March, 10-19, 2009  10 Day Israel Tour

or

March 10-25, 2009  16 Day Israel & Greece Tour

"No Hidden Cost" pricing for the March, 2009 Tour is listed below.  This tour includes an option of just a 10 Day Biblical tour of Israel, OR a 16 Day Israel & Greece tour.  The optional Greece extension of the tour is 7 days, including a marvelous 3 day cruise to Patmos, Rhodes, and Ephesus (in Turkey).  It will be a unique way to experience the land and culture of the New Testament and the mission trips of Paul.

To register for the tour and reserve your spot, all you will need to do is complete the registration form on the back of the color brochure (which you can request), along with your $300 deposit (and optional travel insurance premium  if you desire to purchase it).  Upon request, I will send you a pack of information about the tour.  However, to streamline the process, you can download the PDF version (click below) of the brochure and simply use that to complete your registration.  Simply print out the form and send it to me.  After I submit your form and deposit to Creative Travel, we will invoice you for the balance (due 70 days prior to the trip).

Here is the cost of both options:

10 Day Tour to Israel

from Dulles (Wash, DC)

 * Base Cost of 10 Day Trip:                              $ 2,399.00   (per person/double occupancy)

 * Departure Taxes & Fuel surcharges            $ 457.60       (as of June 2, subject to change up departure time)  

 *All tips (pre-paid):                                          $ 80.00         (handled by tour leader, $10/day)

                                                                            $ 2,936.60

** Optional Travel Insurance                             $ 159.00       (recommended by Creative Travel Partners)

16 Day Tour to Israel

from Dulles (Wash, DC)

 * Base Cost of 16 Day Trip:                                $ 3,905.00   (per person/double occupancy)

 * Departure Taxes & Fuel surcharges              $ 457.60       (as of June 2, subject to change up to departure)  

 * Tel Aviv to Athens departure taxes               $ 57.16         (as of June 2, subject to change up to departure)

 * All tips (pre-paid):                                           $ 140.00       (handled by tour leader, $10/day)

                                                                             $ 4,559.76

** Optional Travel Insurance                               $ 289.00       (recommended by Creative Travel Partners)

  PDF VERSION OF BROCHURE 

Here Are Others Things You Need to Know

•  THE SEASONS of the year, both in the spring and fall (typically when our tours are scheduled), are optimal traveling times to see and experience the land of the Bible.  They are typically rain-free, with comfortable temperatures.  The temperature is generally in line with the temperatures experienced in the State of Georgia, with mild and pleasant conditions present.   Weather conditions will be warmer in the Judean Desert and Jordan Valley area, and cooler in the hills surrounding Jerusalem and in the Golan Heights.

•  ALL VISAS & BORDER FEES are taken care of for you by us.  We travel with a group visa which means easier transfers and passage between countries. 

• THE PRICE of our group travel is actually quite competetive, providing the best way to see the lands of the Bible.  The tour package will include:   

*  Round-trip commercially scheduled air transportation from Dulles.   

 * Deluxe/first class hotels (twin bedded rooms with private bath), all in walking distance of many areas to explore on your own.

 *  Breakfast (full Israeli buffet breakfast while in Israel) and table d-hotel dinners daily. Plenty of wonderful food to eat for everyone! 

 *  “Full day” (in contrast to partial day as some tours offer) sight-seeing from a historical, biblical, and archaeological background.  A fully descriptive 130 page Guide Book complied by Tour Leader Pastor John DeLancey is offered complementary to enhance your learning and appreciation of the land of the Bible, drawing from his experience as a one-year archaeology student living in Jerusalem as well as his coordinating and leading of 13 previous tours.  A 98 page “Interactive” booklet is also offered as well as a document on the Hebraic background of Jesus.

*  Israeli guides that are “top notch” in their understanding of the world of the Bible.  We typically only use guides we have used before, Israelis who have a keen sensitivity to the goals and objectives of our trip together.

 *  Solidly evangelical and biblical-based group devotional time, with rich and life-changing spiritual worship experiences, inspiring your own walk with Christ. 

 *  Deluxe motor coaches, making the trip comfortable for traveling to the 50+ sites we’ll see together in Israel alone.

 *  All transfers on arrival and departure overseas, including porterage and assistance.

*  All entrance fees into archaeological sites, hotel taxes, and service charges.  

•  NOT INCLUDED are the unavoidable departure and airport taxes.  Presently, they are $335 (subject to change up to the departure date for the November Tour), and $457.60 for the March, 2009 10 Day Tour, plus an additional $57.16 for those doing the extension).  Also for the November tour, the Egyptian  visa fee ($25.00), the Taba (Israel) Border tax ($18.00) are not included.  Lunches (typically $5-7, but some bring snack foods to munch on to save a few dollars). All these charges are itemized on the Registration Costs & Procedures sheet, providing you with no hidden costs.  Option travel insurance is available for the prices listed.

•  A ROOMMATE for the tour can be arranged for you upon request and with your final approval if you want to avoid the single supplement fee of $35.00/night.

•  OUR TOUR COMPANY, Creative Travel Partners, INC. of Mt. Prospect, Illinois, is one of the largest Christian group travel companies in the country.  In the history of their business, they have helped coordinate over 10,000 tours to the Holyland.  Thus, you can be assured that you will have a completely carefree and expertly planned trip.  I have used them exclusively for each of my 13 previous Israel trips.

•  CONNECTING FLIGHTS to Dulles Airport in Washington, DC or JFK (NY) can be arranged by our kind friends at Creative Travel Partners, Inc.   You may call them toll-free at 1-888-524-4100 and ask them to get you the best fare to to these two departure airports.  You may also secure your own domestic flight if you wish.  You will need to get to airport at least 3 hours prior to our departure,  For the March, 09 tour, the following are the flights on Austrian Air from Dulles (Wash, DC).

                   Basic 10 Day Israel Tour:

                   OS094 10MAR IADVIE 1905 0900
                   OS857 11MAR VIETLV 1035 1500
                   OS858 18MAR TLVVIE 1600 1855
                   OS093 19MAR VIEIAD 1050 1600

                   16 Day Israel & Greece Tour:

                   OS094 10MAR IADVIE 1905 0900
                   OS857 11MAR VIETLV 1035 1500
                   OS802 24MAR ATHVIE 1455 1625
                   OS093 25MAR VIEIAD 1050 1600

         

•  SAFETY in traveling to the Middle East (Jordan, Israel, and Egypt) is still statistically far safer than driving a car anywhere in the U.S.  Despite what you hear on the news, you will find both Arabs and Israelis friendly and cordial.  Without a doubt, the issue of "safety" is the primary question I am asked.  However, as every tour group member has experienced before, you will feel safe the entire trip.  Click HERE to read some testimonials on safety.

•  FREE TIME in addition to our regular tour schedule (typically 8:00 a.m. - 5:00/30 p.m.) will be yours in which to do your own thing, whether exploring, shopping, or relaxing.  All of our hotels are located in areas conducive to exploring the area.  In places like Jerusalem, I will offer optional pre-breakfast and nightly walks for those who wish to explore these areas further.

•  YOU WILL BE KEPT IN CLOSE TOUCH as we move forward to the day of departure.  Prior to departure, you will receive all your documents pertaining to the tour:  flight schedules, listing of hotels addresses and overseas tour operators for each country.  As your tour leader, I delight in offering you my personal friendship and ministry.  My ministry to you as your personal tour leader is not only to share with you my own personal experience and knowledge of the land, but also to offer you our personal friendship in making your tour as inspirational as possible.  Thus, all you need to do is focus on enjoying your once-in-a-lifetime experience, and let us do all the work for you!

“No one can visit Israel without a deeper appreciation and a stronger faith in the Bible.  Israel is more than sightseeing. 

It is an experience.”

(Rev. Billy Graham)