Travel
The recently opened Gaza
airport offers scheduled flights to nearby countries. Direct air
travel is also available through Lod Airport.
Accommodation
Most major Palestinian cities
and towns offer a variety of conveniently located places to stay,
including hotels, hospices and bed & breakfast and Bedoin
Villages. Located in Christian convents, hospices offer the same
facilities and prices as hotels. B&B is inexpensive and offers
the visitor a unique opportunity to become acquainted with
Palestinian family life.
Climate
There are four seasons in
Palestine. Winter is mildly cold and rainy while summer is usually
hot and dry. Autumn is pleasant and spring is beautiful with the
wide array of wild flowers and blooming tress. Average temperatures
in Palestine range from 9-18 C in winter and 26-30 C in summer.
Regardless of the season, visitors are advised to wear modest dress
especially when visiting holy sites.
Communication
International calls can be
made from domestic telephones, including public pay phones. Fax and
E-mail services are available.
Currency
In the absence of a
Palestinian monetary unit, the New Israeli Shekel remains in use.
All major credit cards and travelers cheques are accepted. Foreign
currencies can easily be exchanged at any bank or money exchange
shop.
Economy
Palestine has a developing
economy in tourism and agriculture and this generates the
country’s main economic income. With seven agroclimatic zones with
at least 20 different soils, nearly 60 agricultural crops are grown
in Palestine. Industry and trade are still small-scale, largely due
to Israeli restrictions.
Language
Arabic is the official
language in Palestine. English is widely spoken, while Italian,
French, Spanish and German are spoken to a lesser extent.
Transportation
Car rental companies in major
Palestinian cities provide self-driven cars at reasonable prices.
Taxis are both comfortable and widely available. However, since
taxis don’t operate on meters, it is best to agree on the price
before setting off. Shared taxis operating on regular lines, called
Service, are also widely used.
Local time
Palestinian time is GMT +2
hours in winter and GMT +3 hours in summer.
Shopping
Shopping in Palestine is an
enjoyable experience, with customers and merchants often haggling
over prices. The country’s main streets and old markets are filled
with shops selling local and imported items. Especially appealing to
tourists are numerous shops selling exotic hand-made items, aromatic
Middle Eastern spices, jewelry, tasty oriental sweets and much more.
Working Hours
Government offices open from
8:00a.m. – 2:30p.m. Banks open from 8:00a.m. – 12:30p.m., with
some banks reopening again from 3:00 – 5:00p.m. Most shops open
from around 8:00a.m. until around 7:00 p.m. Muslim-owned shops
usually close on Friday while the Christian-owned on Sunday. The
official weekend is Friday.
Handicrafts
Cross-stitch embroidery is an
ancient art form in Palestine. Using natural homemade materials,
women artistically embroider dresses, jackets, vests, cushions,
tablecloths, and much more. Jerusalem pottery is another art in
Palestine. Ceramic ware decorated with geometric patterns, the
stained glass made into crystal wine, and champagne glasses are very
popular. Religious ornaments, handmade made from olive wood and
mother-of-pearl with a painstaking attention to detail, are
especially attractive. Palestine's world- renowned olive wood
artifacts are made from the local olive trees. Olive trees in
Palestine are not only found in abundance but some date back to the
times of Jesus. Exquisite olive wood statues, boxes, crosses, and
other artifacts can be found at the numerous souvenir shops in
Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
HEALTH
Palestine presents no major health hazards
for visitors and no vaccinations are legally required. However,
probably the biggest health worries one can expect are over exposure
to the sun and possibly an upset stomach caused by the change in
diet. To avoid the worst worries of the latter, it is advisable to
wash fruits and vegetables and to bring anti diarrhea medication for
when these precautions fail. A good barrier suntan lotion is
essential for protection against sunburn. Drinking plenty of fluids,
keeping up salt intake to avoid dehydration and wearing a hat
against the sun are advisable. Mosquitoes can sometimes be a problem
during the summer. To avoid getting bitten, take a mosquito
repellent with you especially if you intend to sleep or camp near
the beach.
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