Visiting Israel? It's the Little Things That Can Catch You Out
- Suzanne Lieberman
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 8 hours ago
Judy had done everything right.
Her flights were booked. Her accommodation was arranged. She’d packed her passport, travel insurance, and medication.
Or so she thought.
A few days into her trip, she realized one of her prescription medications had been left behind in the United States.
Thankfully, she had travel medical insurance.
Surely a quick phone call would sort it out.
It turned out to be anything but simple.
The first hurdle was the phone number itself. The number provided was a toll-free Israeli line, which, as it turns out, can only be dialed from an Israeli phone number. From an American number, it simply wouldn’t connect.
I found an alternative number, and thought we were finally on track. But there was another surprise waiting.
Although the automated system offered an option for English, once we reached a real person, the reality was different. The representatives were only able to communicate in Hebrew.
For a visitor trying to resolve something urgent, that quickly turns what should be a simple process into a very stressful one.
What should have been a quick call ended up taking nearly two hours of back-and-forth: navigating phone systems, translating, and figuring out the right path to resolution.
The good news is that while I dealt with all of that, Judy was able to continue her day and enjoy her time in Israel without interruption.
By the end of it, she had an appointment scheduled with a doctor, and, most importantly, she was able to access the medication she needed.
Every country has its own systems and quirks, and Israel is no exception. Most of the time, travel here is smooth, rewarding, and straightforward.
But occasionally, it’s the small things that catch you out.
A phone number that only works locally.
An “English option” that doesn’t quite mean what you expect.
A simple request that suddenly becomes a multi-step process.
These are not dramatic problems, but they are the kinds of things that can feel overwhelming when you’re in the middle of them, far from home.
And they’re exactly the moments when having someone on the ground; someone who knows how the system works and can step in quickly; can make all the difference.
Because while most of a trip to Israel is about the big experiences, sometimes the real value is in quietly handling the small ones in the background.
If you’re planning your own Israel journey and want things to run smoothly - even when the unexpected happens, I’d be happy to help. You can reach out via my contact form
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