Home > Travel > Middle East > Israel > Tel Aviv > Tel Aviv Experience > Tel-Aviv (Israel) > Review
No image available

User Review

for Tel-Aviv (Israel)
See next review "Tel Aviv hot spots..."
4 Stars Tel-Aviv,
14 of 14 Ciao Users found the following review helpful See ratings
Recommendable: Yes

Advantages Friendly people, superb food, sun!

Disadvantages Risks of bombings

Detailed Rating

Value for Money
Sightseeing
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
Family Friendly

The Author

Smiler_1980

Author's newest reviews

I have visited Tel-Aviv on business on a number of occasions. Often I spend time at the Sheraton Moriah hotel due to preferential rates our company gets through the Israeli Export institute. I advise if you are travelling to Tel-Aviv on business that you make enquiries.

The currency in Israel is the New Israeli Shekel (NIS). The exchange rate at the time of writing this review is 8.2 NIS to £1. Take time to check the online currency exchange page www.xe.com for up to date rates.

The city of Tel-Aviv is located on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean. The city has a great beach which is easily accessible and has a number of bars both on the beach and also set back. I advise that if you visit the city take time to watch the sun set over the Mediterranean in one of the many bars that fringe the sea front.

Many people in the city speak English and I do not find any major problems in being understood. Non-the less I have began to take lessons in Hebrew which greatly helps you understanding of the culture.

Personal Experience

I have been to Israel 4 times now, and spent approximately 3 months there. I love the city and find it friendly and ironically safe.

I say ironically as I have had two close brushes with suicide bombers. The first was in Mike's place in 2003. I had spent a night in the bar located on the sea front and next to the US embassy. I had imbibed far too much alcohol and I had neglected to pay for my last drink. This had played on my mind the next day and I decided to return the next night to settle my tab. For some reason I had a double take when I got to the door and something told me not to go in. As I walked round the corner and entered a neighbouring bar a heard a huge explosion, which I was later to find out was a British born suicide bomber killing a handful of people. This was a terrible experience and my sympathy goes out to the relatives of those who died.

I was also in Tel Aviv in 2005 and was close to the bomb at the Stage Nightclub. Strangely I was stood in exactly the same place where I was with my previous experience two years previously.

I advise caution when you visit Israel. I advise avoiding crowded places, and areas that are clearly targets for terrorists.

Mike's Place

Mike's Place is an excellent bar with friendly staff that help you feel welcome when you are far from home. Even after my experiences I know a number of people at Mike's Place and have returned many times since, considering myself a regular when I am in Tel-Aviv. The live blues nights are superb and the food selection is good with hefty portions. This is one of the few places you can find bacon in Tel-Aviv!

Eating Out

Eating out in Israel is a great experience. Due to the influx of immigrants from across the world the selection of food in Israel is astonishing. The quality of food is also superb and there is something for everyone. Standard fast food in Israel is falafel (a ball of fried chick peas) which is served in a small, hot pita bread with a selection of salads. Also on the menu is schwarma, a kebab that is a mixture of meat and fat served in a similar way to falafel. Personally I am not fond of schwarma.

Summary

I find Tel-Aviv a very pleasant city to work in. The Mediterranean climate and the sea is complimented by a vibrant friendly city life. Tel-Aviv can be a base for tourists to travel to the rest of the country, however I also recommend a few nights in the city itself.

Caution is advised in public places as the security situation is still unfortunately not ideal.

I am looking forward to my next visit to Tel Aviv in March 2006.


Rate this User Review

How helpful was this review to you? Rating guidelines

Attention, this is the first review from this author

Instead of giving a negative rating, consider:

  • Help this member by giving your advice

  • Report fraud (for example plagiarism) or other issue with the review to the Ciao support team

Activate low rating buttons

Add your comment

 Post comment  Post comment

JavaScript should be enabled to rate or post a comment.

Comments

Maybe you have a question about Tel-Aviv (Israel)? Ask here
Previous page Next page Page 1 of 4 | 1 - 5 out of 16 comments
  • Dan_ep 29/05/2006 10:51
    Rated this review as
    Very Helpful

    Ive just got back from Tel Aviv - had a great time. The people are very cool and found it pretty safe. I found ELAL to be a very decent airline too! Dan.

  • snowflake5 09/02/2006 14:09
    Rated this review as
    Very Helpful
  • Susie-34668 09/02/2006 05:38
    Rated this review as
    Helpful
  • sandemp 09/02/2006 02:02
    Rated this review as
    Helpful
  • belfin 08/02/2006 18:18
    Rated this review as
    Very Helpful

    Much better attempt - good to see you are taking advice on board as you go along. Belinda

Previous page Next page Page 1 of 4 | 1 - 5 out of 16 comments

More reviews

for Tel-Aviv (Israel)

Similar Offers

for Tel-Aviv (Israel)