Hostels
Ground zero for young budget travelers everywhere. Cheap dorm beds, a great places to hook up with like-minded travelers (often literally), tour operators, activity planners, gathering places. For many, the large Abraham Hostel and its lobby, bar, and many room options is ground zero for many in Jerusalem. It's located by the Mahane Yehuda market, not far from the bus station, and right off the light rail. For the unique experience of staying in the Old City, the Citadel Youth Hostel will put you up in its cave-like rooms or you can put a sleeping bag down on their roof. In Tel Aviv, hostel central is HaYarkon, a major traffic thoroughfare that runs along the beach. There's HaYarkon 48 where Allenby Street runs into the sea, the popular Gordon Hostel a little bit up the street to the north, and plenty of other options in between.
The Israel Youth Hostel Association includes 19 locations across the country, a great first place to check if your travels will take you a way from the center. Ten of those locations are in the North, five in popular spots in the South like Eilat and Mitzpe Ramon.
Heritage House
The Heritage House offers young Jews visiting Israel a practically free place to stay within the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. Their men's house and women's house, five minutes walk from the Kotel, is a place to gather with like minded wanderers and they can point you towards ways to spend your time (if this website isn't giving you enough ideas).
Family
Your mom wants you to visit with your cousins you've never met that live in some place called Modi'in? Hey, after your bus trip ends, there's nothing nicer than getting put up in your own room with a real bed and a chance to sleep in. Or maybe its a pullout. But do you really have a choice?
The Israelis on Your Bus
You can try to hit your new friends up for a place to stay, though don't be surprised if they can offer only limited help. Most are soldiers at or near the end of their service. They may be living on a base somewhere and when not there, home with their parents. But you can ask.
Programs that Put you Up
If you end up doing one of the organized programs taking on Birthright grads, their minimal program fees universally include a place to stay.
Hotel Splurge
There are some some incredibly classic and/or classy hotels if you're looking for a fancy place to stay. The King David Hotel in Jerusalem is the place heads of state stay when they're in town. Rates are very high, though I've heard them quoted in the under $200 range calling about night of availability. Their garden pool overlooking the Old City is one of the most unique places for laps in the world. In Tel Aviv the David Intercontinental and the Dan Hotel are two luxury options, the Montefiore a stand out boutique accommodation.
Airbnb
The perfect way to make yourself at home like an Israeli with your own pad, without that big step of making Aliyah. You can find private rooms or whole houses or apartments on Airbnb in any corner of the country.
Strangers' Couches
Websites like Couchsurfing and Hospitality Club allow you to look for strangers willing to put you up for a night or two on their couch.
Camping
If you've got room to bring your tent and sleeping bag with you, you sure are a light packer! But enthusiasts will find it easy to pick up an cheap tent on their way to Israel's abundant camping sites. The Sea of Galilee is one of the most popular places to pitch a tent and you can find spots in several open nature reserves or beach sites.
Other Unique Tenting Experiences
Buying your own tent seems like a bit of hassle. But you loved your night in the Bedouin tents so much and want another night of tenting-lite. Shkedi's Camplodge provides bungalows and an enormous bonfire in the Negev. If you want to go north all the way back up to the Golan, you can stay in an unexpected Mongolian tent village, Genghis Khan in the Golan.
Ground zero for young budget travelers everywhere. Cheap dorm beds, a great places to hook up with like-minded travelers (often literally), tour operators, activity planners, gathering places. For many, the large Abraham Hostel and its lobby, bar, and many room options is ground zero for many in Jerusalem. It's located by the Mahane Yehuda market, not far from the bus station, and right off the light rail. For the unique experience of staying in the Old City, the Citadel Youth Hostel will put you up in its cave-like rooms or you can put a sleeping bag down on their roof. In Tel Aviv, hostel central is HaYarkon, a major traffic thoroughfare that runs along the beach. There's HaYarkon 48 where Allenby Street runs into the sea, the popular Gordon Hostel a little bit up the street to the north, and plenty of other options in between.
The Israel Youth Hostel Association includes 19 locations across the country, a great first place to check if your travels will take you a way from the center. Ten of those locations are in the North, five in popular spots in the South like Eilat and Mitzpe Ramon.
Heritage House
The Heritage House offers young Jews visiting Israel a practically free place to stay within the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. Their men's house and women's house, five minutes walk from the Kotel, is a place to gather with like minded wanderers and they can point you towards ways to spend your time (if this website isn't giving you enough ideas).
Family
Your mom wants you to visit with your cousins you've never met that live in some place called Modi'in? Hey, after your bus trip ends, there's nothing nicer than getting put up in your own room with a real bed and a chance to sleep in. Or maybe its a pullout. But do you really have a choice?
The Israelis on Your Bus
You can try to hit your new friends up for a place to stay, though don't be surprised if they can offer only limited help. Most are soldiers at or near the end of their service. They may be living on a base somewhere and when not there, home with their parents. But you can ask.
Programs that Put you Up
If you end up doing one of the organized programs taking on Birthright grads, their minimal program fees universally include a place to stay.
Hotel Splurge
There are some some incredibly classic and/or classy hotels if you're looking for a fancy place to stay. The King David Hotel in Jerusalem is the place heads of state stay when they're in town. Rates are very high, though I've heard them quoted in the under $200 range calling about night of availability. Their garden pool overlooking the Old City is one of the most unique places for laps in the world. In Tel Aviv the David Intercontinental and the Dan Hotel are two luxury options, the Montefiore a stand out boutique accommodation.
Airbnb
The perfect way to make yourself at home like an Israeli with your own pad, without that big step of making Aliyah. You can find private rooms or whole houses or apartments on Airbnb in any corner of the country.
Strangers' Couches
Websites like Couchsurfing and Hospitality Club allow you to look for strangers willing to put you up for a night or two on their couch.
Camping
If you've got room to bring your tent and sleeping bag with you, you sure are a light packer! But enthusiasts will find it easy to pick up an cheap tent on their way to Israel's abundant camping sites. The Sea of Galilee is one of the most popular places to pitch a tent and you can find spots in several open nature reserves or beach sites.
Other Unique Tenting Experiences
Buying your own tent seems like a bit of hassle. But you loved your night in the Bedouin tents so much and want another night of tenting-lite. Shkedi's Camplodge provides bungalows and an enormous bonfire in the Negev. If you want to go north all the way back up to the Golan, you can stay in an unexpected Mongolian tent village, Genghis Khan in the Golan.