FAQ
Common questions and answers.
Do I have to be a college student? What if I am a current high school senior?
You do NOT need to be a college student, but you must have
completed high school in order to be eligible to participate in the program.
What are the dates of the trip?
Trips will run in May, June and July 2012.
Can I travel with a friend on the program?
Yes. You will have an opportunity to request with whom to be placed in a group,
and we will do our best to accommodate your requests although we cannot make any
guarantees. Encourage your friends and family to apply ASAP - this will enhance
our ability to place you in a group together.
How will the groups be formed?
Groups are formed based on age and group requests. Effort is also made to
have an equal number of males and females. The groups consist of approximately
30-40 participants. Each group is accompanied by an Israeli tour guide and two North American staff people.
Will a deposit be required? Are there additional fees?
Yes, a deposit is required. Deposits are paid through a company called Payoneer. It is payable using VISA, MASTERCARD
or ACH Direct Deposit. All deposits are subject to a $10 service charge which is non refundable.
What if I don’t have a passport yet?
Apply for a passport now! If you are not a citizen of the U.S. or Canada, you
will need to apply for a visa to visit Israel. See the Passport & Travel Documents page for more details.
What type of medical insurance must I have?
You are required to have your own health insurance during your 10-day Taglit-Birthright Israel trip. If you do not
have insurance or if your insurance policy does not cover you in Israel, you need to arrange for your own temporary
travelers insurance. Israel Your Way recommends TravelGuard.
Click here for more information.
Where does the trip depart from?
All of the trips will be departing from the New York area (either JFK, Newark airports).
Participants must arrange travel to and from the gateway city at their own expense.
What are the accommodations and mode of transportation in Israel?
Participants stay in hotels and kibbutzim guest houses. Transportation is by air-conditioned motorcoach.
What are the eligibility requirements?
There are strict eligibility requirements to participate in our trips. For a detailed explanation, please visit the Eligibility page.
What about safety and security?
More North Americans have chosen to travel with the Israelis of Israel Your Way than with any other Israel travel company.
This is due, in part, to the fact that the Israel Your Way team is 100% committed to providing a safe, secure and enjoyable
educational trip to Israel for all participants. As Israelis, we are particularly aware of how the security situation impacts
on daily life. We know the importance of taking the right precautions, and believe in the importance of forging onward with life.
Israel Your Way constantly reviews all security measures for our trips and implements the most stringent security measures
at all times throughout the program. These precautions include the careful planning of itineraries. Our tours do not
travel to or through areas of the West Bank, Gaza or East Jerusalem (We do visit the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City).
Throughout each day, itineraries are cleared through the official government authorities, which also review all educational
field trips for Israeli schools and educational institutions. A group's itinerary will be changed immediately to reflect
any heightened risk or security concerns.
Each group is given a detailed safety and security orientation upon arrival in Israel. In addition, the guides and
North American staff of each trip brief participants regularly regarding special security arrangements for
particular trips or days. The orientation and briefings include guidelines for free time and general travel safety.
Free time is always supervised and takes place in specified locations as security considerations warrant. Finally,
at least one Israeli security escort accompanies every Israel Your Way group.
Israel Your Way trips do not use public transportation and participants are advised to avoid the use of public transportation
at all times. As a subsidiary of Egged Tours, all groups travel on Egged Tours buses with drivers that have excellent safety records.
Drivers are instructed to never leave buses unlocked or unattended.
Again, our primary concern is the safety of our participants. Please feel free to contact us if you have specific security
related questions or concerns.
Can I extend my ticket and stay in Israel?
Flight tickets can be extended before traveling to Israel or while on the trip. For a detailed
explanation, including timelines and fees, please visit the Flight Extensions page.
Is the deposit refundable?
If you cancel prior to the Taglit-Birthright Israel deadline dates (below) or are not given a spot on a
trip, your deposit will be refunded to your original method of payment.
Deposit Refund Deadlines:
- March 28 – 9:00 am ET for May Departures
- April 11 - 9:00 am ET for June Departures
- May 9 - 9:00 am ET for July Departures
- June 13 – 9:00 am ET for August/ September Departures
If you are offered a spot on a trip after the above listed Deposit Refund Deadlines, we will let you know of your
specific cancellation deadline. If you cancel after that date, you will forfeit your deposit.
All cancellations must be in writing and sent to yourway@israelway.com.
How long until I get my deposit back after the trip?
Approximately eight days after you successfully participate on a trip, you will be notified by email that your deposit is available. That email may also contain information about how you can voluntarily donate all or part if your deposit in support of future Taglit-Birthright Israel trips. Note that you must retrieve your deposit within 90 days after your trip or it will be deemed forfeited and donated to Taglit-Birthright Israel.