Taxis usually wait outside the arrivals hall. Taxi fare for the nine mile (15km) trip into town costs ILS 90. There is an added surcharge at night and on Jewish holidays and the Sabbath.

The area directly in front of the terminals is reserved for pick-up and drop-offs only. Short-term parking is available in the parking lot in front of Terminal 3 as well parking lot number one. Rates for short-stay parking start at ILS 16 for the first hour, and go up by ILS 3 per hour thereafter. The maximum daily rate is ILS 80. Long-term parking is available opposite Terminal 3. A shuttle bus runs from this parking lot to the terminal at 15-minute intervals. Long-stay rates are ILS 25 per day.

Passengers eager to zip away to Tel Aviv or Jerusalem in a rental car will find the operators' desks conveniently situated in the arrivals hall. Well-known companies such as Avis, Budget, Hertz and Sixt all have facilities at the airport, as do Economy, Car Trawler and Eldan.

Train: Trains are the best option for getting into Tel Aviv; they're clean, fast and cheap. Trains run from level S of Terminal 3 to Tel Aviv Savidor Station. Tickets cost ILS 10 and the trip into town takes 20 minutes. Passengers arriving after midnight will have to wait until 3am for the first train of the day.

Taxis: Taxis usually wait outside the arrivals hall. Taxi fare for the nine mile (15km) trip into town costs ILS 90. There is an added surcharge at night and on Jewish holidays and the Sabbath.

Bus: Buses run from the nearby Airport City rather than the airport itself. Passengers can take the free Egged No. 5 Shuttle from the second floor of arrivals to Airport City.

Tel: +972 (0)3 975 5555.

The ILS 50 departure tax for leaving Israel is included in ticket prices.

Money and communications: currency exchange, ATMs, banks, public telephones and a post office.

Luggage: Luggage carts are free of charge. The Lost and Found desk and luggage storage are located on the ground level of the short-term (western) parking lot.

Conference and business: Business facilities, including internet access and fax machines, are available in the airline lounges, particularly the Arbel lounge, the two Dan lounges, the El Al King David lounge and the Metsada lounge. The airport does not have conference facilities, but a number of hotels in Tel Aviv (such as the Carlton and the Intercontinental) offer great conference services.

Information: Information desks are located in the departures area and in the airport's central arrivals hall. There are also a number of computerised information machines. The tourist information office is in the arrivals hall - just look for the desk with loads of brochures and pictures of beaches, the Dead Sea and Jerusalem. Staff speak Hebrew and English and the tourist centre is open 24 hours a day.

WiFi: Free wi-fi is available in Terminal 3. Simply open your browser and surf away.

Shopping: The main shopping area at Ben Gurion International Airport, located on the same level as passport control in departures, is aptly named Buy & Bye. There is everything from small change items (books and holiday souvenirs) to big spender boutiques with items such as Dead Sea mud cosmetic products, electronics, fashion and alcohol.

Food and Drink: Passengers travelling to and from Ben Gurion International Airport are spoilt for choice when it comes to dining options. Passengers rushing to catch a flight can grab a quick coffee from one of the numerous coffee shops in the terminal. Fast food joints such as Mc Donald's and Pizza Hut have also made their mark, or for those wanting some kosher cuisine there are a number of places that stock typical Israeli salads, falafel, pita, humus and much, much more.

Other facilities: The Ben Gurion Airport has two synagogues, medical clinics, a police station, a VAT refund desk, special needs assistance services, a playroom and a mother and child room.

Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages of Israel. Most of the population also speak English.

The Israeli Shekel (ILS) is divided into 100 agorot (singular is agora). Money can be changed in the small exchange bureaux found on most main streets, or at banks and hotels. ATMs are prevalent throughout the country and linked to American systems. Most banks are open Sunday through to Friday until noon, and are open again from 4pm till 6pm on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Major credit cards are widely accepted, as are travellers cheques, though commission on these is high.

A free shuttle service operates between the three terminals at 15-minute intervals.