<p>A card is much better than travelers checks. I noted payoneer above. It works fine.</p>
<p>Maybe a cotton bandana or silk scarf for the girls and a kipa with bobby-pin for the boys, so they are sharp and ready to visit any religious building. If you want to be a social leader, bring a whole card of bobby-pins to pass around to others.</p>
<p>I’m remembering from old reads about birthright on CC that the cotton bandanas are used a lot by boys and girls; sweat headbands, etc.</p>
<p>It’s religious/historic custom, but I sent mine with a coin (for them to give to tz’dakah/charity) while in Israel. Plus I wrote out a prayer on a piece of paper and asked them to put it in the Wall for me when they visited. They say they remembered! I choose to believe them.</p>
<p>soooo glad I started this thread…so helpful!! thank you all…</p>
<p>Off to look up Payoneer.</p>
<p>My son is a graduating college senior and went on Birthright 2 years ago this June. He went on the hiking/camping trip. He did not go on a trip with kids from his school, knew no one on his trip, and made friends (actually reconnected with a kid from camp in middle school years). He extended his trip to travel with friends from college and their friends. He went to Jordan and visited with some of the soldiers who were accompanied his trip. He said the Birthright trip was okay but he didn’t love the idea of being with 30 Americans from the NYC area many of whom wanted to drink non stop. But he loved traveling on his own afterwards and with friends. He took a credit card, ATM card, and some cash. He spent more money while traveling on his own than he anticipated.</p>
<p>About 3 weeks before u leave Birthright will mail u a Payoneer Card with $0. You can load money on it and the $250 deposit will be refundedon it too.</p>
<p>My D is going on Birthright is August with her school’s Hillel. Last night she was talking about getting new hiking boots. I remember someone mentioning boots up-thread and wondered whether the hiking actually requires boots, or sneakers/trail runners will do the trick. She is an experienced hiker, but sees this as a perfect opportunity to acquire lightweight, new generation boots! I’m not adverse to the idea at all, just wonder whether shlepping boots is a necessity since she intends to travel a bit afterwards. Also, what has your experience been with the logistics of extending the trip. How does the process work of getting your return flights switched to a later date?</p>
<p>runnersmom~my kids didn’t use hiking boots, and they were there in December. (we also hiked post Birthright in Ein Gedi, also without boots. I would imagine in August she might want the lightest weight shoes possible, since she’s a runner she probably has thought about this (I was there in August many moons ago and while I climbed Masada I did it in sandals). If she is traveling post Birthright she will want to go light, esp in the summer…</p>
<p>once your d’s trip is confirmed and you have the flight info and bus #, you will receive an email with this info, and a link to access extensions. You will be able to put in a trip extension request online, thru Gil Travel, indicating your first three choices for return flight dates and times. You get a response and confirmation in couple weeks, the cost for the extension varies from approx $140-290. They are required to return on the same airline they flew to Israel with. The person who helped with the extensions;
Lauren Saladoff
Travel Consultant
Gil Travel
1511 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
<a href="mailto:Laurensaladoff@giltravel.com">Laurensaladoff@giltravel.com</a></p>
<p>hope she has a great experience!</p>
<p>Boots no, walking shoes yes. Good sandals, the ones with support, yes. Walking up Masada you only need sandals.</p>
<p>My kids both used Chaco sandals for their trip to Israel; I think they wore these for most of the trip and especially the hiking. Many kids wear either Chaco, Teva, or Keen; depending on what is popular for your area or kids school! If your child is buying a new pair for the trip, just make sure it has a back strap; not a flip flop type shoe. </p>
<p>My son goes to a yearly, weekend outdoors concert and he loves having his sandals. He also wears them to take the dogs on hikes near our home. Also great for rainy weather when he doesn’t want to wear his Rainbow sandals which can not handle rain. Can you tell my son doesn’t like to wear real shoes?</p>
<p>I believe it depends on the trip organizer as to whether you get Payoneer. My son’s group had us pre-load Payoneer and then emailed to say that their experience with it was negative and they weren’t going to use it after all. My daughter’s trip did not offer it so both kids used credit cards and cash.</p>
<p>Also essential is something to drink from like a Camelbak. My son brought a clip to attach it to his belt as well.</p>
<p>And sunscreen, lots of it.</p>
<p>Rodney: Thank you so much for this thread. My S will be flying home on the 14th and then to NYC where his trip leaves on the 16th so our prep time will be minimal together. He also has finals up until the time school is out, so it is going to be ultra busy. He hasn’t received a packing list yet so I really appreciate your information. If anyone did get a packing list they can PM me I would appreciate it. By the way my S told me he got a $500 scholarship for his expenses by committing to volunteer 30 something hours over the summer at our JCC. I don’t know how common this program is but since he set it up from accross the country I would guess it is available in may communities. It was a happy surprise for me.</p>
<p>It has been a few year since my kids have gone, but I believe there should be a packing list on the website of the trip your child is taking. If not, you could check the other providers and see what they have listed. Assuming your son’s trip is not a special outdoors trip, the packing list should be somewhat similar.</p>
<p>Thanks! My S just got the e mail with the packing list link today and forwarded it to me. This thread is so timely!</p>
<p>Do you have any suggestions about the best thing to use to pack stuff it, like a backpack, a duffle bag, or a rolling suitcase and what size. How much are they actually (to use a word appropriate for this thread but probably not understood here in Texas) schlepping their stuff from one place to another?</p>
<p>My kids each took a rolling suitcase but also took a day pack. No schlepping problems at all.</p>
<p>My kids took a rolling REI duffle that also had backpack type straps. We are a family of over packers, so if it fit in the bag, it went!! They each also had a daypack which is usually required; a knapsack works just fine. Mainly they needed room for their water bottles, notepad and pen, shoulder and leg covers for the girls when entering religious area; a sarong works great over the shorts. I think my daughter took some type of an across the body tote and my son used a knapsack.</p>
<p>I sent both kids with empty trash bags for wet and muddy clothes that they both pitched a fit about; boy were they happy after the fact! They were able to keep their dirty, smelly clothes separate from the clean, and for that they were thankful; believe me, the clothes will be filthy!</p>
<p>I believe my daughter took a single carry on & a small daypack. Something like this – <a href=“http://a1472.g.akamaitech.net/f/1472/124/36h/img.ebags.com/is/image/im6/17336_3_1[/url]”>http://a1472.g.akamaitech.net/f/1472/124/36h/img.ebags.com/is/image/im6/17336_3_1</a> – its a large backpack with wheels that also has a detachable, smaller daypack. She spent 3 months traipsing across Europe with that - so I’m sure it was more than enough for 12 days or so in Israel. She did Birthright in winter, so she needed clothes for both warm and colder weather. </p>
<p>I do think that most of the other travelers had more luggage – but my point is that it is quite possible to travel light, as well.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your help. Now I’ve got to get shopping and packing! I’d love to hear any other thought you may have about packing and luggage.</p>