Doha, Dubai, Israel, Egypt and Jordan.

[love_the_life]

Jordan was our favourite of Jordan, Israel and Egypt as part of independent trip with our three daughters then aged 5, 8 and 11 where we backpacked around for about 8 weeks. (It was also our first major international FF trip after having redeemed points for 5 to fly to Cairo Return via Thailand on the way back. Flights on Singapore Airlines which was the start of my love affair with that airline. Points redeemed from Ansett which cleaned out my balance two weeks before they went belly up).
- Petra..and other Roman Ruins
- Crusader and Saracen Castles
- The Desert of Wadi Rum - spent NYE in a Bedouin Camp

Jerusalem was amazing and we arrived at about noon on Orthodox Christmas to be greeted by a blizzard which ceased all the shops to shut.
- The whole city - is just fascinating to wander around a city like this just dripping in time
-The tunnels under the city and the wailing wall
- The Church of the Holy Sepulchre
- Being pelted with snowballs by bored tax-drivers - the history and the ongoing tensions of the various religious denominations who fight over is management
- Experiencing the obvious divide between two peoples that do not "see' one another
- Crossing the Gaza Strip in a bullet-proof bus while thinking "****, maybe we should not be here!" (When we booked in Jerusalem we were only show pics of a flash luxury bus which at the start it was. Then the bullet-proof bus for the strip and then after walking across the border into Egypt a small white beaten up mini-van!

Egypt
- Just littered with ancient sites and ruins - but the ruins and museums are often not well manged or maintained
- We were there after 9/11 which as it turned out made it better and the people were extra warm and friendly and we had free reign at mist sites we visited.
- When we were at the Valley of the Kings, we were the only travellers there. Pyramids of Giza, perhaps two dozen other travellers while we were there..
- Feasting in the streets of Cairo in the evening during Ramadan once the daily fast broke.
- Cruising down the Nile
-Xmas and snorkelling the Red Sea from Dahab and swimming in the Blue Hole


Overall we gained memories for life and greatly enjoyed the trip, but for my wife and I once was enough (I mean that in a good way, as the world is a big place and there is so much to see).

However our eldest daughter went back post Uni with a female friend and travelled around guided by a young female Egyptologist who showed them not just the sites, but also gave many insights in the politics of the time and area.

It sounds like you were there a while ago (correct me if mistaken). I don’t think I would like to travel independently these days.

 

[Pushka]

It sounds like you were there a while ago (correct me if mistaken). I don’t think I would like to travel independently these days.

Agree and we figure that if there is any risk then Viking won’t go. DIL was there as a 20 year old and she’s now 33.

 

[OATEK]

How soon? I guess ours starts 26 December until 10th January from memory. We’d almost try for Christmas Day there depending on family at Christmas time.

Not till March 2020. Long-range booking. Only day trips in both places (Cairo/Pyramids Day 2; Bethlehem/Jerusalem Day 3), as part of a East Med cruise.

 

[Daver6]

My own two cents, but Tel Aviv is a really great city to visit IMHO and I think often gets overlooked because as a city, as its only about 100 years old which is nothing compared to everything else in the region. Obviously right next door is the old city of Jaffa.

It also really stands out as being different to the rest of the region in terms of being extremely liberal. Amazing good, fantastic beaches and a city with a real vibe. People walking the streets with their dogs well into the evening with bars and cafe open.

Blowing the froth off a coldy a Gordon Beach in Tel Aviv


View from the hill in Jaffa looking north to Tel Aviv

 

[RooFlyer]

I agree with daver6. I didn't have time to 'do' Tel Aviv and regret it, although I did manage to get a little bit of the food & wine.

I'd have no issue in traveling independently in any of Egypt, Israel or Jordan, although Egypt would be done with careful planning. I went about 24 years ago and I recall even then we wouldn't walk down the street past the AMEX building!

 

[Pushka]

One award flight booked just now. 26th December - Flying from Sydney to Hong Kong on CX, then just 90 minutes in transit (and will run to get to the first lounge) then CX to Beijing, then goodness knows what lounge, then on EL into Tel Aviv around 2am on the Friday morning. In J on awards points. 25 hours all up which is the shortest I’ve found. Ticketed instantly and all seats selected even on El Al. Our bus trip of Bethlehem starts at 9am that day. Meh, who needs sleep! Already booked Rydges for the night before at a rate of $161! Means we only have to get to Sydney on Christmas evening latest flight.

 

[Daver6]

One award flight booked just now. 26th December - Flying from Sydney to Hong Kong on CX, then just 90 minutes in transit (and will run to get to the first lounge) then CX to Beijing, then goodness knows what lounge, then on EL into Tel Aviv around 2am on the Friday morning. In J on awards points. 25 hours all up which is the shortest I’ve found. Ticketed instantly and all seats selected even on El Al. Our bus trip of Bethlehem starts at 9am that day. Meh, who needs sleep! Already booked Rydges for the night before at a rate of $161! Means we only have to get to Sydney on Christmas evening latest flight.

Hopefully on a the LY 787 to TLV?

 

[RooFlyer]

then on EL into Tel Aviv around 2am on the Friday morning.

Our bus trip of Bethlehem starts at 9am that day.

Well, as long as you are back in your hotel by sundown, you won't be affected by the Sabbath. But plan dinner that night accordingly.

 

[Pushka]

Well, as long as you are back in your hotel by sundown, you won't be affected by the Sabbath. But plan dinner that night accordingly.

Yes, the Friday evening is back at the hotel. Viking run these trips the same days every week and know the drill. We will have to get a taxi from the airport in the early hours of Friday as I don’t think they will be there to collect us. Other than that we will be in their hands.

 

[Pushka]

Hopefully on a the LY 787 to TLV?

Nah. Sadly 777. Sigh.

 

[boomy]

One award flight booked just now. 26th December - Flying from Sydney to Hong Kong on CX, then just 90 minutes in transit (and will run to get to the first lounge) then CX to Beijing, then goodness knows what lounge, then on EL into Tel Aviv around 2am on the Friday morning. In J on awards points. 25 hours all up which is the shortest I’ve found. Ticketed instantly and all seats selected even on El Al. Our bus trip of Bethlehem starts at 9am that day. Meh, who needs sleep! Already booked Rydges for the night before at a rate of $161! Means we only have to get to Sydney on Christmas evening latest flight.

Keep looking for CX A350 or LY B787 availability HKG-TLV direct, will save you the stress of connecting via PEK (done that in November and it was an awful experience). Also LY B777 J is not good to say the least, won’t say avoid at all costs but close to that.

 

[VPS]

My one and only visit to TLV was at 3am - must be a good time. 1982 - First time overseas and on my own and standing on the tarmac with all these guys hanging around with machine guns.

 

[Pushka]

Keep looking for CX A350 or LY B787 availability HKG-TLV direct, will save you the stress of connecting via PEK (done that in November and it was an awful experience). Also LY B777 J is not good to say the least, won’t say avoid at all costs but close to that.

It’s there but we don’t want to leave at 1300 on Christmas Day which is when the CX flies out from Adelaide. The other cities are the same. I will keep checking though.

 

[jase05]

One award flight booked just now. 26th December - Flying from Sydney to Hong Kong on CX, then just 90 minutes in transit (and will run to get to the first lounge) then CX to Beijing, then goodness knows what lounge, then on EL into Tel Aviv around 2am on the Friday morning. In J on awards points. 25 hours all up which is the shortest I’ve found. Ticketed instantly and all seats selected even on El Al. Our bus trip of Bethlehem starts at 9am that day. Meh, who needs sleep! Already booked Rydges for the night before at a rate of $161! Means we only have to get to Sydney on Christmas evening latest flight.

Sounds awesome.
Don’t get your hopes up for a decent lounge at PEK, we have found most to be pretty average. I have no idea what lounge access you will get with LY but think it will be possibly the BGS lounge in T3 which is average at best. Still a step up from the ordinary CA lounge you might be offered in T3 aswell

 

[Pushka]

Sounds awesome.
Don’t get your hopes up for a decent lounge at PEK, we have found most to be pretty average. I have no idea what lounge access you will get with LY but think it will be possibly the BGS lounge in T3 which is average at best. Still a step up from the ordinary CA lounge you might be offered in T3 aswell

I think we only have just over 90 minutes layover. Interestingly the direct flight out of HK gets us into TV at the same time. I did a quick review of EL in J and it’s manageable.

 

[boomy]

It’s there but we don’t want to leave at 1300 on Christmas Day which is when the CX flies out from Adelaide. The other cities are the same. I will keep checking though.

I thought you are flying from SYD to HKG. Instead of connecting via PEK on the 2am LY to TLV, you can stay in HKG and take the 1am on CX. Less stress and more time to enjoy HKG.

 

[Pushka]

There is nothing available in J now from any of the main cities while Qatar seem to not be releasing award seats. EK is yet to open up. If we wait until the 1am flight then we don’t arrive until 7am which may not be a bad thing as we will be more rested anyway.

I was also wondering, I’ve read that El Al inspects luggage - how does that work when interlining with another airline?

 

[Pushka]

I’ve changed the flight. Still into HK then a few hours in the lounge then Royal Jordanian into Amman then a quick flip across to Tel Aviv. Bye Peking. A bit of a stop in BKK and then ok for a long sleep into Amman. Very helpful Qantas Rep on premium line.

 

[jase05]

I’ve changed the flight. Still into HK then a few hours in the lounge then Royal Jordanian into Amman then a quick flip across to Tel Aviv. Bye Peking. A bit of a stop in BKK and then ok for a long sleep into Amman. Very helpful Qantas Rep on premium line.

Hopefully we see a TR, this has definitely piqued my interest

 

[Pushka]

Hopefully we see a TR, this has definitely piqued my interest

You kidding? TR’s is what I do . Just hope Egypt settles a little now.