Answers to last few questions:

Re: the IsraAir flights to/from Eilat...the planes were ATR "42's", I think. Propeller types, just slightly larger than AA's American Eagle. Planes seat about 50 pax. Soft drinks and snack mix only. One FA for entire plane. We left from a small terminal at Ben Gurion, adjacent to the main one. Only flights to/from Eilat use this terminal, and it is shared by IsraAir and Arkia, the other discount carrier. Ben Gurion was like most other large international airports - noisy, lots of people and luggage carts, etc. We did not stay long enough to investigate the shops. We basically went through security, turned in our VAT vouchers for refund of taxes (got 61 American dollars), and away we went.

Since we spent less than 24 hours in Tel Aviv, I am unable to comment on hotels other than the Hilton. Sorry.

Interesting anecdote on security at Ben Gurion Airport...the mother of another Hebrew University student was traveling back to the U.S. with us, and she was carrying some items sent back with her by her daughter in an additional suitcase. So she is asked, "Did you pack all your bags yourself?" Honest Marilyn says, "No, my daughter packed this extra one for me to take back to San Diego". Oops. Wrong answer. The security people took that bag apart completely, checked it, wanded it, and who knows what else! 20 minutes later, Marilyn gets it back, from an agent who is still scowling. I guess they do listen to the answers we give to those "routine" security questions!

Happy travels to all in 2002!

Captain Mike