Customer Reviews

Fodor's Israel, 6th Edition (Fodor's Gold Guides)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Just back from 3 weeks in Israel and even though I was born there - this guide made it much easier to come back after 20 years. We used the guide in planing and reservations and were not disappointed with what we encountered. The Fodor's recommendations were right on the money and one of the books writers was our guide for a few days in Jerusalem - and even I (who lived there in the past) discovered a new aspects of it!
We are very pleased with the guide and will keep using it for future trips around the globe!

I spent a month in Israel recently. This Fodor's guide was the one I used of the ones I brought with me (including Fromer's, & Lonely Planet).

NOTE: "Fodor's Explorer" is the supplemental guide to this one. I've seen the two mixed up.

For organization it was the only one I could easily get acclimated to for each region. Fromer's was consistently more confusing. Lonely Planet didn't include even the basic attractions (1 -2 for every 5-6 in the other books.) In addition to organization, Fodor's attraction descriptions gave enough details to decide what was of interest, and also to make the arrangements to get there.

For restaurants both Fodor's and Fromer's had similar listings. I only tried a few, but their lists matched the one's recommended by the various hotels I stayed at. I was staying with people, and had my own hotel recommendations so I didn't use the hotel sections.

Unlike the other's, Fodor's Israel didn't spend much time on politics making it a genuine guide. It included substantial info on sites of Christian interest. I had no problem finding Massada and Dead Sea in the book, and wouldn't have missed them accidently. (There's so much in Jerusalem, that the guide uses a whole day trip section.)

Politically by contrast, Fromer's relegated it to a section in the back abet with some strange statements. Lonely Planet was one long "pro-Palestinian" sell, and not a tour book. I put "pro-Palestinian" in quotes because their facts were as erroneous there as they were for the various attraction descriptions. I had plans to go into the terroritories, and wound up borrowing an internet connection instead to figure things out.

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A note of caution, time is fluid in Israel. As one Israeli told me, "BUT in the mall, time is time." Check open hours for everything before heading to it. The guidebook's hours didn't match the museums, but neither did the sheets from the tourist offices! Then there was the confusion of hours during Purim (a holiday).

In general, compared to other travel areas, things are NOT just a few generated museums in a downtown area plus a few quaint areas to walk around. Everywhere you turn there's something, and it's all over the place. What Israeli's consider easy walking distance is 15-20 minutes and in Jerusalem that usually includes hills. Therefore, it's very helpful to do research in advance here. (For instance, the old city in Jerusalem looks small on maps, but it takes 15-20 minutes to get from the Western Wall back up to the entrance, especially if you don't know the most direct route and it's uphill in that direction.)

Roads are well marked but entrances to attractions aren't always, so do tear out the pages or bring a list with you to point to when you ask people, including addresses. The tourist office sheets have Hebrew versions, as well as English, and it helps to have. Israelis try to be very helpful, but they don't always figure out what you're asking about.

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More about Fodor's -- I joined a standard style tour bus group for 5 days. I repeatedly heard from several people, that they'd read in the book last night essentially what our guide had said about the same attraction we'd just gone to the day before. A private guide can help a lot and add much more, but it was nice to see that the tour book covered the basics so well.

So if you are traveling to the area, have a good time!!

I was grateful that Fodor's was the first of the major guides to release an update on Israel after the tourist drought of the early 2000s. The book has strong points and weak points. The description of sites, the history, and the information given on each attraction is very solid. But when it comes to choosing hotels and restaurants, information that I count on a good guidebook to provide, Fodor's Israel fails badly. Even in major cities, only a small number of options are offered, and I was stunned to see major, important options omitted altogether. All in all, this guidebook would not be very helpful if I did not already know Israel. And of course, it is written for people who are not knowledgeable.

Those folks could do far better with the updated Frommer's Israel that came out a few months later. This book isn't bad -- just not good enough.

At last there's a guide that shares the country's pleasures that Israelis and Europeans have enjoyed for years. Fodor's Israel captures outdoor sports, hiking, beaches, and snorkeling in addition to the historic and religious sites.

The Pleasures and Pastime section for each region highlights what Israelis are likely to enjoy--from archaeology and beaches to walking and wine. Great Itineraries from 1 to 19 days route the visitor through historic and beautiful places in Israel overall and by region. And Closeups provide the history and context for the country and its people.

Its many detailed maps let you know where you are. And whether you're looking to walk the Christian stations in Jerusalem or walk the rock of Masada where Jews stood up against Rome, Fodor's confidently guides and explains. Masada, nearby the Dead Sea, for example includes a two-page guide to the site with complete details for visitors and a full page feature on its history and legacy.

And there's an extensive section (at least 20 pages) devoted to Eilat and all the sports activities associated with its coast line on the Red Sea. I must admit that snorkeling in the Red Sea made me feel more like an Israeli than anything I've ever done, and I will never forget my first time.

In addition to the sites and activities, Fodor's comes through with its usual strengths in up-to-date and highly focused hotel and restaurant listings throughout the country. I'm always surprised by how one paragraph about a place to stay or where to have a meal can be as revealing as it is in Fodor's. And for shoppers there's plenty to do.

And while Fodor's describes so many places and things to do in Israel, seasoned travellers know that spending more time in fewer places in a country will bring you the biggest satisfaction.

No matter what you're going to Israel for, Fodor's is a good bet. After all it's written by the people who know it best, people who live there and spend their time sharing their country with visitors.

A good resource for visiting Israel. Good advice on sample itineraies and places to stay and eat.

As I recently arrived in Israel, I found out too late to whom this book was written: the non-budget traveler. Several of the "cheapest" hostels in Jerusalem (for example) start at $50/night. Nevermind that you can find accomodations for far more affordable all over the place. And these are the cheapest "budget accomodations" according to the book. The prices of hostels, restaurants, taxis, and other fares are rarely mentioned in the book, so you have no idea what your getting yourself into. These are crucial pieces of information. (Hitch-hiking, by the way, is an excellent mode of free transport here) On top of that the maps are rather useless. There is one low detail map of all of Israel, and then super detailed maps of the inner cities, but no maps inbetween. What happens if you don't know how to get to these super detailed neighborhoods? I found a far more useful map free at a hotel.

On the other hand, for the average tourist aiming at a couple weeks stay, and looking to see some good sites without too much concern as to the price, I'm sure this book would suffice.

This is a fairly bland tourist guide to Israel. Don't expect it to lead you anywhere that the Israel tourist information map won't. It'll give you telephone numbers for the sheratons, but not much off the beaten track. There are some big gaps, including almost no mention of the elephant in the room: ie the Palestinian territories, and their ongoing occupation. Travel into the West Bank is pretty much dismissed in a sentence. Israel & the Palestinian territories are a unique place, but if you follow this guide you'll probably come back none the wiser.