Plan on packing as light as possible
Starting with an overload of useless junk will be a continual hassle and becomes impossible as soon as you start accumulating more baggage along the way. Be sure to pack the absolute essentials in your carry on such as your passport, some clothes, any medication, etc.
Better safe than sorry — there’s always a chance that the bags you check in will be delayed (or lost). To save space a good tip is to pack plastic, vacuum bags or “stuff bags”. They keep things compact, separate and clean, but also dry.
Things to Pack:
- Passport
- A photocopy of your passport (you may also want to leave an additional copy at home)
- Airline tickets
- A photocopy of your airline tickets
- Two or more forms of identification, at least one photo I.D.
- Phone numbers of your embassy in Israel and Holy Land Trust phone numbers
- Debit card, Visa or MasterCard
- Warm clothing for occasional cold evenings (one long sleeve sweater should suffice)
- A lightweight wind and waterproof jacket
- A set of semi-formal clothes for particular occasions (e.g. weddings, parties, etc.)
- A towel
- A swimsuit
- Camera (optional) with extra memory card
- Plug adapter
- Basic first aid and medication (as needed)
- Sunscreen
- A small gift for your host family
- A reusable water bottle
- A backpack or bag for day trips
Do not Pack:
- Any explicit materials about your travel plans or itinerary in the West Bank
- Materials that could be seen as inflammatory by Israeli security forces if they search your bags.
- Address of friends, family or others in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
- Objects restricted by airport security in your host country or layover countries
Plug Adaptors / Voltage
In Bethlehem, most appliances operate on 220 volts AC, 50 Hertz. Most plugs are 2 round prongs and look like this.
Most electronics you bring should work with the use of a plug adaptor. If you travel with an electronic device that does not accept 220 volts at 50 Hertz, however, you would actually need to buy a voltage converter to get that device to work. But it’s better simply not to mess with voltage converters at all if possible they tend to overheat and add extra weight to your load. Google “voltage converters” and “plug adaptors” for more details. Note that most laptops have a voltage that will work in Palestine (Check the product itself or the owner’s manual), but you will still need a plug adaptor in order to plug the device into the wall.
