Plan the most economical budget possible to achieve your itinerary. Be as detailed as possible. Be aware of how seasonal variations will affect cost, crowds, and availability. Be aware of exchange rates and overall variations in cost of living. Evaluate trade-offs of low-cost lodging options. Try to estimate costs for local transportation, admission, and fees. Cite your travel guide by page and attach PDF “printouts” (screen capture if necessary). Imagine the exercise of working independently and economically even if in real life you would head straight to a travel company for a package tour (or rather stay home).
I plan to visit Israel as soon as I can after the spring semester ends. Final exams end May 8, 2024 (stmarytx.edu). According to Lonely Planet (p. 19), most Jewish sites, businesses, and services close on the sabbath. Therefore I will plan my five days to avoid conflicting with the Sabbath. I would like to extend beyond the five days to spend sabbath dinner with someone willing to host me even though I am not Jewish. Lonely Planet (p. 24) also says that the Jewish festival of Shavuot can affect costs and hours. Shavuot is mostly a family holiday so I don’t think it would be worth trying to experience while I am there. In 2024, Shavuot doesn’t start until June 11 (chabad.org), so I’ll plan to be done by then. That leaves four possible weeks. Earlier would be better than later because most non-college students are still in school so there are fewer familes on vacation and less crowds. Lonely Planet (p. 18, 23) also says that May is a good time for weather. The “shoulder season” is generally cheaper than the peak season but still nice weather and things are open. According to kayak.com, airfare is about the same cost for all four weeks in my range, so I will plan to arrive Sunday, May 12.
A tourist visa is free for up to 90 days and does not require advanced planning. A passport can take a while and isn’t cheap, but is good for 10 years.
According to kayak.com, the cheapest flight available from San Antonio to Tel Aviv is $1068. That does mean a long layover on the return trip, but it would be nice to spend a few hours in Toronto or Chicago. Options would open up if I can stay with a friend in Houston. I would like to fly EL AL, Israel’s national airline, but that would require some complex ticketing from San Antonio.
According to T-Mobile.com, my Google Pixel 6 will work in Israel. I want to make sure I have enough data to use Google Maps and Translate while traveling, so it is worth the $35 to add a 10-day international pass. https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans/international-roaming-plans/unlimited-calling-data-pass
| Date | Category | Item | Cost NIS | Cost USD | Reason | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/11/2024 | Safety | Cell Plan | $35.00 | 10-day international pass for high-speed data | https://www.t-mobile.com |
|
| 5/11/2024 (plan 6 months ahead) | Flight | Passport | $165.00 | If I didn’t already have a passport | https://travel.state.gov |
|
| 5/11/2024 (plan 6 months ahead) | Flight | SAT-TLV | $1,068.00 | Cheapest option | kayak.com (PDF attached) | |
| 5/12/2024 | Flight | Tourist Visa | ₪ 0.00 | $0.00 | No cost up to 90 days | https://travel.state.gov |
| 5/12/2024 | Transportation | Sherut | ₪ 41.00 | $10.25 | Shared Taxi from Airport to Hostel | Lonely Planet p. 19 |
| 5/12/2024 | Lodging | Hostel | ₪ 114.00 | $28.50 | Abraham Hostel near Mahane Yehudah recommended by Lonely Planet | Lonely Planet p. 89 |
| 5/13/2024 | Transportation | Light rail Mahane Yehudah to Jaffa Gate | ₪ 5.52 | $1.38 | Tram/bus ride at discount rate for 10-ride pass | Lonely Planet p. 21 |
| 5/13/2024 | Walking | Walking tour starting from Jaffa gate (free, tip recommended) | ₪ 50.00 | $12.50 | Overview of the Old City | Lonely Planet p. 85 |
| 5/13/2024 (plan ahead 2 weeks) | Sacred site | Western Wall and Tunnels Tour | ₪ 15.00 | $3.75 | Remains of temple from time of Jesus destroyed in 70 CE, sacred especially to Jews | Lonely Planet p. 59, Wall is free, tunnel tour worth 15 NIS |
| 5/13/2024 | Walking | Via Dolorosa | ₪ 0.00 | $0.00 | Route on which Jesus carried cross to execution | Lonely Planet pp. 56-57 |
| 5/13/2024 | Food | Street food, falafel | ₪ 20.00 | $5.00 | ||
| 5/13/2024 | Sacred site | Holy Sepulchre | ₪ 0.00 | $0.00 | Site of crucifixion, resurrection | Lonely Planet pp. 54-56 |
| 5/13/2024 | Sacred site | Church of St. Anne | ₪ 6.00 | $1.50 | Where Mary grew up, architecture from different periods | Lonely Planet p. 62 |
| 5/13/2024 | Walking | City of David | ₪ 0.00 | $0.00 | Ruins from ancient Israel, free unless want to tour tunnels, skippable if not enough time | Lonely Planet p. 66 |
| 5/13/2024 | Transportation | Light rail from Jaffa Gate to Mahane Yehudah | ₪ 5.52 | $1.38 | Tram/bus ride at discount rate for 10-ride pass | Lonely Planet p. 21 |
| 5/13/2024 | Food | Dinner near Mahane Yehudah | ₪ 50.00 | $12.50 | ||
| 5/13/2024 | Lodging | Hostel | ₪ 114.00 | $28.50 | Abraham Hostel near Mahane Yehudah recommended by Lonely Planet | Lonely Planet p. 89 |
| 5/14/2024 | Transportation | Light rail from Mahane Yehudah to Har Hertzl | ₪ 5.52 | $1.38 | Tram/bus ride at discount rate for 10-ride pass | Lonely Planet p. 21, Google Maps |
| 5/14/2024 | Memorial | Yad Vashem | ₪ 0.00 | $0.00 | Holocaust memorial | Lonely Planet p. 80 |
| 5/14/2024 | Food | Lunch | ₪ 50.00 | $12.50 | Eli’s near Har Hertzl | Google Maps |
| 5/14/2024 | Transportation | Light rail from Har Herzl to Mahane Yehudah | ₪ 5.52 | $1.38 | Tram/bus ride at discount rate for 10-ride pass | Lonely Planet p. 21 |
| 5/14/2024 | Walking | Mahane Yehudah, Zion Square, Mea Shearim | ₪ 0.00 | $0.00 | Open-air market, urban cool | Lonely Planet p. 73 |
| 5/14/2024 | Food | Dinner at café on Ben Yehudah Street | ₪ 50.00 | $12.50 | Watch fellow cool people | |
| 5/14/2024 | Lodging | Hostel | ₪ 114.00 | $28.50 | Abraham Hostel near Mahane Yehudah recommended by Lonely Planet | Lonely Planet p. 89 |
| 5/15/2024 | Transportation | Bus 21 or Shared Taxi from Mahane Yehudah to Bethlehem | ₪ 20.00 | $5.00 | Lonely Planet p. 259 | |
| 5/15/2024 | Walking | Manger Square and Old City | ₪ 50.00 | $12.50 | Lonely Planet Recommends spending 50 NIS for a guide | Lonely Planet p. 255 |
| 5/15/2024 | Sacred site | Church of Nativity | ₪ 0.00 | $0.00 | Commemorates Birth of Jesus | Lonely Planet p. 255 |
| 5/15/2024 | Liturgy | Procession and Mass in Arabic at Church of Nativity | ₪ 0.00 | $0.00 | Would like to hear mass in Arabic with local Christians | http://masstimesworldwide.com |
| 5/15/2024 | Food | Lunch in Bethlehem | ₪ 21.00 | $5.25 | Afteem | Lonely Planet p. 258 |
| 5/15/2024 | Transportation | Bus 21 or Shared Taxi from Bethlehem to Damascus Gate | 20 | $5.00 | Curious about checkpoint and wall | Lonely Planet p. 259 |
| 5/15/2024 | Cultural site | Damascus Gate | ₪ 0.00 | $0.00 | Roman ruins, border of Jewish and Arab neigborhoods | Lonely Planet p. 62 |
| 5/15/2024 | Walking | Mount of Olives | ₪ 0.00 | $0.00 | Cemetary and Tombs, view of Old City | Lonely Planet p. 68 |
| 5/15/2024 | Sacred site | Church of all nations, garden of agony | ₪ 0.00 | $0.00 | Where Jesus was arrested | Lonely Planet pp. 68-69 |
| 5/15/2024 | Professional Interest | Rockefeller Museum | ₪ 0.00 | $0.00 | Where first Dead Scrolls Scholarhip took place | Lonely Planet p. 72 |
| 5/15/2024 | Food | Dinner near Damasacus Gate | ₪ 50.00 | $12.50 | Google Maps | |
| 5/15/2024 | Transportation | Light rail from Jaffa Gate to Mahane Yehudah | ₪ 5.52 | $1.38 | ||
| 5/15/2024 | Lodging | Hostel | ₪ 114.00 | $28.50 | Abraham Hostel near Mahane Yehudah recommended by Lonely Planet | Lonely Planet p. 89 |
| 5/16/2024 | Transportation | Tram from Mahane Yehudah to Central Station | ₪ 5.52 | $1.38 | ||
| 5/16/2024 | Transportation | Bus or Shared Taxi from Central Station to Arab Nazareth | ₪ 40.00 | $10.00 | Lonely Planet p. 194 | |
| 5/16/2024 | Sacred site | Catholic Church of the Annunciation | ₪ 0.00 | $0.00 | Where the angel Gabriel asked Mary to have God’s baby, collection of art from around the world | Lonely Planet p. 185 |
| 5/16/2024 | Food | Lunch at Abu Ashraf | ₪ 25.00 | $6.25 | Recommended by Lonely Planet | Lonely Planet p. 190 |
| 5/16/2024 | Walking | Church of Christ the Adolescent, old Nazareth | ₪ 0.00 | $0.00 | A sinless teenage boy? | Lonely Planet p. 189 |
| 5/16/2024 | Sacred site | Orthodox Church of the Annunciation | ₪ 0.00 | $0.00 | A different tradition’s way of honoring Mary | Lonely Planet p. 187 |
| 5/16/2024 | Lodging | Sisters of Nazareth Convent | ₪ 75.00 | $18.75 | Hospitality for pilgrims was a traditional charism for some religious orders | Lonely Planet p. 189 |
| 5/17/2024 | Transportation | Bus from Nazareth to Tiberias | ₪ 19.00 | $4.75 | Lonely Planet p. 194 | |
| 5/17/2024 | Walking | Yigal Allon Promenade | ₪ 0.00 | $0.00 | Walk along the Sea of Galilee | Lonely Planet p. 201-202 |
| 5/17/2024 | Sacred site | Tombs of Jewish Sages | ₪ 0.00 | $0.00 | Tomb of Maimonides and others | Lonely Planet p. 203 |
| 5/17/2024 | Food | Lunch at Galei Gil | ₪ 65.00 | $16.25 | More expensive but worth it eat seafood by the Sea of Galilee like Jesus and the apostles | Lonely Planet p. 206 |
| 5/17/2024 | Sacred site | Crusader Church of St. Peter | ₪ 0.00 | $0.00 | St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome might be where he ended, but this is where he started | Lonely Planet p. 202-203 |
| 5/17/2024 | Historical site | Hamat Terviya National Park | ₪ 15.00 | $3.75 | Roman period hot springs, 4th century synagogue mosaic | Lonely Planet pp. 203-204 |
| 5/17/2024 | Transportation | Bus or Shared Taxi from Tiberias to Jerusalem Central Station | ₪ 40.00 | $10.00 | Lonely Planet p. 207 | |
| 5/17/2024 | Transportation | Tram from Central Station to Mahane Yehudah | ₪ 5.52 | $1.38 | ||
| 5/17/2024 | Ritual immersion | Shabbat Dinner at Abraham Hostel | ₪ 40.00 | $10.00 | Shabbat (sabbath) dinner hosted by hostel | Lonely Planet p. 89 |
| 5/17/2024 | Lodging | Hostel | ₪ 114.00 | $28.50 | Abraham Hostel near Mahane Yehudah recommended by Lonely Planet | Lonely Planet p. 89 |
| 5/18/2024 | Transportation | Shared Taxi from Hostel to Airport | ₪ 41.00 | $10.25 | Lonely Planet p. 19 |
The total budget at the exchange rate as of 10/16/2023 is $1,620.91
This sample is for teaching purposes only. Neither St. Mary’s University nor Todd Hanneken certify the safety of the itinerary or reliability of the budget projection.