For the most up to date entry requirements for this tour, please visit this page.

Flight Preparation
Check your online account 30 days prior to departure for your flight itinerary and confirmation number. Using your 6-digit reservation code, you can reserve your seat (this is typically available 30 days to 24 hours before departure) and check in to your flight 24 hours prior to departure. If you prefer to check in at the airport, that’s okay, too. Regardless, plan to arrive 2.5 – 3 hours before departure.

Note: All flight information is online (e-ticket) via your account and the airline’s website. You will not receive a physical paper ticket from us.

• If your flight is cancelled or delayed: Don’t worry! We design the first day of tour as an arrival day in case of flight delays or cancellations. Work with the airline to get rebooked on the next available flight, then let your Tour Director know your new arrival time
• If you sleep in and miss your flight: You should still talk to the airline and see if they can get you on the next available option. Tears may help in this case.

Arriving in Amman
Welcome to Jordan! Now that you have #landed, you will want to grab your luggage and pass through customs and immigration. (Yay! Passport stamps!)

Your Tour Director will communicate through the EF Ultimate Break app, WhatsApp, or email about where to meet them at the airport. This is an important reason to make sure you have the EF Ultimate Break app!

Note: If you have booked your own flight arrangements or have extended your travels before the tour dates, you will need to make your own way to the first hotel. Accommodation details will be available in your online account 30 days prior to departure.

Getting from A to B
On this trip, you’ll take a private bus which can take anywhere between 2-8 hours depending on distance, local traffic, and bathroom or photo-stop breaks. The beauty of travel is that you get to explore a new place but note that it takes time and energy to see everything worth seeing!

Note: It’s a good idea to download a few movies or shows to watch sans Wi-Fi/ Cellular Data, bring a great book with you to read, or listen to music to pass the time. Download the Latino Vibes playlists on Spotify to get in the mood!

Fact: Travel is exhilarating. And FOMO is real. So, we understand why you don’t want to miss a second of the action. But there’s a difference between maximizing your time and spreading yourself too thin. Here are some tips to stay healthy and happy on tour:

• Sleep: Flying across the globe, changing time zones, and being constantly on the move can take a toll on your body. Make sure you get the rest your body needs. If that means missing a night out for some well-earned rest, or having a little afternoon nap, so be it. This is a marathon, not a sprint.
• Be Prepared: We recommend bringing a small first aid kit including antacids, anti-diarrhea medication, motion sickness medication, and any prescription medications in your carry-on bag.
• Take time for yourself: Group travel is an amazing experience, and there’s nothing quite like exploring a foreign country with a group of like-minded people. That said, it’s okay to take time for yourself to relax and reflect on your experience. Here are a few mindfulness apps you can take with you on the road:
  • MindShift: Focused on anxiety management, this app has an array of cognitive behavior therapy features including journaling, goal-setting, calming audio, and a community forum.
  • Ten Percent Happier: Filled with videos and guided meditations intended to help with everything ranging from sleep to stress reduction.

With a global presence of more than 46,000 people in over 115 countries and regions, we’re fully committed to your safety. From your first flight all the way through to your farewell dinner, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Tour Director or your Trip Consultant if you need a helping hand. Keep these extra tips in mind so you can #travelsmart:

• Keep your bag/purse in front of you and your phone zipped inside when you’re not using it. Leave your laptop at home, store valuables at the hotel in locked luggage or the safe deposit box. Refrain from carrying large sums of money or wearing valuable jewelry.
• Use the buddy system. Stay in groups and watch out for each other, especially at night—no one gets left behind!
• In general, Jordan people are polite and kind, but sometimes there are instances of catcalling. In these instances, ignore and keep walking and you will not be disturbed. You can also contact the tourism police, who are stationed everywhere in Jordan.
• Be smart about alcohol consumption. Watch your drinks and don’t accept drinks from people you don’t know. Don’t leave the bar alone with someone you just met.
• Before you go out, grab a business card at your hotel so that you always have the address handy for getting back later.
• At the end of a night out, use trusted transportation like a licensed taxi or Uber, and always have cash on hand.
• Save our 24/7 number in your phone: +1–617–619–1411

We at EF will help facilitate any testing requirements while on tour, however it is the travelers responsibility to pay for these tests and it is our recommendation that you budget roughly 150 USD total. Please note that non-boosted travelers may be required to do additional testing to enter places such as restaurants, and/or major attractions.

Remember that you know your spending habits best and not everyone’s spending habits are the same. These recommendations are based on a traveler who says yes to any and all activities while on tour

Budgeting:
We recommend budgeting $40-$50 per day for meals, gratuities, shopping, and free time activities. For this trip, that means roughly $440-$550 but you know your spending habits best. If you’re looking to #treatyourself to the max, you may want to budget a little more.

Managing Money
Israel's official currency is the New Israeli Shekel (NIS). You will have time to change dollars into Israeli shekels at the airport, but you can also obtain Israeli currency for your local bank prior to departure as well as currency exchange windows or vending machines in many international airports.

Jordan is a cash society and its official currency is the Dinar. ATMs can be found in most of the larger towns and throughout Amman and in most places, the only acceptable method of payment is cash dinars (not Dollars or other foreign currencies). It is worth mentioning that the tourist town of Petra has a higher-than-usual prevalence of overcharging, so it's helpful to be on your guard here more than elsewhere. American Express, Visa, Diners Club and Mastercard are accepted in hotels, restaurants and larger shops.

• You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
• Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
• International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
• Do you have a credit card that offers zero international transaction fees? If so, bring that bad boy to save some money for purchases abroad.
• If possible, we suggest getting cash for Jordan ahead of time, as ATMs can be sparse.

Tipping
When it comes to tipping, it’s standard to leave 10-12% tip in restaurants, 5% tip in bars, and no tip for taxis. As it is also customary to tip for services provided, we recommend the following for this tour:

• Local Guides: $1-$2
• Bus Driver: You will have two Bus Drivers on this trip and should prepare to tip each Bus Drive $11-$22 given at the end of their designated country.
• Come with a couple USD to tip the agents who pick you up at the airport and the drivers who bring you to your hotel.
• Tour Directors: You will have two Tour Directors on this trip and should prepare to tip each Tour Director at the end of their designated country (Jordan & Israel). Please prepare tips in local currency ($30 for Jordan Tour Director to be given on Day 6, $36 for the Israel Tour Director to be given on the last day of tour).

For weight and size restrictions please refer to your airline’s website. Flight information will be available 30 days prior to departure in your online account. Below you'll find some critical packing information and suggestions.

• The most important piece of advice we can give you: Pack light! Your international airline ticket does include a checked bag, but years of customer feedback tells us a carry-on is the way to go. You may need to carry your suitcase where buses and elevators cannot, so make sure you are comfortable carrying everything you bring yourself.
  • You've probably heard the hacks about rolling clothes and using packing cubes a million times, but there's a reason for that! It really does help.
  • If you choose to pack all of your toiletries, don't bring your regular-sized bottles from home. Offload some of that into travel-sized containers.
  • Choose your luggage wisely. We recommend a roller carry-on bag and a backpack as your personal item.
  • Choose shoes carefully as well. They're some of the bulkiest items you can pack, so we recommend a good pair of walking shoes and a pair of climate-appropriate shoes (boots or sandals depending on the destination and time of year). We also recommend a pair of closed-toe water shoes if your itinerary has any water activities.
  • Make a packing list of must-haves and stick to it. If you have a little extra space in your bags once all your must-haves are packed, then consider adding in a few nice extras.
• Unfortunately, luggage can get lost. It’s a painful situation no matter what, but here are tips to ease some of the hassle:
  • DO NOT put important medications in a checked bag. If your luggage is lost, this could become a dangerous issue.
  • Even if you put most of your clothes in a checked bag, put a couple outfits in your carry-on along with your toiletries.
  • If you are forced to check you carry-on at the gate, be sure to remove essentials and valuables before handing it over.
• Carefully review TSA restrictions when packing. There are a number of items not allowed in your carry-on and liquids have certain restrictions.
• Check out the local weather; we haven't figured out how to control the weather yet so best to be prepared and plan accordingly.
• Don't forget: Outlets overseas can differ from the US, so be sure to pack the right power adapters/converters!
• Modest dress at holy sites in Israel and Jordan may be different than you've experienced elsewhere. This means that down to your elbows must be covered, not just your shoulders. Your legs also must be covered to your knees. If you wear a skirt that passes your knees, it can't have a slit running up your thigh.
• Bathing suites can get stained by the high salt content in the Dead Sea, so bring a bathing suit you don't care too much about if you plan to swim.

The official language of Israel is Hebrew and the official language of Jordan is Arabic, but most locals also speak English. Try your hand at some of the local language:

• Hello: Salam (Arabic), Shalom (Hebrew)
• My name is: Ismi (Arabic), Shmi (Hebrew)
• How much is this?: Bekam Hada? (Arabic), Kama ze ole? (Hebrew)
• Yes: Na’am (Arabic), Ken (Hebrew)
• No: La’a (Arabic), Lo (Hebrew)
• Thank you: Shukran (Arabic), Toda (Hebrew)
• Where is the bathroom?: Ayn el-merhad? (Arabic), Eeifo Hanokhiyut? (Hebrew)

Download Duolingo or some language-learning podcasts to practice your skills, and use Google Translate to help you while on the road!

Local Life in Jordan

• Taking photos of government and military buildings in Jordan is forbidden.
• It is considered very rude to take a photo of someone without their consent, especially the Bedouin women, who typically do not consent to picture taking.
• When visiting places of religious significance, display the utmost respect for whatever rules and customs are in place regardless of your own political or religious beliefs.
• The majority of Jordanian people speak English and are helpful when they know you are a visitor.
• Do not interrupt, or pass in front of, a Muslim who may be praying in a public place.
• Do not panic if a new Jordanian acquaintance "pecks" you on the cheeks as a greeting. This is normal in Arab countries as a warm gesture of welcome and affection.
• Tipping is not necessary for taxi drivers, but appreciated.
• Tipping approximately 10% gratuity in addition to the bill (unless service charge is included).
• Do not consume alcohol in outside public areas.

Local Life in Israel

• The weekend starts on Fridays and Saturdays in Israel because of the Sabbath. This means that businesses and public transportation close from Friday at sundown until Saturday at sundown, except in more secular areas.
• When visiting religious areas, such as Jerusalem and orthodox neighborhoods, it is important to have your elbows, shoulders and knees covered.
• Israel is one of the few countries that require military service for both men and women after they turn 18 years old, so do not be surprised when you see soldiers with guns roaming the streets. This is normal!
• Israel is both conservative and liberal; Tel Aviv is modern, liberal and carefree with a large LGBTQ+ community and relaxed approached to partying/dress. Jerusalem, on the other hand, is very different. Modest dress is important and the city is conservative in nature, especially at places like the Western Wall.

You’ll sample a variety of other local dishes on your trip, but read on for all the tips, tricks, and delicacies you must try.

• Falafel: a combination of ground chickpeas, mixed with a variety of spices, then deep fried into mini patty like shapes, is one of the most common street food snacks or light meals in both Jordan and Israel.
• Moutabel: roasted and peeled eggplant is combined with yoghurt, tahini, garlic and lemon juice.
• Hummus: need we say more?
• Labneh: this strained yoghurt is very thick and creamy, and is served at almost every breakfast table in Jordan.
• Manakish: AKA "Arabic Pizza", whcih is a round of dough, topped with za’atar (an herb thyme spice mixture), olive oil, and can then optionally include toppings like white cheese (halloumi), eggs, or ground meat before its baked in a brick oven. YUM!
• Mujadara: a mixture of rice, lentils, and a seasoning that includes cumin (a favorite main dish for vegetarians in Jordan).
• Shawarma: layers of thin meat (lamb, beer or chicken) stacked and revolving either vertically or horizontally over a source of heat. Usually wrapped in bread with tahini and pickled vegetables.
• Sfenj: made from unsweetened dough that is left to rise before being shaped into rings, deep fried and dusted with sugar. A must have sweet treat in Israel!
• Khachapuri: one of Israel's most popular dishes for breakfast or brunch on the go. A pastry stuffed with cheese and topped with a fried egg.
• Shakshuka: a popular dish in Israel, especially at night, which is made with eggs poached directly into a tomato sauce, seasoned with chillies, peppers, onion and cumin. Dip with bread and enjoy!
• Burika: some describe this as Israel's best kept foodie secret. A savory crêpe filled with mashed potato and egg, which is deep fried until crisp.

If you did not purchase EF Ultimate Break Optional Excursions before the trip began, you can log in to your Online Account and do so on tour. You can also talk to your Tour Director on tour and they can help you get enrolled. If you’d like to plan something else during your free time, connect with your Tour Director before doing so; they sometimes arrange extra activities for the group during free time. Prices for these optional excursions will increase on tour, so please check your online account here for available add-ons.