An Indian in Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv is the financial hub of Israel on the Mediterranean coastline. As the country's tech hub, the city is known for its zest for life and as the place that never sleeps. Narendra Modi will become the first Indian Prime Minister to visit this city in July.Top 5 Business Hotels in Tel Aviv65 Hotel www.atlas.co.il/65-hotel-tel-avivAddress: 65 Rothschild Boulevard, Tel Aviv, 6578512Email: 65hotel@atlashotels.co.ilTel: +97237677677Fax: +97237677678The Rothschild 71www.the-rothschild.comAddress: 71 Rothschild Boulevard, Tel Aviv, IsraelEmail: Info@the-rothschild.comTel: +972 3 6290555Fax: +972 3 6290444Lily & Bloom Boutique Hotelhttp://lilyandbloom.comAddress: 48 lilienblum street, Tel Aviv 6513455, IsraelEmail: hotel@lilyandbloom.comTel: +972-72-2484848Fax: +972-72-2795451Brown TLV Urban Hotelwww.browntlv.comAddress: 25 Kalisher street, Tel Aviv, Israel 6516505Email: hotel@browntlv.comTel. +972-3-7170200Fax. +972-3-7170240Carlton Tel Avivwww.carlton.co.ilAddress: 10 Eliezer Peri Street, Tel Aviv, 6357325Tel: 972 3 5201818Fax: T: 972 3 5201818Embassy of India, Tel AvivPavan KapoorAmbassador of India to IsraelEmail: amb.telaviv@mea.gov.inAddress: 140, Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv-61033Consular Timings: 0900 hours to 1100 hrs (Mon to Thurs) and 0900 hours to 1030 hrs (Fri)Tel: 00-972-3-5291999Fax: 00-972-3-5291953Website: https://www.indembassyisrael.gov.in/Best Times to Visit Tel Aviv:

• The best times to visit Tel Aviv are March through April and September through November.
• Spring and Fall mark this city′s "sweet" tourism spots, boasting pleasant temperatures and affordable prices.
• The spring months of March-April are ideal for summer loving travellers, not too crowded as the city is yet to receive a throng of tourists.
• Between September to November is Autumn and the city bids adieu to most of its visitors. Tariffs for hotels located in prime areas or with beach fronts reduce considerably.
• However, if you are heading to Tel Aviv for a beach vacation, then May to August (summer months) is the best time. Make reservations two months in advance since this is the peak tourist season.

• The main public bus company that operates in greater Tel Aviv is Dan.
• Tickets and passes can be purchased on the bus, or at central bus stations.

• Service taxis, called "Moniyot Sherut" in Hebrew, run along the main roads in the city and throughout the country.
• Sheruts are in essence mini-vans that operate as shared taxis; they are generally yellow, with numbers on the windshield indicating their route, and they can transport about 10-12 people at a time.

• Local and inter-city taxi services are available to and from any point in the country.
• The fares for inter-city taxi services are standard fares set by the Ministry of Transport. It is recommended to verify the fare prior to entering the taxi.

• The Night Lines are public transportation lines that run from residential areas to entertainment centers and back during nighttime.
• The Night Lines' fare is the same as regular public transportations and can be paid via all credible payment means including discounts, tickets, all-in-one passes and monthly subscriptions.

• Tel Aviv-Yafo has four train stations, all of which are located along the Ayalon Highway. All trains to Tel Aviv-Yafo stop in all four stations.
• A new high-speed line between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem has recently started operating, with expected travel time of only 28 minutes.

• Jaffa Old City
• Tayelet
• Palmach Museum
• Tel Aviv Museum of Art
• Neve Tzedek
• Sarona Market
• Old Tel Aviv Port
• Yitzhak Rabin Center
• Nachlat Binyamin Pedestrian Mall
• Gordon-Frishman Beach

• There are money exchange offices all over the city with no commissions, but there are banks which sometimes do take commissions. At the airport, the money exchange is open 24 hours a day. There are also plenty ATMs to withdraw money and you can pay by credit card in most places.
• No specific immunization is required for travel to Israel. However, you should make sure that all your vaccinations are up-to-date and your children have been immunised according the recommended schedule in your country of origin.
• If you wish to drive a car in Israel, you must hold a valid international driver′s license. Driving in Israel is on the right-hand side of the road, and most signage is in Hebrew, English and Arabic. While driving, do not use a hand-held phone as it is against the law.
• It is forbidden to import the following items into Israel without a licence issued in advance: plants, firearms, raw meat, raw materials, counterfeit currency or documents, knife or penknife not intended for professional use.
• Tips of 10% are standard at Israeli restaurants. Cab drivers do not expect to be tipped.
• The Shabbat, or Sabbath, is the local day of rest and observed from sundown on Friday to Saturday night. All public offices are closed on Shabbat, as are banks, most stores and businesses. Buses and trains cease services, but restaurants and bars are open as normal.
• Banks are open Sunday through Friday mornings from 0830h to 1200h. They offer additional hours Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday from 1600h to 1800h.

• From India, El Al Israel Airlines operates between 3 to 4 flights per week, flying direct from Mumbai′s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM) to Tel Aviv′s Ben Gurion Airport (TLV).
• Aeroflot Russian Airlines operates daily flights from Delhi′s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) to Tel Aviv′s Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) via Moscow.
• Major flight operators from India to Tel Aviv: Jet Airways, Lufthansa, Air India, Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, British Airways, Air France, Alitalia, ASKY Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch, Swiss International Air Lines, Qatar Airways, Brussels Airlines, Kuwait Airways
• Air India is planning to introduce non-stop flights between New Delhi to Tel Aviv three times a weeksoon.

• The Embassy of Israel has opened their Visa Application Centres operated by Israel Visa Services in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.
• The Israel Visa Application Centre would accept applications for A2 (Student), B1(Employment / Work), B2 (Business / Tourist) Visa categories.

• Tel Aviv ranks third in the world as the destination of choice for high net worth individuals as a result of its booming economy, growing tech scene, and overall superb weather.
• Known as one of the world′s most innovative cities, its start-up scene is rivalled only by California′s Silicon Valley. The city is home to more than 1,500 companies (mostly tech) that employ 43,000 workers.
• To help attract international start-ups, Tel Aviv offers incentive packages to entrepreneurs abroad. This includes temporary accommodation and workspace, as well as consulting and legal advice.
• Tel Aviv was ranked one of the two most innovative cities in the world by the 'Wall Street Journal', and one of the top three tourist destinations by 'Lonely Planet'.

• National Geographic has deemed Tel Aviv the ninth best beach city in the world.