Go to: Eilat, Israel

Instead of: Tel Aviv, Israel

If the costs and crowds in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv don’t appeal to you, consider the less-traveled city of Eilat as an exhilarating Israeli adventurer’s paradise.

Located on the country’s southern end, this budget-friendly vacation alternative offers a sunny getaway on the Red Sea with enchanting beaches and jaw-dropping coral reefs.

Whether you want to relax beachside, hike the desert mountains, or snorkel in its remarkable Coral Reef Nature Reserve, this resort town has everything you’re looking for.

Hikers can journey through the Eilat Mountains Nature Reserve, which offers some of Israel’s most spectacular views and breathtaking desert routes.

And now it’s easy to get to this budget-friendly vacation alternative, as well. Israel opened the Ramon International Airport, a 20-minute drive from this city, a few years ago.