Planning your trip to Israel

ISRAEL

THE BEST WAY

From LAX, El Al offers nonstop service to Tel Aviv. Continental offers direct (stop, no change of planes), and Air France, Delta and Continental offer connecting service (change of planes). Restricted round-trip fares begin at $839.

TELEPHONES

To call the numbers below from the U.S., dial 011 (the international dialing code), 972 (country code for Israel) and the local number.

GALILEE

WHERE TO STAY

Pausa: Gourmet Galilee Inn, 63 Shear Yeshuv, 54-690-4434, www.pausa-inn.co.il, is a small country inn set in a garden about five miles east of the town of Kiryat-Shmona. Meals feature local produce and innovative recipes. Doubles start around $180, including breakfast; $300, including breakfast and dinner.

WHERE TO EAT

Canaan Gallery, 47 Bet Yosef St., Safed; 4-697-4449, is a pleasant cafe and weaving shop in old Safed; light meals about $10.

Decks, 4-672-1538, on the waterfront in Tiberias, specializes in grilled meat and Sea of Galilee views; entrees $20 to $30.

JERUSALEM

WHERE TO STAY

American Colony Hotel, Nablus Road, 2-627-9777, www.americancolony.com. The hotel is north of the Old City near St. George’s Anglican Cathedral; doubles start at $440, including breakfast.

Ecce Homo Convent, 41 Via Dolorosa, 2-627-7292, www.eccehomoconvent.org; Austrian Hospice, 37 Via Dolorosa, 2-626-5800, www.austrianhospice.com; and the Lutheran Guesthouse, St. Marks Road, 2-626-6888, www.guesthouse-jerusalem.com, are reasonably priced, well-run hostelries in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Jerusalem International YMCA 3 Arches Hotel, 2-569-2692, www.YMCA3arch.co.il, is a Moorish Art Deco landmark on King David Street across from the King David Hotel, just west of the Old City. It has modest but comfortable rooms, a restaurant, fitness center and indoor pool; doubles $195, including breakfast.

WHERE TO EAT

The Austrian Hospice and YMCA (above) are good spots for light meals and Val’s Brasserie at the American Colony (above) serves well-prepared meals by a cozy fireplace. For stuffed pita sandwiches try one of the cafes around the Muristan Fountain, just south of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City.

Hess, 9 Heleni Hamalka St.; 2-625-5515. A venerable place specializing in prime kosher meat, run by an award-winning butcher and sausage-maker from Switzerland; entrees $20 to $30.

TEL AVIV

WHERE TO STAY

Melody Hotel, 220 Hayarkon St., Tel Aviv; 3-521-5300, www.atlas.co.il. A nifty boutique hotel a block from the beach with great views from the roof terrace; doubles start about $185, including breakfast.

WHERE TO EAT

Fisherman Benny, Tel Aviv Harbor, 3-544-0764, is a breezy, fun place for fish in the hip, new harbor area; entrees around $20.

Sugar, 20 Pinsker St., 3-629-6519, is a cafe in a stylish old Bauhaus building; light meals $10 to $20.

Suzana, 9 Shabazi St., 3-5177580, is in the Neve Tzedek neighborhood and features healthful fare; entrees $10 to $20.

TO LEARN MORE

Israel Government Tourist Office, (888) 77-ISRAEL (774-7723) or (323) 658-7463, www.goisrael.com.