Travel Tips

Although this is not directly related to Raanana I would like to tell you about the best way to book your travel. I haven't been too successful in finding a service orientated travel agency in Raanana, although some friends have recommended the one behind Yad Lebanim, next to the Yad Lebanim parking lot. So what I do is book my travel online, it's not as scary as it sounds and once you get used to it it is much cheaper and easier than dealing with an agent. After much trial and error I can whole heartedly recommend:

For flights try Baltic Air, Czech Air, Berlin Air and my favorite at the moment Arkia. Arkia has the most amazing prices and as Israel is Arkia's home country all their European flights are direct. I recently flew to Moscow for $200 and will soon be flying again to Europe for the same price.

For Hotels I used to search the net trying a few sites but then I discovered a Hotel search engine, it's like Google but just for hotel booking sites. So you type in your destination or hotel name and Hotels Combined scans the net and directs you to where the lowest hotel rates are. Only then do you go to the hotel booking site offering the lowest deal.
Try Hotels Combined for 5* hotels at 3* prices.

Raanana Living Guide: More Great Raanana Cafes

This is a list of my favorite cafes in Raanana, I actually had to split the article up into two as there are so many cafes in Raanana. There are even more than I put on the list but this covers most of them. IF you can think of others then feel free to leave a comment and add your favorite Raanana cafe to the list.

Raanana Living Guide: Top Raanana Cafes

Raanana Living Guide: More Great Raanana Cafes

Where to get a sewing machine fixed in Raanana

Finding where to get a sewing machine fixed is one of those annoying things to have to find but here is the answer! Jock Kahn is a South African expat living in Raanana, he is a professional as far as sewing machines are concerned and very knowledgable in his field. Jock fixes all makes of sewing machines and also restores and sells second hand machines for extremely reasonable prices. Jock also accepts trade-ins and offers free advice and help in person or over the phone about your sewing machine problems. Being an ex-South African you will have no problem with the language as he speaks English. To get your sweing machine fixed you won't have to go far either, Jock works from home on Moshe Dyan Street which is off Ahuza Street a little past Merkaz Golan.
Jock Kahn
Repairs - all makes and models
Sales-new and used sewing machines
Trade-in's accepted
Free advice and help
Address: 44 Moshe Dyan Street, Aprtment 2, Raanana
Phone: 052-4672113 or 09-7741568

Where to rent a wheelchair in Raanana

If you want to rent a wheelchair in Raanana your first stop should be Yad Sarah, thier building is next to the electricity company opposite the entrance to the Levinstien Mega supermarket. You could also try calling Meir hospital or Levinstien hospital.

Yad Sarah also rents out other medical equipment such as respirators and crutches.

Blue squares painted at bus stops

You may be wondering what is the significance is of the large blue squares painted on the sidewalk next to Raanana bus stops. It is just the sign telling you that the new bus company - Metropolitan stops here. By the way if you want to see Metropolitan bus schedules online go to: Metropoline
Unfortunately only in Hebrew.

The Best Burgers in Raanana!

If you haven't discovered this place yet then run don't walk - the absolute best hamburger in Raanana is at BurgersBar. If you haven't been there yet then it is probably because it is not in the center of town, although it is on Ahuza. All the BurgerBar hamburgers are 100% beef and they really look like the homemade ones people used to make. There are a variety of sauces and trimmings to add to your huge burger bun. You can also try chicken salad, portobello mushroom burger, chicken nuggets, a selection of salads and french fries. If you like burgers this is the place to go. There is a deal on a burger, chips (french fries) and a drink for under 50 shekels.
You can find BurgersBAr on the corner of Ahuza Street and Hayoval, this is close to Merkaz Golan.

Where to buy spices in Raanana?

For starters you can get herbs and spices in Raanana supermarkets - Supersal, Mega, Yanot Bitan etc. Perhaps of all the supermarkets Mega in the industrial area has the largest selection and the spices are in their organic section and sold by weight not in pre-packed bags.

Apart from the local supermarket there are two spice stores I can recommend, both are run by old Yemeni men and contain a wide variety of spices. You can get Indian, Yemeni, Moroccan and European spices and other dry products in both these stores. They also sell beans, ginger, sugar rock sweets, dried fruits, pasta and some nuts. The spices are sold by weight from sacks or jars.

Neither of these stores is better than the other but the location and personalities of the owners may make you prefer one or the other. The spice store owners are real characters!

Sarum Spice Store

On Ahuza street on the side of Yad Lebanim on the block between Jabotinski and Brandes Streets. As seen in this photo.

Yeffet Spice Store

In the Yemeni neighborhood of Rasko . The entrance to Rasko is on Witzman Street almost opposite Karen Hayasod and next to the nursery.

Where to have alterations done to clothes in Raanana?

Although there are several excellent tailors in Raanana who work out of their homes as a new comer to Raanana you may have trouble finding one. Luckily there is a efficient and proficient tailor that does all kinds of alterations both big and small in Raananim Mall. If you go to the food court in the mall and head towards the Tokyo Park amusement arcade you will see stairs leading up to an exit. Go up the stairs and on your right you will see the tailor's store. Prices are reasonable and they work fast. They handle anything from a hem to curtains. I've had them mend a large cigarette burn in a prominent place on a pair of jeans and the job was excellent.

Where to get your shoes re-heeled in Raanana?

There is a real small hole in the wall cobbler opposite the entrance to the Giron Center in Jabotinski Street. The cobbler is at one end of a passage which starts on Ahuza Street and ends in a little lane on Jabotinski. The store also sells shoe laces and other strange cobbler things I can't identify!

Raanana Purim Parade 2011

It's time again for the happiest holiday in Israel - Purim! Every year Raanana and the rest of Israel celebrates Purim with a street parade called the AdLoYaDa. The parade will take place in 2011 on the 18th March. Find out where, when and how to see or take part in the Raanana Purim parade by following this link:

RAANANA PURIM PARADE

Voleh - Volunteer Oleh Help

Here is a very useful site for new immigrants to Raanana and all of Israel, it is the Volunteer Oleh Help Organization. On their site they say:

Their mission is to ease the immigration and absorption process for new Olim to Israel...provides helpful articles, guidance, and the assistance of volunteers who have themselves been through the process.

VOLEH

Raanana Travel Agents

I'm sorry to say it but I haven't found a Raanana travel agent that I like. If you have one to suggest then I'm open to ideas but only if you have personally been a satisfied customer!
If, like me you book your travel online then you will love this site which I have just discovered: HotelCombined.com it is a hotel search engine, which means it searches all the hotel booking sites online and the hotel sites and brings you a list of the best offers!

To try it out go to:
HotelsCombined.com

Raanana Mikvot - did you know there are two?

There are actually two mikvot in Raanana and they are very different in charactor and location, you should try them both out and see which suits you best. There is one in the eastern corner of Raanana and one in the center of Raanana just off of Ahuza. You can read here all the details of open hours; price, location and other details:

Raanana Mikvah

Raanana Boys Religious High School Roi Klien

This is a down to earth article about the one government religious boy's high school in Raanana - Roi Klien. It gives facts and snippets of information that parents might want to know when deciding where to send their kids.

Roi Klien

Therapeutic Horse Riding in Raanana

Although I know there are several horse riding stables in and around Raanana I want to recommend the one I am familiar with "Chavat HaChaim" of Life Farm. Apart from anything else the owners are extremely warm hearted and welcoming, making everyone feel part of an extended family. The Life Farm gives riding leasons to children with all manner of disabilities and handicaps as well as kids and adults that are interested in standard riding lessons and even in competing. The Life Farm has a group of kids which competes in national competitions as well as having general competitions between the Life Farm riders a few times a year. The Life Farm also holds frequent social get togethers, barbeques, and holiday riding courses.

Whether you are interested in therapeutic riding for your child's autism, ADD/ADHD, physical handicap or simply for sport and recreation the Life Farm gets my vote.

You can contact the owner of the Life Farm - Shlomi at :0574560374

Or you can just arrive and have a look around, the Life Farm is on Kvish Kfar Nuchman between Kfar Nuchman and the Raanana cemetery.

FOr the Life Farm website go here: Havat HaHaim

You can also read here about one mother's experience with therapeutic horse riding.

Where to have a kid's birthday party in Raanana?

here are a few ideas of places in Raanana where you can have a kid's birthday party:

Bowling Alley\Home

Park

Tokyo Park

V.I.P. Movies

Diada

On a gondola

McDonald's

Jimboree

For all the details - prices, venue addresses, contact infomation and what you'll get for your money click here:

Raanana Birthday Party Venues

Where to have a kid's party in Raanana - Bowling Alley

If you are looking for a different and fun venue for your kid's birthday party in Raanana then try this ten pin bowling alley right in the middle of Raanana industrial area.

For all the details of cost, when, where and how click on the link below:



Raanana Ten Pin Bowling Alley

Raanana cheap family clothing stores

Where to buy cheap clothes for the whole family. When you have a lot of kids or kids that ruin their clothes within weeks of buying them then there is no point spending loads of money on expensive clothes. Instead buy you family's clothes at one of the less expensive clothing stores in Raanana. These stores also print up the school T-shirts, and some give discounts to large families. You can also find modest clothing, tsitsiot, kippot and shoes at some of these stores. These are not Outlet stores just inexpensive no name brand stores. Check out the list of low cost family clothing stores in Raanana by clicking on the link below:

Low Cost Family Clothing Stores in Raanana

Raanana Gas Mask Distribution 2010

You can get your gas masks in Raanana at the moment at Yad Lebanim. You don't have to pay if you have previously not had a mask or have returned the last one you had. All you need to take is your Taudat Zaut and you can pick up masks for your whole family. You will need their I.D. numbers as well. The whole procedure is very fast so long as there isn't a queue. You don't have to wait until you are notified to come and pick up your gas mask, just arrive.

What can you do at Raanana Park?

You'll be surprised how much there is to do at Park Raanana, this article tells you of all the things to see and do in Park Raanana including the art, lake, restaurant and gym. You can easily enjoy between an hour and 3 hours of fun with your kids at the Raanana Park.

Click here: Park Raanana for open hours, cost and explination of all the available activities at this great park.