Frommer's Israel (Frommer's Complete Guides) [Paperback]

Robert Ullian (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 6, 2006 | Series: Frommer's Complete Guides

You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert author has done the legwork for you, and is not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer's Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You'd be lost without us!

Israel is an endlessly fascinating destination, a crossroads for different cultures and religions, and Frommer's Israel is an invaluable guide to this intriguing and complex land. It's written by an expert author, who provides you with sensitive and authoritative coverage of the region's historic and religious sites, and offers valuable insights into its culture. With Frommer's in hand, you'll explore the ancient and holy sites of Jerusalem, the silent majesty of the desert, the beach resorts of Tel-Aviv, and much more. We'll also show you how to have a world-class adventure, from diving in the Red Sea to exploring the stunning caves at Petra, in nearby Jordan. With detailed practical tips on dining, etiquette, bargaining, communicating, and getting around, Frommer's Israel is the only guide you'll need to explore this amazing land.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Israel welcomed more than a million visitors in 1998, almost half of whom were from the U.S.a substantial 10% increase over the previous year thats been followed by a further 12% increase in the first Half of 1999.

Travelers rely on Frommers for its detailed, authoritative, and sensitive coverage of the sights and cultures of this dramatic and diverse land. Frommers Israel shows readers the most evocative holy places and ancient sites, the most fascinating bazaars and markets, the best beach resorts, and the most thrilling outdoor adventures. Also included are easy side trips into Jordan, including the spectacular cliff town of Petra. With Frommers up-to-date practical information, detailed maps, and smart advice, its never been easier to make your own discovery of this fascinating crossroads of world religion and culture. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

Frommer's. The best trips start here.

Experience a place the way the locals do. Enjoy the best it has to offer.

• Details on the best Israel has to offer, from Jerusalem's religious sites to Eilat's beach resorts.
• Outspoken opinions on what's worth your time and what's not.
• Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip whatever your budget.
• Off-the-beaten-path experiences and undiscovered gems, plus new takes on top attractions.

Find great deals and book your trip at Frommers.com

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Frommers; 4 edition (November 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471786306
• ISBN-13: 978-0471786306
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,095,964 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Frommer's Israel 2006 -- the best current source for Israel, May 1, 2007

By 

Doug E (Cinti OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frommer's Israel (Frommer's Complete Guides) (Paperback)

I could not disagree more with the two previous reviews. I travelled to Israel in October-November 2006 for my eighth visit, just before this book came out (unfortunately). The Fodor's guide was woefully inadequate when it comes to restaurant and hotel recommendations. I want more than "two per city" -- I want a range of choices, and Frommer's gives me that. "Let's Go" isn't bad, but it is decidedly aimed at the backpacking and very-low-budget set. That is an important group, and I'm glad there is a good guide for them, but a range of guides exists to serve different groups with different budgets, needs, and interests.

Things change rapidly in Israel, and it may be that some of the information is not current. But I know the country well, and I find most of Robert Ullian's information dead-on and accurate. In my view, the Frommer's guide is hands-down the best and most comprehensive one available today.

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars If you're not on a budget, this MIGHT be the book for you., December 5, 2006

By 

Traveler Man - See all my reviews

This review is from: Frommer's Israel (Frommer's Complete Guides) (Paperback)

Unfortunately, the only guidebooks that have been published for Israel in the past three years are Frommer's and Fodor's. I went with Frommer's, and soon after my arrival in Israel, traded it for the three-year-old Let's Go. The first problem is the lack of quality maps -- outside of the most major sights, this book's maps are amazingly not at all useful. Next is the priorities chosen by the author: with so many pages devoted to where to dine, it is no wonder that there are no maps. Get a falafel on the street and really experience Israel. If you want a nice restaurant, one or two per town will suffice.

Finally, although Frommer's advertises this as a guide for all budgets, the book contains almost no real budget accommodations.

The Let's Go, on the other hand, despite being three years old, has broad coverage, very useful and relevant maps, good suggestions for dining where Israelis go, and (of course) budget accomodations. I have been here two weeks and have yet to find information that is out of date.

It's a tough call because obviously Frommer's is more current, and if you are not a budget traveler, has more useful accomodation information for you. But I would check out Fodor's and if that doesn't look good, go with Let's Go and write them an email encouraging them to update their edition.

By the way, it is totally safe and comfortable to travel in Israel right now. Everyone should experience this amazing country.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Helpful Book, September 19, 2007

By 

Barry Ranish (Hollywood, Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Frommer's Israel (Frommer's Complete Guides) (Paperback)

Frommer's Israel was useful to have in hand. Background history and

archeological sites were well-explained, and there are lots of human

interest boxes that added to our understanding of ancient sites as

wells as major cities. In practical terms, we liked a handy 2 page

spread filled with excellent street food and cheap meal suggestions

for Jerusalem's busy downtown district, where wall to wall eateries

can be a confusing maze ( In some cases choices were no-name holes in

the wall). The book also clued us in to terrific "business lunch"

deals (til 5 or 6pm) at wonderful restaurants. The Frommer's people

clearly love the place and packed the book with a wide range of

suggestions for all kinds of travelers and their interests, including

young kids.

Another Amazon reviewer thought Israel's great Aroma coffee

shops weren't mentioned. But actually, we found Aroma among the tons

of cafes and eateries in the center of Jerusalem because Frommer's

praised it in a special box on Best Coffee Places (two downtown

branches for Aroma in Jerusalem, as well as a number of other great

local coffee cafes are on page 139). Initially, we wondered why

Frommer's listed no Starbucks -- it's almost un-American to omit

them, but apparently, they don't exist in Israel. One minus: Map

bullets showing some restaurant locations were not clear for the tiny

maze of downtown Jerusalem streets, but in the end, we found what we

were looking for.