Though an itinerary, tailor-made for the family or individuals I tour with in Israel, constitutes a very important component of any tour, little things can make or break a great trip.

Take shoes, for instance.

Most Americans love wearing running shoes or sneakers when they tour.  Good for running, those New Balance or Nikes were made for running on a flat, level surface.  In Israel, you might be walking on the uneven stones of the Old City of Jerusalem, or hiking up the very gravelly  “Snake Path” up to the top of Masada!  You need good hiking, not running shoes.  Both New Balance and Nike do make a sturdy hiking shoe.  So do other companies like Merrill, Vasque and a host of others.

However, you are not only going to be walking around cities and parks.  Most of my clients spend at least one day at the Dead Sea.  Others walk the “wet tunnel” or Hezekiah’s Tunnel, a twenty-seven hundred year old archaeological marvel at the bottom of the City of David National Park.  You can’t wear hiking shoes; you will ruin them.  Do not wear beach clogs unless you are on the beach in Tel Aviv.

So what should you wear in the wet?  How about a pair of waterproof Keens or Crocs pictured below?

Some will say, “I don’t need a pair of these, I’ll just pack on old pair of gym shoes.”

I say do get a pair of Keens or Crocs.  You will use them at home in summer.

As for a general shoe to walk around in Israel, I own a pair of Vasque hiking shoes with Vibram soles.  They are strong, well-made and support the foot.

Of course, adventure sandals can be substituted for the Keens and/or Crocs.  Source, Tevas and Chacos.

My next blog will be about hats.

Why Israelis Didn’t Like Starbucks or Why Americans Like Bad Coffee

Ten years have passed since Starbucks closed their six branches in Israel.

They had been open two years. Delek Group, the Israeli corporation, managed (mismanaged?) the branches, not individual branch managers.

However, Starbucks failed in the “Start-Up Nation” because of its “You don’t like the coffee? You’ll get used to it” attitude. Israelis love coffee. Starbucks, unlike MacDonald’s who changed their menu to fit Israeli taste and succeeded big-time, did not “go with the flow.”

The average Israeli consumer loves the strong, Italian-style latte or cappuccino. The watery beverage that passes for a strong brew just does not cut it here.

Not only is the Israeli style coffee big bucks (or shekels) here, Aroma, the biggest coffee giant in Israel with more than 125 branches, has opened branches in New York City.

Other honorable mentions in Israel are: Cup O ’Joe has 105 and and so does Café Café. Arcafe and Greg are galloping at full steam to cash in on the insatiable thirst for the brown ambrosia. All of the cafes have varied menus. The food is generally very good with generous portions and reasonable prices. They are found in many large cities to the smallest towns in the country.

My little town of Afula boasts 2 Aroma cafes, 2 Greg cafes, two Café Café’s. Roladin, a relative newcomer, just opened a branch, not to mention the local cafes here. And this is in a town with about forty-two thousand inhabitants. We love our coffee!

Why not Starbucks? Basically, the coffee at Starbucks, for me, has no kick. It just doesn’t do it for me. All the others do.

So when you come to Israel, prepare to have great coffee, great food, great times and a trip of your lifetime.

With froth, of course!