Cheap israel hacks

amother

OP ↓

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 8:45 pm

Any hacks how to make a family trip to Israel for chagim cheaper? Flights, accommodation?

amother

↑ OP ↓

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 9:28 pm

Elfrida wrote:

Book the flights as early as possible. Even a full year in advance.

Thank you!
Direct or stopover? Is the earlier you booke really the cheapest?

amother

↑ OP ↓

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 9:29 pm

amother Nemesia wrote:

Don't eat out. Bring and cook as much food as you can.

Smart! Thanks

theoneandonly ↓

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 9:36 pm

amother OP wrote:

Thank you!
Direct or stopover? Is the earlier you booke really the cheapest?

Stop over is cheaper unless you find some crazy flash sale deal.

I wouldn't book a year in advance. Obviously don't wait till last second but you don't know what the security situation will be a year from now so how can you book tickets now on a cheap airline that may cancel the flight? I've flown back and forth many times and usually start checking every few days from a few months out until I see a good price.

amother

↑ OP

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 9:44 pm

theoneandonly wrote:

Thank you,
Will going through a travel agent be a smarter move?

↑ theoneandonly

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 9:56 pm

amother OP wrote:

Thank you,
Will going through a travel agent be a smarter move?

If you are savvy and know how to find deals then a travel agent will probably be more expensive.
If you are not so savvy a travel agent may end up being cheaper.
Travel agent is helpful in case anything happens, flight gets cancelled, etc they can help you out.
You can price tickets by travel agents and search yourself and see what the price difference is.

STovah

Mon, Oct 28 2024, 10:23 pm

Be realistic with how much the trip will cost you. Going for chagim is high season, so everything from tickets to accommodations will cost more. It will be an expensive trip no matter how many hacks. Definitely buses vs renting a car, cooking vs eating out, group tours or self directed fun vs private guides will save you tons.

↑ Elfrida ↓

Tue, Oct 29 2024, 1:03 am

amother OP wrote:

Thank you!
Direct or stopover? Is the earlier you booke really the cheapest?

My parents would always sit down after havdallah on Yom Tov and book their tickets for the next year. I haven't researched the details, but I know they paid less than half of what it cost nearer the time, and they could be sure of getting the exact dates they wanted. (They stayed with us, so they never had to worry about fitting the flights to the available accommodation.)

They were coming from England, so we've never looked into stopovers.

essie14

Tue, Oct 29 2024, 1:19 am

We recently booked tickets from Israel to the US for a family simcha and literally the prices keep going up every 2 days.
Yes, the earlier you book the cheaper it will be.

↑ Elfrida

Tue, Oct 29 2024, 1:49 am

An apartment t rental outside the well known American frum areas won't cost as much. Outside of Yerushalayim will be cheaper than in.

amother

Wandflower

Tue, Oct 29 2024, 3:50 am

theoneandonly wrote:

In general I find travel agents are better.
We are very savvy and found an unheard of deal. Called the travel agent and told him about the deal and he was able to get it for us (through his account) for $100 cheaper per ticket. Saved more money than we spent on him BH.

amother

Cinnamon

Tue, Oct 29 2024, 8:00 am

Booking a year in advance is ok as some airlines you pay a bit per ticket but then can cancel or get a voucher to use for a year

amother

Floralwhite

Tue, Oct 29 2024, 8:02 am

For sure a travel agent! He got us some premium tickets and we didnt pay more. It was so comfortable.

Take public transportation from the airport to ym.