The advantages of a tour-type trip

For some time now, Israel had been calling to me. Air Transat posters in the bus shelter advertised a direct flight to Tel Aviv, while spring rain poured down on Montreal. When Voyages à Rabais (Different Travel) told me about this extraordinary opportunity, I jumped at the chance, eyes closed and smile plastered on my face. This trip offered two new experiences: my first time in the Middle East, and my first time on an organized tour. Everything was already planned: plane tickets, hotel rooms, transportation throughout the country. For a German like me, it was almost a challenge to be chauffeured around without getting too exhausted. And you know what? It seems I didn't mind it at all…

Here are three good reasons to be tempted by a road trip adventure:

Ben, our two-legged encyclopedia

1. The guide's historical knowledge

No one knows a country's history better than a trained and certified local guide. How lucky! I stumbled upon a history enthusiast who, between university lectures, enjoys leading tours for tourists on his cherished research sites. Because, let's be honest, what's the point of visiting ruins if not to learn about their origins? Furthermore, in a country like Israel, you can't ignore the religious aspect. Here, Jewish, Muslim, and Christian communities live side-by-side on every street corner. Our various guides remained neutral and, on the contrary, celebrated the diversity of beliefs found in the region.

The guide will spend hours—no joke, hours—chatting away at you about culture, landscapes, wildlife, flora, love, and fresh water. He'll joke about stereotypes, debunk falsehoods, trip you up before you put your foot in your mouth, and teach you local etiquette like a doting parent. In short, he's a pleasant know-it-all .

2. Security

The Israel I visited was nothing like the one portrayed in the press. It struck me as a safe country, and at no point did I feel unsafe, on either side of the Great Wall of Shame . Nevertheless, Israel, like other destinations, has some invisible borders that are strongly discouraged from being crossed.

If there were an official Ministry of Absentmindedness , I would certainly be the elected minister. Do you feel like you could be a member of parliament for my district, given your knack for getting lost? Fear not: on a tour, you're no longer at risk. The guide counts and recounts, making sure to include all his visitors, whom he now considers friends. Let's say you get engrossed in a deep geopolitical discussion with a carpet merchant—totally my type—and inadvertently lose the group. The guide will certainly find you again, even if you end up playing cards with said merchant in the grand souk , sipping the tea he offered you—again, my type.

The Dead Sea

3. The efficiency of the days and accessibility to attractions

Visiting a country in seven days doesn't leave much time to stroll and enjoy a large Americano between tourist attractions. A tour guarantees you'll see everything you planned, and in an almost unreal timeframe. So, no sleeping in! Quickly hop in the car and head to Bethlehem to kneel before the birthplace of Jesus. Cross the border between Palestine and Israel. Then, visit the Western Wall to place your heartfelt wishes among the stones. Sleep. Have lunch. Then, set off again for the vast desert and learn the unique history of Mount Masada. Finally, float in the Dead Sea and take years off your skin with a mud bath. All this in just two days. What's more, there's no need to worry about queues when you arrive at the most popular attractions. No need to haggle to avoid the inevitable 'tourist taxes'. Believe me, a tour-type trip is a schedule that your planner won't believe its own eyes.

In short, this 7-night tour, with four days of sightseeing and two free days, allowed me to admire not only the country's greatest attractions in no time, but also to connect with locals during the two free days. I was incredibly surprised at how everything was prepared, like a meal cooked by your beloved mother. All that was left to do was smile, appreciate, and learn to say thank you in Hebrew. Thank goodness, isn't it?

Toda!

The Wailing Wall.