Travel+Drinking Water

So im going to israel soon and ive always been told not to drink the water when there, or in any foreign country, bc ill get an upset stomach.  its just that buying bottled water is expensive and a pain and im wondering if maybe the water is ok now, i mean, it is 2008, i dunno?

anyone travel to another country recently or have any advice?

thanks

Listen to the advice. If the drinking water is not safe, bottled will be cheap, there.

When I went to Santorini we could not drink the local water because of the active volcano. The water was amazingly cheap by the bottle - and by the 5 litre. Trust me. Paying a bit more is better than getting the runs.

Just ask somebody once you get there.

I was in Israel a couple of years ago, but I can't remember if you could drink the tap water or not. If Israelis drink it, it is probably fine for you to drink it. If they don't then you shouldn't either.

As a general rule, in my experience, if people can't drink the tap water, then bottled water is really cheap. If you want to save money buy 1.5 or 2 L bottles and use them to fill the smaller ones to take with you during the day.  The generalisation of "any foreign country" does seem a little extreme, in several countries in Europe the tap water is not just safe, but better tasting and SAFER than bottled water.

Have a good trip.

Original Post by orangejumper:

If Israelis drink it, it is probably fine for you to drink it. If they don't then you shouldn't either.

Keep in mind that anyone native to the area would have acclimated to the water - just because it doesn't affect the locals who have drank it their entire lives definitely doesn't mean you'll be unaffected.

if you're going to be there for awhile, it's probably worthwhile to expose yourself to whatever is in the water.  you might get a little sick, but you'll benefit from the immunity.

if this is only a one or two week trip, though, buy water.  you might get sick anyway (you'll probably brush your teeth with tap water, you'll eat fruit and veggies washed in it, etc), but for a short trip it's worth the effort to try to avoid it.

you can also buy iodine pills to disinfect water in a pinch.  any travel or outdoor store will have them.

thanks everyone!

ill be there 1 week so its not like i have tons of time to get used to it and be sick and all.

i guess ill be buying bc yea, brushing teeth, food prep, all w that water.

eventho israelis can drink it doesnt mean i can bc theyre used to their bacteria just as im used to my own.  oh well.

I wouldn't suggest drinking the water.  4 years ago I went to spain for a semester and they told us then to kind of ween ourselves onto the water there because the water isn't bad, it just has different bacteria in it.  So your body might not agree with it at first and may take a few weeks before you can drink it and not get an upset stomach.  So since you'll only be there a week, maybe go buy those cheap jugs of water at the local grocery store...they were really cheap in spain...like less than 50 cents for a big bottle of water.  Just get a real large one each day so you'll get enough.  HAVE FUN!!!

lol, yea, thats what we do, theyre sooo heavy! 

sucks tho, drinking regular water is much easier plus, what do i do when i eat out?? i dont want soda all the time?!

A lot of nicer hotels will have water that's safe for drinking - ask them when you check in.

ETA - Remember to watch for ice in your drinks when you go out!

yup, i always ask for no ice in my drinks. 

im thinking well be eating in restaurants more than at the hotel and bottled water in retaurants are so expensive, sucks!

Hey hey, I was in Israel last summer for three weeks, and it is probably best to start out drinking the bottled water, they have huge bottles everywhere like HUGE for you to carry around. I made it most of the trip just on bottled water, but it is good to slowly introduce yourself to it so that incase you 'acidentally' drink some, you don't have an adverse reaction to it, and you should be fine. At this time of year it isn't REDICULOUSLY hot there, especially in Jerusalem, Eilat is always pretty hot, so be prepared if you will be there. Make sure to take advantage of the dairy, fruits and veggies, its some of the best in the world - and if you have the time, go to Sam Booki in the old city (on Ben Yehuda street) for some sick rogalach :P Israel is NOT the place to cut corners in terms of food. I gained 5lbs while I was there and enjoyed every minute of it!

lol, yea, ive been before and i know the food is beyond amazing.  the baked goods, the shook, falafel, everything...

were going to jerusalem+tel aviv, not sure where else.  so no beach and ive done the usual touristy stuff before so not sure what ill be doing, hoping for something diff+fun tho!

ill only be there 1 week so im thinking of just sticking w/bottled water, its expensive but dont know what else, also sux in a restaurant when i dont always want soda.

My husband and I were just there last year... :) Dont drink the water, just eating the salads where they wash the food, me and my hubbie got little attacks half way thru our stay...and we only stayed a week :) so just be careful and bottled water is not bad priced... the prices just look bad... but when your money is converted you will understand what I'm sayin... though it is expensive on some things :)

Also if your going to Tel Aviv you will be right next to the Beach... :) So have fun!!! We miss it much... *WAVES*

hi HEHEAD!

yes, im going to tel aviv but im thinking its too cold for the water but think well walk on the boardwalk at the suggestion of my mother's friend. 

did you get bottled w ater when eating at a restuarnt too?

not so health related or related to this forum, but, what did you enjoy doing there?  ive been before and have done the normal tourist stuff but what stood out to you or do you suggest??

thanks!

In tel aviv - experience the night life. Theres a club there called Laila, gorgous, right on the beach overlooking the water and has these cool swings to sit on inside. Tel aviv was a bit too hectic for me so I didnt spend much time there - but if u can, definately hit up a club.

hmm, club, im going w my mother so yea, lol, dont think so...

i think maybe ill go on a hike somewhere, maybe some archaelogocal dig, maybe a kibbutz, i dunno??

Hiya agruskin,

    OMG... The beach and the Sea was the best for me, my husband went for work so I got to tag along... /giggle we stayed in herzliya at the Sharon, it was right next to the public walkon to the beach so that was nice ( I would recommend going there and walking if you walk down the walkway to the beach and you go to the right down the beach there are some pretty awesome buildings that someone took alot of time building but it doesnt look like it is used anymore but great for picture taking also if you look on the barbed wire that runs along the beach, there is a heart that someone put up with some string it was wonderful to see as I am a heart person ...hehehe  but we basically went into Tel Aviv to the market (wonderful experience) and walked around in the Old City Jaffa, which if you were there before I am sure you have done all of that... it was my first time... :)  We also took a tour to Jerusalem which was fabulous!!!  

Also the drinking ... my husband and I are big diet pop drinkers so when we ate out we got that but no ice... hehe but we went to the markets and grocery stores and got the water bottles and the liters of pop though I would suggest going to the little corner store verses the grocery as it can be very expensive there :)   when walking around in Jerusalem there are alot of places that have water for sale that were only a shekel so not so bad..  :)  

Hope you have a fabulous time... and say hello to Israel for us... *WAVES*