Insurance

Volunteers ordinarily arrange for their own life, medical, and accident insurance in their home country well in advance of traveling to the Levant. We recommend you carefully consider your insurance coverage. If you are a student be sure to check with your college or university to see what coverage is available to you, under what conditions, and at what cost. Even when an excavation provides accident insurance it is usually minimal.

Money Matters

American dollars are generally accepted all over Israel and Jordan. Some traveler’s checks are difficult to cash. We recommend American Express Traveler’s Checks if you choose to bring them. Some volunteers find it almost impossible to cash traveler’s checks from other companies.

Check with your bank on exchange rates. Bring some currency of your host country with you. Acquire a small amount of currency through your bank or plan to acquire some at the airport before you leave. Money changers may be closed when you arrive in your host country. You might want to buy some food, take a bus, or a taxi. Local currency is necessary for such activities.

On the streets, particularly where tourists are present, you will encounter nondescript men offering to exchange your currency. They normally offer a better exchange rate than the official one. Whether or not their conduct is legal we do not know. Ask your tour guide, tour leader, or excavation staff about buying currency in this way. Be sure you know what the bank and hotel exchange rates are before you buy from the man on the street. Experienced travelers find that hotel and bank exchange rates are usually the worst. Shop around before you buy.

You will need cash for touring, gifts, and entertainment. We suggest you make out a complete budget for your trip and plan to take at least $500 (US). Make some provision for emergency cash, such as by establishing an account with American Express, before you leave home.

Luggage

Limit yourself to two pieces of luggage and one carry-on for air travel. The carry-on must be able to fit underneath the seat in front of you or in the overhead compartment (not larger than 8 x 16 x 21 inches or 20 x 40 x 53 centimeters).

The size of your luggage should not be larger than 26 or 27 inches (66 cm or 68 cm) in its largest dimension. Airlines will weigh each piece of luggage. Check with your travel agent or airline for specific luggage limitations (verify maximum number of pieces, size, weight).

Passports and Visas

In addition to a valid passport from your own country you need to contact the consulates for the countries you plan to visit for visa information. The process can take months so start early. Do not skip this step unless you plan to be placed into detention and required to leave.

If you are excavating in Israel note that Israel Ministry of Interior regulations require that passports of all volunteers be stamped with a volunteer visa (B4). You should request this visa at your point of entry into Israel.

We have spent many wasted hours at U.S. embassies helping international students renew student visas to return to the United States. If you are an international student realize the impact of your leaving the United States and be prepared to be treated quite poorly at any US embassy in the Levant. You will have to get beyond their insensitive rudeness. Take heart, embassy personnel treat U.S. citizens with just as much insolence.