We are limiting the 2013 trip to only 38 people. The tentative dates are March 8-18, 2013. Are you in?  Or do you know of anyone who might be interested in going? We plan to have concrete information about the March 2013 trip on this website by the beginning of June, 2012. Email

 

2012 TRIP MEMORIES Exhilarating. Exhausting. Educational. 2012 group with Israeli guide, Raz Zabar (right), explaining the significance of King David's City ____________________________________________________ "The 2012 trip to Israel was conducted with a great deal of thought and planning that far exceeding my expectations. I am still baffled of how well this trip went. I am even getting “goose bumps” while I am typing this. With all the noise of the troubles Israel faces I never once felt unsafe or even thought that the planned locations of the trip put us in harm’s way.  For the price that I paid I received way more that it was worth. All of the sites were my favorite because they had their own story which was fascinating and breathtaking to me. I absolutely hated group trips before this one because of past experiences but knowing Joel, trusting his judgment and embracing his friendship I took the challenge and loved every moment of the trip and group that I was so honored to be with during this trip. Joel and Raz were/are AWESOME together and this synergy, coupled with the grace of God, is what made the trip so beautiful and honorable. I am so blessed and humbled to know God, Joel, Raz, and the group that I was so fortunate to spend time with. Thank you Joel Freeman from the bottom of my heart."  -- Marcus   2012 group with Meron Reuben (former Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations) after he had provided us with an fascinating overview of the challenges faced by the State of Israel ________________________________________________ "Thanks for a great trip. We really enjoyed being with your group. Everyone was really friendly and good to be with. We are home now and catching up on our naps.  Keep us tuned in to your future trips to Israel. Thanks again for your effort in making the trip worthwhile." -- Oscar 2012 group in a field of flowers, which will be desert within weeks _________________________________________________ "Thank you for the wonderful trip. Prior to going on the trip I did not know exactly what to expect. I suppose I thought it would be like other vacations we have taken to other parts of the world. It was not at all anything like any other trip I have taken. It was a surreal trip into all those Bible stories I learned as a child. It helped me to put them into a historical sequence instead of individual stories. I guess I loved Masada the best.  I can relate to a mother hiding her children. I loved floating in the Dead Sea and wished we had had an extra day there.  I loved seeing the River Jordan and participating in the Baptism. I was amazed to find out that the Sea of Galilee was really just a lake.  I guess I expected the Sea of Galilee to  be larger.  I loved being in the places where David hid and slew Goliath and lamented the death of Saul.  It was interesting to learn about Herod  and to find out that Jesus was really born in a cave. It has inspired me to be sure my Grandchildren learn all of these Bible stories as well.  I have told them  to include at least one Bible story to the bed time stories we read when they spend the night. All in all it was a wonderful experience and I love that we had great leaders we could count upon.  On your trip I felt I was able to sit where it made me comfortable and I could talk to whom I pleased and I could get to know people as I wished.  Thank you for picking Raz. He was great.  I would definitely recommend this trip to my friends.  It was the most unique vacation I have ever taken." -- Sue 2012 group on top of Masada -- Herod's ancient fortification near the Dead Sea. The black line indicates the original walls before the reconstruction of those walls. _________________________________________________ "We had a wonderful experience in Israel! We are so glad that our friends invited us to take this trip. Thank you for all you did to make this trip a success. Raz was great! We truly enjoyed meeting and interacting with him. We are enjoying reviewing all the photos we took (1,000+). I am annotating each one. It will take me several more days (weeks?) to get it all done, but worth the effort as I am happily re-living the trip while doing it." -- Jim and Rita 2012 group with the Mount of Olives in the background _________________________________________________ "Kudos for creating our superb Discovery Tour of Israel (Spring 2012)! Joel, thanks to your attention to detail and hands-on approach. Our Israel tour was a rare in-depth spiritual journey -- plus a comprehensive view of Israel's past, present and critical future. We didn't just visit Israel; we brought the meaning of the Holy Land home with us. Thanks again for the journey of a lifetime." -- Terry and Carolyn Joel & Shirley Freeman at En Gedi _________________________________________________ "The comments from the people who came on the 2012  trip let you know that this is a unique experience. We put a lot of thought into developing a trip that most of the other tour groups cannot and will not do. We welcome you to be a part of the 2013 trip (March 8-18). It's going to be an adventure. Contact  as soon as possible so that your spot on the trip will be secured for you. First come, first served. Every person who has been on this trip tells us that we should have charged more for the trip. But we are committed to keep the pricing as inexpensive as possible."    Email -- Joel and Shirley Off to another site! Vacant gazes and naps on the bus -- recuperating!

___________________________________________
2013 Trip Theme
The Three Kings: King Herod – King David – King Jesus
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Here is a tentative overview of the itinerary for this upcoming memorable trip to the Holy Land:

   Why do we require an up-front deposit? In order for us to get the flight and ground travel/hotel costs, we actually have to provide advance guarantee to US Airways that all of the seats will be purchased and to the hotels and bus company we must guarantee that all of the food, ground travel, park, museum, and hotel costs are going to be covered. This is a big responsibility.

   That's why we need an up-front deposit from each person, along with the payment schedule you will see below. The payment schedule is for your budgeting convenience. If you want to pay more at any time, you can do so and we will keep a record of all payments. We will place all of the funds for this trip in a separate account and will release funds when required to do so by the airlines, hotels and bus company.

1.  INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE TICKETS (2012):
   US Airways international airline tickets, PHIL/Tel Aviv/PHIL (exact flight itinerary is definitely subject to change). As an example, here were the flights for the 2012 trip:
   
   -- Departing from Philadelphia on US Airways flight #796 at 9:15pm on March 3, arriving in Tel Aviv on March 4th at 3:05pm (7 hours ahead of Philadelphia time + flight time)
   -- Returning from Tel Aviv on US Airways flight #797, departing March 12, 2012 at 10:40pm. Arriving in Philadelphia on March 13th at 5:20am.
   
   Each traveler is responsible to get to and from Philadelphia International Airport for the flights. We will supply a list of all travelers well in advance so that you can connect with other travelers in your region. Perhaps some will rent a van together and leave it at the Philadelphia airport in long-term parking (online payment for long-term parking at airports is always cheaper). Flight times are always subject to change.
   
   BAGGAGE: US Airways allows one free checked bag (up to 50 pounds...verify this for yourself prior to the trip) and one small carry-on. Please weigh your bag to make sure that it does not weigh over 50 pounds. You will be responsible for any cost charged by US Airways for excess weight or additional luggage.
    

2. PRICE:
   TO BE ANNOUNCED per person, covers R/T airfare via US Airways, ground travel by bus, hotels, and food (breakfast and supper)...including airline tax tax and fuel surcharges as of April 2011.  (Taxes and fuel surcharge are subject to change until tickets have been issued.). Make checks out to: The Freeman Institute, Box 305, Gambrills, MD 21054.
    

3. PAYMENT, GROUP SIZE & WEATHER CONDITIONS:

   A deposit of $500.00 per person is due ASAP. $100.00 of the deposit per person is a non-refundable administrative fee.  (Payment is to The Freeman Institute...by check or cash. If you want to pay with credit card, 3% will be added to cover processing fee.)

   
   We are keeping this trip to 38 traveler so that we can retain a more intimate family atmosphere. If you know of people who might be interested in traveling on this trip, please send them to this website. In the unlikely event of the number of passengers falling below 15 travelers, the airfare may increase, as group pricing will no longer apply.  Once ticketed, the flight ticket is non-refundable and non-changeable.
   
   GENERAL WEATHER DESCRIPTION: March is the nicest season of the year (Spring), with very comfortable weather. That's one of the main reasons we chose this time of year for our annual trips to the Holy Land. Temperature in Tel Aviv is usually between 61 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Jerusalem and the Golan Heights are approx. 5-6 degrees cooler, and The Dead Sea region is usually 5-6 degrees warmer. Modern, large-windowed air-conditioned/heated motor coaches -- designed for sight-seeing -- will be used for all ground travel in Israel.
   
   WHAT TO WEAR: Think layers. On some of the days you may want a long t-shirt and light jacket, while on other days a short sleeve T-shirt will do. So, bring a good range of generally light clothes, with comfortable walking shoes. There will be no need for any fancy clothes. The evening dinners will be in very nice open seating dining rooms, with an incredible choice of food to fill your own plate. Business casual wear is appropriate. You may want to pack a swimming suit for a hotel swimming pool or just in case the entire bus wants to stop and take a float/swim (weather permitting) in the Dead Sea! Remember that your checked suitcase needs to be under 50 pounds, so pack accordingly. Some airlines charge for an extra checked bag and/or an overweight bag.
    

4. PASSPORT:
   Photo copies of valid United States passports for all passengers must be received by November 15, 2012 for a ticket to be issued for that passenger. If you do not have a valid US passport, please start that process right away at your local Post Office. We will notify you of the best address to mail a photocopy of the first page -- in plenty of time to ship them all to the airline.
   IMPORTANT: The expiration date on any passport must be no earlier than September 2013.
   
   HEALTH REGULATIONS: No vaccinations are required. Water is safe to drink, but most people drink bottled water. You will always be reminded to bring bottled water when walking any distance.
    

5. PAYMENT SCHEDULE (for the 2013 Trip):
   -- ASAP: Deposit of $500 per person to guarantee your seat on the plane, checks can be made out to: The Freeman Institute, Box 305, Gambrills, MD 21054. ($100 per person is a non-refundable administrative fee for canceling...up to 90 days before departure.)
           -- Aug. 5th, 2012: You must have another amount of $000 per person.
         -- Nov. 5th, 2012 (130 days before trip): You must have another amount of $000 per person.
       -- Dec. 5th, 2012 (100 days before trip): You must have another amount of $0,000 per person.
     -- Jan. 23rd, 2013 (40 days prior to trip): You must have the final amount of $000 per person.
                               -- Total: $0,000.00 per person
   
   The payment schedule is designed to make it easier for travelers to better afford the trip. Knowing the payment schedule in advance, many can place the funds in an envelope every month so that there are no surprises when the payments are due.
   
   Two main elements make up this trip: 1. air travel 2. ground travel/hotel/food. You will see one unified price, but we have to address both aspects separately behind the scenes if anyone needs to cancel.
   
   IMPORTANT: In case of cancellations, the following penalties apply:
   
   CANCELLATIONS: In the event of cancellation from registration date to 90 days before departure, there is a $100 per person non-refundable administrative fee.
   Thereafter the following charges apply:
   * 89-50 days prior to departure the charge is 50% of total cost.
   * 49 days prior to departure the cancellation penalty of 100% of the total cost of the tour will be charged. No refunds whatsoever! Trip cancellation insurance is suggested.
   * No shows or cancellation after date of departure will receive no refunds.
   
   If cancellation is due to health or illness in the immediate family of the traveler, and can be supported by a Doctor's Certificate, this may be waived. Air travel cancellation insurance is recommended. While is is not required, if you can find a replacement for your seat(s) it would be much appreciated.
   
   ITINERARY CHANGES: Changes -- deviations from the main flight itinerary are not recommended. Why? We are required to have a certain number of travelers booked before the airlines will grant us the group discounted rate. Any deviations must be requested in writing via EMAIL. If you leave early or return individually and not with the group there is a $100 surcharge plus an additional airfare differential for the deviation. Group fares generally do not permit upgrades to first class. But sometimes they will open up for a limited number who wish to use their frequent flier miles. Any passengers wishing to upgrade may arrange their own airfare. An airline credit of $1,000 off the total cost of the trip will be given to those passengers who wish to make their own airline bookings. It is requested that they seek to make the arrangements as close as possible to the itinerary for this trip. Any additional ground travel arrangements and cost to catch up with the rest of the group or to leave early/later will be each traveler's responsibility.
    

6. NOT INCLUDED:
   Passport fees; phone calls; valet/laundry service; overweight or excess baggage on airplane; and all other items that are strictly personal in nature; flight insurance (highly recommended); any beverage (please note that the custom abroad is to include coffee or tea with breakfast only); it is an extra charge when served mineral water, sodas, wine or liquor; expenses within the USA or Canada; and tips.
      TIPS:  This is an important part of the trip. Tips are a tangible way of saying "thank you." We suggest that you bring $100 in $1 bills for tips throughout the trip. (Also, a minimum $100 tip per traveler for our registered Israeli guide, Raz Zabar, is customary. Raz works very hard before and during the trip to make it a stress-free experience for you. Plus, you will learn much from Raz and will feel honored to give him such a tip. View the tip guide below and plan ahead. The tip for Raz and the bus driver will be collected at the end of the trip.)
         Tipping Guide:
             Bus Driver: $5.00 per person per day
               Restaurant Wait Staff: $1.50 per person
                 Hotel Porter: 50 cents per bag per person
                   Hotel Room Maid: $1.00 per person per day
                     Any Additional Local Guides: $2.00 per person per day

   
   PASSENGER RESPONSIBILITY: The Freeman Institute, Joel Freeman, and Raz Zabar accept no responsibility or expense on any personal purchases made while overseas. Any personal purchases are the full responsibility of each passenger.
   
   MOBILE PHONE: It is important that we have one mobile phone for every 3-4 travelers. Sometimes we are shopping in a crowded market for a couple of hours, with a designated meeting time and place set up in advance. If someone gets lost or disoriented, it is always good to know that we can call their cell to help guide them back to the rest of the group. Call your cell provider to determine the best way to upgrade your current cell phone for this international trip. Please let us know if you are willing and able to bring your cell.
   
   SINGLE or DOUBLE OCCUPANCY (Hotel): If you are a person traveling alone on this trip, you need to realize that prices mentioned for this trip are based upon double occupancy hotel rooms. There is an extra charge for one person staying in a room. If you are traveling alone you may want to reach out to friends and family to see if there is someone you know who is willing and able to travel with you on this trip. That way you will be staying in a double occupancy room (covered by the basic cost of the trip) with someone you know.
    

7. TRIP INSURANCE OPTIONS:
   It's ultimately your choice. But we highly recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance, which should cover emergency evacuation, cancellation, delay, illness, loss of damage to personal belongings and luggage etc. You can purchase trip insurance at any time during the entire process prior to the trip, which will cover all costs (flight, hotels, ground travel, etc.). Here are two options for you to consider:
    

   • Travel Guard -- 800-826-4919
   • Access America -- 800-284-8300

    

8. CONTACT INFORMATION:
   Joel A. Freeman: 410-729-4011 / EMAIL -- The Freeman Institute, Box 305, Gambrills, MD 21054.

  NOTE: Before every trip I (Joel) always get calls from nervous travelers who have just seen images of a car/bus bombing or a fiery protest on CNN or Fox. I do not want to downplay any of these images or fears, but there always seem to be situations covered by the press prior to every trip. We will be going on this trip unless Raz (a military professional) or the US Department of State officially states that it is not safe for US Citizens to travel to Israel during this period.

  The last trip I took was preceded by terrible reports and fiery images on the TV. When our group arrived in Tel Aviv, there was complete safety and none of the people we met in Israel throughout the trip expressed a bit of concern. It's kind of like the way people from Europe express their concern about visiting Baltimore or DC because of the reports they have heard in their news about the crime and the murders in the region.

Safety and Security are Paramount: