"Thanks so much Daniel, we loved (your homeland).
We will never be the same!"
- Scott & Debi Hanks (Pleasant Grove, UT)
How To Chosse Latter-day Saint Tours in Israel
Although comparing other tour companies to ISRAEL REVEALED may be a disservice to both, consider the value added, especially the Latter-day Saint content as provided by Daniel & Steven Rona: the ONLY Latter-day Saint Authorized Israeli Guides.
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| Company | ISRAEL REVEALED with Daniel & Steven Rona Choice of Extra Grand Tours (17 days / 16 nights), Grand Tours (13 days / 12 nights) or Value Tours (10 days / 9 nights) |
Fun For Less Sample Tour - 8 Nov ’24 tour (10 days / 9 nights) |
Bountiful Sample Tour - 7 Jun ’24 tour (10 days / 9 nights) |
Morris Columbus (Latter-day Saint Study Tours) Sample Tour - 16 May ’24 tour (11 days / 10 nights) |
Booking on Multiple Sites in Several Languages and Currencies |
| Licensed Guide |
Daniel & Steven Rona are the ONLY Latter-day Saint Authorized Israeli Guides working in Israel |
Non Latter-day Saint Authorized Israeli Guide |
Non Latter-day Saint Authorized Israeli Guide |
Non Latter-day Saint Authorized Israeli Guide |
No Guide or Non Latter-day Saint Authorized Israeli Guide |
| Number of Tour Programs in Israel |
60+ different packages (over 12 month period) not including customized tours |
14 different packages (over 12 month period) |
31 different packages (over 12 month period) |
18 different packages (over 9 month period) |
... |
| Latter-day Saint Lecturer Headliner Educator |
You’re receiving full Latter-day Saint context throughout the tour |
1 educator per tour – to be shared between several bus loads |
1 headliner per bus; not guaranteed if the tour doesn’t “fill up” |
1 headliner per bus; not guaranteed if the tour doesn’t “fill up” |
No Latter-day Saint input |
| Philanthropic, Humanitarian Services |
Touring revenues support the non-profit Ensign Foundation (501c3) which assists and capitalizes; The Statue of Responsibility; 100’s of world-wide Firesides and Ward Passover Presentations; distribution of handicap equipment to disadvantaged people in the Holy lands, Gospel Doctrine Supplement Manuals with Latter-day Saint/Jewish insights (available free on the web) |
Private for-profit company | Private for-profit company | Private for-profit company | ... |
| Group Size | You’ll tour with an Latter-day Saint Authorized Israeli Guide regardless of group size (from 2 persons in a car and up) |
Tour operates with multiple busloads |
Tour operates with 25 people or more, tour cancels with less |
Tour operates with minimum number of participants, ‘Small Group Supplement’ is assessed when numbers drop below minimum amount |
... |
| Personal Earphones |
Daniel Rona pioneered personal headsets for touring Israel close to 40 years ago – Presentation includes exceptional music (batteries included!) |
No music; batteries cost extra | No music; batteries cost extra | No music; batteries cost extra | ... |
| Guide Microphone |
Up to 4 mics simultaneous; comfortable for guides presentations and your participation |
Only 1 mic per guide, (educator must interrupt and switch mics with the non Latter-day Saint guide for “air time” – awkward in keeping context) |
Only 1 mic per guide, (headliner must interrupt and switch mics with the non Latter-day Saint guide for “air time” - awkward in keeping context) |
Only 1 mic per guide, (lecturer must interrupt and switch mics with the non Latter-day Saint guide for “air time” - awkward in keeping context) |
... |
| Sabbath Days |
Full Sabbath worship with the Jerusalem Branch at the BYU Jerusalem Center – transfers provided (free afternoon at leisure) |
Sabbath Services cut short and squeezed into regular touring day |
Sabbath Services cut short and squeezed into regular touring day |
1st Sabbath a regular tour only, 2nd Sabbath services cut short and squeezed into regular touring day |
Approximately $20-$30 for each taxi to or from the BYU Jerusalem Center |
| Tour Days in Israel |
Choice of packages: Extra Grand Package (12 full days touring), Grand Package (9 full days touring) or Value Package (6 full days touring) all with ONLY Latter-day Saint Authorized Guides in Israel |
7 tour days (no day at leisure) | 7 tour days (no day at leisure) | 8 tour days (no day at leisure) | $750 per day for guide/driver (up to 10 hours/200 km - not including gratuities and entrance fees) |
| Lunches | All lunches included on full days touring (12/9/6 depending on package choice)-No additional expense |
Lunches are “on your own”, each person pays separately (interrupting at least 1-hour of touring every day) - Additional expense approximately $140 |
Lunches are “on your own”, each person pays separately (interrupting at least 1-hour of touring every day) - Additional expense approximately $140 |
Only 3 lunches provided, the rest are “on your own”, each pays separately (interrupting at least 1-hour of touring every day) - Additional expense approximately $100 |
$15-$25 per person per day |
| Breakfast & Dinner with Hotel Nights |
Extra Grand Package (14 breakfast and dinners with 14 nights) Grand Package (10 breakfast dinners with 10 nights) Value Package (7 breakfast and dinners with 7 nights) No additional expense |
7 Breakfasts and only 3 Dinners with 7 Nights Additional expense approximately $150 |
7 Breakfasts and Dinners with 7 Nights No additional expense |
8 Breakfasts and Dinners with 8 Nights No additional expense |
Approximately $10-$20 per person for breakfast and $40-$50 for dinner |
| Hotel Nights in Israel |
Choice of Package: Extra Grand Tours: 15 Hotel Nights Grand Tours: 11 Hotel Nights Value Tours: 8 Hotel Nights) Optional additional night on rare packages with touring scheduled on the last day touring before flight home |
7 hotel nights in Israel-No option for hotel after the last day of touring before departure to the airport (no way for one to freshen up before the long trip home) | 7 hotel nights in Israel-No option for hotel after the last day of touring before departure to the airport (no way for one to freshen up before the long trip home) | 8 hotel nights in Israel-No option for hotel after the last day of touring before departure to the airport (no way for one to freshen up before the long trip home) | Approximately $100-$200 per person in a double room depending on hotel comfort level and season (not including meals) |
| Hotel Room Comfort Levels |
Choice between Premium, Superior, or Moderate Comfort Room Levels | No choice of room comfort; accommodations equivalent to superior level | No choice of room comfort; accommodations equivalent to moderate level | No choice of room comfort; accommodations equivalent to moderate level | ... |
| Transferring Between Hotels |
Only 2 hotel locations (when starting in Jerusalem, going to the Glilee and returning to the same hotel in Jerusalem) there is no need to transport all your luggage throughout Israel | Multiple different hotel locations – need to transport all luggage throughout Israel | Multiple different hotel locations – need to transport all luggage throughout Israel | Multiple different hotel locations – need to transport all luggage throughout Israel | ... |
| Entrance Fees | All entrance fees included on days touring | Only entrance fees per itinerary included | Only entrance fees per itinerary included | Only entrance fees per itinerary included | Approximately $20-$40 per person per day |
| Dead Sea Float | Dead sea float included; towels provided | Must bring own towel for Dead Sea Float (not from hotel) or rent one at the beach | Must bring own towel for Dead Sea Float (not from hotel) or rent one at the beach | Must bring own towel for Dead Sea Float (not from hotel) or rent one at the beach | $25 per person for Dead Sea Beach and $10 per person for towel rental |
| Assisted Airport Arrival |
Any time you arrive into Tel-Aviv, on any arrival flight, you are met after passport control by SMILE Tourist Service (of the Israeli Incoming Tourism Organizers Office), assisted with luggage collection and escorted to transportation | Transfer to hotel only provided with group arrival; extra cost when not flying or arriving with the group | No group arrival flight - Given an arrival time in Tel-Aviv for arrival transfer - If arriving at another time, “flag” your own taxi to the hotel | Transfer to hotel only provided with group arrival; extra cost when not flying or arriving with the group | Approximately: $100-$150 taxi from airport to Jerusalem & $50-$75 taxi from airport to Tel-Aviv |
| Departure Transfer |
Transfer from Jerusalem to Tel-Aviv airport provided to match your flight (flexible to depart whenever you like) | Transfer to airport provided only with group departure | Transfer to airport provided only with group departure | Transfer to airport provided only with group departure | Approximately: $25 for shared shuttle service from Jerusalem to airport |
| Obligatory Gratuities |
All gratuities included for guides, drivers, touring/hotel staff, and bellboys in Israel | Gratuities for guide/driver not included (an “envelope” must be passed around) – Hotel-staff and bellboys must be tipped individually - Extra tips for LDS Educator is advised | $100 gratuities for guide/driver added to the published price before departure - Hotel-staff and bellboys must be tipped individually - Extra tips for LDS Headliner is advised | Gratuities for guide/driver included - Hotel-staff and bellboys must be tipped individually - Extra tips for LDS Director is advised | $20 per day for guide - $10 per day for driver - $5 for bellboy at hotel |
| Cash / Check Payment Discount |
Low published price for payment using US checks (processing fees only added for online payments) | Fee added to the published price when using credit card | Only $85 discount given with cash / check payment | Only $75 discount given with cash / check payment | Multiple charges from different vendors (no US checks-requiring cash only) or using credit card with foreign currency/transaction fees |
| Extras | ISRAEL REVEALED Gospel Doctrine Supplement Manual with LDS/Jewish insights written by Daniel Rona | $20 | |||
| Extras | ISRAEL REVEALED Memory Book; – with tour synopsis, journal space & scriptural references | $35 | |||
| Extras | Jerusalem by Night Spectacular - after dinner evening excursion culminating with a night sound & light show | Approximately $50 per person for taxis to/from and the performance |
