Dyer Charles H - The New Christian Travelers Guide to the Holy Land

1. Airport security for all flights to the Middle East is very thorough.

2. Terrorist incidents in those Middle East countries visited by tourists, though well publicized in the media, are extremely rare.

3. There is more danger of death or injury driving from ones home to the airport than of being attacked by terrorists while on tour.

4. The governments of Israel, Egypt, Greece, Jordan, and Turkey take the safety of tourists very seriously and have implemented extraordinary measures to increase security.

5. Several steps can be taken to minimize even further ones chances of being involved in terrorist incidents.

Keep a low profile. Try not to be conspicuous in your dress, speech, or behavior.

Avoid wearing articles of clothing that advertise your nationality or that actively identify you with one side or the other in the current Middle East conflict.

Avoid crowds, protest groups, or other potentially volatile situations that could present safety or security risks.

Stay with your group and avoid wandering off alone (similar to the advice you would give someone coming to visit any major city in the United States).

Dress and act in a manner that shows proper respect for the social and cultural values of the region. Avoid falling into the Ugly American stereotype.

Remain aware of your circumstances and surroundings. Dont become so absorbed by the grandeur of the sites that you fail to keep track of what is happening around you. If you sense anything out of the ordinary, dont hesitate to express your concerns to the tour guide or tour leader.

6. Tour buses are in constant contact with their headquarters and with other guides and drivers. The tour operators monitor any potential trouble spots; and if they feel there might be a problem, they will contact the guide and driver and reroute the group to avoid the area.

Most tours to the Middle East are very informal. (No real dress-up occasions, even for Sunday.) Plan to wear comfortable clothes while touring. Most tours encourage participants to wear jeans or slacks on the trip. Take one jacket or heavy sweater, even during the summer months. Remember when packing: Less is better. Comfortable shoes with nonskid soles are necessary. (You will be doing a great deal of walking, often over uneven terrain and smooth stones.) Wash-and-wear items are very helpful, and shorts are acceptable. However, those who wear shorts should also carry a modesty kit for visiting holy sites or traveling in more conservative areas so that knees and shoulders are covered. A modesty kit for women should include slacks or a wraparound skirt (below the knee) and a blouse that covers the shoulders. A modesty kit for men should include long pants and a shirt that covers the shoulders.

Depending on what is covered in your tour, extra expenses may include incidental food items (beverages, snacks, lunch, etc.). You will also want to bring money to purchase souvenirs. Of that amount, you should carry at least $25 in $1 bills, which can be used to purchase bottled water, soft drinks, postcards, etc. Should you need to do so, you can exchange dollars into the local currency at airports, hotels, and banks. Travelers checks offer security against having your money lost or stolen, but they can be more difficult to cash and not all restaurants or stores will accept them.

If you exchange dollars into local currency at the airport, bank, or hotel, keep the receipt given to you. You will then be able to convert any remaining currency back into dollars when you leave the country. Most stores love U.S. dollars, but you can sometimes get better bargains if you pay in the local currency.

The basic unit of money in each country is as follows:

Israel uses the New Israeli Shekel (NIS), which is divided into 100 agorot.