TRAVELLERS’ NEEDS - Jerusalem and the Holy Land - page 247

CAMPING leave the site tidy if you want

to avoid problems. Places such
as the West Bank and Gaza
Strip are totally no-go areas, as
are all military and border
zones. If in doubt, check first.
Also be very aware of your
possessions and personal
safety, especially if in a remote
area and alone. Make sure that
you have protection against
mosquitoes, and check thor-
oughly for other unwanted
guests, such as scorpions.

the country is small enough
that most sights can be visited
from either Amman or Petra.
Major credit cards are
accepted in all mid-range and
top-end hotels in Jordan. A
sales and service tax of up
to 26 % is commonly added
to bills.
Sinai resorts such as Dahab,
Nuweiba and Sharm el-Sheikh
offer many top-class resort
hotels, many with prime beach-
front locations, some boasting
beautiful architecture and all
offering a full range of facilities,
from multiple bars and
restaurants to dive and water
sports centres. Such is the
abundance of accommodation
that a little internet research
can sometimes throw up some
bargain room rates. Peak
seasons are during the Muslim
feasts of Eid el-Fitr and Eid el-
Adha (see p38), around
Christmas and especially New
Y e ar, and during July and
August; at such times you need

There are campsites across
Israel for those wanting to
spend time under canvas and
visit more remote places.
Details can be obtained from
the Society for the Protection
of Nature in Israel (SPNI) or
from tourist information
offices. Prices start from NIS
12 per person, increasing at
sites with better facilities.
These may include
launderettes, electricity points,
shops, bars and swimming
pools. Some places will also
hire out tents or trailer homes.
Campsites in Jordan and
Sinai are much less common,
with fewer facilities. They are
found only in some of the
more popular national parks
and at some Red Sea resorts.
In Israel, camping rough is
also quite common, but choose
a secluded public area and

JORDAN AND SINAI

Parts of Sinai and Jordan offer
the full spectrum of
accommodation. Amman, in
particular, has a full
complement of international
five-star chain hotels, including
a Four Seasons, Grand Hyatt,
Kempinski, Marriott, Le
Meridien and Sheraton, plus a
healthy budget scene in the
Downtown district. The
choice is also broad at
Wadi Musa (for Petra),
although given the
large number of
visitors, it is wise to
book well in advance,
especially in
March/

to book ahead.
There are no proper hostels
in Jordan or Sinai with an
official national association, but
there are many cheap hotels
and dormitories that serve the
same purpose. Dahab and
other smaller Sinai resorts often
have simple bamboo-
constructed huts for rent on the
beach - these are especially
popular with budget travellers.

/ pril and
September/October
(peak times).
Elsewhere in Jordan
the choice is greatly
diminished, although

Camping in the woods near the Sea of Galilee

DIRECTORY

BOOKING
A HOTEL
Israel Hotel
Association
29 Hamered Street,
PO Box 50066,
Tel Aviv, Israel.
Tel [phone].
Fax [phone].
$ infotel@israelhotels.
org.il
www .Israelhotels.org.il

CHRISTIAN
HOSPICES AND
GUEST HOUSES
Christian
Information Centre
Jaffa Gate
(opposite David Tower).
Tel [phone].

Fax [phone].
$ [e-mail]
www .kibbutz.co.il

FIELD
SCHOOLS
Society for
the Protection
of Nature
in Israel (SPNI)
13 Heleni Hamalka St,
Jerusalem,
Israel.
Tel [phone] (shop),

SELF CATERING
Good Morning
Jerusalem
9 Coresh Street,
Jerusalem,
Israel 94144.
Tel [phone].
Fax [phone].
$ [e-mail]
www .accommodation.
co.il
Homtel
Home Association of
Jerusalem,
PO Box 7547,
Jerusalem,
Israel 91074.
Tel [phone]. l
www .bnb.co.il

l
Fax [phone] .
www .cicts.org

l
[phone] (rooms).
www .teva.org.il

YOUTH HOSTELS
Israeli Youth Hostel
Association (IYHA)
Jerusalem International
Convention Centre,
PO Box 6001, Jerusalem,
Israel 91060.
Tel [phone]. l
Fax [phone]. x
www .youth-hostels.org.il

CAMPING
Society for the
Protection of Nature
in Israel (SPNI)
3 Hasfela St,
Tel Aviv,
Israel 66183.
Tel [phone]. l
www .teva.org.il

KIBBUTZ HOTELS
Kibbutz Hotel
Chain (KHC)
41 Montefurie,
Beit Nesuah,
Te l Aviv, Israel 65201.
Tel [phone].