Need recommdations on Jewish Israel Tours
 

We are taking our first trip to Israel next Spring and plan to go on the 16-day tour. We will be going on an Adults only tour. Does anyone have any comments on Israel Discovery Tours, Israel Tour Connection, ITAS, or Isram? Also if there are any good tours not on this list, we would like to know about those also.

contact your local federation.

Go to: <BR>http://www.unitedtours.co.il <BR>and see the program. It is one of the leading companies in Israel. <BR>Greetings from Israel !

Dear Linda: <BR>My husband and I just returned from a 10-day tour of Israel. We used Gate 1, and they were terrific! I would highly recommend them. OUr guide, Meir Elia, was terrific, and I would request a tour with him. Gate 1's prices are less than Isram, but I couldn't have asked for a better experience. We stayed in very nice hotels, our group had about 22 people in it, and all but two of our group were Jewish. Gate 1 has a website for more info. They are based in Pennsylvania. <BR> <BR>Have fun. <BR> <BR>Merry

Dear Linda, <BR> <BR>My cousin and I went to Israel last March-April. We booked with Gate 1 - the tour was fabulous - Sammy Hellman was our tour guide. Our tour was for 9 days - all adults - small group which made it very nice. Their tours are very comprehensive for the 1st time traveler to Israel. I would definitely use them again. <BR> <BR>Good luck!!

I stayed at the Jerusalem Plaza in June this year. It is a TOTAL dump. The paint was peeeling, carpet stained, furniture decades old. Our travel agent, Israel Tour Connection put us there and we have no idea why. Be very wary of Sheraton's in Israel. The one in Tiberias was also disgusting.

Another endorsement for Gate 1.....contact Roberta Yesowitch there specifically as she is in charge of groups. They cater to whatever you want. Their guides are all wonderful (the ones I have met). My favorite by far is Ezra Eini. Check out Gate 1. They are putting together a tour for a small group that I am leading next September and I could not be happier with how they are willing to &quot;go the extra mile&quot;.

Kathy

Paragon, Indiana, USA

I know, it's an old post from 5 years ago.

Looking for a group tour I also checked Gate 1. They have one escorted tour, very cheap because most of it is optional, even Masada - am I missing something here reading all this recommendations?

I've asked for quotes for March, and the reply from Trafalgar was that their new catalogue for next year is due some time in November. I've just sent my requests today, so no reply from Isram yet.

Somebody in Israel recommended United (mentioned above), unfortunately United and Egged don't have multi-day tours now.

You must contact Gate 1 directly. What they have listed on their website and in their general brochures will not tell you what you really want. If you contact them directly they will put together a tour for you that is &quot;tailor made&quot;.

Kathy

Paragon, Indiana, USA

Can anybody else please chime in?

I am especially interested in the Israel Tour Connection (ITC) tours. Got an e-mail reply to my inquiry within 24 hours!

Thank you for your advise, Kathy, but it doesn't sound right to me that a tour group would have tours different from listed on the web. Being a budget traveler I am not looking for anything personalized.