The Myth of the Cheap Israeli Vacation: What 4 Days in Eilat Actually Cost

The idea of an Israeli family vacation is a myth. What 4 days in Eilat actually cost is something we learned the way. This trip started the summer before at Kibbutz Lotan, which’s about forty-five minutes north of Eilat. It was a family trip even though the place we stayed was basic and overpriced. Still being so close to the desert and the Red Sea made us realize how much the kids liked the area. We decided we would go to Eilat next. Because daycare closes in August I didn’t wait. By September a year in advance I had already booked our stay at the Eve Hotel. It is a priced place near downtown and includes breakfast.

Late August in Israel is tough. One day all the schools and summer programs close at the time. It is like a lottery. Because we live on a kibbutz our children get a few days of daycare than city kids. When the last day came I felt sad. It is not that me or my wife can’t handle spending time with our children. It is because we have three kids with ages. Each has needs. Keeping everyone happy and avoiding problems takes a lot of planning.

When we packed the car and started driving on Route 90 the desert gave us a small miracle. Two of the three kids fell asleep in the back. We called that a silver nugget. It is a nugget when all three sleep and a bronze when only one does. This gave my wife and me a chance to talk about our plans. When we arrived at the hotel we were in a world. I think of Eilat as the Jersey Shore of Israel. It is a place where all kinds of people come together in one city. Everyone is fighting for their little space. You can. Fight the chaos or go with it. Either way Eilat is always an experience.

I kept track of all our shared family expenses during the trip. I focused on lodging eating out road treats and paid attractions. Gas, clothes and small toys are not included because it is hard to track everything.

On the way down Route 90 we stopped at a rest area. It was Friday afternoon. Our planned stop at the Kibbutz Yotvata chocolate milk center was a no-go. The main place was closing for Shabbat. We bought bottles of chocolate milk for ₪18. We also got road coffees for ₪60 and cold drinks for ₪18.

Managing the backseat was its challenge. Our middle child asked “How longer?” every five minutes. He wasn’t complaining. His brain just doesn’t understand time. Five minutes might feel like five seconds or five hours. Before leaving I made a printable road-trip scavenger hunt for a 10-year-old and a 6-year-old. I suggest trying it. Even if it only gave us twenty minutes of quiet it was worth it. It saved me from answering many questions. Here is our itinerary and the costs:

The 4-Day Family Itinerary

Day 1: The Southbound Trek & Casual Arrival

Route 90 Pit Stop: Road coffee for ₪60 drinks for ₪18 and bottled chocolate milk at Kibbutz Yotvata for ₪18.

Agadir. Ice Cream: A casual burger dinner for ₪360 and dessert for ₪66 after checking into the Eve Hotel. Even with two of the kids sharing a meal and not everyone ordering drinks, dinner for the five of us cost $100.

Day 2: Marine Life & Birthday Dinner

Underwater Marine Observatory: Viewing sharks, coral reefs and sea turtles in the Red Sea for ₪280. Casual afternoon food for ₪120. A late Wolt order for ₪150.

Birthday Dinner: A sit-down restaurant to celebrate our son’s birthday for ₪750.

Day 3: The Red Sea Boardwalk

Eilat Pier & Promenade: Casual family meals for ₪250. An evening walking the marina taking in the street vendors and doing Friday evening pier attractions for ₪300.

Day 4: Beach Morning & Road Home

Red Sea Beach & Aroma: A free morning swim before packing the car and grabbing coffee at Aroma for the drive for ₪40.

Israel is expensive as everyone knows. The cheap family vacation we used to have is gone. Even staying at a hotel and skipping all paid activities the basic cost of our trip was a little over ₪2,400. When we add the hotel the total goes up to around ₪7,500.

Sure we could have stayed home. Living on a kibbutz is great. In the summer it feels like a country club, with the pool and open space. The kids get bored. There are so many times you can go to the same pool and see the same people. It starts to feel like Groundhog Day. Saying hi to the person over and over can be a bit crazy. I am not kidding.

So I wonder how other parents deal with August. Do you just. Take the hit? Do you stay home. Deal with it? If you travel how do you keep costs low?

Well three days until school starts. I guess I need to open my textbooks. Have a day!