Due to archeological excavations, the design drawings of the hotel and the church had to be redrawn. The “Magdala Archaeological Park” was opened (click here ) a few years ago, and the hotel…. was opened last year in November 2019!

So I had to come here and see!

What would the experience like, staying at the biblical “Magdala”?

Location

It’s literally at Magdala. And not in Tiberias, where many hotels are situated. 

It’s easy to take a bus from here to Tiberias or Safed! After getting off the bus from Migdal Junction, it will take about 8 minutes to pass through a local supermarket, gas station and cafes. It will not be particularly difficult to walk ~

I heard that the road from the hotel to the bus station will be open in the future! (It only takes 2 minutes to walk! It will be super convenient)

Though most people come by tour buses!

The look in the morning, wow.

Check-In

There was a nice scent in the lobby! It actually smells like a luxury hotel! In fact, it ’s only been 2 months since the opening, and the place was packed with international groups.

The receptionist was a Christian Arab (judging by the last name, plus this is a pilgrim house), next to it is the gift shop. The picture behind it should be the structure of the Magdalen Hall.

Official website: https://magdalahotel.com

It’s really a nice hotel, and not just a hotel… read on!

My welcome drink. It’s a hot drink made from pears..?! Pretty interesting, I loved it!

Facilities

There is an elevator! And there are comfortable seats in every corner ~ you can chat!

Let’s use the elevator.. haha… why not…

This is the second floor, there is a comfortable chair in the same corner ~ This place has amazing scenery during the day!

The Magdala Hotel has only two floors, and it feels very comfortable.

This is a photo taken on the second floor toward the lobby.

In the middle there’s a “fish pond”, and it’s actually from the time of Jesus/Yeshua… 2000 years ago!

The fishermen would throw their catch directly from their boats to the fish pond! This is THE fish pond! The designer moved the historic fish pond here, how cool is that!

Well, the way to the room ~ The hallway is super spacious and has a sense of luxury! !! The first time I felt that my luggage was not stuck! Haha!

Let’s go to 148~

The Room

Let’s see…. wait, there’s a bottle of wine on the table?! Wow!!

Let’s see the room at a glance ~ This is a super spacious guest room. There’s a luggage rack next to the TV, wardrobe, tea set, refrigerator, and the shower is next to the entrance!

This bed is awesome … First of all, there are 5 pillows!! 5!!! And then it is really wide. I can turn over…..  and turn over.

I think the bed was at least 1.5 times wider than an ordinary bed, at least!! It’s so wide that I doubted whether I was sleeping in a double bed! !!

Small tea set and refrigerator~  It’s nice to have a cup of tea and hot water in the room! (So important for Asians anyways, we drink hot water all the time)

The toilet … The toilet was very spacious ~ I wonder if as a backpacker, I got used to smaller spaces… Oh but it’s not difficult to adapt, I have already quickly adapted, haha!

In short, the toilet is awesome, and the washstand is separated ~

Wait, do you see what I see?

AHAVA is in the room! AHAVA is a Dead Sea brand, pretty famous actually. So there’s AHAVA lotion, shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel! Amazing! (Not a typical pilgrim house you’d expect!)

Because of the inspiration, I bought more Ahava products at the airport, haha!

Even though the room is shared only between me and my mom… the toilet is separated from the shower, and both are incredibly spacious! Wow!!

The hair dryer is also a normal new type, not a hair dryer that looks like a vacuum machine… (pretty popular from 1980s in Israel) ~

How it looks during the day ~ I got up in a panic, and then quickly looked at the scenery outside … Because I only saw the road at night, I was curious to know what it’d look like in the day

(again, this is really a spacious single bed)

The scenery from my balcony … There’s  a Jewish village in the first century AD, and Mt.Arbel~

Wow ~ I feel like I am in a resort … Only better…

There are 150 rooms at Magdala, this is the cheapest room ~ But this view is already incredible!

(There are rooms facing the lake, but the difference will not be too much)

Dinner

OK ~ back to dinner! The name of the restaurant is Tarichaea. Does it ring a bell? Taricheae, mentioned by historian Josephus, it means “place of salted fish” ~ See, Magdala has a lot of nice details

The dinner buffet is open daily from 7 pm-9pm! It’s time to eat!

You’d naturally expect quality dinner when the room was so nice … but I didn’t expect it would be so good! There were so many options!

First of all, I saw salmon!!!

Incredible!! I LOVE salmon!

So there are 5 choices for the main course alone! And besides salmon, there is also pork! !! Incredible! !!

Not enough space for salads, there are just too many options!

And the desserts!

The difference between the room+breakfast option vs half-board option is US$23 per person. But in Israel, you don’t get much with $23 (about 70NIS), maybe you can get a nice pasta, but not a buffet like this!!

Whoever reads it, don’t miss out on the dinner!

And this is not over yet! In fact, the buffet is divided into two sides, the other side has a more complete set of dishes. Visually, I would say there were at least 40 kinds of salads, and there’s also soup!

The seating area~

The second night, the place was packed!

And I found a group of Taiwan!! (I’m from Taiwan too)

The next day there is no salmon, all 5 main dishes were different and so delicious. I think there was sea bass and duck meat.

Finally, I felt satisfied with eating, because as an Asian, my diet isn’t hummus, falafel, shawarma, shakshuka… I need something …else! Haha!

Plus, if you want to eat something more formal, it’d cost at least 100NIS, yet there won’t be so many choices … this is just incredible!

Drinks were probably billed separately (with room number), by the way, really not a good time to drink Corona beer -_-

Facilities 2

Let’s see what it looks like during the day! Remember these two chairs? Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, you could see the synagogue, market, and village outside …

The scenery on the second floor ~ Super super, super worth staying here! (Even just for sitting here!)

The fish pond during the day. Is there a sense of confusion in time and space?

Life is a gift. Hehe!

You can walk out from the glass window behind the fish pond!

More seating area, I guess it’s a part of the cafe. I heard that there will be new restaurants in the future!

The menu. Even if you are not staying here, come for coffee! The latte is only 14NIS!

A gym is somewhere here. And a swimming pool!!

In a short distance (Magdala is not that big), you’d see the prayer center, which is built over the ancient harbor!  Very cool!

When you stay here, you can come here as you like, even after the business hours, and I guess you don’t need to pay extra for the ticket.

Let’s walk to the lake, but not an ordinary lake! It’s the Sea of Galilee! (It’s a lake) If you can spot a little bit of blue, that’s the lake ~ how interesting!

This is a small worship corner, it is very suitable for groups to come here for the morning prayer!

You can read more about the Magdala archaeological park here! I wrote about it 1-2 years ago. So this is the 1st-century synagogue where Jesus/Yeshua taught! Behind it, it’s the Magdala Hotel!

At first, the prayer center was meant to be built here, closer to the road. When the foundation was dug, wait, an ancient synagogue was found!

Isn’t this a miracle?

And we found Magdala!!! Incredible! In order to maintain precious archeological findings, the blueprint of the Magdalen Hotel and the location of the prayer center had to be modified to what we see today.

Breakfast

Breakfast buffet is open from 6: 30 ~ 09: 00, basically most people come with the group, so it’s super quiet after 7: 30 ~

There are many breakfast options too!

Eat your veggies, even in the morning, it’s good for your health. Haha!

For the hot food, there are three kinds of eggs ~

The special feature of breakfast here is that the coffee is served by the waiter (and they are super polite), and it is really good American coffee!

My happy breakfast!

Conclusion

The standard, the service, the quality, the room for this price, I’d say it’s the most amazing accommodation you’d see in the Tiberias area.  If you have budget, I really recommend it!

I can see how this place will be packed with tour groups, and it will be difficult to reserve a room. In fact, I don’t need to predict, just go online and see how many dates are already blocked out, and the Magdala Hotel has opened just for 2 months! Incredible!

If your group is taking you here, you are lucky! This is definitely the best place to stay in Galilee! Everything is either new or 2000 years old!

I loved this place!

By the way, I heard that a hostel will/might be built in the near future, in the basement of the Magdala Hotel because there are many hikers in the area. I hope this plan will work out

Official website: https://magdalahotel.com

When you take this bus called sherut, it takes you to the Allenby border, the most popular border between Jerusalem and Amman. It takes about 1 hour. Easy transportation option.

So where’s this Sultan Suleiman Bus Station?

Transportation: Jerusalem to Amman by Bus (Sherut)

First, take this 10-seater sherut in Jerusalem.  It takes about 40 minutes to the border. Make sure you have exit tax ready in shekels.  Be sure you have a Jordanian visa or Jordan pass. Pay 11JOD for the shuttle bus between borders. It costs another 25JOD to go to Amman by taxi from the border.

The whole trip will take at least 4 hours. (1 hour to Allenby border, 1-2 hours to cross, 1 hour to reach Amman.)

For details, see: Amman to Jerusalem by Jett Bus (via Allenby)

 Bus Fare

The bus fare costs 42NIS. And for luggage 5NIS. Cash only. No reservation needed in advance.

 Sherut Timetable

When you are in the Middle East, get used to the fact that there’s no timetable!  It leaves from 7 AM, every 15-20 minutes or when it’s full.

• The last bus leaves at 1 pm on regular days
• Or at 10 AM on Friday and Saturday

The Sultan Suleiman Bus Station

The entrance to the Sultan Suleiman Bus Station is across Damascus Gate, and near The Golden Walls Hotel.

See the hotel? Enter from here!

Here’s the entrance. I know it’s weird.

So the bus station is basically the parking. And the ticket office is behind the vans.

 About Israeli Exit Tax

Allenby border charges 181NIS to exit.  You pay 5NIS for service fee, which you can save by paying in advance on borderpay.il or from the post office.

Every border charges border exit tax differently, for details please see Israeli-Jordanian Border Crossing.

 Do I need a visa for Jordan?

Most of us can get into Jordan through Jordan Pass. If you previously used this border to arrive in Israel, you don’t need another visa to return Jordan.

How many days do I need in Jordan?

I guess you need 3-4 days minimum! If you don’t have much time, it’s a good idea to go with Abraham Tours (featured in Lonely Planet, a very well-known and well-established brand).  You cross the border faster in a group. Their 3-day package takes you to Petra, Wadi Rum (beautiful stars at night and jeep tour included!), Amman and Jerash. The tour leaves from Jerusalem and costs $560. If you are in a hurry, there’s another 2-day tour and costs $350. If you are new to backpacking in the Middle East, this is the easiest option!  

The conclusion… go for it!

Location

It’s close to Bezalel market, you’d see it as you come from carmel market heading to Dizengoff square.

The shop is tiny, but seating is still available. I guess the little shop can handle 12-16 dine-in customers!

Well, it’s always busy!

Menu

The menu is on the wall. 6NIS for a falafel!!  Additionally you can buy grape juice for 4NIS.

So, the concern is… why is it so cheap?

Well, with this price, it pretty much guarantees good business. And I actually find their falafel very good in taste and quality. You’d find 6-8 falafel balls, and you actually taste falafel till the very last bite!  It’s pretty solid!! And only for 6NIS!

Taim! (Delicious in Hebrew)

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!

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

Booking &Eldan Car Rental Fees (2019 Feb)

Simply go to Eldan’s Website to make a reservation：https://rent.eldan.co.il/en

The price was really good! For 4 days in February, the cheapest option starts at $96! So that’s $24 a day… including CDW insurance! 

We chose a car from Group E.  The rental fee for 4 days was $112, which means $28 a day.

By the way, the rental system is based on 24 hours. My contract started from Sunday afternoon at 5:30 pm till Thursday afternoon at 5 pm, and this is considered 4 days instead of 5 days!

This is our voucher, this email was immediately sent after making the reservation:

Eldan Car Rental Office

Eldan’s office is located on 24 King David～ Keep in mind that while it’s easy to find this office, it is super hard to find the parking…

No, it is not in the same place… Car rental office and parking garage are separated… 

Finishing Document Procedure at Eldan’s Office

You need to provide the staff with the following documents:

1. Your Reservation Number (from the booking voucher)

2. Driver’s License AND International Driving Permit

3. Driver’s Passport and the blue entry card

Money Saving Tips: Don’t lose your blue entry card!

You’ll receive a blue entry card when you arrive in Israel.  And you will not have any problem leaving Israel if you lose it…. BUT, if you don’t have this blue entry card with you when renting a car or staying in a hotel, you will likely be requested to pay Israeli’s 17% VAT!

After the staff scans all your documents, you’ll see the contract, and you’ll sign it. You’ll go over some reminders, and maybe the staff will ask you whether you’d want to purchase SCDW. (Read more about CDW and SCDW in Israel here)

I bought my insurance from a third party insurance company, and instead of paying Eldan $68 extra for SCDW, I only spent $12… (leave me a message if you want to know which company it was)

Picking Up Your Car (Return Your Car Here too)

You’d receive the instruction on finding the parking garage over email, but… unless you already know what you are looking for, I found it hard to read this instruction.

The location is sort of behind YMCA, but there are some stairs… just look around and ask someone there.

Once you found the entrance to the parking, go down via elevator. And look to your right!

There’s this tiny office. Well, that’s Eldan.

Our car group was Peugeot 208 (E), and we got this car. This was their “cleanest” car!  The staff here would go over the check-up with you, and she/he would “describe” the dents and scars with words, and then she/he would circle the damages on a tiny form.  Even with the cleanest car, I think she marked pretty much all places…

You can put on the English subtitle to watch my vlog

When you return the car, you need to come back here. The drive lanes in this parking are tiny… it’s okay because we are from Asia, and my aunt could manage this. But if you are used to driving in congested cities, well, I don’t know what you’d do. Just keep in mind that Israeli are not patient and they are generous in using horns.

I didn’t have any problem returning the car It was quick and easy!

By the way, if you use the only toll road in Israel, you have to pay the toll and service fee to the car company. The service fee is normally $18-$20. And I got the bill from Eldan after 3 weeks.

The Definition of Shabbat

Shabbat, or Sabbath, starts from Friday evening to Saturday evening. Public transportation stops from 3 PM on Friday to 9 PM on Saturday.  It’s possible that you just found the cheapest air ticket to Israel… because you are arriving on Shabbat hours!

Transportation Option From Tel Aviv

By the way, Tel Aviv is only 15km to the airport! These are the options that you have on a Shabbat, and how to arrange them.

1.NEW!Abraham’s Airport Shuttle

This is a new service from Abraham Tours, a well-reputed tour company in Israel. The shuttle bus leaves every 2 hours, on every day including Shabbat. You need to book at least 12 hours ahead. Expect to pay ₪70 ($20).

2.Taxi

From the airport, you will see taxis from the taxi stand, expect to pay ₪150 ($40).  There’s no sherut (shared taxi) option.

From Tel Aviv, just ask your hotel reception to assist you in getting a taxi.

3.Flo Taxi?

The other option is by taking Flo Shuttle. It costs $17 per head and you should book advance online. But people don’t recommend it on TripAdvisor as they never show up. So it looks like from on their website, they no longer offer the Airport to Tel Aviv route.

Transportation Option From Jerusalem

Jerusalem is 52km to the airport! These are the options that you have on a Shabbat, and how to arrange them.

1. Sherut Taxi (Cheapest Option)

Since there is no public transportation option on Shabbat, your next option is taking a sherut taxi. It’s like a mini-van, and they do school bus style.

From the airport, you will see sherut taxis from the taxi stand, expect to pay ₪69($19). Or you can pay online (₪75) to Abraham Tours in advance, the taxi will drop you to Abraham Hostel in downtown Jerusalem.

From Jerusalem, just ask your hotel reception to assist you in arranging a sherut pickup.

2.Taxi

From the airport, you will see taxis from the taxi stand, expect to pay ₪273($80). (On regular days it is ₪228)

From Jerusalem, just ask your hotel reception to assist you in getting a taxi.

3.Airport Bus 485

Though there’s no train on Friday, the 485 airport bus runs till 2-3pm. Check their website for schedule. And the bus resumes service on Saturday around 7 pm. A ride costs 16NIS.

Conclusion

If you haven’t booked your air ticket, try not to arrive on a Shabbatas your transportation options are limited to private services. But it’s not the end of the world, as you only need to pay a bit more to hire taxi.