Israel Tours by Rent-a-Guide

New features by Rent a Guide

2010-05-13T17:27:00.002+03:00

We have added a new index of Israel Tours' guides who work with us. Click on the link to find more information about the guides and to learn about them in their profiles.

Another new feature is our international website which includes information about our day tours in other languages (Spanish, French, Russian and German). The tours are available in these languages on a regular basis.

Other languages and tours are also available on a private tour basis.

We would love to hear comments and if you find any mistake, please contact us here or through our main website.

Israel Tours' tools and info

2010-04-22T14:08:00.004+03:00

We're working on adding a few useful tools for Israel Tours. These tools are free to use, link to, download or print and we would love to hear comments for the existing tools or requests for new tools we can offer.

Beside these tools, we are working at the moment on "Tours Israel" - free printable travel guide with basic knowledge about Israel: geography, climate, culture, transportation, History, sports, visa requirements and more.

Religion and Jerusalem

2010-03-25T15:45:00.001+02:00

Many Israel Tours invole Jerusalem, as it's one of the most famous cities in the world. With the roots of all Abrahamic religions and the western culture and traditions attached to the city and its stories.

In the Jewish tradition, it is the most important place on earth, being the place where the monotheist beliefs were founded, the city where the first and second Jewish temples were built on Mount Moriah (temple mount) - the same mountain from the "Binding of Isaac" story - and later destroyed, and where Jews prayed for 2000 years to built the Jewish land again. Jerusalem also known by its name Zion and from that came Zionism.
The Christians, who believe in the "Old testament", have their own (and sometimes different) version of events since the destruction of the Jewish temple: Jesus' Via Delarosa - the way of suffering, Jesus' crucifixion, the crusades and the Apocalypse in the future.

In the Islamic tradition, Jerusalem is the third holiest place - after Meca and Medina. It is believed to be the location of Muhammad's miraculous journey.

These days are the best time to visit Jerusalem. Regardless of the violent eruptions from time to time, the city is safer than it ever was. Muslims control the Temple Mount - Haram-a-Shariff, Christians control the Churches and Jews control the Western Wall - the Kotel.

Israel tourism and your safety

2010-02-24T16:24:00.001+02:00

Unfortunately, most of the time, Israel's name is heard on the international news not for Israel Tours but whenever there is some war going on. This fact helps in creating an image of a country where you have to look for cover when you walk the streets, look above for a missile and pray that tomorrow comes...

The reality is very far from that; and I will give a few surprising examples without getting into the reasons or any other political issue (taken from the CIA world factbook):

Israel "Death rate" is 177th in a list of 222 states where no western state has a better ranking
Life expectancy at birth - Israel is in the 12th place in the world
Israel area is only 21,642 sq km, ranking 152 in the world, or putting it better, as the CIA world factbook did: "slightly smaller than New Jersey"
Net migration rate - 2.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population - 36th in the world, ahead of France, Italy or United Kingdom.

These are a few samples but I can see why the image is very different, migration rate is not news and so are people who don't die...
I suggest you do one thing, ask people who visited Israel what they think about the country, about the history feelings you get when you walk the old streets of Jerusalem, the Sunset in the beach of the very liberal Tel Aviv, the Red Sea corals in Eilat or the green forests of the Galilee.

If you don't know anyone who can tell you about Israel and the feeling of safety you have here, try these unbiased (most probably) links:

from travelpod
from tripadvisor
(both sites are categorized by location / "things to do" and more)

After you finish reading, here is where you can book your next Israeli tour.

Rent a Guide Israel tourism portal

2010-02-04T17:37:00.002+02:00

At the moment I am working on creating a portal for our company - Rent-a-Guide. Besides the information you can find about our tour services, it will also have an added value to people who come for Israel Tours, business, pilgrimage, Jewish heritage, vacation.

The website will include free download pocket dictionaries, recommendations, tips for travelers between many other things which - according to my own experience - are very useful when you travel.

I would like to hear any suggestion for our network; what else do you think a tourist may find helpful? what kind of information - beside the regular news and weather - you would like to get from these kind of project?

Feel free to suggest anything (reasonable...).

Tel Aviv and Jerusalem

2010-01-28T17:32:00.001+02:00

If you're interested in Israel Tours, then as someone who spent most of his life in Jerusalem and heard about the night life of Tel-Aviv, I have to say: it's all you heard of and more;

But first, a few words; In Jerusalem, though being the biggest city in Israel, the population is - you must have heard about it - very "complicated", Arabs who don't know what country they belong to, Arabs who hold Israeli nationality, Arabs who don't care about nationality, Orthodox Jewish communities who don't believe the state of Israel should exist; Orthodox Jewish who believe it should but they don't have to help; religious Jews who think the Israeli state is the beginning of the "Geula" - the Jewish Mashiah coming; Small christian communities from all churches and many who don't care about politics or religion.
And this is just the beginning...

This situation means that in almost every neighborhood of the Jewish capital, there are some limitation so no religion will be offended.

So, there are a few areas in the city, each has its magic but the differences between them are amazing.

One example: one of the most religious (Jewish) areas in the city is the "Geula" neighborhood which is very close to Jaffa st. - where you can find bars who close their doors at dawn. Jaffa st. is connected to the old city (It begins in Jaffa Gate) where you will find one of the biggest Muslim communities in Israel.

And this is just an example...

Tel Aviv is very different, the population is more or less homogeneous and very tolerant.

As a result; in Jerusalem there are a few areas in which you can find restaurants, bars and clubs. In tel-Aviv, you can find these places all over the city and unlike many European cosmopolitan cities, in TelAviv, you can find a bar in 3:30am...

Sorry for the mess in this post, but well, we have a messy country. :-)

My Jerusalem

2010-01-20T03:54:00.002+02:00

I was born and raised in this beautiful city. I have to say that though I have traveled a few times, to a few places, I still think Jerusalem is one of the most interesting and beautiful places in the world.

And now to some Israel Tours I recommend as a Yerushalmi (Jerusalem native):

Ein Karem

(or Ein Kerem - עין כרם)
The area surrounding Ein Kerem is mostly green, as it is a part of the forests in southwest Jerusalem. The buildings are a mixture of Arab houses, Christian churches and monasteries, and Jewish architecture. There are many attractions in the area; beside the amazing scenery, there are the religous places for the believers and the great food for the rest.

Mishkenot Sha'ananim

(משכנות שאננים)
The first Jewish neighborhood outside the old city walls. Sitting on a hill directly across from Mount Zion. For history of the place and events try this link.

In Mishkenot Sha'ananim you can find beautiful streets, a combination of European architecture and a "new" - 1870's "Israeli style". There are many restaurants and cafes, art galleries and much more.

It is also one of the most romantic places I know.

Jerusalem - More than just beauty

2010-01-18T11:26:00.002+02:00

Jerusalem, that hosts many of our Israel Tours, is the biggest city in Israel in both population and area.

Jerusalem is known as one of the oldest cities in the world. The city has been the Judaism's spiritual center since 1000-2000 BCE. It may be considered also as the birthplace of Christianity and has a major significance in the Islam.

Jerusalem has one of the best climates in the world, low humidity and stable temperatures with the best summer breeze you will ever feel (try to seat near the old city walls in a June afternoon) and beautiful mountains and forests in the near area.

The amazing Jerusalem at sunset

To be continued...

Interesting Israeli websites

2010-01-12T16:35:00.001+02:00

If you're interested in Israel Tours, here are links to some of the most famous places in Israel - the known ones as well as those that should be known ones:

The beautiful Dead Sea is now one of the finalists in the New7Wonders of Nature, Feel free to add your vote.
In IOLR website (Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research), you can find all the information for sustainable use and protection of Israel's marine, coastal and freshwater resources. So, if you are in to diving, snorkeling, sailing etc. this is a good place to start.
Ein-Gedi website - Lush with wild beauty, located in the Judean Desert, overlooking the Dead Sea is the Ein Gedi reservation, once in a while you can even see one of the last remaining Israeli leopards in the area.
Archeological News - Check the latest news from ancient times. Some of the earliest human civilization sites are discovered in Israel. Here you can learn all about them.

Places to see in Israel

2010-01-10T13:37:00.002+02:00

Our Israel Tours can take you to the most* visited areas in Israel:

Jerusalem

(Hebrew :ירושלים - Yerushalaim)

The capital of Israel, Considered to be the holiest place to the Jewish and Christian religions and the third holiest site in the eyes of the Muslims. The old city is filled with churches (Church of the Apostles, Church of the Holy Sepulchre and others), synagogues (Hurva Synagogue, Tiferes Yisrael etc.), mosques (Al-Aqsa, Mosque of Omar) and remains from thousands of years of inhabitation. The new city is the biggest city in Israel and it has something to offer for everyone: architecture, religion, nature and much more.

In the area - The old city, The Knesset (- Israeli parliament), The wailing wall, Jerusalem Forest and much more.

The dead sea

(Hebrew: ים המלח - Yam Hamelah - lit. means Sea of Salt)

At 422 metres below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest elevation on the Earth's surface (- on dry land). With its high salinity - which makes for a harsh environment - animals cannot flourish in the area. The minerals in the water are believed to have a lot of health effects. The region's stable climate have made it a popular center for several types of therapies. The Dead Sea with its beautiful scenery, medical and therapeutic effects, and wide selection of accommodations is the second most visited place in Israel.

In the area - Dead Sea, Ein Gedi, Massada, Qumran, Jericho and many other places anyone can enjoy!

Tiberias

Tiberias (Hebrew: טבריה, Tverya / Tveria) is a city in the north of Israel, on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee - the biggest freshwater lake in Israel. (כינרת Lake Kinneret) it is known as one of the Judaism four holy cities (the others are Jerusalem, Safed and Hebron) and it is also important to the Christian religion (According to tradition, Jesus performed miracles in the Tiberias area).

In the area - hot springs, beach hotels, Water parks, architecture, The Jordan river and more.

Galilee

The Galilee (Hebrew: הגליל‎ haGalil) is a large region in northern Israel. It is known for its historical events, beautiful scenery, one of the largest bird migrations and even great wines.

The Galilee includes two of the holiest Jewish cities: Safed and Tiberias. Some of the most important places in the Christian story are located in the Galilee; Nazareth, Megiddo (Armageddon - Ar-Mageddon - Har Megiddo= lit. mount of Megiddo), Sea of Galilee and others.

In the area: Mount Hermon, Mount Tabor, Jezreel Valley, Hulah Valley and much more.

* Statistic information and images taken from the The Israeli Ministry of Tourism.

Israel - Most popular places

2010-01-05T11:57:00.001+02:00

Some of our Israel Tours will take you to the most* visited tourist spots:

1. The wailing wall

- The western wall - considered to be the only remaining part of the ancient Jewish temple (Hakotel Hamaaravi, the Kotel הכותל)

2. Old Jerusalem's Jewish quarter

- One of the four quarters of old Jerusalem (Hebrew - Harova hayehudi, הרובע היהודי). The others are Armenian, Christian and Muslim).

3. Mount of olives

-One of the holiest places for the three monotheist religions (Hebrew - Har hazeitim - הר הזיתים). image - Church of Maria Magdalena on Mt. of Olives)

4. Church of the Holy Sepulchre

- (or Church of the Resurrection or Golgotha)
- Part of the Via Dolorosa - the last station of Jesus' Way of Suffering.

5. Via Dolorosa

- traditionally held to be the Way of the Cross - Jesus' way to his crucifixion with fourteen stations, starts inside the Lions' Gate (St. Stephen's Gate).

* Statistic Information taken from the The Israeli Ministry of Tourism.

Israel Tours

2010-01-04T13:20:00.001+02:00

Welcome to Israel-travels blog!

Israel Tours by Rent-a-Guide.com will let you travel in the Holy land. In this blog you will find all you need for your next visit to Israel, including: recommendations for tours in Israel, our professional tour guides' favorite places, things to do, Tips , Biblical tours, Christian and Jewish tours and much more.

We'd love to hear your comments for our blog.

Thank you and enjoy your visit to Israel:

Rent a Guide team

* The images on this website are taken with permission from The Israeli Ministry of Tourism.