Middle East - Private car/limo transfer from TLV airport to hotel?

I realize that we could probably just catch a cab in queue at the airport, but as we'll be coming off a loooong flight from San Francisco and kicking off a special and meaningful month-long vacation, I thought it would be really nice to reserve a private car transfer in advance to take us right to our hotel in Tel Aviv. Is this possible for approx. equivalent of USD $60 and if so, which company or limo service would you most recommend for reliability (don't want to be kept waiting in 90 degree temperatures with our luggage!) and comfort/luxury? I'd like to surprise my girlfriend with a proper limo if one can be rented for reasonable cost. We're staying at the Shalom Hotel & Relax btw, which I understand is pretty central. Any suggestions?

Thanks!!

You could order a service like this (quite an expense):
http://www.goldcarpet.co.il/page.aspx?id=30
http://www.israeldeluxe.com/israel-airport.html
http://www.aerohandling.com/
(google ben gurion vip service for additoional options. these are just a few)

As a happy medium, you could order a taxi pre-arranged so you don't have to wait in queue. The driver could wait with your name on a sign.

Thanks!

Do you have experience with Israel Deluxe?

I figure a taxi cab from Ben Guriot will cost approx $45-50 directly to our hotel, so $70 through Israel Deluxe to ride in style seems more than reasonable!

How much of a hassle is passport control at TLV? I've heard all sorts of stories imaginable. Is it true that you can end up waiting for an hour plus while being interrogated?

If so, the added $140 charge to be met with sign at the aircraft and driven directly to the "Quick Counter" at passport check and then escorted through baggage claim to a private vehicle would seem more than worth the added expense, to avoid the normal Israeli customs ordeal that I've heard so much about. I just wish there were some reviews online!

I haven't used any of those VIP airport services.

Passport control really shouldn't be much of an issue at all. When and if people get tied up timewise, that generally happens at check-in to depart Israel. Israeli airport security is a whole other ballgame compared to elsewhere, but if you follow the recommended pre-flight checkin times, you should not have any issues.

I guess it sounds like you could make things simpler with this VIP service, so if you're looking for a smooth experience, it could be the way to go, I suppose!

Thanks!

When you say "check-in to depart Israel" do you mean Israel as a destination (in other words your connecting flight into Israel) or do you mean departing from ie. leaving Israel?

How long does passport control usually take?

If it's a 15 min. process from landing to baggage claim, I probably won't bother wasting the money, but if it could save us 40 mins. after such a long and exhausting haul, then I figured it would be a fun start to a special trip.

yes leaving from israel
I'm not sure I'd say it's 15 minutes from landing to baggage claim, but it's not an hour, either, generally speaking.

Thanks!

When you say "check-in to depart Israel" do you mean Israel as a destination (in other words your connecting flight into Israel) or do you mean departing from ie. leaving Israel?

How long does passport control usually take?

If it's a 15 min. process from landing to baggage claim, I probably won't bother wasting the money, but if it could save us 40 mins. after such a long and exhausting haul, then I figured it would be a fun start to a special trip.

If you will be checking in bags, then whats the rush?! so instead of waiting to go thru PP Control you will hang around the carousel waiting apx 20 mins for the bags to 1st coming out

With just a carry-on would be something else.

I get to TLV amin of 3x per year and in over 30 yrs of flying there never once felt VIP was worth the $$. You have babys or trouble walking etc etc I cans ee it being worth it , otherwise the only question is where you will be standing

If you will be checking in bags, then whats the rush?! so instead of waiting to go thru PP Control you will hang around the carousel waiting apx 20 mins for the bags to 1st coming out

With just a carry-on would be something else.

I get to TLV amin of 3x per year and in over 30 yrs of flying there never once felt VIP was worth the $$. You have babys or trouble walking etc etc I cans ee it being worth it , otherwise the only question is where you will be standing

Thank you very much, that's all I wanted to hear!

I just thought it would be fun to have someone waiting outside the airplane for us with a sign and escorting us all the way through to a private car... I wanted to surprise my girlfriend with a limo ride to our hotel and thought this would be added fun to kick off a truly amazing month-long vacation, but to pay $115 for someone to drive you to baggage claim and then have to wait around for our luggage anyways sounds like a colossal waste of cash.

Thanks for your help!

Can anyone instead recommend a reliable limo service; perhaps one where we can enjoy a cocktail in the backseat en route?

while I personally think the VIP stuff is a bit much, some of them apparently put the pax into a lounge and do all the gruntwork of getting suitcases through customs. Apparently PP control happens privately in that lounge, too. So it sounds like no, they wouldn't be left waiting at the baggage carousel.

Not worth the $ *to me,* but it obviously is worth it to someone somewhere.

Here's the text from one of them:

The guest is Met at the aircraft, the guests are then driven directly to the VIP lounge, where a special VIP desk performs passport control procedures - in a personal and comfortable surroundings.

IsraelDeluxe together with "Royal Service" representatives independently handle baggage collection (in accordance with customs regulations) and have it brought to the lounge, While guests freshen up and are treated to gourmet Snacks and beverages. The guests are then introduced to their Israel Deluxe tour host.

We depart from the lounge strait to our luxury transportation to Israel's main cities, Tel Aviv or Jerusalem.

while I personally think the VIP stuff is a bit much, some of them apparently put the pax into a lounge and do all the gruntwork of getting suitcases through customs. Apparently PP control happens privately in that lounge, too. So it sounds like no, they wouldn't be left waiting at the baggage carousel.

Not worth the $ *to me,* but it obviously is worth it to someone somewhere.

Here's the text from one of them:

what transpires is this , you walk off the plane and up the jetway, if you were sitting in the last row you will be among the last off the plane, only the slow pokes and those needing wheelchairs will be left after you get off.

2- you walk up the whole jetway and once you leave it there will be a few people holding a placard with your family name on it. You point to them and they take you down the elevator in front of you walk you to a door and outside to a car.Then drive up to a side door that leads to the PP control, you are taken to the crew line and if no wheelchair people or crew are waiting you go right up and thru.

3- then walk with you to the carousel and ask you to point out your bags when they come out and they pick them up and put them onto a cart (free for all @ TLV) and push it thru customs with you along side them.

4- once outside in the ariival hall its either outside to a waiting car to take you to your final destination or they shake your hand Good-bye and tell you to enjoy your stay in Israel

Ive seen it go down like this countless times, if theres a lounge thats something I dont know about but the only way they can claim your bags is if you are there to point them out and You must go thru Customs with them or you filled out a Customs form declaring what if anything you have and they go thru the Red line and have the bags inspected, just as if the bags missed your flight, nothing is allowed thru w/o the owner being there

I went thru it twice when I met a friend on the flight who ordered it and just likes the attention and having people wonder who he is , but admitts without them being able to get the bags thru ASAP and admitted sometimes even thou his bags were marked Priority they were the last ones down the carousel so he waited for close to an hour just for the bags to show up

I stand by what I said previously if you are traveling alone with a baby and wont beable to watch the kid and push the carriage and baggage cart, its most likely worth it.If you have problems walking or picking up your bags its probably worth it. If you are an enabled body person its probably a waste to use it.

Now if they had a way to isolate your bags and send them to a special carousel and get them out 1-2-3 it could be worthwhile. I just see it as a waste if you are able body and would rather use the $$ and take that special person out to a great restaurant with a great view and great food and WoW them that way. But thats just me

having a special car waiting rather then a rinky dink taxi no question probably is worth the extra $$$. that driver will most likely be holding a placard in the arrivals area and will grab your baggage cart from you and load the car etc etc and save you from having to deal with the taxi line , dispatcher and most of all the Taxi driver

In that case, I totally agree! Just hire a private limo service to get involved only after the customs process is complete.

I agree as well!

Thanks so much for the detailed breakdown too. It really does seem like an enormous waste of money.

Pretty much agree with the others, TLV is easy to navigate and waiting times are reasonable IME.

Ordering a limousine in advance is a good idea, although catching a taxi at TLV is a pretty painless experience, too. All you need to do is exit the building, walk 10m, turn left, walk 30m and a long line of taxis will be awaiting you.:)

Pretty much agree with the others, TLV is easy to navigate and waiting times are reasonable IME.

Ordering a limousine in advance is a good idea, although catching a taxi at TLV is a pretty painless experience, too. All you need to do is exit the building, walk 10m, turn left, walk 30m and a long line of taxis will be awaiting you.:)

yrs ago they were all Benzes today some are compacts which to us over here are subcompacts. So even for such a short ride into TA some might like to spend alittle more and go in stlye

Being 6'2" I cant tell you how many times I wanted a cab but wave them on no way can I fit into them

As in many countries going with the more expensive Hotel car or private arranged limo (need not be a strench) will make an impression as the OP wanted.

yrs ago they were all Benzes today some are compacts which to us over here are subcompacts. So even for such a short ride into TA some might like to spend alittle more and go in stlye

Being 6'2" I cant tell you how many times I wanted a cab but wave them on no way can I fit into them

As in many countries going with the more expensive Hotel car or private arranged limo (need not be a strench) will make an impression as the OP wanted.

Indeed, paying an extra ~$20 for a limousine is a good deal. Was just saying that getting a taxi at TLV is a much more straight-forward and pleasant experience than in many other places, including many airports in the US. Therefore I´d say it´s a nice bonus, but not mandatory/highly advisable.

I can think of so many other places to spend money to make a special impression. After flying from San Francisco I dont know if I'd be awake enough to even care. All I would want is to get to my hotel and get settled.

I have neen treated to VIP treatment upon arrival at TLV, and as said by many it's nothing special and a waste of money for healthy young adults.

As a happy medium, you could order a taxi pre-arranged so you don't have to wait in queue. The driver could wait with your name on a sign.

The pre arranged taxi's are usually cheaper than the airport taxi's, especially hadakah 99.