What is HIT?

HIT - Hosting ISRAELI Travelers, is an international hosting network, where private people, lovers-of-Israel, open their hearts and homes and invite Israeli travelers visiting their countries to come and stay with them providing them a ‘home away from home’ experience…

Operating solely in New Zealand since February 2000, we have decided to branch our hosting network into other countries, and in October 2014 launched HIT international! Since then we have been traveling around the world, setting-up the HIT network in many different countries, aiming to give Israeli travelers the cheapest and most attractive travel possible and an unforgettable ‘home away from home’ experience!

HIT international enables lovers-of-Israel to show their love and support to the Jewish people in the most practical way possible – through the simple act of hospitality. While the very large majority of our hosts are Bible-believing Christians, we also extend our invitation to Jewish people (whether Orthodox, Reformed, Conservative, Secular or Messianic) and to native-born Israelis living out of Israel, to come and take part in our network as hosting and service providers. Wherever you may live on the face of the globe, there will be some Israelis, traveling somewhere near you, so please, come and join us!!!

  • Private hosting – Category P Private people who are willing and able to commit themselves for hosting whenever possible within their hosting arrangements (can be on regular basis OR just from time to time). Bed, campervan or tenting (no obligation to provide camping equipment - Many Israelis travel with their own vans or carry their own camping equipment). Host Styles vary – “Separate self-contained facilities“ (where guests have their own kitchen, toilet and showering facilities), “Shared facilities” (staying in your home with you sharing the same toilets and showers you use) and “Basic facilities” (with mattresses on the floor or a fold-out sofa in the living room). Please note: The hosting is offered free of charge. IF you have a large number of HIT members coming to stay with you, and this becomes a financial burden to you, there’s a possibility to put a small cover charge to help with the extra costs of power, water, tea/coffee/sugar, toilet paper, etc.
     
  • Commercial Discounted accommodation – Category C: such as camping grounds, backpackers / hostels, motels, B&B etc, offering discounted accommodation to HIT Members. Please note: We’re asking for the largest discount you can possibly offer, and a minimum of 10%.

b) If you can’t host people in your home overnight, but would like to meet Israeli travelers, there are still ways for you to participate with us! Apart from hosting/accommodation providers you can also join us in one of the following categories:

  • Social (no overnight stay) – Category S: Social/meeting only, such as inviting Israeli travelers passing through your area for a meal, refreshment stop (coffee / shower / travel suggestions) or take travelers out for a day trips – boating, hunting, fishing, 4×4 driving, mountain biking, horse riding, etc, providing pick-up / drop-off to / from the airport or bus / train station OR anything else you can think of. Please note: any of the service/s you offer can be provided free of charge OR on a cost-recovery basis.
     
  • Jewish / Israeli cultural providers – Category J: offer cultural / religious activities to Israeli travelers. Activities may include Shabbat meals, celebration of the Jewish / Biblical feasts, Israeli / Jewish community meetings; Focus on Israel meetings, etc.
     
  • Operators of travel/tourist (and any other) businesses – Category O: offer discounted services or special deals to HIT members on various businesses that may be of an interest to them (such as skydiving, bungy, rafting, swimming with dolphins / whales, garages, shops, walking tracks, etc). Please note: We’re asking for the largest discount you can possibly offer, and a minimum of 10%. Tip:  we advise you give the discount “on direct bookings only” which will enable you to give a larger discount instead of paying a commission for a booking agent as well. IF offering a discount is not an option, you may be able to give “an extra value deal” or something of that sort.
     
  • Work providers – Category W: offer paid-jobs and work opportunities to HIT members, (e.g. child care, orchard, farm, travel industry, restaurants, etc). Please note: If an appropriate working visa is required – many Israelis have a second passport (or a working holiday visa) in various countries around the world.
     
  • Volunteers needed – Category V: offering HIT members various non-paid, voluntary jobs in their homes (such as gardening, cooking, etc) in return for accommodation and food. Please note: If your organization / ministry needs any volunteers at various times of the year >>> we would love to include it in our network as well! 

c) As of 28 October 2019, we’re introducing 3 new categories >>>

  • Long-term Board / Rent – Category L: *NEW* Whether it be free of charge, on a cost-recovery basis OR strictly business (again, we’re asking for a minimum of 10% discount!) this is now an option, as Israelis, due to work or study, may look for a place to stay-in, longer than just traveling through your area.
     
  • Minding / House-sitting – Category M*NEW*  An option for hosts to offer, when they’re going away and needing someone to watch their home, water the plants, feed the animals, etc.
     
  • Exchange / House-swapping – Category E:*NEW* The option to swap houses with other hosts on the HIT network, whether in your country or any other country we’re operating in (including with Israeli travelers – in Israel. 

As time progress, we hope to arrange private hosting and discounted accommodations (and other related services) to HIT hosts and supporters as you visit Israel. We also hope to also include many different organizations / ministries in Israel, that you, who support the people and nation of Israel, will be able to volunteer in, for various periods of time.

Disclaimer: We look for ways to co-operate with any organization, business or ministry that endorse the objectives of HIT international, but under no such obligation and leave ourselves the right to exercise freedom with whom we choose to co-operate.