We went to Eilat for our honeymoon in March 2006. I was 7 months pregnant at the time so knew I would be limited to do all activities, but this wouldn't stop my husband.
I found booking the holiday hard as their are only a few operators that go to Israel, but it is getting easier to find ... Read review
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Advantages: relaxing, friendly, clean, lots to do Disadvantages: long flight, guns in view, airport politics
We went to Eilat for our honeymoon in March 2006. I was 7 months pregnant at the time so knew I would be limited to do all activities, but this wouldn't stop my husband.
I found booking the holiday hard as their are only a few operators that go to Israel, but it is getting easier to find them. I went through a travel agent to get some brouchers for pictures and ideas, and looked through the internet for more information. We eventually ... ...helpful.
As we live in the East Midlands we had to travel to Luton to get a very early morning flight, as again, not that many airports fly to Israel yet. But it is getting more popular.
The flight was fine, though the seats were typical airplane style... small, uncomfortable and cramped. The food was nice on the plane, but really they should accomodate a flight if that distance a lot better, so unless you upgrade, be ... more
We went to Eilat for our honeymoon in March 2006. I was 7 months pregnant at the time so knew I would be limited to do all activities, but this wouldn't stop my husband.
I found booking the holiday hard as their are only a few operators that go to Israel, but it is getting easier to find them. I went through a travel agent to get some brouchers for pictures and ideas, and looked through the internet for more information. We eventually booked through a specialist Israel operator, and they were extreamely helpful.
As we live in the East Midlands we had to travel to Luton to get a very early morning flight, as again, not that many airports fly to Israel yet. But it is getting more popular.
The flight was fine, though the seats were typical airplane style... small, uncomfortable and cramped. The food was nice on the plane, but really they should accomodate a flight if that distance a lot better, so unless you upgrade, be prepared for stiff legs..
Dead Sea
Bathing in the salty, mineral rich waters of the Dead Sea was a surreal experience and ideal for revitalising a tired body. We first went in the spa part.... here there was different pools, one where you totally float due to the minerals in it.. but it does turn some jewellery a funny colour (ladies you can tell if your man has bought you cheap things if they change colour here) so maybe taking items of value off would be a good idea.
Next we had to cover ourselves in thick mud (very cold) and walk down to the sea. The muds dries as you are walking the short distance and yo u feel all wrapped up and tight by the time yo u get there. Then you litterally sit in the water, lift your legs and float.. how relaxing is that... The place looks like a mass of floating bodies, all enjoying the relaxation. Ideally you try and wash the dried mud off when you want to come out.. but its tough stuff and gets everywhere. Showers are available.. and if you have a good friend to help get it off this helps as well. It leaves your skin very soft and you feeling relaxed.
Dolphin Swim
This is lovely, you go to a sanctuary where the dolphins are free to swim back to freedom if they want to... but they don't as life is so good there. A great place for the family for the day it has a beach and restaurant and you can swim with the dolphins or just up to the netting if you are nervous(or pregnant). You can watch and touch the animals from pontoons around the site which is lovely.
People/Hotel Staff
We found people to be very friendly, and the hotel staff so eager to please. Anything you needed people seemed very accomodating for
Shopping
There are lovely outdoor markets during the day and night to look at and buy local items or presents. There is a large shopping centre (a bit like Meadowhall in Sheffield) which was good value for money.. The only tobacconist was in this centre and they are very helpful.
Airport
When you arrive in Israel you are processed through a strict check in procedure, PLEASE BE AWARE IF YOU HAVE A STAMP FROM EGYPT OR TURKEY IN YOUR PASSPORT THEY WILL ASK ALOT OF QUESTIONS. I had been to egypt the previous year and they interrogated me as to why I was now in Israel. It is important to remember they are only protecting their own country, but they do not really have a sense of humour.. so keep your conversation with Airport staff very short. When you leave the country expect to wait quite a while to get through customs before checking in.. they will open your suitcase 90% of the time and check everything, so keep receipts handy. Again they ask alot of questions so be prepared to be calm and get through it as easily as you can. Any gold that you buy must be in clear bags and shown.
Guns
Be prepared to see alot of people wearing guns. We were eating dinner one night in a mexican restaurant when 4 soldiers sat down next to us. After they ordered their meal they took their jackets off and put some very large weapons on the table next to them.. This could be quite scary for some people. But even the hotel staff and other security officers carry guns, and we were told... do not hesitate to use them when needed
Hotels/Food
All hotels we visited and the one we stayed in were exceptionally clean and to a high standard. The food was lovely, though not cheap, but if you go self catering you will find loads of restaurants to eat in that are reasonably priced and offer a great range of food.
NIghtlife
We found it to be lively and friendly. Their are beach bars for relaxing in, or livelier places for dancing the night away. Again remember the alcohol is not cheap their but worth the price for the scenery at night whilst you relax and unwind
Children
Although we did not take our 12 year old son with us I would definately go back there with him.. There is alot to do, including a fair at night along the beach front. Hotels offer a range of entertainment during the day and night.
Advantages: An unusual place for winter sun, good water activities Disadvantages: Guns on display and getting home.
...find the album.
~Summary~
Eilat was an unusual destination of me, a last minute deal in December 1999 to get away from the millennium fever that was gripping the England at that time. It was a strange holiday in that I had a good time diving and swimming in the sea, but I had some difficulty due to my current style of living and a few moments of misunderstandings between the locals and me.
~Introduction~
Eilat was built to secure Israel an access ... ...soil, but handed over later. Eilat has a very small airport in the centre of town, but this is usually used for smaller internal flights. It has numerous hotels and apartments, there is an enclosed shopping precinct and a smattering of restaurants. There are fewer amenities as you head away from the beach and the main part of town. As a resort it is not fantastic, but it is not an over built mass of hotels. When I was there in 2000 there were several ...
buzzard_cad 12.07.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Eilat (Israel)
Advantages: sea, sun and more if affinities Disadvantages: lack of culture
...choking and splendid desert. From Eilat one can leave to go to Jordan and to visit this splendid site
called Petra, and which is currently deserted by the tourists due
to unfavourable geopolitical and economic situation.
Now, Eilat itself.
A few decades ago, Eilat was simply nothing; and from the desert and the
sea was born this seaside resort without heart, whose main interest is that one does not fear there (or little) the dangers which make ... ...are fresh and pleasant.
Eilat has 5 distinct beaches which go from fine sand to the rollers.
If you are fortunate, offer yourself a luxual hotel on the northern beach.
For the smallest budgets, there are more accessible hotels close to
the marina (in particular out of season), rent a cheap bungalow or go
campin, more to the east.
6 km fromthe center Shmurat Almogim, the coral reserve. I found
it really spectacular and besides it was said to ...
sheli 12.09.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Eilat (Israel)
Advantages: see article Disadvantages: see article
...years since I’ve been to Eilat but I still have very fond memories of the modern Israel. I backpacked around Egypt and Israel and Eilat was my last port of call. As with all backpackers after three months of travelling I was broke, Eilat was a good place to find casual work.
The thing that I loved about Eilat, which kept me there for quite some time, was the diving. I did my diving licence in the Red Sea, which was out of this world, its like ... ...need a stomach of steel to eat in some of the local cafes.
If you do go to Eilat you will enjoy the beaches are nice and the people friendly. If you drive over the zebra crossings there they were all painted by yours truly, paid the bills I guess. ...
cicymru 05.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Eilat (Israel)
Advantages: Excellent diving and cheap CDs Disadvantages: Eating out in restaurants is pretty expensive
...main reason for going to Eilat was to dive in the Red Sea. We had surfed the internet prior to leaving to find ourselves a dive school and we decided that Lucky Divers seemed the friendliest and best value for money. The Red Sea is spectacular to dive in. As soon as you enter the water you are surrounded by fish. Near the end of our week's holiday we did a 'dolphin dive'. This consisted of diving in an enclosure where wild dolphins are able to go ... ...or quizzes. We thoroughly enjoyed Eilat and we are looking forward to going back at some stage. We only paid £199 for our holiday because we went at the end of January but it tends to be pretty expensive to go on a package otherwise. Nevertheless, I would highly recommend Eilat as a holiday resort. ...
rustifer 09.02.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Eilat (Israel)
Advantages: Hot weather, water sports, and great hotels. Disadvantages: All entertainment costs money!
...all over the place, but Eilat is quite the opposite. It attracts 90 thousand tourists a year, but not all are Jewish. This is for many reasons. A key factor of Eilats popularity, is that even in winter, the temperature rarely drops below 25 degrees, and is almost always sunny. In the summer, the temp, rarely drops below 35 degrees! Secondly, there are many hotels, all incredibly fancy, reasuringly expensive, and luxurious, ranging from 3 to 5 stars. ... ...best hotels in Eilat over the last decade or so, which is why all are made to look, and be as good as possible. My personal favourite hotel in this resort is the "Royal beach" hotel, with its own beach, watersports swimming pools, top notch restaurants, and luxury rooms.
Eilat is also known for its wonderful range of water sports. From Jet skiing, and water skiing, to banana boating and paragliding, Eilat has it all, for a reasonable price. Snorkeling ...
zak-2 19.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Eilat (Israel)
Value for Money
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
Family Friendly
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Advantages: Hours of exploration if you like archaeology and some spectacular rock formations Disadvantages: A lot of walking
~Introduction~
Petra is the ruined capital city of the Nabataeans Arabs, it was built in the 3rd century BC by carving the city out of the cliffs and rocks. It is located some 262km or 160 miles south of Amman. A Victorian traveller Dean Burgon described Petra as ' a rose-red city half as old a time'. The most famous ruin is El Khazneh (Treasury), which was used as the entrance to the caverns of the Holy Grail in the film 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'. El Khazneh is only one of a number a temple type structures in Petra alongside other smaller caves and holes that have been dug out of the rocks.
~Arriving in Petra~
I arrived from Eilat in Israel on a tour bus. The journey included a stop at the Israel/Jordan border, and long drive across the desert to Petra. The whole trip around Petra was done in the course of one day ...
buzzard_cad 18.07.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Petra (Jordan)
