My Trip To Israel: Eilat
Welcome to part two of my work sponsored trip to Israel. In part one I explored Tel Aviv, learned a lot and spent some time near the Mediterranean Sea.
Party Time
I really didn’t know what to expect–I mean, it was a super weird situation–I was traveling abroad to the furthest I’ve ever been with no family or close friends and only my coworkers.
The second half of the trip required that we fly (500 strong) to the southern tip of Israel to a very Vegas-like Desert city called Eilat. We would be staying here for two fun filled days then heading back to Tel aviv and then home. The plane ride to Eilat was only 30 minutes but we got to see the Dead Sea with a birds eye view.
When we arrived in Eilat everything went so fast, we grabbed our bags, jumped on a bus and five minutes later we were at one of the most insanely gorgeous resorts I’ve ever been to. Breathtaking is a bit of an understatement.
From the moment we walked through the lobby the music was pumping loud and there was alcohol everywhere. There were chefs that were making these delicious sandwiches with hummus, cheese, tomatoes, olives and more. It was one of the freshest, tastiest things I’ve ever eaten.
We quickly got changed into our swimsuits but I was less eager to jump into the water. Did I mention that most of my Israeli coworkers were under the age of 25, with the most perfect bodies ever? To show you how hesitant I was to get in the water, look at my completely black coverup in the desert!
Finally I loosened up and decided to yell YOLO and jump in because when will I ever be at a crazy fly pool party in Israel?! I’m so glad I did. I (pool) danced a lot, I met new people (all KINDS of boundaries are broken when you are in a pool half naked with your coworkers so it’s a lot easier to chat with someone new), I got nice and wrinkly and had such a great time.
After HOURS in the pool dancing and such we went upstairs checked in, got ready and prepared to go to …
The Desert
Let me set the scene for you:
Eight or nine busses drop you off in the middle of the dark desert. Just as quickly all of the busses speed away. There is nothing but sand and gravel beneath your feet and you have no sense of direction because you can’t see anything. Your coworkers are all speaking a different language and you wonder quietly wtf is going on. You hear drums, fireworks and see a camel. The lights went on and just like that it was time for dinner!
We also got to see this amazing band that I fell immediately in love with called the Balkan Beat Box.

The Beach
The beach was just beautiful–and that doesn’t even seem like a strong enough description. We spent the entire day there and although I didn’t get in the water I really took sometime to just take in the sights and really be in the moment.

I even fell asleep on a boat in the middle of the ocean. It was glorious!
Later on that evening, we flew back to Tel Aviv and from there right back to NYC. It was a trip that exposed me to so much and the travel bug has officially bitten me! We have already started planning a trip to South America in 2016, hopefully we can make it happen!
[Tweet “#Eilat #Israel is one of the most beautiful places on the planet! #travel”]
What would you do if you had to wear a swimsuit in front of your co-workers–yay or nay? Do you have any international plans in the near future?
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Just amazing Nellie!!! I still think you are so brave for even going there – it really took a lot of guts and then to have to swim with your beautiful bodied co-workers? You are just amazing!! I absolutely loved all the pictures and that band? One of the coolest scenes in the desert ever!! Wow. Just wow!
I still can’t believe that whole desert scene!! It was straight out of the movies!!
Where do you work? Are you hiring??? That looks AMAZING! I have avoided swim parties with my close co-workers, but did hit the pool at a conference last year. It is odd at first, but then you get over yourself and relax.
Yes I was completely uptight about it then I finally just decided to make it happen!
Wow, that totally would have had me bitten by the travel bug, if Disney didn’t do it for me earlier this year, as you know I am already planning a vacation for next summer, because of that, too 😉
I absolutely love this post. So glad the travel bug got you. Being that my parents are from Trinidad, I’ve been fortunate to travel there several times so the travel bug has always been with me. In a perfect world, I would travel to someplace new once every quarter. I’m working on getting more passive income so that travel dream can come true. I’ve got a long list of places to go to and now thanks to you I can add Israel to that list.
Yes!!! I totally get it. I spent my summers in Jamaica growing up but somehow that never really registered as “traveling?” Maybe because I’d been doing it since I was a baby. I wish I could travel somewhere once a quarter it would help with my sanity!! ??
Wow! This looks so cool! I can’t believe this is a company trip! How amazing!! I would definitely wear a swimsuit with my co-workers if I were in your situation but probably a one piece and I would probably keep my cover up on out of the pool.
I don’t really have co-workers so I’m totally cool in a swimsuit! ha! Just kidding around. My body isn’t so different from my 20’s and I’m still not cool with the swimsuit thing. So uncool.
This is such an adventure, though. The desert. Whoa! You look fantastic in the photos.
Thanks girl 🙂 the desert was just so breathtaking
I hardly wear a swimsuit in front of my family, much less my coworkers. (To be fair, my stepmother and sister have incredible bodies that I couldn’t get with all the training in the world. Genetics are a b****h!) But good for you. You have an attitude I envy. That party in the desert sounds like the kind of thing you only hear about in the movies. Incredible!
That is definitely a work trip that I would love to take! I have been meaning to get to Israel for a while now, especially since I have a friend who just moved there 😀
This looks like the funnest trip ever! Eilat looks gorgeous!