Most of this is exactly the little detail I'm looking for. I leaning towards using Tiberias as my northern base since the sites we are interested in are gravitating towards Safed, Beit Shean, Meggido, Tel Dan +- northern border Kibbutzim, etc. Basing in Haifa might be scenic, but it means a drive to the interior every day. I suspect we'll do one night in Tel Aviv to stay on the sea, walk the city, etc. She wants Ashkelon which I'm not sure how to fit in as its not on the way to anywhere, maybe she wants to be in stone's throw distance from Gaza since I told her that despite her request, we arent going there .

As far As Jerusalem, I'm hooked on a memory of waking up and going out to the balcony to watch the sun rise over the old city. That's 20 years ago at the King Solomon Hotel (seems most hotels have changed ownership a few times since then). Sadly, thats a pricey venture for four nights. I remain torn as to whether to do J'lem early and return for one fancy hotel night, with a late checkout Saturday, or the more efficient way either grouping J/lem days at the end or doing Tel Aviv at the end. though the airport is closer to the city, it's so close that I dont see much trouble staying in Jerusalem the last night either. Dinner is tough as even as a (If I say so) a savvy traveler, TLV is one airport I actually arrive at 3 hours in advance. That pinches our final diner a bit no matter where we are.

Any cautions on driving in the West Bank, other than being sure its ok with the rental car company? I'm thinking of staying in Arad (since hotels on the Dead Sea are crazy expensive and have 3 night minimums), and will instead do a half day at one of the hotels on their day package (suggestions?) -- then drive north to Tiberias. Obviously, route 90 looks ideal for the journey on a map. I tend to think Qumran is a stop you do because you feel you must for history sake, rather than because it's actually awesome. Then again, with the National Parks Pass that I'll likely have by then (can I get that in advance or wait till I'm on country?), it'll be free...