AP Features, August 7th, 2007
A new edition of the Lonely Planet book on "Israel & the Palestinian Territories" can help you plan a trip to the area - and can even help you explain to others why you're going.
"Friends and relatives will be more than perplexed by your choice of holiday destination, given the region's reputation for terror and warfare," the introduction states. "Remind them that casualties due to traffic accidents back home occur more frequently than terror attacks in Israel and the Palestinian Territories."
But the book, which sells for $21.99, also warns that, "given the tumultuous nature of the country, keep tabs on security and be flexible with travel plans in case a particular area becomes off limits."
The guidebook says that prices tend to be high in Israel, so plan on spending as much as you would in most Western countries. On the other hand, it's a small country, so you can cover a lot of ground in a short time, and local transportation won't take up too much of your budget.
The book also says that very little pre-planning is necessary: "You could literally fly there on a whim and organize as you go."
Best times to go are April, May, September and October, when temperatures are mild. November and March are pleasant but rainy. Winter can be chilly with heavy rain on the coast and frost in the highlands.
The book says that while Gaza is inaccessible to the casual tourist, you can join a tour to see the West Bank. Tour companies recommended by Lonely Planet include Abu Hassan Alternative Tours, and tours run by the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions.
A classic two-week itinerary recommended by Lonely Planet would include Jerusalem; Bethlehem; the Dead Sea; Masada; Tel Aviv; Jaffa; Caesarea, where you'll find one of the country's top archaeological developments; Haifa; Akko, a preserved stone city where St. Francis of Assisi and Marco Polo were once received; the jagged cliffs above the sea at Rosh HaNikra; Nazareth; the Sea of Galilee, and the ruins at Beit She'an.
