I want to visit Israel, but not on a package. Is this possible, and where do I look to buy a cheap flight from? Claire Evans, Plymouth

Sunday Times travel expert Richard Green responds: Yes it is. Thomsonfly (0871 231 4787) started flights from London Luton and Manchester to Tel Aviv in November 2007, and are usually the cheapest, with fares from £179 return.

Or there is the Israeli national carrier, El Al (020 7121 1400), which flies from Heathrow to Tel Aviv 11 times a week, and weekly from Stansted. Fares start at about £300 return. From October 29 there will also be direct flights to Eilat, bookable through El Al, or its affiliated holiday company Superstar Holidays (020 7121 1500).

In case the above are booked up, or very pricey on the dates you are looking to fly, you might want to be a bit lateral and try a couple of round-the-houses routes.

One is with Air Baltic, a creative low cost airline that is based in Riga, Latvia. It offers connecting flights where your bags are checked through and you transfer between flights much as you would do with a traditional airline. Return fares from Gatwick to Tel Aviv are from £299.

Or you might try booking a cheap return flight to Barcelona with easyJet, and then fly Clickair (00 800 254 252 47) on to Tel Aviv ­ returns are from Barcelona start from £138.

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