LUGGAGE TIPS:
We HIGHLY recommend traveling with only a carry on and a personal size item such as a small backpack. You are not limited to that. It is our recommendation only. Your tour package does pay the porters to handle your luggage.
Several points in favor of this recommendation:
We have found the IT brand of Luggage the most lightweight of any we have found. We have used them for years now. It stands for International Traveler. They have it at Marshalls and places like that many times. You can also find on Amazon a lot.
Make sure that your carry on or checked luggage is within the limit of ALL the airlines you are using during the trip. You may start out with one airline and connect to another along the way. (Some cut rate airlines do not allow a personal item in addition to the carry on. Check it out if you have a flight with one).
I take a carry on plus a small lightweight backpack as my allowed additional personal item. I have a small purse that fits nicely into it. I put snacks for the day, battery charger, etc and things I want in the bus but don’t want to lug when touring.
I take the backpack on the bus everyday and the small purse. I leave the backpack on the bus when we get out for a tour and take the small purse with me with just enough cash for lunch or whatever the occasion calls for. Cash left on the bus is safe.
The driver stays with the bus or locks it up. We have never had an incident with items missing from the bus. (We have had several iPhones go missing from the dining room tables. Do NOT leave your phone on the table when you go to the buffet)
The last days are spent in Jerusalem. Most of the shopping is done in Jerusalem.
IDEAS for carry extra items such as souvenirs home:
This saves lugging extra luggage or a large luggage around the entire tour!
We HIGHLY recommend traveling with only a carry on and a personal size item such as a small backpack. You are not limited to that. It is our recommendation only. Your tour package does pay the porters to handle your luggage.
Several points in favor of this recommendation:
- Travelers have arrived on international flights and their checked luggage has not. They spend most of the tour without the luggage.
- If you miss a connection along the way you have your luggage with you and are assured it will arrive with you.
- Upon arrival you do not have to wait for the luggage.
- At the hotel if you have large luggage for the porters to put on the bus you must set the luggage outside your hotel room door early before breakfast. If you have carry on you can eat and then go back up and get your carry on to put on the bus.
We have found the IT brand of Luggage the most lightweight of any we have found. We have used them for years now. It stands for International Traveler. They have it at Marshalls and places like that many times. You can also find on Amazon a lot.
Make sure that your carry on or checked luggage is within the limit of ALL the airlines you are using during the trip. You may start out with one airline and connect to another along the way. (Some cut rate airlines do not allow a personal item in addition to the carry on. Check it out if you have a flight with one).
I take a carry on plus a small lightweight backpack as my allowed additional personal item. I have a small purse that fits nicely into it. I put snacks for the day, battery charger, etc and things I want in the bus but don’t want to lug when touring.
I take the backpack on the bus everyday and the small purse. I leave the backpack on the bus when we get out for a tour and take the small purse with me with just enough cash for lunch or whatever the occasion calls for. Cash left on the bus is safe.
The driver stays with the bus or locks it up. We have never had an incident with items missing from the bus. (We have had several iPhones go missing from the dining room tables. Do NOT leave your phone on the table when you go to the buffet)
The last days are spent in Jerusalem. Most of the shopping is done in Jerusalem.
IDEAS for carry extra items such as souvenirs home:
- Lay a duffle flat in the bottom of your carry on
- put clothes and unbreakable items in the duffle to send as a check in luggage for the flight home, or
- carry the duffle bag and check the carry on as checked luggage, or
- buy a cheap piece of luggage in Jerusalem to send home as a checked luggage.
This saves lugging extra luggage or a large luggage around the entire tour!
