I have been leading numerous study tours in various parts of the world with several travel agencies over the years of my long academic carrier. However, in the past ten plus years, I have conducted such programs exclusively with imagine Tours & Travel. I have found their services to be reliable and efficient, their prices competitive, and their client relationships to be courteous and diffident. As program leader, I feel confident in placing my groups in their competent, secure care and in being spared the concerns and vexations that often plague group travels abroad.
I recommend Imagine without reservation.
Dear potential Pilgrim to the Holy Land,
I cannot say enough about the trip of a life time to the Promise Land. I am a youth pastor who went on a familiarization trip to see for myself if Israel would be a trip suitable for high schooler''s. My biggest concern of bring high schooler''s wasn''t if the trip would make an impact in their faith, but if it would be safe enough. I have been in other parts of the world outside of the United States including Hungary, Slovakia, and Mexico. With that said, I felt completely safe the entire time and without any hesitation I would feel safe bring a group of high schooler''s.
Now having experienced Israel, it has impacted my faith and my understanding of the Bible even more. I enjoy reading it even more now because it comes to life in ways I could never teach. That is why I am so excited about the potential it will have in the lives and hearts of my students. This trip is a MUST if you are even just remotely thinking of going.
Diane and I had the trip of a lifetime to the Holy Land. Rick and his staff were wonderful- all our needs were addressed professionally and Rick and his father endeared themselves to everyone. Our guide could not have been more knowledgeable or sensitive to our needs and desires. The Land of Israel was truly a blessing. We were treated by everyone with courtesy and concern. We experienced nothing that suggested that our safety was in question. My deepest spiritual experiences were praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem and our boat excursion on the Sea of Galilee. We hated to leave and look forward to a return visit within the next year. Thank you Rick for the warm and meaningful spiritual journey into the Land of the Bible and in the footsteps of our Lord.
After experiencing the land of Israel with Rick Ricart and Imagine Tours, I understand why God has chosen this land for His people. It is truly the land flowing with milk and honey. If you want your fellowship or church to experience a new dimension and richness in the Word of God, then I highly recommend traveling with Imagine Tours. Safety!? It is unbelievably safe and they handle everything for you! All you have to do is relax, enjoy the trip and absorb everything God has in store for you.
With 50 years of experience, in-country connections, impeccable service, exceptional food, incredible people and tour guides…trust me; you will not be disappointed with Rick’s ministry to the Body of Christ. I can’t wait to travel with him again. Shalom!
For Jesus Always,
Having helped plan itineraries for marvellous "heritage tours" of England, Scotland, Ireland and Scandinavia, I know the personal attention Rick Ricart gives to every host pastor, and the unique destinations he works into almost every tour''s travel plan. His imagination -- and his flexibility -- are phenomenal, and guarantee an outstanding spiritual experience for every tour he organizes.
Rev. Dr. William R. Russell Retired Presbyterian Senior Pastor
"It was a pleasure to go with you to Israel & Jordan with you!" We are so grateful for the opportunity. Your experience and thoroughness in taking care of every detail came through again and again. The transportation, hotels and food were excellent. We can''t say enough about our tour guides either. We felt completely safe at all times and had no problems with the border crossings or checkpoints, even in some places that regularly get media attention. In fact, we saw for ourselves the way the US media misinterpreted events in the area that gave a false impression.
There''s no way to really predict just how much a trip like this will change your life. The way we look at the Scriptures is different now. Things we imagined or researched in reference books now come alive in our minds. We are so very glad we went.
Thanks for giving us the opportunity to travel with Imagine Tours & Travel. It was an unbelievable experience that we''ll remember for the rest of our lives.
WOW! What a fantastic trip! I want to take this opportunity to thank you and your excellent team at Imagine Tours & Travel for hosting the April 2005 "Walk in the footsteps of Jesus and Moses Tour" to Jordan and the Holy Land. I am most delighted and blessed that I will co-host my own Holy Land and Greece tour with Imagine Tours & Travel in February 2006.
Rick, with your professional leadership always actively involved and your personal friendship enormously compatible and helpful, I can say that I am delighted to work side-by-side with you in all future group tours. Please express my gratitude to your team for their excellent communications, professional print materials, and your guidance into planning and hosting our next tour. You have made my work an easy task.
Again, thanks for all you do to make me look good with my travel tour group. Please give special greetings to Senior Ricardo Ricart.
Sincerely Yours,
Dear Rick,
Having just returned from our fourth trip to the Holy Land, I wanted to tell you that this was the best experience we have ever had. You and Imagine Tours did a wonderful job of taking care of all our needs. You are a joy to work with, and your company really knows how to take care of pastors and their people. The food, hotels, guide, and trip schedule was perfect for our needs. Some of our people were concerned about the safety issues of traveling in Israel, but never once did we feel unsafe. As a matter of fact many in our group commented that they felt safer in Israel than they did in Oklahoma City. I am planning to bring another group next year!
Several of my pastor friends bring groups to Israel. In talking to them about the price, service, and personal touch offered to them by their travel companies, none of them could match what Imagine Tours offered our group. Not only do you represent a great company, but your personal attention to our needs went above and beyond the normal call of duty. Thanks for being my friend and for helping our people experience a trip of a life-time. Already my people are telling me that the Bible has come alive in a way like it has never done before. The impact spiritually of walking where Jesus walked cannot be described. Visiting the Garden of Gethsemane and the Garden Tomb were two of the most moving experiences I have ever had in 35 years of ministry. Thanks.
We are home safely and trying to play catch up. It was a treat to see you in Israel and to meet your family during the Thanksgiving Festivities. I wanted to thank you for helping us enjoy a wonderful trip to the Holy Land. Everything was so nice and well organized. Your pre-trip work was very evident once we arrived in Israel. You made it very easy for me, a first time tour host, to lead the group and look good.
Thanks again for all you did to make our trip a memorable experience. I already look forward to the next trip with Imagine Tours.
Dear Rick:
My name is Shan Caldwell and I am on staff at Indian Creek Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. Prior to my work at Indian Creek I worked with Cincinnati Christian University for 12 years. In both positions I have used the services of Rick Ricart and Imagine Travel. I had used other tour providers before I used Rick''s services, and I actually planned two trips with other providers since I started using Rick, but I have always returned. Rick Ricart provides the most consistent and positive tour services that I have been able to find.
I have never purchased an "off the rack" tour, as all of the tours I have led have been custom built to fit the needs of either church groups or groups of college students I have led. These tours have always surpassed what we expected in every way. I cannot recommend his services highly enough, and I am looking forward to my next trip to the lands of the Bible in just a few months with Imagine Travel. You won''t regret it.
Sincerely,
Attn: Mr. Rick Ricart, President and CEO, Imagine Tours and Travel, Inc.
We would not have traveled to the Holy Land June 5, 2005 without your assurance that we would be safe. Your having visited Israel twice during 2005 helped us know you had the experience and information we needed for a successful trip. Your guidance enabled us to enlist 42 people from our church for our pilgrimage.
Rick, this was the most organized and best coordinated itinerary of the five trips I have made to Israel. You carefully chose one of Israel''s best guides for our group and booked outstanding hotels throughout our travel.
The land transportation, the food, the flight connections and the inspirational experiences exceeded our expectations. Every member of our group expressed superlative words with heartfelt appreciation for every day we had in the land of the bible. They did complain about the vigorous schedule, but they said they would not have changed one hour of the trip. They even complimented you on the total cost of our trip believing it was an excellent value for the first class services we received.
I would like to offer my recommendation to anyone who is considering a trip to Israel. You and your company surpass the services of other travel companies I have used. You have always delivered even more than what you promised. I could not be more pleased with your personal attention to every detail of our trip. I look forward to traveling with Imagine Tours and Travel in the future.
Yours most sincerely,
Dear Rick:
Here are a few remarks pertaining to my recent experience:
My trip to Greece, retracing the footsteps of St. Paul, was more than I expected. Around every turn in the road, there lay eye catching vistas--soaring mountains, luscious valleys, marvelous seascapes. Of course, the endless islands would capture the fancy of any dreamer! But what made the trip memorable were the Greek people: cheerful, hospitable, fun-loving, unpredictable and full of contagious enthusiasm. Our tour guide and bus driver epitomized the people!
I have preached on the Apostle Paul''s Missionary journeys for years, but now after seeing Mars Hill, the Bema in Corinth, the jail in Philippi and the stream where Lydia was baptized with my own eyes, the texts have come alive. The digital photos and life changing experiences with keep the memories fresh and real!
Thanks for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime!
Dear Rick,
I was most impressed by my recent "In The Footsteps of Paul", tour to Greece. The tour was very well done and the driver and guide were professional. The ability to see and be in the actual places, in the midst of the ruins, was awe inspiring. In all of my jaunts through Athens and elsewhere I never had any concern for safety nor did anyone give me cause to be concerned. It was a fascinating trip which I''m going to be recommending to others and hope soon to be able to lead another tour group.
Imagine tours delivered on what was promised.
Dear Rick,
I cannot thank you and your staff enough for an absolutely incredible trip. I had very high expectations going into the trip. I never expected you and your team to surpass my expectations to this degree. Not only was every detail covered, but you went the extra mile in every way.
The tour bus was top notch! The hotels were better than most hotels I use here in the States. And the food - who would have guessed that I would gain weight on the trip? But you really shined on the most important thing, experiencing Israel. This was not merely a trip to Israel, it was a spiritual pilgrimage. Your tour guide led me to a much deeper understanding of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. He made it fun, but at the same time was very sensitive to the needs of our group. We did not just see Israel; we worshipped the God of the Old and New Testament.
So thank you for making our trip better than I could have ever done on my own. You redefined customer service. This truly is a custom-built experience.
God bless,
First of all I want to thank you for your great hospitality while I was in Israel and secondly let you know that I think your operation is first class. It is not just a business to you but it is where your heart is; and that can only be known by your spirit bearing witness with mine. The trip was an excellent experience and the food and the hotels were better than I expected. This was my first trip to Israel and I left the states with some fear but was quick to find that my fears were unfounded. I felt safer in Israel than I do in St Louis. All of the details were as I had been told and I was very satisfied with the way things were handled.
The trip has inspired me to read more of the Bible especially where it concerns places that I have actually visited for myself. When a particular location is mentioned I can see in my minds eye where the event took place, which instantly brings it alive as never before. I also learned many things that I would have never learned without having been there. Our guide was a walking book of knowledge and he not only answered our questions but also became a good friend. I also want to mention that our bus driver was simply amazing with his driving skills.
I have told everyone since I have been back that it was a trip of a lifetime, and that my only regret was that I waited so long to go and that we are planning to go again.
Sincerely,
Even the most spiritually moving location can be made more enjoyable with the right services and accommodations. With imagine Tours & Travel, there''s no worry about the quality of guides, lodging or food. You''ll stay only in approved quality hotels, featuring world-class cuisine and local delicacies. Here''s what some of our recent travelers have had to say:
Our trip to Israel this fall was another great success! From our flights, to our accommodations, to the sites we visited, to our bus driver and guide - not to mention the savory food - everything was outstanding. Our group''s safety and security were never a concern, as we enjoyed our spiritual pilgrimage to the land of Israel. Once again, the Imagine Travel team handled our arrangements with skill and personal service. We were blessed beyond measure.
"A Good and Perfect Gift" I went to Israel wanting to see the land where Jesus walked but He gave me more than that; He met me there and opened my eyes to Him in a new way. He was interwoven in everything we did. Nothing that happened was a coincidence; instead, as James 1:17 says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." We had an amazing time of fellowship, worship, teaching and prayer. It was awesome to watch the Lord visibly work in each life and mesh our group together in Him.
For those concerned about safety in Israel & Jordan, We recently returned from leading a large group to the Holy Land on September 19, 2005 and our group never felt unsafe or experience any problems whatsoever. I felt completely safe at all times. This was one of the best overall trip experiences I''ve had in my many years of leading groups. Thank you for all you and the Imagine Tours & Travel Team did on our groups behalf.
This is my formal letter to you to thank you for all you and your staff did to help make our trip happen and for all the assistance in making it such a super, fabulous trip with all that you had to do with the millions of details involved for our program. You have won my heart, loyalty and trust and I look forward to our days of working together on our program for next year this and I count you a dear friend.
Sincerely,
Our trip to Israel and Jordan was even better than we imagined. My wife and I had high hopes of experiencing the biblical lands and deepening our understanding of the scriptures. We certainly accomplished those goals, and even more. It was a special blessing to not only meet local people, but also to hear so many languages from around the world. Indeed, there was an amazing mix of pilgrims from around the world.
Tour buses and hotels were teeming with people; the holy places were inspirational; the tour guides were informative; the accommodations were wonderful, and we traveled in total safety and comfort. Yes, our trip was more than we imagined, and we have memories to last a lifetime.
Please don''t be cheated out of a wonderful experience that will enhance your ministry. I will continue to go to Israel because I believe it is a ministry in which I can show other people this wonderful land of the Bible. I certainly believe in God''s protection in such a worthy endeavor. We have always had wonderful guides and excellent facilities. I started going to Israel in 1964 with wholesale tours out of New York. They went out of business after several years in going with their company.
I later met Richard Ricart and his father and have gone with them ever since. They are the most accommodating people that I have ever had the privilege of knowing. They have always gone "above and beyond the call of duty" to make me and my groups happy and comfortable on ever trip. I can honestly say that I have never ran into any problems with their company.
I wish to recommend Imagine Tours and Travel without any reservation for your future travel needs.
Shalom Rick,
Our recent trip to Israel brought the Bible to life for me. Particularly the Kfar Kedem - Shepherd''s farm biblical tour experience. I am eagerly awaiting our trip back to Israel next year. Your team did a wonderful job. The trip was thoughtful and well organized. At no time did I feel in danger. It is for this reason that I will bring the person I love most (my wife of 30 years) with me on the next visit.
Sincerely,
Having studied and taught the bible for years, there has been, in some ways, a missing piece of the puzzle. Reference materials, geographical maps, study aids all provide essential information in understanding the land of the bible. But none of these compare to having personally walked the land that Jesus and His disciples walked. The scriptures for me have taken on a new dimension, a third dimension. I can now literally see the pools of Bethesda were Jesus healed a crippled man, I can see the steps up to the temple in Jerusalem where Jesus walked, I understand the merchants and the by-standers who observed Him carrying His cross while they bought and sold their wares. It was a fascinating trip that made the bible three dimensional and added that piece of the puzzle. My understanding of the bible will never be the same. And Imagine Tours made it all happen.
One of the questions asked of me before and after the trip has been, ''is it safe to travel in Israel?'' I must say, I felt safer walking the streets of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv than I do walking the streets of some of our cities in the U.S. I was impressed with the Israeli police and military and never once felt threatened. This was a trip of a lifetime and I want to thank Rick Ricart and the Imagine staff. They have been extremely helpful and accomodating, their experience and contacts in Israel made the trip that much more memorable and I whole heartedly recommend them to coordinate your trip to the Holy Land.
In fact, we''ve already started planning our church trip for the future.
Sincerely,
Rick Ricart has helped me with our church overseas study programs since 1993. I have always found Rick and his organization to be unbeatable in experience, service, price and dependability. The courtesy and response from him and his staff has been great. I can always depend on Imagine Tours & Travel and recommend them to everyone.
"Our trip to Israel was more than I ever dreamed it could be! With all of the unsettledness in the world, Our group felt completely safe at all times. Our trip to Israel made God''s word come alive. The places we''ve always read about became so real during our trip to Israel.
I would like to thank Imagine Tours & Travel and the President Rick Ricart for making our trip to the Holy Land an affordable, safe, trip of a life time!
We look forward to going back soon."
Blessings on you and your business.
Our trip to Israel and Jordan was more that Miriam and I had imagined or hoped for! The blessings we received as we traveled with Imagine Tours last April was a wonderful experience, and not only for us but also for the 25 who traveled with us. The hotels were great, the food was wonderful and abundant, and our guides weren''t only a blessing but they became our friends! We particularly enjoyed our stay at the Olive Tree Hotel near the Old City in Jerusalem!
Safety wasn''t even an issue for our group, and we journeyed through the West Bank towns of Bethlehem and Jericho with no concerns. Our guide and driver were always looking out for "trouble spots"- but found none! Our folks couldn''t wait to tell their friends "back home" how they had no reason not to go along next time!
We''re already looking forward to our next tour, and others are asking "when & where to next"so they can make plans and tell their friends! We''re convinced to only travel with Imagine Tours from now on! We''re also going to use them to book our church''s mission trips to both Africa and Central America.
Dear Rick,
To say that our trip to Israel & Egypt went smooth is an understatement! We had a great time! It was a truly a rewarding experience and we will be back! I’ll get back to you with more details soon. Still getting caught up (and now under the weather this week, too). Have a great weekend. Thanks for everything you and imagine Tours & Travel did on behalf of our group, it was nothing short of amazing!
Dear Rick,
Our pilgrimage to the Holy Land was a blessing. We did not know each other when we began, but by the time we returned, we were close in faith and in spirit. I am happy to recommend Rick Ricart and Imagine Tours and Travel and their services without question.
They were easy to work with and arranged the guides, drivers, hotels, flights, and daily Mass, accommodating them to our needs so that we could make the most of the trip. We had an incredible trip, all went as planned without a hitch…Thank you!
Dear Rick,
I had another excellent experience working with you and your company on my recent trip to Greece, the Greek Isles and Rome. The people traveling with me also were pleased with their discovery of new sights, sounds and tastes along with the lasting impressions made by the biblical and historical places of interest. There was ample evidence of the communication between your home office and the hosts and guides who worked with us in Greece and Italy.
Thanks for helping design and execute another “once in a lifetime” experience for me and fellow travelers.
Dear Prospective Tour Leader:
Imagine Travel and Tours is a must for you to explore if you are interested in a tour or in hosting a tour. I have known and worked with Rick Ricart, the President, for nine years plus year. I have had many tours with him mainly to the Holy Land, Greece, Turkey, Italy, Germany, Austria & Switzerland.
My experience with him is that he has been most helpful in planning my tours. I have found him to be honest, informative, and quick to answer my needs. He indeed has a pleasant, robust and positive personality. He has charisma. He knows the travel business and has been able to obtain for me good prices plus Christian and knowledgeable guides for my tours. Rick is a Christian, a family man, and is of the highest caliber. I wholeheartedly, without reservation, recommend imagine Travel and Tours for any of your travel needs.
Dear Rick,
We just returned from the best tour of Israel we have had yet! The twelve day tour gave us over 50 sites to visit including Shiloh and an afternoon of leisure at the Hod Resort on the Dead Sea. The pace was ideal.
We had several of our guests who were somewhat concerned about safety and security in Israel before we left. One of them had already divided up his toys between his three sons should he not return. He told me after he had been there three days he Emailed home telling them not to expect to receive his toys. He reported everything peaceful. On our return I asked him if he ever even once felt uncomfortable or at risk. He answered “never.” I might add that we traveled to Shiloh, an area that some avoid. We also walked most every evening in Jerusalem's Old City, and never felt anything but friendliness from everyone we encountered.
That you for being so prompt in answering our every question and concern as we prepared for our journey. The accommodations, guide, driver, and organization you provided were more than excellent. Thank you again for your attention to detail.
My co-host sent a message to me today saying that he already has half a bus full for our next tour. We will certainly be traveling with you again.
Blessings to all of you at Imagine Tours & Travel.
Dear Rick & Imagine Tours & Travel Team:
Where do I start? How can I begin? Our group from New Life Tabernacle in Beaumont, Texas, had a great trip in March, 2006. As a matter of fact, none of us will ever be the same. Not only do you see it, you live it! We had a group of 18 that traveled with our tour. Our pastor, Rev. L. Charles Treadway, had to cancel 2 days prior because of a medical report of cancer. Our hearts were broken, and we all even had doubts that we could enjoy the trip. However, Pastor Treadway encouraged us all to continue on with our trip and enjoy. We took him at his word!
Our accommodations', rooms, food and bus touring was without flaw! We were just a small part of a large group of tourist in the Holy Land, but we were convinced we had the greatest bus driver, Addie and tour guide, Mr. Israel Cantor, of all tours. As a matter of fact, there was a bonding with these two that when we had to separate, there was a lot of sadness and tears. They worked so well together and gave us a first class tour. It was a pleasure to sit down with them at the evening meals and fellowship. We were so fortunate that our tour guide, Israel, was very knowledgeable and lived his knowledge through every presentation. There were several ministers on our tours, and his expertise really opened the Bible up to them.
There was a lot of excitement when we walked paths that Jesus Christ walked. There were sighs of awe and yet tender moments of reverence as we traveled from place to place. It was also wonderful that we could express ourselves the way we wanted to based on our own beliefs. We were given much freedom to allow our ministers to make comments, sing a hymn or whatever we wanted as granted to us by Israel, our guide. I guess some of the highlights for our tour was in the Upper Room and at the Garden Tomb. The Upper Room was the very beginnings for our church as this is where the Holy Ghost fell and the church was born. Once again, the Holy Ghost fell and we all received a new birth experience in worship and praise. Many other groups were also in the room, and they stood back with amazement and joy as we worshipped and as time passed, some of them joined us in worship.
Then a beautiful hush fell over all of us as we one by one entered into the empty tomb. We all knew it was empty, but it was wonderful to see it for ourselves and know that He truly lives! Our communion service was awesome as the presence of the Lord hovered over us all. Yes, and there were times that our eyes were wide open with wonder as we saw how the people of Israel really lived. Under the protection of machine gunmen walking the streets and guarding the places that are sacred both to them and to the public. They were all very friendly and several of us had our pictures made with them to show they were there for our protection and were happy to be of service to tourists.
Well, I could go day by day, moment by moment, but I must be kind and give others opportunity to share their experiences. I would just like to finish by challenging anyone who has pondered and wished they could make a Holy Land Tour, DO IT!! You never regret what you do nearly as much as what you don't do! Do yourself a favor, make an Imagine Tours and Travel tour to the Holy Land. They will give you the finest trip you can possibly hope for. Thanks to Rick, Christina and all those that worked so diligent to make our tour a TRULY HUGH SUCCESS AND MEMORABLE ONE!
Dear Imagine Tours & Travel:
Our recent (June, '06) tour of Israel and Egypt far exceeded our expectations! We even visited Palestinian-controlled places such as Jericho and Bethlehem and had nothing but excellent experiences. Checkpoints were courteous and quick. Our guides spoke excellent English, and their knowledge of history, culture, and the Bible, combined with engaging personalities, kept us fascinated throughout the days. Imagine Tours knows the great guides! Our excellent hotels, right on the Sea of Galilee, near Jerusalem's Old City, and when we visited Egypt on the Nile, had all the amenities one could want. We ate like kings and queens at buffet breakfasts and dinners, and we enjoyed Middle Eastern lunches at small family-run places or at a kibbutz each day. Our Lakewood, Colorado church, is already planning a 2007 return trip. Thanks, Rick and Imagine Tours, for making this trip an over-the-top success!
Dear Rick & Imagine Staff:
Imagine Tours & Travel did an excellent job in making all of the arrangements for our Greece & Italy tour. We were very satisfied with
our flights, lodging, tour guides and meals. We look forward to our next trip with your company.
Dear Rick & Imagine Tours & Travel Staff:
First let me thank you for all you did to make our recent Holy Land tour so complete. I cannot thank you enough. We enjoyed all of the outstanding spiritual moments and visited all of the significant sites. But, I wish to write you in regards to another aspect of our journey.
It seems that the most asked question while we were in the recruiting stage of the trip was, “Is it safe over there?” I just wanted to send you a few pictures taken by our group while in Israel. At one of our stops, I asked an Israeli lady soldier if I could have a picture taken with her. She smiled and said, “Of course.” Then our group started to ask various soldiers at various locations to have picture taken with them. Always, unless they were on guard duty, the answer was, “Yes.” When we arrived in Bethlehem, the people and the soldiers repeatedly welcomed us and thanked us for coming. We know this area to be totally Palestinian. You will even see pictures of a couple of our young ladies with a Palestinian soldier as well as a picture of me with a Palestinian soldier.
When we arrived for our first night in Jerusalem, we arrived at the end of the day of touring. After our wonderful supper at the hotel, I asked our group if anyone wanted to go to the Western Wall. It was after 8 P.M. and dark. We had been in Israel for three days at this point. They felt safe. The walk was about 15 minutes to the Damascus Gate. Then we walked through the little streets right up to the wall. This was the Jewish Sabbath and the area was full of our Jewish friends worshipping. I asked a Hasidic Jew if he would speak with us about the experience. He started to tell us about what was going on in each area and then his father walked up. His father was a Rabi. He was delightful and full of knowledge. It was over an hour that we stood in awe right in front of the Western Wall late into the evening soaking up a true blessing. The experience was one of the highlights of our trip. Upon arriving back at the hotel, many of our people went to the phone to call home and tell family and friends just how safe the trip had been and how excited they were to be in Israel.
While at the Jordan River baptizing eleven of our people, a sweet college girl saw us and asked if we would baptize her. I asked if she was a Christian she said, “Yes.” She said she was there alone. I asked if she had been baptized before. She said, “As a baby, but now she wanted to be baptized as a Christian for the world to see.” This was another highlight of a great trip.
As you know, I have led several trips to Israel before this trip. They have all been safe and inspiring. Now I want to plan our next trip to Israel and already have a number who want to go to Greece, Turkey and Patmos for the “Foot Steps of Paul."
I had a group of seventeen people from the ages of 26 to 91. The amazing thing to me is we all came home with the same impression. The media has given the world a narrow view of Israel. Yes, there are radicals everywhere, even in my backyard. I’m ready to go again tomorrow and several who went with me this time want to go again.
Thanks again and blessings on you and your team.
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In October 2006, I led a tour of church-people to Athens, Delphi, and the Greek sites of St. Paul.
We had a totally wonderful experience!
Imagine Tours gave fullest attention to our special requests, and their people in Greece were marvelously attentive and cooperative. My travelers were bowled over, by the knowledge of our guide, by the quality of our hotel accommodations, and by the meals.
I couldn't imagine a better firm to deal with.
Dear Rick & Amy,
It's good to be back home, but we come home with a lot of fond memories and wonderful experiences. The trip was excellent and everyone that went really enjoyed it and were glad they had the opportunity to go. The trip was everything I thought it would be, having been there myself I knew what to expect more or less. But I did have a chance to see some things I didn't the first time. And for everyone else who was there for the first time, the trip was very impacting for them to now understand what God has done through the land and what He continues to do today.
Our tour guides were great. We really enjoyed them, they were very helpful, knowledgeable and very personable. I was very impressed with them.
The hotels we stayed at were great; food was excellent. Everyone wanted a couple of more nights of pampering at the Hod hotel by the Dead Sea.
Royal Jordanian airlines was fine and uneventful! It allowed us to include Jordan and this benefited the group.
All in all the trip was excellent, it was a blessing being able to be there. I know that everyone who went from our church really enjoyed it.
Your staff did a good job in preparing me for the trip. You were very thorough with the info and it helped me a lot.
As for the safety of traveling in Israel and Jordan it was a non issue. Nobody felt at all unsafe or at risk. It was a pleasant experience from beginning to end. I look forward to taking another group there in the future (Lord willing).
Thanks again Rick for everything - you guys did a great job and I look forward to working with you again someday.
God Bless!
Being my first trip to the Middle East, and since I was taking my entire family including my 11 year old daughter, I was concerned.
Once on the ground, we all felt very safe. You could sense that the nationals wanted us there and wanted our business. We still practiced safe travel tactics like sticking to a travel buddy, asking the guide about what’s safe and what’s not, exercising vigilance for pick pockets. All which are good habits for wherever you travel and primarily served to comfort Dad.
I would return without hesitation! Our flights on Royal Jordanian Airlines were great! Our guide in Israel was exceptional and our guide in Jordan was also very good. Having three pastors travel together was a great advantage to the group and made the trip more enjoyable. I'm ready to start the process for our next trip in 2008.
Our overall thoughts for the trip was -- it was a blast! Thank you again for the good service and a great trip!
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