When you are shopping for the best tour to Israel, there are several things you should keep in mind:
We choose hotels very wisely, drawing on our years of experience with almost all of them. We do not use hotels with low ratings, and we do not use “better hotels” that give poor service. We have found the best hotels at the best prices for our pilgrims.
Our choices may include a wonderful countryside experience at Kibbutz Nof Ginosar for our Summer Tour and the very well appointed Rimonim Hotel in Tiberias for our Spring and Fall Tours.
In Jerusalem, we frequently stay at Ramat Rachel Hotel for our Summer Tour and the centrally located five-star Inbal Hotel for our Spring and Fall tours.
When in Eilat, we stay at the magnificent Queen of Sheba Hilton.
In Greece, we use the Divani Caravel or Divani Palace Hotels in Athens.
These are all first-class hotels, offering excellent service and beautiful accommodations. The meals are full buffet breakfasts and hotel dining room suppers of the highest quality.
Zola Tours covers the major biblical sites in Israel and Greece. But in addition, Zola Tours offers some things that others may not, such as an Archaeological Seminar including the Western and Southern Walls, Jerusalem’s Old City bazaar, and Beit She’an (an ancient Roman capital with ongoing archaeological excavations). Often, extras that are not formally advertised in our brochure become available. For example, some tours have been treated to a Messianic congregation service, a music concert by a local Messianic believer, or visits to the Hadassah Hospital to see Marc Chagall’s famous stained-glass windows.
Our bus drivers stay with the group 24 hours per day. Some other tour operators’ drivers are off evenings, going home and returning to the group the next morning. Our drivers know our groups and know how to serve us. And because we operate large luxury buses, we have more clout at local sites. We get shorter waits in line and more preferential treatment.
Our tours are designed to cover virtually all of your expenses. We do not have an “a la carte” price where you have to pay admission fees in Israel. Everything is figured in except lunches (everyone likes a different-sized lunch as we travel) and two dinners out where we take you to a choice of excellent native restaurants.
For everyone’s convenience, each passenger contributes to a tipping fund and we pass those tips out as we travel.
Our tour groups are treated well because of our pro-Israel TV programs here. And because we tip well, heels click for us. We do not subject you to excessive shopping (as some others do because they make commission agreements with local vendors).
We don’t know of anyone who has been to Israel and the Holy Land more times (90+) than Zola Tours. The people, the places, and the moments you will experience while on a Zola Tour will become memories to enjoy forever. Israel is God’s Promised Land—and you will be there! Is there anything more exciting or wonderful? We hope, of course, that you will choose to go with one of our groups because we know what you will get for your money. But no matter how or with whom you choose to go, His land beckons you. His hand guides you. Treasure truly awaits you!
Holocaust survivors travel with us for free!
Many people ask us whether it is safe to travel in Israel. This is a question that is usually raised only by people who have not been to Israel. Once our pilgrims tour with us, they realize that Israel has one of the world’s lowest crime rates, and that it is safer to walk in Israel’s cities than in most North American or European cities. We have taken more than 90 tours to Israel, never cancelled one, and never had a safety problem in 29years.
The news media tend to over-dramatize the occasional, isolated incident. The potential danger to passengers who travel on group tours to the Middle East is no greater than what they would experience in domestic travel. Israel’s streets and villages are more secure than the streets and cities of our own country. Our tour operators abroad are knowledgeable, efficient, and equipped to handle last-minute changes in our itineraries, such as special attractions that become available. Any hint of risk or compromised safety is avoided immediately. The pilgrim who considers canceling or postponing tour plans because of presumed insecure or dangerous conditions is simply misinformed.
Our own staff members travel with our groups, constantly monitoring current political situations in the region in order to avoid potential hazards. Our good reputation—our very business—depends on keeping our tour groups safe.
During our time in the Holy Land, no one has access to our tour buses except members of the tour. Since our bus drivers own their own buses, they take extreme care to maintain them and keep them secure. Any time our drivers must be away from their buses, the buses are always locked. We have never had a security problem in all our 29 years and more than 90 tours in Israel.
Dress is very casual throughout the tour. Be sure to take comfortable, sturdy, walking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, a sun hat, a swimming suit, and a sweater or jacket for cool evenings. Comfortable layers of “mix and match” make a successful tour wardrobe.
All passengers should wear modest outfits with shoulders and knees covered for touring religious sites (40% of the time). Feel free to bring shorts, however, especially for Masada and the Dead Sea area.
Each evening, we post the next day’s itinerary on the hotel’s bulletin board so that you know in advance when shorts are not appropriate. Ladies may want to bring along a dress or skirt to throw over shorts, just in case an opportunity arises to visit an evening synagogue service.
Some have asked if dining is formal, and what would be appropriate to wear. Casual wear is acceptable for dining throughout the tour. Some pilgrims do dress up for Shabbat dinner, so you may want to pack a suitable outfit in case you decide to dress up.
Note: upon arrival in Israel, you will receive a nice Immanuel Tours book bag for carrying your daily essentials like money, camera, etc.
For Deluxe, Discovery, or Grand Petra Tours, see the El Al website for specific information.
For Grand Athens or Ultra Grand trips, see the Delta website for specific information.
Also, check with your domestic carrier for their luggage requirements, restrictions, and fees.
You will need a passport that expires at least six months after your return date. No visa is needed to travel to Israel or Greece. For those going to Petra, we secure the visa for you once we get your passport information. There is no additional charge for this visa.
Yes. The electrical voltage is 220v in ALL places the tour visits. If your appliance says “dual voltage,” 110–220v, or “worldwide voltage,” you need only adapt the plug. For plug adapter or voltage converter, we recommend Wal-Mart, Best Buy, or a travel/luggage store.
Computers are available most evenings for downloading camera pictures and emailing. But if you decide to bring your own, remember to check the voltage of and provide a plug adapter for your phone and computer, as well as personal grooming devices.
No inoculations are needed.
Yes! Having a Bible with you greatly enhances a tour of the Holy Land, since you will be seeing the places where so many of the Bible’s significant events occurred. You may want to bring along a colored pencil or highlighter to mark those Scriptures that you study while in His land. Also, many passengers enjoy keeping a journal as well.
Yes; as far as souvenirs and such, you will be able buy them. Remember to leave some room in your suitcase for packing the items you purchase.
However, there is almost no opportunity to buy personal items like allergy medicine, snacks, and other items that you easily pick up in the States. As a seasoned overseas traveler, I recommend that travelers pack 40% clothes and 40% personal items, leaving 20% space for items you purchase during the tour.
If you have not designated a specific roommate on your registration form, we will strive to assign a compatible roommate based on the information you provide on your application. Please note that if a compatible roommate cannot be found, you will be responsible for paying the additional single supplement noted on your registration form.
Yes, please bring your camera and fresh batteries or recharger. You may also want to bring a flash drive for downloading pictures off your camera. Computers will be available most evenings for you to download pictures, browse the Internet, and send emails.
Yes, we recommend it! Be sure to bring enough tapes or memory sticks.
For Deluxe/Discovery/Grand Petra Tours, we recommend taking at least $300 per person (mostly 10s and 20s, no 50s or 100s). For Grand Athens/Ultra Grand Tours, $500 per person is recommended (mostly 10s and 20s, no 50s or 100s)
Important notes on money exchange:
Keep it in its original bottle with label, if possible. Otherwise, label it plainly. Please be sure to pack prescription medicine in your carry-on luggage; if it contains liquid, it needs to go in your checked luggage.
The areas where we travel are completely peaceful. We have never had a problem in 29 years of touring.
Zola Tours recommends Travel Guard Insurance. Apply online or call at 866-385-4839 and reference Zola Code 217022 for either insurance option. Choose between Basic and Deluxe Coverage. If you pay your final tour balance with a credit card, you will be required to purchase travel insurance.
Average Temperatures during our tour months:
March — Israel: 60–70 degrees, Petra: 90 degrees
June — Israel: 85–95
October — Israel: 75–80, Petra: 90, Greece: 60–70
Laundry and dry cleaning is not self-serve in the hotels. You will drop your clothes off at the front desk and they will be returned to your room. Laundry is less expensive than dry cleaning, just as in the States. An estimated cost to have 5 pieces laundered is $30–$35. For dry cleaning, an estimated cost is $7–10 per item, depending on the item.
Many passengers find they can either wash items in the sink or take enough delicates to get them through the entire trip. Before you drop off your clothes, please get a return time and date so you can be sure we’ll still be at that hotel once your clothes are ready.
Both Greece and Israel are seven hours later than U.S. Eastern Time. For example, if it's 7 a.m. in New York, it's 2 p.m. in Israel and Greece.
There is a safe in each hotel room. Also, the tour bus is locked at all times when we are touring.
Public health standards at our tour locations are equal to those in the United States. The water is completely safe to drink. The food is excellent throughout the tour.
All tips and fees are collected with your final payment and are shown on your Registration Form. Once you leave your gateway city, all tipping and fees will be handled for you by your tour escort (except for on-your-own lunches).
All entrance fees for all excursions during the tour are pre-paid. However, one of the excursions calls for us to plant a tree in Israel. This is totally voluntary, but if you would like to do that, the fee is $10. Couples or passengers traveling together will often plant one tree together. Please have $10 in cash prepared for this visit in Tiberias.
Once you make your final payment, you will receive a packet that includes the daily itinerary as well as our hotel accommodations/contact information. You will also be able to call home from the hotel. If you plan on calling frequently, it is recommended that you purchase a pre-paid calling card. The instructions on the card are easy to follow.
Almost all passengers find they get along fine without a cell phone as computers are available some evenings where you can email loved ones. But if you would like a cell phone, you can arrange one at the website talknsave.net
Yes. Children 7 and older are welcome on the trip, enjoy the trip, and seem to derive a special inspiration from it. However, because of the heat in the summer, only children 10 and older are permitted on the Summer Tour for safety reasons.
Yes, call Zola Tours at 214-696-9760 during office hours (7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central Time) and we will be glad to help you. You may leave a message on our answering machine after business hours.
The air inside airplane cabins is very dry. Because the transatlantic flight is long, many passengers find they arrive feeling very “dried out.” You may find it soothing to take along a ChapStick or lip balm in your pocket. You may also wish to have a small bottle of orange juice or water with you to sip as needed. Water is available from the galleys on the airplane.
Note: Travel Experience International is now Zola Tours.
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