On Nov 1, 2004 - the NEW International and Arrival and Departure Terminal was opened. This section will be updated with additional information as we get more information about the facilities in this new Terminal building.
You have arrived and you are happy to get off that plane.
PASSPORT CONTROL
Get in the right line. Do not get on the Israeli citizen line unless you
are one.
CARTS
Past passport control and on your way to pick up your luggage – pick
up a cart – they are FREE. You will find it useful to have in lugging
your belongings while in the Airport.
GOING THROUGH CUSTOMS
Israel uses the European model for custom control - GREEN and RED passages.
If you have NOTHING to declare go through the GREEN passage.
If in doubt – go
GREEN.
If you go through the RED passage you will be greeted by the friendly Israeli
custom official who will want to have a word with you.
MEETING POINT
After customs control you will arrive at the Arrival Hall (where else).
You will see a fountain and you will see the sign for Exit # 2.
Stay to
your RIGHT – There are some seats where you can wait.
In the immediate vicinity there is an ATM machine, a Currency Change
Place and a Phone Rental counter (with a blue sign). This
is were the Sar-El representative will
come to
look for you.
Do NOT go out the Exit #2 doors.
Have a nearby seat and wait for a young female or male soldier carrying
a Sar-El sign or clipboard. Have patience and relax.
You may see other bewildered and tired people milling around – they
are probably other volunteers - be friendly and say Shalom.
MONEY
While you are waiting you may want to get some Israel Shekels. I personally
prefer using ATM machines.
As of 12/2004 the exchange rate is about 4.35 New Israel Shekels (NIS)
to $1USD. So 500NIS is about $114USD.
You can check on the CURRENT EXCHANGE
RATE here.
BEZEQ TELECARD
Now that you have some money – you will want to spend some to get
some coins and something useful - like a Bezeq Telecard.
Ask people
where you can get a Bezeq Telecard. Steimatzky book
store (sign will be in English) (the largest bookstore chain in Israel.)
is usually a good bet.
While you are there - pick up a newspaper. There are three major English
newspapers – Jerusalem Post – Herald Tribune with a Haaretz insert – and
The Globe (a financial paper). Buy one or buy all. They all contain useful
information and you probably won’t see another newspaper till the
following weekend.
If you are planning on traveling within Israel you might be interested
in picking up some road maps and city maps. There are city maps and
road atlases that are in English – inquire at Steimatzky.
Go and find a seat by the Telephone rental counter and RELAX.
CELL PHONE RENTALS
There are some companies that are renting cell phones to be used in
Israel. There is one right at the meeting place. There may be others
in the Arrival
Hall.
If interested – you may want to check them out – for this
trip or for the next trip.
If you wish to get your cell phone before you depart - click
here.
WAITING …..
Sar-El picks up people at the airport on Sunday and Monday – almost
all day long. But there may be delays – since they are consolidating
people who are coming on many different flights.
If you leave the area to go to the bathroom or to get some to eat/drink – tell
one of the other waiting volunteers. Be friendly offer to get them
something. They may be your roommate for the next two or three weeks.
If you encounter difficulties at the airport – use the contact
sheet to call the Sar-El office or Pamela Lazarus, Program Coordinator.
Have a safe and great adventure.
Josef Herz
VFI-PacificNW