Packing list: A Cyprus wartime getaway couldn't provide an escape from Israel - opinion

Packing for a vacation, usually a mundane task, becomes a complex ordeal when the specter of war looms. For Israelis, anticipating every possible need is amplified by the uncertainty of whether conflict will erupt while abroad, potentially stranding them far from home.

This was the reality for Brian Blum and his wife, Jody, who planned a four-night getaway to the Secret Forest, an Israeli-run resort in Cyprus. Their trip planning, initiated in January, was thrown into uncertainty when the US and Israel attacked Iran, leading to retaliatory actions. The escalating tensions made booking the trip feel precarious, with many Israelis opting for alternative travel routes to avoid potential disruptions.

Despite the volatile situation, the couple decided to proceed with their booking after a ceasefire appeared to hold, seizing one of the last available spots on an El Al flight. However, the anxiety lingered, especially with headlines warning of potential renewed conflict. For Blum, this trip was particularly significant as it marked his first travel since undergoing CAR-T cancer treatment, and he was determined not to miss the opportunity for a much-needed break.

The constant need to check "Can I Shower Now?" apps and await siren alerts for potential rocket attacks had made life in Israel exhausting. The proximity of Cyprus offered a tempting escape, but the journey itself, involving multiple transfers and waiting times, proved to be nearly as time-consuming as traveling to Eilat. The resort, entirely Hebrew-speaking, offered a familiar environment, a "cross-section of Israel transported into the Cypriot mountains," complete with lectures, yoga, and Pilates.