Israel, Jordan and Sinai all have special tourist police to deal with any complaints or problems visitors may encounter. These police mostly speak English, and are posted at most major sites and at tourist resorts. They wear identifying armbands. The Jordanians have a special form of tourist police, active in the Wadi Rum area, known as the Desert Patrol. These officials are easily identified by their smart khaki uniforms, their distinctive red-and-white checked headdress and by the fact that they often ride camels.

Normal Israeli police wear navy blue uniforms and peaked caps. Also part of the police force are the border guards, who wear a military style uniform and a green beret. They operate mainly in the Israeli-controlled areas of the West Bank. The Palestinians also have their own security forces, who come in a multitude of guises.

Visitors will notice a preponderance of military personnel on the streets in Jerusalem and Israel. Every citizen must perform military service in the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) as soon as they reach the age of 18. The term of service is three years for men and two years for women. Men serve for an additional 30 days a year until the age of 35. Consequently, you will see armed soldiers around all the time, particularly at bus stations, as they are usually on the way to or from their bases.

On arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, you will almost immediately experience just how tight security is in Israel. During your stay, you may be subject to security checks on entering hotels, restaurants, bars, cinemas and shopping complexes, so it is wise always to carry some identification, preferably your passport. But as far as the visitor is concerned, terrorism is not a major worry. Tourists have never been the target of terrorists and most attacks have occurred well away from all tourist sites. Naturally, you have to be alert when in the streets, and also keep an eye on the local news. Among the “sensitive” areas are East Jerusalem and West Bank towns such as Hebron and Ramallah. In times of unrest you should definitely give such places a wide berth. Should you be unlucky enough to encounter a disturbance in the streets, move away from the scene quickly, and make it completely clear that you are a foreign tourist.

Stories of theft, mugging and other similar opportunistic crimes are rare in the Holy Land. Crime is not the problem here that it is in many other parts of the world. As a rule, all areas are considered safe for visitors, unless the visitor is an unaccompanied woman. Lone females are frequently subjected to unwanted verbal pestering and harassment from local males, both Israeli and Arab. This problem is particularly acute in Jerusalem’s Old City and its surrounding areas, such as the Mount of Olives and Mount Zion. Incidences of rape have even been reported, and so our advice to women must be that they should not walk alone in unpeopled areas or in the Old City after dark.

On the whole Israelis and Arabs are very honest people. Arabs, especially, will go to great lengths to return lost property. If you lose anything it is always worth going to the last place the item was seen, or going to the tourist police. On occasion, unpleasant experiences do happen. To minimize the risk of this, do not leave valuable objects inside a car or in full view in your hotel room. Leave your valuables in the hotel safe or at the reception desk. The fact that credit cards are accepted almost everywhere is a good reason not to carry a lot of cash with you. In case of theft, remember to make a report to the police and to ask for a copy of the report, which you will then have to present to your insurance company when you make your claim.

Security considerations mean that you should not leave luggage or packages unattended (especially in airports and bus stations), as they might cause alarm or trigger a reaction on the part of the security forces.

Medical care in Jerusalem and the Holy Land is costly, making it inadvisable to travel without some form of medical insurance. The policy should at least cover the cost of a flight home.

No specific vaccinations are legally required before entering Israel, Jordan or Sinai, but doctors may advise inoculation against hepatitis A (spread through contaminated food or water), hepatitis B, tetanus and also typhoid.

There are no particular endemic diseases in the Middle East, but the hot climate necessitates that you take certain precautions, at least until you are used to the change in diet. It is advisable to drink mineral water (which is sold everywhere) and not use ice in your drinks. Avoid raw vegetables or food that has obviously been left standing for some time since it was cooked, and peel fruit. Continually drinking large quantities of liquids is essential: the lack of humidity in the air causes rapid dehydration, even though you may not be aware of it. Other than this, the most frequent problems are intestinal. A change of diet often upsets the stomach. It is recommended that you should always carry diarrhoea pills. If the upset continues then consult a doctor or pharmacist for more powerful medication.

Mosquitoes can sometimes be a nuisance, but there is no threat of malaria. Bring repellent lotion or spray from your own country – although, if you forget, it is easy to find in any pharmacy. If you go diving in the Red Sea, you need to be careful of sharp corals and be aware of which species of fish are poisonous and are to be avoided.

Good pharmacies are easy to find throughout both Israel and Jordan. However, if you need a particular medicine, it is still advisable to travel with your own supplies and keep a note of the product and its composition so that, if worst comes to worst, a pharmacist will be able to find a local equivalent. In Israel, the Jerusalem Post  lists the names and addresses of pharmacies that stay open late and during Shabbat and holidays.

In an emergency in Israel, you can call 101 to request an ambulance or to ask about the nearest casualty department. Alternatively, contact the local branch of the Magen David Adom  (Israel’s equivalent of the Red Cross), or call its countrywide toll-free number.

In Jordan, if you need a doctor, call into a pharmacy and ask for a recommendation or call your embassy. In Sinai, most large hotels have a resident doctor. For divers, there is a special Hyperbaric Medical Centre  in Sharm el-Sheikh equipped with a recompression chamber.