Jetsettersblog

IsramWorld launched a new Romantic Israel Adventure program that includes a private Jeep tour of the Negev Desert, rappelling down the Ramon Crater and a day excursion to Petra, Jordan. The package features stays at the Beresheet Hotel, overlooking the Ramon Crater, with a deep tissue body massage, and at Isrotel’s Royal Beach in Eilat, where they can lounge beachside or participate in water activities, such as scuba diving, snorkeling and water skiing.

The package includes two nights’ accommodations at the Beresheet Resort, Negev in a Crater Top Room with private pool; two nights’ accommodations at Royal Beach, Eilat in a Royal Room with Presidential Lounge access; daily buffet breakfast for two; gourmet dinner at Beresheet for two; private transfer from Tel Aviv to Beresheet and from Mitzpe Ramon to Eilat; flight from Eilat to Tel Aviv; private Jeep tour in the Negev Desert; rappelling at the Ramon Crater; day excursion to Petra, Jordan; lunch in Petra for two; one deep tissue body massage per person at the Beresheet Hotel; and special in-room welcome amenities at each resort. The package is priced from $2,295 per person double occupancy, and is available from March 2013 to February 2014.

The Israel Ministry of Tourism launched the “Beyond Belief” video contest, with a trip for two to Israel as the prize. Aspiring entrants should visit the Facebook page of the Israel Ministry of Tourism and click on the “Win a Trip” tab at the top of the screen. Then you must post an original two-minute video that incorporates the phrase, “Israel is beyond belief.”

The contest winner will win two non-stop roundtrip tickets to Israel on El Al Israel Airlines and a seven-night stay with the Dan Hotels chain. “The new Facebook contest is a fun and interactive way to promote tourism to Israel,” said Haim Gutin, Israel Commissioner for Tourism, North and South America. “We hope the contest inspires a new wave of travelers to visit Israel this year.”

The contest is open for entry through July 28. The contest winner will be announced in August. To enter the contest, visit www.facebook.com/goisrael.

A magnificent 1,500-year-old mosaic was recently uncovered during excavations by the Israel Antiquities Authority at Kibbutz Bet Qama in Israel’s Negev Desert. The mosaic is adorned with geometric patterns, a pair of peacocks, a pair of doves pecking at grapes on a tendril and its corners depict amphorae, or ancient jars used to transport wine.

The Weizmann Institute for Science announced the opening this month of the new Levinson Visitors Center, offering an in-depth look into current scientific projects and discoveries in Israel.The Weizmann Institute was founded in Rehovot (south of Tel Aviv) in 1934 and is considered one of the world’s leading centers of scientific achievement. The new visitors center includes an interactive science exhibition and multimedia presentation. http://visitors-center.weizmann.ac.il

EatWith, a new program that connects food-focused travelers with local host families, is now available for visitors to Israel. EatWith offers unique dining experiences in private homes and visits to dairy and produce farms across Israel.
www.eatwith.com

Intrepid Vacations introduced a new series of tour packages for Israel focused on showing the religious heritage and historical attractions of the cities and villages on the itineraries.

Brian John, president of Intrepid Vacations, says the demand for faith-based itineraries continues to grow at an accelerating rate. Besides religious and historical sites, Intrepid has also tried to provide ample time to explore the modern life of the region. According to John, “Our Israel vacation packages offer a variety of options for travelers seeking excitement. For example Eilat in the Red Sea region is filled with cafes, theaters and night clubs, health resorts and vast stretches of beaches with outdoor adventure activities — such as the Dolphin Reef, Camel tours, ATV and much more. Our destination expertise guarantees the exposure Israel travelers seek for a lifetime of memories they will enjoy sharing with friends and family.”

The menu of escorted tours to Israel includes the eight-day/seven-night Israel Pilgrims Tour, priced from $1,475 and including Jerusalem, Galilee and Tel Aviv, as well as Bethlehem’s Manger Square and Church of the Nativity, the Dead Sea, Jericho, Nazareth, Syria, and the Sea of Galilee; Israel Holy Land, priced from $1,362, including Jerusalem, Galilee and Tel Aviv, the Dead Sea, Tiberias, Capernaum, the coastal areas of Acre, Haifa and Megiddo; Israel Splendors, priced from $1,378, including Jerusalem, Galilee, Tel Aviv, the Dead Sea, the rock fortress of Masada, Herod’s great palace and the mountains around Jerusalem, Jericho, Tiberias, Capernaum, Nazareth, Acre and Haifa; Israel and Petra Wonders, priced from $1,976, including Tel Aviv, Tiberias, Jerusalem, Eilat, and Petra in Jordan; Israel and Petra Pilgrims Tour, priced from $1,813; and Jewish Heritage, priced from $1,722. Prices are per person double occupancy, land only.

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The city of Jerusalem will open a new park this summer named after the former mayor of the city, Teddy Kollek. The new Teddy Park is part of Mitchell Park beneath the Old City walls near Jerusalem’s Jaffa Gate. The park is designed as a tribute to Kollek, who was mayor from 1965 to 1993. He is remembered for initiating many public projects, such as establishment of outdoor public spaces, placement of outdoor statues and he presided over the unification of the city in 1967.

The new plot is centered around the Hassenfeld Family Fountain, which presents light, sound and water shows coordinated by a special computer system. The displays carry on on an ongoing basis and are free to the public.

Teddy Park will have a visitor’s center that will present a 3D film that tells the story of the development of Jerusalem under Kollek’s tenure. It will also feature a sundial designed by Israeli artist Maty Grunberg; an eight-foot globe sculpture designed by British artist David Breur-Weil; a wishing-well; and environmental sculptures.

Teddy Park is an initiative of the Israel Ministry of Tourism in partnership with the city of Jerusalem

Israel will host the 52nd annual Israel Festival May 23-June 22 to showcase theater, music and dance by Israeli and international artists in Jerusalem. It is billed as Israel’s largest art and culture festival.

Performances will include a concert by Israeli songwriter Shlomi Shaban; a collaborative dance performance of Goldlandbergs, featuring the Emmanuel Gat Dance Company; Housen, a dance adaptation of House at the Hansen House in Jerusalem’s Talbiya neighborhood; a concert celebrating the 100th anniversary of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring performed by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra at the Henry Crown Concert Hall; the world premiere of a new dance piece by choreographer Rami Be’er entitled Undivided Void performed by the Kibbutz Dance Company; Dressed to Dance, a dance performance featuring flamenco costumes from Madrid; and an English-language performance of Hideki Noda’s The Bee at the Rebecca Crown Auditorium.

srotel, one of Israel’s top hotel brands, plans to open its new flagship hotel, The Royal Beach Tel Aviv, in May, coinciding with the 65^th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel. The hotel stands on the Mediterranean beach front near Tel Aviv’s promenade and within walking distance of central Tel Aviv entertainment and dining areas.

The hotel is designated as one of the Isrotel Exclusive Collection, which is comprised of the chain’s high-end product. The Collection also includes the Royal Beach Eilat, the Carmel Forest Spa Resort and the Beresheet desert resort on the edge of the Ramon Crater. Isrotel has 17 hotels in Israel, from three star to deluxe, including two properties at the Dead Sea, two in Tel Aviv and several at the beach resort of Eilat.

The Royal Beach Tel Aviv will offer 230 luxurious suites and rooms conceived by hotel designer Harald Klein, in an attempt to combine a high-tech urban sensibility with a feeling of pampering and comfort. The hotel will offer a range of room types, with sizes ranging from 300 square feet to more than 1,000 square feet. Most have sea-view balconies facing west toward the sunsets over the Mediterranean Sea.

The 15^th to 19^th floors are designated as the Executive Floors (15th-19th) and are equipped with extra features. Each room has an espresso machine, an iPod dock and guests have access to the exclusive business lounge on the 18th floor. The bi-level, nearly 4,000 square foot lounge has a terrace overlooking the sea, a TV room, two private conference rooms, a bar, a lounge with free newspapers and magazines, an office service desk, free Internet access, work desks and dining areas.

The third and fifth floors are dedicated to families. The sixth and seventh floors constitute a VIP Complex with 18 VIP rooms and suites including two 300-square foot Presidential Suites with panoramic views of Mediterranean, Tel Aviv and Old Jaffa. The spa and swimming pool complex is on the fourth floor.

Isrotel also plans to open another property in June, the Cramin Resort and Spa in the Jerusalem area.

Barbra Streisand, backed by a 60-piece orchestra, plans to play her first concert in Israel on June 20 at Tel Aviv’s Bloomfield Stadium. She will perform duets with her son Jason Gould, sister Roslyn Kind and guest trumpeter Chris Botti. Streisand also will appear for a private performance at the annual Presidential Conference in Jerusalem in honor of President Shimon Peres’ 90th birthday. The event will take place two days before her concert.