Three of the major first class tour operators have tours of Israel ready to go in 2011: Globus, Trafalgar and Insight. Of course, there are many other tour operators with Israel as a highlighted destination, but let’s compare these three before we look further.
The flight from the U.S.A. is a long one and you may have been dreaming of this trip for a long time, so it’s in your best interest (and your wallet’s) to find the tour which best lives up to your dream. The duration of the tours are almost the same; but be aware the Insight’s “Israel Discovery” lists “Day 1” as the departure from the United States. Trafalgar’s 10 day “Best of Israel” also lists the first day of travel as “Depart USA”. Globus’ “Fascinating Israel” is a 9 day tour measured from Day 1 “Arrive in Tel Aviv, Israel” . All three tour spend the first day on Israeli soil “at leisure”, which is important in that you’ve been traveling for many hours and need to catch up on your rest and acclimate your body to the new time zone.
Comparison 1: The actual time in Israel is nine days (Globus), eight days (Trafalgar) and seven days (Insight). The last day of each tour is “return to the United States”, unless you wish to add a trip to Jordon or Egypt.
Comparison 2: Cost per day, using early June, 2011 as a reference point, and including only days in Israel (not including international travel time). Globus $205.44; Trafalgar $243.75; Insight $342.72
Let’s examine why the price/day is so different and what you are actually getting.
All three tours stay in first class hotels with private bathrooms, Insight’s hotel in Tel Aviv is listed as deluxe (Sheraton Tel Aviv & Towers). All include full Israeli breakfast every morning (and Israeli breakfasts are FULL !). Insight includes three dinners plus a special Sabbath dinner at the hotel; Globus includes six dinners (including a welcome dinner and a farewell dinner); Trafalgar offers a “Welcome Drink” and two dinners.
Trafalgar’s group is met at the Tel Aviv airport and taken immediately to Jerusalem for a four night stay. The next day, stop at the Mount of Olives, followed by an in-depth tour of Jerusalem. The following day finds you on the way to the Dead Sea and Masada. The last day in Jerusalem is “at leisure”. The next two nights are spent at a kibbutz and, from there you will take an excursion to Nazareth, Tiberius, the Golan Heights and Tzfat (a VERY busy day!). On your way back to Tel Aviv, you will stop at Acre, Haifa, Meggido and Caesarea. Not long stops, to be sure. The last full day is “
at leisure” in Tel Aviv.
Globus’ travelers spend their first day (as noted in paragraph two, above) resting and/or exploring. They attend a welcome dinner that evening and, rested and over their jet lag, spend the next two days visiting the Valley of Elat, Latrun, Jaffa and Caesarea, before traveling on to Haifa. From Haifa the tour goes to a kibbutz, with visits to Acre, Nazareth and Cana along the way. A nice touch is a short cruise on the Sea of Galilee. On the way to Jerusalem, the group will stop at the outstanding tourist sites as did the Trafalgar tour. There is ample time in Jerusalem to visit Yad Vashem and the Israel Museum. From Jerusalem you will travel to Masada and Bethlehem…neither of the other tours goes to Bethlehem. Do study the itineraries carefully!
The Insight tour, “Israel Discovery”, will visit all the highlights or as many as can be fitted into seven very full days (except for the “day at leisure” in Tel Aviv, where you are on your own to do as you please). There is a special day at and night at the Dead Sea; the other tours do not stay the evening.
Summation: The Globus tour appears to offer the most days, most meals and most included sightseeing for the least price. All the tours are accompanied by a Tour Manager and knowledgeable, multi-lingual and excellent local guides. All hotels are first class or better and include private bath en suite. The tour buses are very modern, comfortable and air-conditioned with emergency lavatories. Safety is a prime consideration, as is understanding of the history of three major religions and the quest for peace!
Questions? Call me, I’ll be delighted to discuss any of these tours or some of the many others which we offer at the best prices and outstanding service.
We’ve been there, we know!! Click if you would like to browuse our selection of Israel tours for 2011.
