Packing List

Packing List

Your suitcase:

• Easily identifiable (luggage tags, colorful, etc.)

• Weighs no more than 50 pounds

• ID on inside and outside

• Suitcase, preferably not a travel backpack (for stacking under the bus)

• Checked at El Al (do NOT check through to Israel on your flight to NY)

• Contains your toiletries (do NOT try to take them on the plane)

• Wheels recommended

• Something you can comfortably carry up one flight of stairs by yourself

Your carry-on:

• 22x24x9 inches in dimensions (backpack works best)

• For stuff you’ll need during the day: camera, sweatshirt, iPod, etc.

• Copy of your passport (signed)

• Always a clean t-shirt, underwear, pair of socks, windbreaker/poncho

• Prescription medications, glasses

• Passport

• Any electronics (iPods, cameras, phones, etc), including chargers and cords. Valuables, including cash, should never be put into checked luggage.

General tips:

• It can be rainy, snowy and as cold as 40°F in Israel during the winter

• This may be the only time in your life you’re not judged by your clothes (pack lightly but warmly!)

• Women: Avoid carrying a purse. Carry a wallet in your front pocket or deep at the bottom of your backpack.

• TSA security rules apply to international flights. That means that liquids in containers larger than 3 ounces that are not in a quart-size zip top bag (one per passenger) are not allowed.

Do NOT bring:

• Do not bring fancy stuff or anything you would care about losing

• Laptop computers (there is no wireless internet access in your hotel)

• Drugs, alcohol, anything else illegal

General clothing

4 jeans (for hiking, for going out at night)
2 sweatshirts/ Sweaters
3 long sleeve shirts
4 short sleeve shirts
1 shorts
1 bathing suit
2 button-down shirts/long skirts (for Shabbat; knee covering required at Wall)
1 nice pair pants

1 beach towel (for swimming outside of hotels)
2 plastic bags for wet clothes (more important than you would expect!)

Undergarments (bring at least 3 extra pairs)
Socks (at least one pair a day)
Light jacket/poncho/raincoat
Hiking boots (or sturdy sneakers)
Sneakers or walking shoes (traction for walking on wet stone; with straps or laces)
Pajamas

Gloves

Flip-flops or water shoes for Dead Sea only (not good to walk around in, especially in Jerusalem; plus, it’s cold!!!)

Extras

Hat/Baseball cap

Travel alarm (but we will also be waking you up each day)
Flashlight (mini-sized, for bus)
Camera/film (bring extra film, much more expensive in Israel)
Kippah/yarmulke and a talit/prayer shawl (not required, you may want to bring them)

Journal

Nalgene bottle

Airplane backpack

Passport
Calling card
Change of clothes
Deodorant
Camera
Walkman/iPod
Toothpaste/toothbrush
Magazine, books, etc.
Snacks

Electricity converter

Shabbat Attire
We recommend modest dress for religious sites - shirts with at least short sleeves for both men and women, a skirt covering the knees for women (a jacket and tie are not necessary). Please be sure your Shabbat clothes are warm.

Out on the town/daily clothing
You can wear exactly what you'd wear here, like a t-shirt/sweatshirt, jeans, and good shoes. Comfortable walking shoes are essential. FYI - the streets are paved with stone...it's challenging to wear shoes with awkward heels/soles on uneven pavement.

Toiletries
In Israel, most of the same products they sell in America are available, although they are at a substantially higher cost.

Shampoo/conditioner
Soap
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Deodorant
Lip balm
Razor
Band-aids
Tampons/pads
Sunscreen
Tylenol/Ibuprofen
Eyeglasses/contact lenses
Anti-bacterial hand lotion/Wet-Naps (really helpful)
Prescription medicine

Other
A few more suggestions that will make your trip to Israel more comfortable:

Batteries
Walkman
Journal
Tissue Packs
Sunglasses
Photocopy of your passport
Gum/candy

Tips from previous participants

“I would take some extra food from breakfast to nosh on during the day. Ziploc bags would have been helpful to keep everything contained! Also, being out in the desert at night with almost 400 other people can get noisy. If you want to sleep, bring earplugs.” – Valerie Kolko, NC Hillel

“Bring water shoes that rocks can’t get through! My feet were killing me when we body-rafted through the river.” – Jenni Sussell, SUNY Geneseo

“Let’s see...the smartest thing I packed was probably the water shoes. Especially in the Dead Sea, there can sometimes be large buildups of salt that can cut your feet. When I went as a participant a few years ago, it was so bad that people were coming out of the water with awful bloody cuts. People can probably go to like Target and get some aqua sock type things for about $4.

As far as dumbest, I would probably say too many short sleeved shirts. It can get chilly in the winter and along with that – rainy. The best thing for students is to layer – there were days up north when I had on a long sleeved shirt, fleece, down vest, and rain coat and was still a little chilly. When it’s rainy, it chills down to the bone. For females wanting to wear skirts on Shabbat, I would suggest either wearing pants or leggings underneath. Walking around outside is definitely cold, especially if it’s rainy.

Other suggestions...people ALWAYS get sick in the winter because of the lack of sleep and cooler weather. I suggest bringing Airborne and taking it every morning with breakfast (or putting one in a water bottle). I like to remind students to keep their prescriptions in their carry-on just in case. And they should bring drugs like Immodium, Tums, etc. Also, if students want to bring an extra duffel bag to bring back souvenirs, it might be a good idea – since winter clothes definitely take up more room.” – Kyley McClain, Hillel of Rochester

“Advise people not to bring blow dryers. They all blow out the surges even if you have an adapter. Everyone on our trip had theirs broken. We even blew the fuses/lights in our room.” – Rebeccah Ratner, UNC Chapel Hill

“I brought much more underwear than I ever thought I would need. I was the only person on the trip I know who didn't have re-use dirty underwear. Dumbest thing I brought were books. Every time I tried sitting down to read there was something to do or people to meet. I really wish I brought a Nalgene bottle.” – Ross Kaplan, Tulane University

“Smartest things packed: A good camera and generous memory card (I took 250 pics and some people took twice that) and a generous sized water bottle. I wish I had an mp3 player (handy for long bus-rides when everybody else is fast asleep from too much partying).” – David Leeds, Rochester Institute of Technology

“Bring paper and a pen, particularly for the Western Wall, so you can write notes and deposit them in the cracks.” – Rachel Berman, University of Arizona

Cell Phone Rental

For your security and well-being, it is recommended that all travelers participate in the IsraelPhones Cellular Network. This plan enables our group leaders to reach all participants immediately and simultaneously in all circumstances – an advantage that has proven itself countless times with other groups.

The exclusive rates we have arranged with IsraelPhones are:

Prices do not include 15.5% Sales Tax (VAT)

FREE for your scheduled trip	Cell Phone Rental
Included*	Insurance on hardware
Free	Incoming Calls
No Charge	Caller ID
$0.16/min	Calls within the mobile network and landline phones in Israel
$0.32/min	Calls to the USA and calls out of the mobile network in Israel
Free ($20 savings!)	Delivery and pickup at Ben-Gurion Airport (group arrival/departures)

*With insurance, deductible on lost/stolen phones is $100

The phones will be delivered as you board the tour bus at Ben-Gurion airport. There will also be an IsraelPhones representative to collect the phone from you at the group departure. This option saves you the cost and hassle of arranging the receipt and return of your phone - A $20 value for each participant. Should you desire to return your phone after your group departure, there is an airport return location for your service ($7.50 charge). Details regarding extension of your rental past the official group departure date will come with the rental.

To order your phone, please complete the online order form at www.israelphones.com/hilleltaglit.htm. If you have any further questions about cellular phone rentals, please email IsraelPhones at info@israelphones.com or call the IsraelPhones U.S. office at 1-866-8-ISRAEL.