I came across this shop when I noticed the place was packed with elementary kids. And wow! Yes, I’d recommend this place for lunch if you are around. A hearty falafel for 15NIS, why not!

By the way, why was this shop called Uncle Moustache Restaurant? Hmmmm….. but I came across a beautiful story, which I’d share at the end of this article.

Location

When you are at Herod’s gate, go into the Old City. The first shop that offers food is this place! (on your right)

This is not the exact location. But well, you have the idea. It’s in this area. Follow your nose and instinct. Or ask a local boy.

Menu？

There’s no menu…. but there’s falafel! Add everything, it’s all good! And what’s so special about this place is…. EGGPLANTS!

He added eggplants! And that was the game-changing factor. It made the falafel so tasty! Somehow eating eggplant feels like eating meat, so it was super satisfying!

As a Taiwanese, I don’t like boring food. When I eat falafel or hummus, I have to train myself eating it with a heart of gratitude (no kidding!). So when I found out eggplants were added to my falafel, I was so happy!

Here’s the falafel! It feeds 2 Asians

Look at it! It’s delicious! There’s falafel, french fries, eggplants and lots of vegetables! So what else can you expect from a falafel? It is perrrfect! ～

Oh! And there’s a toilet here too, though the lock doesn’t work.

Now, here’s the story.

While we were waiting there, a tourist (from the UK I think) talked to the owner. He was talking so sincerely, with tears bursting from his eyes. Why was he so moved?

I came here 50 years ago.

Your grandfather was a good man. He helped many backpackers who didn’t have money. He fed us.

I watched all of this. And I was stunned. Later I learned that the shop was opened for 50 years. It means from the beginning, the shop had a good reputation. And surely it would pass down…. There was his dad and his son from the first picture.

I was very happy to find out this shop.

Final Verdict

A falafel for 15NIS at Herod’s Gate. Yes, I recommend it!

The day pass is a “contract”, that can only be purchased with a Rav-kav card. There are different contracts/day passes, and #671 is the one you need for Jerusalem!

#671 Day Pass

• Day Pass price： 13.5 NIS
• Area Coverd: Jerusalem (Band 1)
• A single ticket price in Jerusalem: 5.9 NIS

Where Can #671 Be Used?

As a tourist, all you need to know is that,

1. Any stop on Light Rail. So that means Yad Vashem or Israel Museum.
2. You can’t use it for going to the airport. (It costs 17NIS for direct train or 16NIS for airport bus.)
3. Bus… if it’s within city. (Further explanation below)

This is Jerusalem Light Rail, it is more punctual and reliable than taking the bus. So I recommend using it.

 

This is the bus, Egged.

#671 Sample Itinerary

• Arriving Jerusalem Central Bus station, take the light rail to your hotel/hostel
• Take the light rail to Mount Herzl, the stop where Yad Vashem is
• Take the light rail to Mahane Yehuda Market
• Take the light rail to City Hall, the closest stop to the Old City. Watch a sound and light show
• Take the light rail to go back to your hotel/hostel

So this is already 5 trips already!

However, if you aren’t traveling with luggage, I’d recommend walking. It’s an easy and pleasant walk from Jaffa Center to the Old City. Plus, most of the attractions are in or around the Old City of Jerusalem!

Try to plan Yad Vashem, Israel Museum or other attractions which are further away on the same day, and use the day pass for that day!

 

How to Purchase #671?

You’ll find ticket machine/kiosks near the bus stop and light rail stop.

This is the ticket machine at the light rail station. It is written “Day Pass Jer Kernel”. The only package with the price, 13.5NIS.

The Rav-Kav machine at bus stops offers more options for contracts/day passes. Go to Jerusalem Metropolitan, and find #671

Important Notice!

You can only buy a day pass (contract) with a Rav-Kav card. (Click here to know more about Rav-kav card ).

You CANNOT buy a Rav-kav card at a light rail station. You can get one from one of those Sales Points or from the bus drivers. I’d recommend getting one from the train station at Ben Gurion airport!

By the way, ticket inspectors are commonly seen in Jerusalem’s light rail. It’s important to make sure you validate your Rav-kav card EVERY time you board the light rail (or the bus).

 

The Bands? The Zones…

So central Jerusalem is in Band 1. The light rail is in Band 1, which you don’t need to worry about. And I’d say most bus rides fall in Band 1 too. So there’s not much to worry about.

 

These are the exact moshavs (towns) around Jerusalem that also fall into the category of Band 1, in case you want to know.

 

Did this help? Try to remember getting a #671 for unlimited travel in Jerusalem! Leave me a message if you have a question!

Location

It’s 4 minutes walk from Yafo Center Light Rail Station. It’s in the prime location of Jerusalem with easy access to both the Old City and to Mehane Yehuda Market. Lots of restaurants around. So, it’s ideal!

I took this picture in 2018 when I stayed at Shammai Suites (Read my experience!). I noticed this abandoned theatre, little did I know… it became a hostel in a year!

Isn’t it beautiful after reconstruction?

The entrance is on the left. Now, let’s go to the “Cinema”!

Check-In

The staff at the counter was local. I asked him why this hostel has an age restriction (18-45)?  He said…  “it’s not a strict rule, just a recommendation.”  

Well, such “flexibility” is so common in Israel. But I don’t think age defines a person, someone who is 60 but still young at heart, might still share the value of staying in a hostel!

So I asked him if I could take a picture…. and he gave me this pose, haha!

The check-in went well, but what happened next upset me. The room key failed 3 times!! I had to come down for 2 times, all the way down!! I wasted at least 10 minutes just for “trying” to get into the room. When it failed the third time… I gave up and left.

What I didn’t like about Cinema Hostel

Unfortunately, I immediately found what I didn’t like about Cinema Hostel. Well, you are supposed to make your own bed.  First, pick your pillowcase, bed sheet and quilt cover behind the reception…

Why I don’t like this? Well, I’m lazy and there’s no guarantee that someone else isn’t as lazy as me! While this reduces the workload, it gives doubts to guests. Is this place clean?

I wouldn’t risk this. (If I was a hostel owner…)

And the second thing I didn’t like about cinema hostel …. there’s no elevator.

When I saw there wasn’t an elevator, the first thing that came into my mind was… I miss the Post Hostel!

The Facility

There’s plenty of space to socialize in this hostel. There’s a huge balcony, and it certainly looks cozy!

Cinema hostel has its own pub! It’s on the second floor! I didn’t go of course, but maybe some people will find this pretty convenient!

Don’t worry about the noise factor because all the rooms are on the third floor. I didn’t hear any noise!

There’s a complete and spacious kitchen! It looks great!

And finally… the common room! It’s spacious, comfortable, fun, hippy, just everything you want in a dream hostel!

Okay, let’s be honest, I wanted to stay here because of the design It’s visually appealing!

So that small area is the kitchen. All rooms are behind the kitchen!

The Rooms

All rooms are located in this area.

I was in a 12-person dorm. When I got there (I came back after dinner and finally I got a new key that worked!), I was too shy to take a picture… I took this picture in the morning….

So let’s see their official pictures!

There’s a basket below every bed. (2 baskets below bunkbeds). Your quilt and pillow are placed inside the basket. I didn’t know this because the staff didn’t tell me (was I supposed to know?)

There’s a personal cupboard for socket and light near where your head lies. I like this design because you don’t have to worry about electronics being stolen. BUT! The previous guest left trash here and it wasn’t removed… This isn’t hard to miss if the dorm room was cleaned… And that is the reason why I doubt everyone would properly make their own bed…  (but good thing that while I am observant and opinionated, I don’t have a high standard for cleanliness. I slept well! Haha!)

I like how spacious the room was!

The shower-room looked like this. The sink is in the middle. Shower and toilet are separated.  I didn’t have trouble waiting, even though I stayed in a 12-bed dorm!

Maybe I was lucky to have polite roommates? I’m not sure!

Breakfast

This is the “very good breakfast”. Included in the room price. Available from 7am to 9 am.

The breakfast station looks like this. Cereal, eggs, cheese, tuna, milk, vegetables.  Well, if you are eating breakfast at home, I guess you don’t eat with this many options. So I guess this is fine for a few days before it gets boring.

Let’s meet them! Your friends at breakfast!

It wasn’t a bad breakfast. But if the price is the same, I’d choose The Post Hostel over Cinema Hostel. Breakfast is more luxurious there with hot shakshuka and freshly squeezed juice…  there’s no comparison!

Oh! This reminds me of the super slow coffee machine in Cinema Hostel… I was frowning the whole time :/ And I didn’t like their coffee.

Activities

Cinema Hostel is trying to stand out in the market segmentation with the social aspect, but it feels like they are trying too hard. I didn’t like the 18-45 rule. Anyways, so the night I arrived was movie night…. it was okay.

And the Pub Crawl, I think most hostels have this activity anyways. I asked the staff about activities, he wasn’t ready with information… that was confusing…

“I should have it somewhere, give me one minute.”  ….

Information about music and movie activities. But it’s in a cafe called Tmol Shilshom, not in this hostel.

Help Exchange Option

I accidentally found this information online- the hostel is looking for help. For 5 hours work, 6 days a week, you get free board and breakfast in exchange.

Link：https://www.worldpackers.com/locations/cinema-hostel-jerusalem

Requirement：3 weeks minimum

Hey, this is Jerusalem! It’s worth considering!

Final Verdict

For $22, I had a bed and breakfast. There’s nothing to complain! The vibe was good. But I personally prefer the Post Hostel because of the breakfast and elevator. When the price difference is not more than $5, I’ll choose the Post Hostel over this one.

Cinema Hostel — 2019

Comment：Ignore its market positioning, it’s pretty perfect  (12-bed dorm $22-26)

Well, your dream can easily come true! Citadel Hostel, an 800-year-old youth hostel, wait, I mean an 800-year old Jerusalem stone-house that runs a youth hostel is an excellent option! You can book a dorm bed or a shared room. The view on the balcony is incredible. If you want the experience of waking up in Jerusalem, this is the place!



Location

From Jaffa Gate. First, go down a flight of stairs, then turn right and go up the stairs. After that, there’s a flat road. It’s 4 minutes walk to the Church of Holy Sepulchre!

It’s sort of in parallel to the main road, so it doesn’t belong to any quarter!

The entrance to the Citadel Hostel! This building is 800 years old!

My impression of the Old City of Jerusalem is dark and cold… I have no idea if this hostel would turn out to be a bad experience….

Check-In

When I came in, I was amazed by the architecture! It’s more than what pictures can deliver! You feel immediately connected to Jerusalem, really, you have to be there. With a relatively “okay” review, I was surprised that the staff was so friendly. Our triple room was $85, with a shared bathroom and no breakfast. A dorm bed would cost $25, so a triple room was a good deal. By the way, cash only. The staff let us store our luggage before our room was ready. When I asked if I could leave my luggage here the next day after check-out? The staff immediately agreed and said I could leave it there as long as I want. I was really impressed By the way, even though bus 231 from Damascus Gate to Bethlehem was easy, I would rather not to carry my luggage all the way from Jerusalem to there!

Facility

Unexpectedly, the lounge was cozy and pretty! It was much cleaner than expected too! The area could consider spacious as this is how big a floor is in this 800-year-old building! So this probably counts as the basement? Look at these sofas (floor cushions)! So Middle Eastern!

From here, there’s a doorway for leaving luggage. And that door at the end leads to a dorm room.

 

If the lounge is considered B1, the reception as 1st floor, then from the intriguing stairs it leads to 3 more floors.

This is the second floor. There are two rooms and 3 shared bathrooms. 

On the third floor, there’s a kitchen. But I found the electric stove inefficient. It takes forever to cook something. And the switch for the light is impossible to find… well, there’s a box above “Exit” with a yellow keychain right? That’s the switch! 

And let’s go to the 4th floor. There are two rooms. 

And finally, on the 5th floor, there’s this amazing balcony! You can see the Mt.Olives from here! Wow! The location is superb, and I leave the good views for your surprises! It is simply amazing!

The Room

I stayed in the cheapest triple room with shared bathroom. I didn’t take pictures for the shared bathroom, there are 3 of them, small but enough. It might not be ideal if you are larger in size…

So here’s our room! I like staying in a stone room, the experience made me happy! It’s more atmospheric there than on pictures. But the room was small. It wasn’t cold, and there were blankets on the bed. In Asia, we don’t use blankets. So when a blanket is used, it is always in a cover. It isn’t expected to put a blanket on top of a bed cover. So, anyways, this is a cultural difference. My mom and my aunt didn’t like these blankets.

And… Wifi was terrible in the room. Probably because of the stones? And the socket (near the door) was too high that made it hard to charge the power bank.

These are the rooms from 4th floor. It looks brighter because of the windows, but it is less atmospheric in my opinion.  

For $85, with no private bathroom or breakfast, I think it is not so good for value. But hey, this is in the Old City! Prioritize what is important to you, the location? View? Atmosphere? Or Value? In terms of value, at least for me, there are better choices in the New City.  The Post Hostel or Stay Inn Hostel. Or Zion Hotel. If you have more budget, and that you really want to have a good experience in the Old City of Jerusalem, then consider Sephardic House ! ($120 for a double room)！

Citadel Hostel — 2019

There are many options online.  You’ll find tours in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv! And guess what…. Bite Mojo is an Israeli startup!

https://bitemojo.com/Jerusalem-food-tours/

https://bitemojo.com/tel-aviv-food-tours/

Money Saving Tip: Don’t register unless you are ready to order. I received this 25% off offer right away…. and it’s valid for an hour! Haha! I think their marketing is excellent!

The Mechane Yehuda Vibe

I picked their Mechane Yehuda Vibe tour. The price for this tour is 105NIS, about $30. If you have been to Israel, this is about the price for a good meal. But just keep in mind that small bites in Israel aren’t cheap (food price in Israel isn’t cheap!), even a falafel costs 15 shekels.

And keep in mind that this is like a tour, enjoy it as a fun activity!

The Food Tour Begins～

After clicking “Start Tour”, a map shows up! Remember to turn on GPS! The 6 numbers in the map are where the Bites are!

I think I was supposed to start at station 1. Haha!

How to Claim your Bite?

When you click the number, it will show what food you’ll eat. For example, Georgian food! (I like Georgian food! I had Georgian food in Jerusalem at Kangaroo)  There’s a “claim bite” button below, try not to click it before you get attention from the vendor/chef/waiter/whoever.

So here comes my first bite! Let’s go!

After clicking “claim bite”, it looks like the vendor only has 5 minutes to respond? Not sure why the clock is important, but show this to the vendor, and he/she will begin preparing your bite!

For some bites, you can dine in, if you want. But for some bites are for take away only! If you don’t like certain bites, you don’t have to claim them, even if they are orginally included in your tour. You can use it for other bites!

This is my first bite called Emroli… As an Asian girl, this one bite can be a full meal. Or maybe just half of it can fill me up! The only thing I don’t like about Georgian food is the Georgian cheese… Too much salt in my opinion.

By the way, I remember the emroli costs 30NIS～ (if you aren’t using the app)

The number turns grey and route turns green after the bite is claimed.

Cute Feature

The “stars” on the map means legend or story. They are quite fun! Read them!

I didn’t know this building was cursed….! A rabbi cursed it because it blocked the light to his Yeshiva. Well, maybe I didn’t have to know this, but it is interesting!

You don’t need to play in order～

You can skip a vendor, and you can start at any vendor. I actually started from vendor #2!  It was a bar like a cafe. I liked the atmosphere!

The bite was Angus beef patty I don’t like half-raw meat in general, but at that time I didn’t know Bitemojo has Bite Credit function. (If a bite doesn’t appeal to you, don’t claim it. The unclaimed bites will become credits in your Bitemojo wallet, and you can use it for other bites, in the same city, or abroad)

This is the shop that gives only the takeaway option. Humurous staff.

The patty… it was cooked medium well. I didn’t like it and I wasn’t even surprised. I just don’t like beef in Israel in general…

But honestly, I don’t think this bite was cheap. Meat isn’t cheap in Israel, so I’d say this bite would cost 30-40NIS?

And the next bite! Juice in Mehane Yehuda! In the market!

I exchanged for a 10NIS drink! You can pick any juice from this vendor! I loved this bite! (A juice lover? Hahaha)

I picked an Etrog drink… because I miss Sukkot! (just kidding!) And then I realize… hey, what a coincidence! Isn’t this the same drink on their ad?

What about the unclaimed Bites？

By the way, it is likely that you miss 1-2 bites. Not all vendors open at night. If a vendor is closed, your unclaimed bite will become Bitemojo credits in your wallet.

And if you accidentally finish the tour, all the unclaimed bites will become credit in your wallet.

That’s what happened to me… and the 3 unclaimed bites became credits (1000 credit for a bite). I like the flexibility of Bitemojo! And did you notice? The value of each bite is different! For example, the 30NIS emroli is more expensive than the 10NIS juice! So, I guess you can find bites that you REALLY long to eat!

(I would have skipped the Angus patty…  and find something that’s not beef, haha!)

Disclaimer

My tour is sponsored by Bitemojo, and all opinions are mine!  I originally posted this on my Chinese blog 以色列美角 Israel Mega. I would have paid to play this anyways because I like creative things And if you really calculate, after 25% off the 105NIS becomes 80NIS. It’s still a good deal to get 6 bites for 80NIS.

I can’t wait to finish my tour!  3 more bites to go!

Al Sham Shawarma, a new restaurant in the Old City of Jerusalem, has  amazingly high reviews on TripAdvisor. Knowing that a beef shawarma costs 25NIS ONLY! I felt I had to come and try!

A falafel (no meat) costs 15NIS already! So this is a steal!

Location

It’s near Jaffa Gate. I wrote about Tala Hummus Falafel, so Al Sham is very close to it in the same alley.

Storefront. It looks great!

A beautiful and typical Jerusalem stone house!

While the restaurant is small, it comes with wifi and a very clean toilet! I was surprised!

Menu and Dishes

Well, there are only 4 items. Bottom left, a full set of Hummus for 50NIS? After a day in Israel, I’m done with hummus. Haha! And Bottom right, fries… for 15NIS…. it’s just starch, so as a girl, let’s skip it.

Now, there are really just 2 options here. It’s shawarma in Pita Bread (Top left) for 25NIS, or Shawarma in Lafa bread (Top right) for 35NIS.

I went with shawarma in Pita bread. And for some reason, it felt so healing watching the chef (?) using electric knife~

And then you get to choose your salads and sauces. He’d probably ask you “All?” Just say yes!

So! This is THE shawarma! Let’s just call it the burger in the Middle East~

Now, see how much meat there was inside! Wow! And this is for 25NIS only! You get nice shawarma, in a beautiful restaurant in the Old City of Jerusalem with Wifi and clean toilet. What else is there to ask?

But the problem is…. well, it’s really just me. If you’ve read my other posts on food, for example, at Aaris, well, the problem is ME! I Let’s just say the taste of beef is too ‘strong’ for me. I had to add chili sauce to tone down the taste.

So…. you can decide.

So it happened that the card reader was broken. They tried hard to get a connection by bringing the reader outdoor, but it didn’t work. They were only 2 people, so I didn’t want them to waste so much time and I just paid in cash.

(I went to Tala later, and their card reader worked perfectly though. )

Final Verdict

It’s a good deal!! Beef shawarma for 25NIS only! It will be a very good meal if you like beef. If you don’t like beef, get chicken shawarma from Tala Hummus Falafel

J Ticket Price  

Webiste：https://www.rova-yehudi.org.il/activites/jtickete/

Price：75NIS

Pick Up Locations：Burnt House、Hurva Snagogue、 Herodian Quarter Museum

You can use J-Ticket for any 4 attractions below! The ticket is valid for a month!

Where can you use J Ticket?

Most attractions that J-ticket can be used are in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem. (Zedekiah’s Cave and the Rampart Walk are probably the only two exceptions)

These are 7 attractions that I personally like. I think it is pretty obvious that J Ticket is good for value!!

• Archeological Park Davidson (Price: 29NIS) -> Get J Ticket for this!
• The Temple Institute (Price: 35NIS)
• The Wohl Museum-The Herodian Quarter  (Price: 20NIS)
• Hurva Synagogue  (Price: 20NIS)
• Burnt House   (Price: 30NIS)
• Rampart Walk  (Price: 18NIS)
• Zedekiah’s Cave (Price: 18NIS)

Money Saving Tips: The Too Good to Be True J.Q.Tour (2 hours for 15NIS!)

In case you didn’t notice, you can book  J.Q.Tour on the website for 25NIS. And if you purchase it with your J Ticket, then it costs 15NIS only.

J.Q. Tour shows you around of the Jewish Quarter for 2 hours.

Wait, 2 hours? Can you get a tour in Jerusalem for 15NIS for 2 hours? I don’t think so! Even the  “free” walking tour in Jerusalem suggests 50NIS tip….! But there’s more!

The tour INCLUDES your admission to Hurva Synagogue, Burnt House and The Wohl Museum!

Let me repeat, haha, the tour pays for your entrance to Hurva Synagogue, Burnt House and The Wohl Museum! These 3 attractions should have cost you 70NIS! And it means you don’t need to use J Ticket on these 3 attractions if you intend to do the tour and buy J Ticket.

I booked a 3 pm tour, and we entered from the backdoor. It felt like VIP, and it was a lot of fun to have conversations with our Israeli guide (she’s guiding as a part of her national service)! I enjoyed it!

J Ticket Experience

I got my ticket from the Burnt House. I picked it up a day earlier. And I think J Ticket is a good deal, and J.Q.Tour is really too good to be true! Ha ha!

If you are not doing J.Q.Tour, then I’d recommend using 4 attractions of J Ticket on:

• Archeological Park Davidson (Price: 29NIS) -> Get J Ticket for this!
• The Wohl Museum-The Herodian Quarter  (Price: 20NIS)
• Hurva Synagogue  (Price: 20NIS)
• Rampart Walk  (Price: 18NIS)

Aaris must be well loved by the locals in Jerusalem. I brought Aaris back to my hostel. And the Israeli teacher from the hummus workshop saw Aaris, and said with so much love,  “Aaris ”.

That’s the moment I found out Aaris was special. And Aaris is not a person, Aaris is a new store that sells creative Middle Eastern pocket size burger.

Location

It’s near Mehane Yehuda Market. Across Morduch.

The storefront of Aaris. There are some outdoor seats. I guess it’d be quite lovely to sit here and do some people watching This is a prime location of Jerusalem, by the way!

The kitchen and counter have taken most of the space in the shop. But there are still 3 seats inside. I like the open space design, and it does remind me of Taiwan. We like to eat outdoors too. (Not on noisy streets though)

Menu and Dishes

There’s no menu! Haha! So from what I remember, there are only 3 options. Beef, lamb, and Entrecote.

The price is around 35-42NIS. And you’ll receive a beeper.

After 10-15 minutes wait… voila! I came back and received a beautiful paper bag! Aaris! Inside, there was a box.

I opened it, guess what? 3 pieces of mini Middle-Eastern tacos! I don’t know what to call them. And you get 3 sauces too. The green one is made from Avocado (with mayonnaise?)

I was deeply amused by the odd number, 3. So who is eating the 4th piece?

Regarding the taste… well, let’s just say, I don’t like beef in Israel. It’s too strong for me. (And I don’t eat lamb…. )

But I’m sure the locals love it, otherwise, why would Aaris be popular?  I don’t blame Aaris. And you can see Aaris is generous with the quantity of meat! Isn’t that great?

About the price. Well, if this is 35NIS, it is definitely more expensive than eating shawarma in pita bread (normally 25NIS).

I did find the avocado sauce here special though, and I like the outdoor seating too.

So do I recommend this? Hmm. Well, if you like beef, then come here to eat! It is not that expensive

Remember to Give Thanks!

The Jewish tradition is to pray before and after meals. There’s a fixed prayer to read. And guess what…? I found it here! hehehe!

So take the hint, be grateful! God has been taking good care of you! Don’t complain!

About Beteavone

I found this shop through Beteavone (the coupon website).

I spent 65NIS for buying this 100NIS coupon, but I only ordered 2 servings. Eventually, I received 20% off instead of 35%. But even without any discount, Aaris isn’t expensive, to begin with.

Final Verdict

A cute little shop that sells Middle-Eastern like tacos. I like the avocado sauce. Not expensive, and maybe I’ll come back to try again.

Buying Ticket & Fare

Similar to how you buy a train ticket to Tel Aviv, you buy your ticket to Jerusalem with cash, credit card or with Rav-Kav stored value (if you already have Rav-Kav card) There’s no need to buy a ticket online in advance.

See, the fare is 17 NIS (roughly $5). That’s pretty cheap! (And about the same price as airport bus #485)

(You could buy a ticket online if you want, but you must have a Rav-Kav card in hand….)

 Timetable

The earliest train leaves at 06:31, and the last train of the day leaves at 19:31. The schedule runs every 20-30 minutes. But there’s no train on Friday ….. (How to travel from the airport on Shabbat) and the train resumes service at 22:00 on Saturday….

Timetable<<< Click here

The last train on Thursday is at 19:31. And then there’s no bus on Friday and Saturday until the next train ride at 06:31 on Sunday. 

It’s the same thing on between Sunday and Monday, the last ride is at 19:31 and the first ride is at 06:31 the next morning.

Experience of taking the Direct Train to Jerusalem

It was smooth, no delay. I love this double-deck train. Wifi was working. WC was kind of clean.

My only problem was there wasn’t enough room for storing luggage near the seats. If it is “airport train”, then it is important to have racks near the doors.

I talked to an Israeli engineer about this, and he said “Yes Israeli are stupid”. That was so confusing as in Taiwan, we love Israeli and we think this small nation has a lot to learn from.

Expired News: The Free Ride Information in Next 90 days

You need to meet all these terms to enjoy free rides in the next 90 days (from 25 Sep). Free rides from Jerusalem to ANY city in Israel! 

Terms and Condition：

1. You must leave from Yitzhak Navon Train Station in Jerusalem  It works both ways now. Free rides from the airport and from Yitzhak Navon Train Station.

2. You must have a personal or semi-anonymous Rav-Kav card with you already . You need to key in the numbers in the back of your Rav-Kav card.

3. Then make your “booking”. You can book up to 3 seats with one Rav-Kav card. You’ll get a voucher but you don’t need to print it out.

Register Your Voucher Here: Click Here

4. You still need to exchange a real ticket with your voucher. But you’ll not be charged. If you miss your train, you can take the next train.

No need for pre-booking a voucher! Read more here

5. Choose any destination, even Nahariya that is 2.5 hours away!～ (Change train at the airport)

6. Free chocolate is waiting at Yitzhak Navon Train Station in Jerusalem for you！

References: Janglo

Location

Only 3 minutes walk to the light rail station (Yafo center). You can find lots of restaurants in this area. It’s funny that “Shammai” suites is actually on Ben Hillel street and not on the adjacent Shammai street!

That’s King George street from the balcony.

Shammai Suites is above Pizzahut. And by the way, the building in the back with glass used to be a cinema, and a new hostel just opened there!

The reception desk on the ground floor felt squeezed. Well, this building was probably just an apartment. So no common area. You get a key to your apartment. There are 7-8 floors here and I think there are 2 apartments on each floor.

I had no idea why I was upgraded again? I was given a family suite and there was only 2 of us…  I booked this place using Hotels.com, and the reception lady saw my order and upgraded us to this room, worth $200! 50 square meters! When you enter it’s the living room, a toilet, a 2-single beds room, plus an en-suite!! Woo-hoo!

A modern and spacious bathroom.

2 single-beds sort of fit here. But the other room….

Wow! A double bed! Comfortable mattress, everything you need is here. A closet, tv, mirrors and another bathroom is here! It’s pretty luxurious! I was just sharing 2 bathrooms with 20 people in a hostel in Tel aviv…

But remember, I was “upgraded” to this room and let’s be more objective here, haha! A good thing about staying in an apartment like this is that you get a real kitchen! (but remember you are paying a similar price, and in other places, though there’s no kitchen, breakfast is included!) Having a kitchen will certainly make you feel more like home, even if you are just boiling hot water.

Yes, I can confirm it is a real kitchen!

Two windows behind curtains lead to the balconies. Shammai Suites is located on Ben Hillel street.

This street on the left is Shammai street.

Final Verdict

Nothing not to like about this place! Comfortable, clean, great location, and the most important part… it comes with a kitchen! Great for privacy. But if you don’t like making breakfast yourself, consider other options.

Shammai Suites in Jerusalem — 2018