Israel. Anyone been since last October?
Discussion
My Niece has lived in Israel (North of Tel Aviv) for a number of years, having met an Israeli guy in the UK. They are due to get married this Summer. Invites have gone out; at the moment I'm planning to go out there for 4 days flying back the day after the wedding. I'm staying in TA & won't be leaving the City
I'm watching https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice carefully. The current advice is not to travel unless it's essential. I understand many of you will say that a wedding isn't 'essential' but my interpretation on this occasion differs. Obviously things may change between now and then. If the situation get worse then I suspect the wedding will be cancelled and I won't travel.
I've been to Israel a couple of times as my best mate lived there for a few years but came back. Security is always tight so I know what to expect.
I'm just wondering if anyone has been out there since the latest round of problems started & what your experience was like.
TIA
I'm watching https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice carefully. The current advice is not to travel unless it's essential. I understand many of you will say that a wedding isn't 'essential' but my interpretation on this occasion differs. Obviously things may change between now and then. If the situation get worse then I suspect the wedding will be cancelled and I won't travel.
I've been to Israel a couple of times as my best mate lived there for a few years but came back. Security is always tight so I know what to expect.
I'm just wondering if anyone has been out there since the latest round of problems started & what your experience was like.
TIA
MOMACC said:
No, but one observation.
If the FCO advice is not to travel it is likely that your travel insurance will not pay out and you may require a special policy at a more significant cost than usual insurance.
Absolutely. I spoke to my travel insurance company last week. My policy currently covers me as the FCO advice is not to travel unless it's 'essential'; if that changes to 'No Travel' then I'm no longer covered. There are areas, such as Gaza, the West Bank & the Lebanese and Syrian borders that are No Travel areas (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/israel)If the FCO advice is not to travel it is likely that your travel insurance will not pay out and you may require a special policy at a more significant cost than usual insurance.
If that occurs then I'm guessing the wedding will be postponed. Even if it isn't then I won't be going as there is no way I'd travel abroad without insurance.
Roman Moroni said:
MOMACC said:
No, but one observation.
If the FCO advice is not to travel it is likely that your travel insurance will not pay out and you may require a special policy at a more significant cost than usual insurance.
Absolutely. I spoke to my travel insurance company last week. My policy currently covers me as the FCO advice is not to travel unless it's 'essential'; if that changes to 'No Travel' then I'm no longer covered. There are areas, such as Gaza, the West Bank & the Lebanese and Syrian borders that are No Travel areas (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/israel)If the FCO advice is not to travel it is likely that your travel insurance will not pay out and you may require a special policy at a more significant cost than usual insurance.
If that occurs then I'm guessing the wedding will be postponed. Even if it isn't then I won't be going as there is no way I'd travel abroad without insurance.
Saleen836 said:
Did your insurance company specify that a wedding is 'essential' travel?
Not directly. I was totally honest in my first email telling them I was attending my Nieces wedding. However, I sought clarification asking if I was currently covered for flights, the cost of the hotel and any medical requirements; They came back to me and confirmed that I was (at that time) covered for all 3, but I had to adhere to FCO directions which is as follows:FCO said:
Sometimes we say that only essential travel is advised. Whether travel is essential or not is your own decision. You may have urgent family or business commitments which you need to attend to. Only you can make an informed decision based on your own individual circumstances and the risks.
As previously stated, tf the FCO advice changes then I won't be goingIt’s really risky and also very odd to invite people to a country where there is an active war. Has your family not raised concerns about this?! I get this may be driven from the Israeli side. “Everything’s okay here..”.
I was in Israel 2 years ago for weeks work trip, on the second day a bomb went off around the corner from me. That was enough. I was on a plane home the next day.
Do. Not. Go.
I was in Israel 2 years ago for weeks work trip, on the second day a bomb went off around the corner from me. That was enough. I was on a plane home the next day.
Do. Not. Go.
Obviously no direct experience.
But a former work colleague is currently volunteering with the IDF.
Certainly not on the front line, and seems more of a support role, maybe making packed lunches, repairing uniforms, that sort of thing.
Regularly posting updates and pictures on social media from various parts of Israel including chilling on the beach a couple of weeks back.
Looks lovely out there, to be fair.
But a former work colleague is currently volunteering with the IDF.
Certainly not on the front line, and seems more of a support role, maybe making packed lunches, repairing uniforms, that sort of thing.
Regularly posting updates and pictures on social media from various parts of Israel including chilling on the beach a couple of weeks back.
Looks lovely out there, to be fair.
PD9 said:
It’s really risky and also very odd to invite people to a country where there is an active war. Has your family not raised concerns about this?! I get this may be driven from the Israeli side. “Everything’s okay here..”.
I was in Israel 2 years ago for weeks work trip, on the second day a bomb went off around the corner from me. That was enough. I was on a plane home the next day.
Do. Not. Go.
Thank you for your comments. At present I'm still comfortable with my plans. Clearly the events going out there differ by the hour, so things might/can/will change. Ultimately I may not goI was in Israel 2 years ago for weeks work trip, on the second day a bomb went off around the corner from me. That was enough. I was on a plane home the next day.
Do. Not. Go.
There's a lot of communication coming in from my Niece via my Brother. As far as I can work out, things remain pretty much the same in TA.
andy118run said:
\snip/
Regularly posting updates and pictures on social media from various parts of Israel including chilling on the beach a couple of weeks back.
Looks lovely out there, to be fair.
It is a lovely place. I only spent time up in the north of the Country when I visited. The one thing that surprised me when I went was how , for the most part, the Arabs & Israelis work & live alongside each other in peace. Obviously with the current situation being as it is, things may have changed drastically in the past 4 months.Regularly posting updates and pictures on social media from various parts of Israel including chilling on the beach a couple of weeks back.
Looks lovely out there, to be fair.
xx99xx said:
A colleague who has family near Tel-Aviv has been a few times in the last 6 months. He hasn't suggested anything is out of the ordinary in terms of the travelling. He also suggests Tel-Aviv is relatively safe due to the Sunni population there.
Indeed, that's what I'm also sensing 
captain_cynic said:
You can get travel insurance for countries where the FCDO advises against travel. It's the only time I've been asked if I'm a member of an active military or paramilitary organisation.
What was your answer?/ 
Out of interest, what Company did you use? I'm travelling through several West African countries later this year. I already know that my current Policy won't cover me, because of FCO warnings, but there are insurers who will.
TIA
Roman Moroni said:
captain_cynic said:
You can get travel insurance for countries where the FCDO advises against travel. It's the only time I've been asked if I'm a member of an active military or paramilitary organisation.
What was your answer?/ Out of interest, what Company did you use? I'm travelling through several West African countries later this year. I already know that my current Policy won't cover me, because of FCO warnings, but there are insurers who will.
TIA
The company was called Battleface, I used them during the Pandemic when everywhere was travelling against FCDO advice, however I recommend doing a thorough Google as other high risk travel insurance is available and you want to make sure they cover where you're going, just in case you get sick or hit by a bus (repatriation flights can cost thousands).
BTW, sincerely hope you aren't hit by a bus and I'm sure it'll be fine.
captain_cynic said:
LoL, it was a checkbox, I agreed that I wasn't in a Junta
The company was called Battleface, I used them during the Pandemic when everywhere was travelling against FCDO advice, however I recommend doing a thorough Google as other high risk travel insurance is available and you want to make sure they cover where you're going, just in case you get sick or hit by a bus (repatriation flights can cost thousands).
BTW, sincerely hope you aren't hit by a bus and I'm sure it'll be fine.
Thanks for your reply. I know there are several companies who offer cover but I'll look out for Battleface.The company was called Battleface, I used them during the Pandemic when everywhere was travelling against FCDO advice, however I recommend doing a thorough Google as other high risk travel insurance is available and you want to make sure they cover where you're going, just in case you get sick or hit by a bus (repatriation flights can cost thousands).
BTW, sincerely hope you aren't hit by a bus and I'm sure it'll be fine.
I think there's less of a chance being hit by a bus, more like a us hitting a camel. I'll try not to get the hump if we do
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