Just wanted to share our experience getting from the US to Israel this past week. We're on an organized tour of 22 people. Israel has been one of the most locked down, vaccine intensive countries the past 2 years.
My reason for sharing is to encourage anyone on the fence about traveling internationally to get off your butt and do it. There may be a few hassles, but as I state below those tradeoffs are worth it.
Vaccinations:
We had to wear masks from the time we entered Orlando Airport, our domestic flight to Newark, Newark to Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion Airport, Bus and to the hotel. We have had to continue to wear masks inside but see quite a number of locals not wearing them. All workers are wearing masks. I thought the mask wearing would bother me as I've hardly worn a mask the last 2 years living in Florida. It has become seamless for me and comfortable.
All of this may seem like a hassle. However the benefit to us in being one of the first tour groups to arrive in Israel is that the sites we are visiting are empty. Parking lots that hold 20-30 tour buses only have 3-4. Sometimes, we're the only tour bus! We have more time at sites or time to visit more sites because we're not sitting in line waiting for our driver to park the bus or in line to get into a site or to shuffle our feet as we go through the site behind 100's of other tourists. Also, the people are so excited to have tourists arriving. Many haven't had work the past 2 years and living off of savings. We are being welcomed with open arms.
If you are on the fence about traveling right now or the near future, get off of the fence and go wherever your destination!
My reason for sharing is to encourage anyone on the fence about traveling internationally to get off your butt and do it. There may be a few hassles, but as I state below those tradeoffs are worth it.
Vaccinations:
- We were required to have at least 2 vaccines, if the second was more than 6 months prior to date of travel, then you needed the booster.
- Images of vaccine cards were required to be uploaded within 48 hours of international departure (not any domestic flight times)
- PCR test within 72 hours of international departure or Antigen test within 24 hours of international departure: Must be negative
- Must attest to having tested negative on entrance form
- Upon arrival in Tel Aviv required to do PCR test (which you pay for) and then self quarantine for 24 hours until receipt of results. If negative continue with tour. If positive, 5 day quarantine at which point if no symptoms, do Antigen test daily until negative
We had to wear masks from the time we entered Orlando Airport, our domestic flight to Newark, Newark to Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion Airport, Bus and to the hotel. We have had to continue to wear masks inside but see quite a number of locals not wearing them. All workers are wearing masks. I thought the mask wearing would bother me as I've hardly worn a mask the last 2 years living in Florida. It has become seamless for me and comfortable.
All of this may seem like a hassle. However the benefit to us in being one of the first tour groups to arrive in Israel is that the sites we are visiting are empty. Parking lots that hold 20-30 tour buses only have 3-4. Sometimes, we're the only tour bus! We have more time at sites or time to visit more sites because we're not sitting in line waiting for our driver to park the bus or in line to get into a site or to shuffle our feet as we go through the site behind 100's of other tourists. Also, the people are so excited to have tourists arriving. Many haven't had work the past 2 years and living off of savings. We are being welcomed with open arms.
If you are on the fence about traveling right now or the near future, get off of the fence and go wherever your destination!
