Sometimes you just cannot afford a private guide. You haven't found the right group for you, and a private guide is beyond your budget. How can you get the most out of your trip?
These questions plague the minds of many tourists. In this case, you have little choice but to take local transportation and visit sites on your own, as much as possible. Some sites are not accessible via public transportation; for these sites, you will either need to join a day tour to the site OR rent a car to visit the site. Some sites have local guides; take advantage of these guides as much as possible - some of them are excellent. Many of these tours can be booked online.
Having said all of this, if you can splurge on just one day on a private guide, do it. Spend the day in Jerusalem with a private guide. You will get much more out of your day (in sites covered in one day and your understanding) than you will in two days on your own.
