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’s tours cover the major Biblical sites in Israel and Greece. But in addition, Zola’s tours offer 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 there are extras that are not formally advertised in our brochure. For example, some tours have been treated to a Messianic congregation service, a music concert by a local messianic believer, and 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 groups’ drivers are off evenings, going home and return to the group the next morning. They know our groups and they know how to serve us. And because we operate large luxury buses, we have more clout at local sites. There is less waiting 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, we collect a tipping fund from each passenger and 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 do, having made commission agreements with local vendors).
We don’t know of anyone who has been there more times (90+) than Zola Tours. The people, the places and the moments you will experience while in Israel will become memories to enjoy forever. God’s Promised Land—and you will be there! Is there anything more exciting or wonderful? It is our 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 with whomever you choose to go, it is His land that beckons you. It is His hand that guides you. Treasure truly awaits you!
Holocaust survivors travel with us for free!
Many people have asked us whether it is safe to travel in Israel. This is a question that is usually only raised by persons who have not been to Israel in the past. 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 the streets of its cities than in most North American cities. We have taken more than 90 trips to Israel, never cancelled one tour and have never had one safety problem in 28 years.
The news media is guilty of over-dramatizing the occasional isolated incident. The potential danger that exists to passengers who travel on group tours to the Middle East is no greater than what they would experience in domestic travel. The streets and villages of Israel 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. Even remotely potential areas of disturbance are eliminated from the program on the spot. The passenger who considers cancellation or the prospective tour member who decides to postpone his or her tour plans because of presumed insecure conditions is simply misinformed.
Our own staff members travel along with our groups. With our constant awareness of the current political situation in Israel, we would not subject them to hazardous conditions. Likewise, our good reputation (even our continuation in business) is dependent on not placing our tour groups in an unsafe position.
Our own staff members travel along with our groups. With our constant awareness of the current political situation in Israel, we would not subject them to hazardous conditions. Likewise, our good reputation (even our continuation in business) is dependent on not placing our tour groups in an unsafe position.
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 are extremely careful to take care of them and maintain the best possible security. Whenever our drivers must be away from their buses, the buses are always locked. We have never had a security problem in all our years of travel in Israel, which include 28 years and more than 90 tours.
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, casual and “mix-and-match” are the secrets to a successful tour wardrobe.
All passengers should wear modest outfits with shoulders and knees covered for touring religious sites (40% of the time). Do feel free to bring along some shorts on the trip, however, especially for Masada and the Dead Sea area.
Each evening, we will post the next day’s itinerary on the hotel’s bulletin board so that you may know in advance when shorts are not appropriate. Ladies may want to bring along a dress or skirt just in case an impromptu 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 do dress up for Shabbat dinner so please do bring a nice outfit for that 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.
El Al allows two check-in bags of up to 50 pounds each. Bag dimensions must be 61 inches or less (length plus width plus height). Carry-ons must weigh no more than 17 pounds and be no larger than 22 inches length, 18 inches width, and 10 inches height. There is a hefty per-pound charge for overweight bags.
Delta allows two check-in bags of up to 50 pounds each. Bag dimensions must be 62 inches or less (length plus width plus height). Delta has no weight limit for carry-ons, but they must have dimensions no larger than 22 inches length, 14 inches width, and 9 inches height.
The above info is only for our overseas travel. Please check with your domestic carrier regarding luggage requirements.
Personal carry on items: Along with your one official carry on item, you are also allowed one personal item. A good rule of thumb is to make your personal item about half the size of your official carry on. Below is an approved list of personal items for El Al and Delta:
Additional Carry-on Items: You may also carry on the following items, which do not count as personal items:
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, which we do once we get your passport information. There is no additional charge for this Visa.
Yes. The electrical volt is 220V in ALL places the tour travels to. I recommend going to Wal-Mart (have never found this at Target) or a travel/luggage store to pick this up.
No inoculations are needed.
Yes! Having a Bible along 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 specially colored pen/pencil to highlight those scriptures you have studied while in His land. Also, many passengers have found it very helpful to bring along a journal as well.
Yes as far as souvenirs and such, you will be able to do that and you’ll want to leave some room in your suitcase for packing those items you purchase. However, there is almost no opportunity to buy personal items like allergy medicine, snacks, and other items etc that you normally and easily can pick up in the states. As a seasoned overseas traveler, I recommend to people to 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 provided on your application. Please note that if we cannot provide a compatible roommate, you will be responsible for paying the additional single supplement noted on your registration form.
Yes, please bring your camera and fresh batteries. You may also want to consider bringing a flash drive to download pictures off of your camera. One or two computers will be available most evenings for you to send emails.
Computers will be available most evenings for you to browse the internet and send emails.
Yes, we recommend it! Be sure to bring enough video or audio tapes.
For Deluxe/Discovery/Grand Petra Tours, we recommend taking at least $300 per person (mostly 10’s and 20’s, no 50’s or 100’s). For Grand Athens/Ultra Grand Tours, $500 per person is recommended (mostly 10’s and 20’s, no 50’s or 100’s).
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, unless it contains liquid in which case it would need to go in your checked luggage.
The areas where we travel are completely peaceful. We have never had a problem in 28 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 just take enough delicates to get them through the entire trip. Before you drop your clothes off, 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 US Eastern Time. For example, if it's 7 AM in New York, then it's 2 PM 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 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 site 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 arrange one at this website: talknsave.net
Yes. Children 7 or above are welcome on the trip enjoy the trip and seem to enjoy it very much and 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 AM to 4 PM 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 plane 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.
Apply early!
Stay informed of our latest news and information.
Visit our blog!Tell a friend about Zola Levitt Ministries and invite them to our website.
