Additional Information

Are you one of those people who likes all sorts of extra information?
This post is for you!

Is this the trip for you? This will be a wonderful trip. You will see a very different part of the world and stand on some of the most important places of the Biblical history. However, there are a few considerations.This is not a vacation. We will see a lot and be on the move every day, often getting up early. You’ll be tired then we’re done. If you don’t like a trip where you are on the move, this – and most other trips of this kind – are not for you.

-This trips will involve a fair amount of walking and many of the sites we’ll visit are a bit difficult to get around. Some of the walking is optional, but if you don’t do the walking there are things you will miss. None of the sites are handicapped accessible. You will be tired at the end of each day; especially as you adjust to the 10 hour time difference. You should be able to walk at a normal pace and be able to take walking tours that will come in 1-3 hour segments. If you have any questions about this, talk with me before you sign up.

What's Included in the Price? It’s almost easier to say what’s not included.-

-You will need to get to and from Sea-Tac airport (other cities can be arranged). We will likely try and arrange for a shuttle to take us to Sea-Tac airport. There will be an extra fee if you choose to ride with us.

-Each day you will buy your lunch. Depending on where we eat as a group, the cost normally ranges from $10-12. We will have one dinner to pay for, about $15.

-While you will read that tips are included in the total, it’s still customary to collect tips for the guide and bus drivers at the end of the trip. A standard tip would be $5 a day for the guide and $2 for each driver. Of course, this is purely optional.

-One additional fee may be a “single supplement”. That is the extra cost if you are not sharing a room and it is $800. You may choose to have a private room, if you wish. If you are not traveling with a partner, we may be able to pair you up with someone else on the trip looking for a roommate. BUT, this is not guaranteed.

-It’s possible that we might stop at some site not listed in the tour and it might cost an additional $5-10 dollars to visit the site. That will not be common.

Can I pay for the trip with a Credit Card?Short answer- Yes, but it will cost you an extra 4%. You can use a credit card to make a deposit with no penalty, but EO passes on their card fees for the balance. Send them checks to save the extra cost.

Drinks:
A British friend of mine called America “The land of free drink refills.” Israel is like most other countries; drinks at hotel meals are small and pricey. At meals you are usually served water and hot tea and coffee at breakfast. If you want coffee or a soft drink with a meal, it will cost ~$2 per serving! I drink a lot of tea when I am there and we will buy bottled water at take on the bus. You can also take instant coffee and make your own coffee from hot water. Espresso is becoming more available, but the whole latte thing hasn't caught on yet.

Water in Israel is safe to drink, but I mostly drink bottled water just to be extra safe.

Cash:
I don’t recommend you carry large amounts of cash. I do recommend you take about 50 one dollar bills with you in addition to any other cash. They are often accepted and are good for quick tips. Traveler’s checks are getting impossible to use. Most shops and hotels and most tourist oriented shops accept dollars and credit cards. You can get cash at ATMs and we will make an ATM run at the airport when we land.. Be sure your PIN number has only four digits. Call your bank BEFORE you leave and tell them you’ll be in Israel.

Theft and pickpockets are not as common in Israel as in Europe, but some areas are worse than others. I highly recommend you carry your cash, cards, and passport under your shirt in a dorky neck pouch. This one is my favorite:
http://www.amazon.com/Lewis-N-Clark-Deluxe-Stash/dp/B004RJWEZY/ref=pd_sim_a_7?ie=UTF8&refRID=04499T5WJV7M713PP5P6

Souvenirs
Of course, you will want to buy some souvenirs. You should leave some room in your suitcase for stuff you’ll bring back. HOWEVER, I highly recommend you NOT buy items of great expense, unless you are qualified to know, with certainty, the value of an item. Do not rely on a salesman’s promise!

Trip Insurance
I recommend that you buy the insurance for this trip. Look in the fine print and you’ll see that if you get sick just before the trip and cannot go, you may lose 100% of the fee. The main reason for this is that airlines, hotel, and in country tour companies give discounts to people who book and pay in advance. But just like those cheap airline tickets, they are non-refundable once you pass certain dates. If something happens to you or a travel partner that prevents you from going, with insurance all your trip costs are refunded. The trip insurance EO sells is expensive, but it covers you for basically any reason you choose not to go, up till the day of the trip. You can buy other insurance that cost less, but it will cover only for death or illness (which may be all you need). You need to think about how much risk you want to take.

Be fair warned that if you don’t buy insurance and do get sick just before the trip, there will be nothing we can do to help you recover what you have paid.

Passports
You will absolutely need a current USA passport. No exceptions, no excuses. The passport should be good for six months past the beginning of the tour. It can take months to get a passport by mail, so if you need one, start early. You can file for one at the Kittitas courthouse Make a photo copy of your passport and take it with you just in case you lose the original. It makes it easier to get a replacement. I will need a copy too. If you need a photo, I can take one for you.

Food
We will eat most breakfasts and dinners in our hotel. Typically, we will stop for lunch as a group at a restaurant. Breakfasts are usually buffets with a mix of Middle Eastern and western foods. Dinners usually include a buffet of meat main courses, fresh vegetables and lots more. You won't starve.

Luggage and Laundry
You are limited to one checked suitcase, no more than 50 pounds. You may also bring a carry on bag. You should not bring more bags that you can carry/pull yourself at one time. Laundries are hard to find and there is little time on the trip for them. Some hotels offer laundry service, but just like the US, it is very expensive. Bring wash and wear clothes and some laundry soap and do a little wash in your hotel sinks. We hope to arrange for a laundry service when we get to Jerusalem. Never pack in checked luggage anything you can’t live without.

Medication
You should bring a full supply of any medication you need in their original containers and a copy of your prescription. Carry your medication on your person, not in checked luggage. You may wish to bring simple items like aspirin, anti-histamine, and an anti-diarrhea medication with you.

Photographic Supplies
If you don't own a digital camera, buy one Try the camera and flash before leaving so you know everything is working. Take at least one extra memory card.

Internet & Cell Phones
Most of our hotels will have complimentary wireless internet. You pretty much need a computer or tablet to use it. Most USA cell phones will work in Israel, but it can cost you big $$$. My AT&T phone will charge me a roaming fee for every day I turn it on and $3 a minute. That adds up amazingly fast. Skype can work well, just remember there is a ten hour time difference between Israel and Washington.

Kids
Some people have asked me about bringing children along. There are some concerns. The plane ride to Israel is looooong; over 15 hours total. That’s a long time to sit still. This is a not a vacation trip, but a tour and we will spend our time visiting historic Biblical sites that younger children may have little interest in. There is also a fair amount of time in the tour bus and a fair amount of walking.

Our meals will have a definite Middle Eastern flair, which some kids many not like. Importantly, some of the places we will visit are truly the holiest places on the face of the earth and are revered by millions. Children will need to be respectful and subdued when they are in them. If you think your child can handle that environment, then they are welcome to come along, but they will need to be on their best behavior.

In 1999, I took both my children to Israel with a tour group. They were 9 and 13 at the time. They still remember it was one of the greatest experiences of their lives, but they are good travelers.

Is It Safe?
As you know, Israel has been a troubled land for most of its history. In recent years the conflicts between Jews, Palestinians, and other Arabs in the area have ebbed and flowed. Often the troubles are somewhat isolated and look worse on CNN than they really are. I have read reports from other tour groups that have been visiting Israel in the past years and have found that they have had no problems and no danger. I had no problems as a solo traveler in several trips. Still, concern is reasonable.

Last year 4 million tourists visited Israel without any major problems. As near as I can tell, no church tour groups has ever been targeted by terrorists and no one on any of these tours has ever been killed. I plan to take some of my family on this trip, but there is always some level of risk in this part of the world. You would have thought Paris was safe.

WOW…this trip is Expensive. I've found other trips on the internet that cost much less.
Costs for trips can be deceptive, because often the low price advertised doesn’t include everything. It’s easy to find a $1800 trip advertised, but that doesn’t include tax, tips, entrance fees, airline fuel surcharge, and usually originates in New York. Often, money is saved by staying is marginal hotels and running the trip for only 8 days (5 days of touring). I have decided to include all the extra fees and costs up front in the price for our trip and that makes it look more expensive than other tours that hide these costs in the small print.