Car Trip Planner Site for Independent Tourists to Israel

Rehovot, Israel (PRWeb) January 23, 2007 -- http://www.Drive-Israel.com, the only Israel travel site geared to independent travelers who explore the country by car, suggests road trips and rural lodgings, with accompanying sectional road maps.

Tourists can use the site to plan visits to Israel's growing selection of boutique wineries, desert spas, ethnic craft centers, or local museums, complete with contact information and opening times.

"Often independent tourists prefer to hire guides for trip segments in order to visit otherwise inaccessible sites," explains Judith Isaacson, founder, Drive-Israel.com. "We suggest add-on jeep trips, caving adventures, and off-limit archaeological sites -- all of which can be booked via the site."

In response to tourists' desire to meet "real" Israelis, Drive-Israel.com offers Meet the Artist art and alternative health workshops which take place in the artist's studio under his/her guidance. The growing list of Drive-Israel.com workshops includes functional art pieces, outdoor sculpture and glass art. http://www.drive-israel.com/activities/workshops/index.php

The site recommends bed and breakfast stays, self-catering units, rural lodgings and vacation villa rentals -- all bookable through the site. Lodgings (http://www.drive-israel.com/rural-lodgings/index.php) are critically reviewed by Drive-Israel.com so that no unwelcome surprises await the vacationer at check-in.

The Crusader castle, for example, is a stunning and unique vacation spot -- well-situated to explore the Mediterranean coast as well as the inland mountains.

The views from the spacious balcony are sweeping, and the massive designer furnishings are comfortable and particularly well-suited to a Crusader castle.

"But before you book, you need to know that access to your room is by 27 steep stairs and that the distinctively styled bathtub, sink and toilet are located inside the large bedroom, hidden behind a Japanese screen," explains Judith Isaacson, founder and CEO, of Drive-israel.com.

"Our goal is to encourage 'explorer' tourists to Israel, provide alternative ways to experience Israel, and to eliminate unwelcome surprises at check-in," she explains further.

Isaacson, who has traveled to Thailand, India, Turkey, Iceland, Belize, Guatemala, much of Europe and the U.S., remarks that "all places look good on the Internet, but reality is always different. We visit our selection of places before they are listed. If we like what we see, they get listed and we try to let you know possible problems -- then you decide if 27 steps, for example, is an issue or good exercise."

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