Covered shoulders (t-shirts are ok but no vest tops)

No cleavage

Skirts at or below the knee.

Some ladies choose to wear a scarf to cover their heads. Also, some ladies carry a sarong to wrap around their bottom half to cover their legs. The Tour Manager should advise the group the evening before which sites they will be visiting the following day so you can dress/be prepared accordingly.

At the moment there are 12 of you booked on this tour - I'm sure you're going to have a great trip.

Kindest regards,

Julia

You will really enjoy the trip to the Holyland. I went there in October last year and loved every minute of it.

Regards

Jaya

Just another thought - is it best to take US Dollars or local currency to Israel? I remember taking Egyptian Pounds with me to Egypt a few years ago and being told that the locals prefered USD!

Finally - is the tour cleared to go yet? As it is only running once this year, it would be disappointing if we got cancelled.

Many thanks

Mandy

We recommend that travellers take US dollars, Sterling or Euro cash to obtain the best possible rate of exchange (Scottish notes are not accepted). Foreign currency can only be exchanged at authorised banks, hotels and exchange shops. However, it’s recommended to buy a few Schekels before you leave the UK, although Euros and Dollars are accepted in shops and restaurants they are not always accepted to purchase coffee or visit public toilets.

I can also share with you that this tour has been cleared to go (there is a little green tick in the system) and that at the moment there are 16 of you booked on this trip.

Kindest regards,

Julia