Family Friendly Adventures in Israel

by Kraig Becker on

There are a lot of reasons for travelers to go to Israel. The country is a cultural, religious, and historical treasure trove, with something to offer just about everyone. In the major cities, there are the usual attractions, like museums and temples, as well as plenty of good restaurants, clubs, and shopping. But there is also a side to Israel that is not as well known. A side that lures in the adventure traveler who is looking to get away from those usual attractions and explore a more unique side to the country.

That is exactly what the New York Times did in this article, that not only offers a glimpse at the more adventurous side of Israel, but also the options for visiting with the entire family. The author, and her husband, take their kids, along with their grandmother, to Maresha, a site that is known for its extensive limestone cave system for a little subterranean exploration. The kids described the place as something right out of an Indiana Jones movie, with its twisting tunnels and dusty staircases.

From there, the family moves on to explore the Golan Heights, where they toured Israel defense bunkers, before proceeding to a citadel left over from the Crusades. The Masada was next on the list, with the 2000 year old fortress built by King Herod, sitting on top of a mountain that offered a scenic and demanding hike.

These are just a few of the highlights from their journey that had a healthy dose of adventure, along with a mix of culture and history as well. The article makes it clear that Israel is a family friendly adventure destination, that will enthrall visitors of all ages with its timeless wonders.

Five Destinations for the “Super-Adventurous”

by Kraig Becker on

The Wall Street Journal has put together a list of five travel destinations that they deem are for the “super-adventurous” amongst us. They label these places as scary, saying that most travelers wouldn’t venture anywhere near them, but for the adventure traveler who has been everywhere and seen everything, they recommend these locales.

The two scariest places on the list are Iraq and Afghanistan, thanks to the fact there are ongoing wars in both places. Iraq has just officially reopened for tourist traffic for the first time since 2003, with small tours visiting some of the historical sites throughout the country. Afghanistan, on the other hand, has generally remained open these past few years, although certain places remain safer than others. That country is lauded for its historical landmarks as well, although the more remote regions get a nod for scenic beauty too.

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%Gallery-9128%The next two places on the list are Colombia and the Sudan, both of which require a bit of an adventurous spirit to visit. Colombia has made huge strides in recent years, and is far safer than it once was, although crime remains high in some areas. The country has seen a renaissance in tourism in recent months none the less. The Sudan is a completely different level of dangerous however, with unrest throughout the region, and westerners often the target of attacks. If you’re willing to take the risk though, the Journal notes that there are amazing Nubian ruins and pyramids to explore.

Which brings us to the final destination on their top five, which is Transylvania. While I’m sure the country is interesting and exotic, it doesn’t exactly strike me as an “adventure” destination. They recommend taking a Dracula tour, which really isn’t inspiring adventure either. Compared to the other four on the list, Transylvania, which I’m sure is quite lovely, is down right safe and boring for adventure travelers

Reading over their list I can’t help but wonder if an adventure travel destination needs to be intrinsically dangerous to appeal to that segment of the travel industry. Personally, I don’t think so, as I think there are great adventure destinations that are not necessarily dangerous. But looking at the Wall Street Journal‘s choices, it seems that they think there should be an element of danger involved, even if it is from vampires.

Round the world tickets for two up for grabs

by Brenda Yun on


Who ever said free round the world tickets and 49 other great travel-related prizes weren’t easy to win? HostelBookers.com has organized a fantastically simple contest to spread the word that its website offers booking prices at 4.2% below its top competitors. That research was performed by EyeForTravel.com, and the results can be read HERE.

HostelBookers partnered with roundtheworldexperts.co.uk to offer one lucky traveler the chance to win round the world air travel and hostel accommodation for two people. If that’s not enough, you can win some other cool prizes like a Sony camcorder, iPhone, iPod, as well as backpacks full of travel goodies and travel hammocks.

All you have to do is visit this site and answer the simple question at the bottom of the page. (The answer is in the first paragraph of this post. I think you can figure it out.) You have until May 8 to enter, and winners will be notified by June 1.

Good luck!

Israel, Mecca … no difference to British BMI

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Passengers headed to Israel on a British BMI flight were alarmed to find their destination was Mecca, according to the in-flight map. The airline, it seems, isn’t terribly aware that the Middle East is know for a tiny amount of tension that’s lasted for decades (the most recent iteration, at least).

Pick your joke about “wiping Israel off the map” – the Sydney Morning Herald did.

BMI, of course, denies an anti-Israel bias and cites a technical screw-up. The carrier, which has operated low-cost flights to Israel for more than a year, says it bought two plans from a bankrupt charter company that focused on Muslim destinations. The in-filght systems were programmed to highlight Islamic holy places.

It’s not discrimination. Instead, it’s a careful blend, of laziness, stupidity and poor planning – all of which are excusable in the airline industry, right?

Internet search results show soldiers are thinking of home

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Life in Iraq isn’t necessarily what you think. While there are tough conditions for those outside the gates, life on the large camps that shares some startling similarities with major U.S. military installations at home. On Camp Anaconda, for example, you can visit a library, shove some fast food fare into your mouth and burn your quads at the gym. Of course, the occasional mortar does get through the defense systems … these communities do sit right in the middle of a war, after all.

Among the amenities now available at major camps in Iraq is internet access, and Google Insights shows the interesting search objectives of the 140,000 military personnel and civilian contractors serving over there.

Most searches are linked with special occasions, such as holidays and personal celebrations (e.g., birthdays and anniversaries). “Christmas gifts,” “gift shop,” and “Valentine’s gifts” are among the top search terms for Americans serving in Iraq, according to a recent study. A “regional interest” index calculated by Google Insights pegs these search terms at 100 (based on a maximum value of 100) or English speakers in Iraq, compared to 80 for the United States and 58 for Great Britain.

It’s pretty clear that the internet helps our troops act on concerns they have about what is happening at home (no surprises there). Thanks to fairly plentiful online access, they have an easier time of participating in the normal activities that we take for granted, such as buying birthday presents.

For people stationed on the larger posts (such as Camp Anaconda), it’s possible to gain satellite internet access in the barracks, though this option can be expensive. Free internet access is offered through Military Welfare and Recreation (MWR) centers on these installations.

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