In one simple word to describe our trip…AMAZING!!! My son Michael and I recently returned from our trip to Israel and it was spectacular. We opted for the 12 Day Jewish Heritage Tour and our expectations were met exponentially. It was my first visit to the Promised Land…a life long dream that I was finally able to experience and it was certainly worth the wait. My son was fortunate to visit Israel five years ago through Birthright and was eager to return. So for me to make this trip with my son was priceless. We were extremely fortunate and lucky to have Meni as our tour guide. He was simply…THE BEST!! His knowledge of everything Israel is unmatched. He was so receptive to the needs and aspirations of the group and he would go out of his way to share his wealth of Israeli history and facts with us. His insight into Israel, its people, its government, the land all contributed to a wonderful experience for my son and I. I highly recommend for anyone touring Israel to specifically request Meni as their tour guide. You will not be disappointed. My only regret was not visiting Eilat. But perhaps if I return someday I will see Eilat. Shalom Stark and Shalom Tours were incredibly helpful and responsive for any questions or concerns I had during the planning stages of our trip. Any issues we had were answered promptly and to our complete satisfaction. His professionalism was awesome.

THERE ARE NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE HOW WONDERFUL MY TRIP WAS THANKS TO SHALOM. I would rate his company with 10 stars if I could! It was the most wonderful trip of my lifetime. I spent 6 months or more planning this trip and Shalom was incredibly attentive and responsive. I honestly think he must have answered hundreds of email questions from me as well as spoke to me on the phone several times. I searched for many many different travel companies to plan my trip and his company was literally the only one that I got response from. He was able to give me sage advise on how to plan my trip and to come up with a meld of touring and down time. I was traveling with my 6 year old, my 8 year old, my wife and my 80 year old mother-in-law and Shalom was able to craft my trip in a perfect way. He booked my VIP entrance in Israel, my hotels in Tel Aviv, the southern Galilee and in Jerusalem, my rental car, Tower of David light show, two days of a private tour guide in Jerusalem, my Dead Sea/Mosada Group tour, and my exit. Any email question that i ever asked him, no matter how mundane, was attended to with exquisite detail. He even gave me his personal cell phone number to use in Israel in case of emergency. His website is absolutely incredible. I was able to find the Shabbat for a Lifetime program on his website which allowed me to experience a truly special Shabbat experience at the Kotel and a Shabbat dinner at a host’s home in Jerusalem. STOP YOUR SEARCH FOR TOUR COMPANIES NOW AND CALL SHALOM STARK IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE RECOMMENDED HIM TO ALL MY FRIENDS AT MY TEMPLE. YOU WILL HAVE THE TRIP OF YOUR LIFE TIME.

We selected Shalom Israel tours on the high recommendations from members of our community who toured with Shalom Tours as a group last year. Our 13 days were as wonderful as it could be. Our driver/guide was exceptionally knowledgeable and he coalesced our group of strangers into a family of travelers, beyond expectations. We gained much insight beyond your typical tour. My wife and I, in our 70′s, were the eldest of the group, and when were unable to take on one of the challenges offered the younger adults, accommodation was made so that we could participate in everything. Aside from overeating, everything on this tour was perfection. We could not have asked for more.

My wife & I are both in our seventies booked the Jewish Heritage tour offered by Shalom.From our arrival to our departure 12 days later Shalom tours made our trip enjoyable and stress free. The tour guides were highly qualified and the tour itinerary covered everything that we had dreamed of visiting. The choice of hotels was excellent and we did not have any difficulty in finding vegetarian food. This is a very professional tour company which anticipates every customer need. On the whole an enjoyable hassle free magical experience, thanks to Mr Shalom Stark & Shalom Tours.

I wish I could give Shalom Israel Tours 10 stars. Our trip was somewhat last minute so we did not have much time to plan. Shalom Stark provided superior service and made everything so easy for us. The hotels and tours were first class. We did a combination of group and private tours, and the drivers and tour guides were outstanding. Shalom truly made our trip one of the most memorable ever. We are already planning our next trip to Israel with Shalom Israel Tours!

We had a magical experience. Shimon, our guide, was encyclopedic, energetic and an overall joy. He could simultaneously captivate the adults and children alike. Shalom runs a classy operation from A to Z. The best part, as others have noted, is his incredible flexibility. We changed plans back and forth countless times and he was able to cheerfully accommodate us at every turn. Shalom’s operation is amazingly computerized, allowing everything to occur instantaneously at the click of a button. We will be back for sure!

Shalom Israel Tours came highly recommended by several people who have used their services repeatedly. We were not disappointed! Our Bnai Mitzvot family tour of Israel was the trip of a lifetime for all 12 of us ( ages 70 to 9). From our landing in Israel everything was perfection from our accommodations, tours, schedules,appropriate activities for all ages, drivers and especially our marvelous guide, Yonni, who was knowledgable, professional and extra helpful with my physical limitations.

Our family of ten from age 73 to 13 used Shalom Israel Tour as part of an Israel Bar Mitzvah celebration. We booked the 12 day package. Shalom Stark of Shalom Israel Tour was excellent, kept us informed, and made sure everything flowed perfectly from our group pickup at the Airport to our final drop off. If you can, ask for Eli as tour guide (knowledgeable, accommodating, humorous and knows everyone). This trip highlights most of the significant Jewish Heritage sites. There is sufficient free time to go back and explore an area of interest. My wife and I returned to the Israel museum for five hours on a free day. Outstanding. My only criticism is we did not spend much time in Safed. But this trip also included a wonderful concluding bonus, a half day at a 4-5 star Dead Sea resort to enjoy the water. Older adults, middle agers and teens all found many things to enjoy. A well thought out itinerary.

I worked With Shalom for almost a year on planning a group tour for families from our community. Although I changed my mind on him 30 times he never lost patience worked with me to make the most of the tour. We just came back from spending 10 days and all 16 of us had the most amazing time.  Although I have been there many times before it never felt so smooth as Shalom was there every step of the way. He ALWAYS answers the phone day or night and is always there to help. He called every evening to make sure we had everything we needed and one day when the weather was hot, we get off the bus and Shalom and is standing there with cold bottles of water for the whole group. He doesn’t just do everything he promises , but rather so much more and its the many extra’s that make you feel pampered when he is running your trip. We had one minor challenge in our programming and Shalom stepped out super fast and reworked it so not one person noticed there had even been a change.. I really don’t have enough words to describe it , but I look forward to many more trips with Shalom and I highly recommend him.

Shalom Israel Tours was perfect. From the point we landed to the point we left the tour was fantastic. We had a family trip for 4 with a private guide. Every step of the trip went extremely smoothly. We had two separate guides Shimon and Mier. Both knew so much and made the entire family comfortable. I would highly recommend using Shalom Israel Tours on my next trip to Israel. They were great.

Having just arrived home from a two-week tour of Israel, I can genuinely say that it was one of the best trips I have ever taken. Shalom Tours arranged the limo services, hotels, and guides with impeccable attention to all the details. Each day was so interesting and I never felt any problem with safety or security. Also, although my husband was supposed to take the optional tour to Petra, he was not able to do so at the last moment. One phone call to Shalom, and the refund was issued. No hassles and no red tape. I really appreciated that service. Also, Shalom’s recommendations about the phones and wifi were dead on. As a person who has traveled many places around the world, I highly recommend Shalom Tours for a great trip to Israel.

Shalom put together a simply PERFECT tour for my family of 4. Our private tour guide, Mordechai Weiss was wonderful. We highly recommend Shalom to anyone looking for a trip to Israel. We traveled as a family of four. My son was Bar Mitzvahed on the top of Masada and my daughter (two years younger – 10) enjoyed the trip as much as my son. Whenever I go back to Israel I will be using Shalom. I have been to Israel twice before (including as a student) and never experienced it this way. Wonderful! Thanks Shalom and Mordechai!

After researching many tour operators we selected Sholom Israel Tours because of their itinerary and their immediate responses to our inquiries. They did not hesitate to change some of the itinerary as we desired. Because of this attentiveness, another couple joined us. We were to be provided with a 7 passenger van, and a driver/guide: Mordechai.

As we deplaned, we were immediately escorted to the luggage area, luggage picked up for us, and brought to a waiting Mordechai. (what service). Mordechai was a fantastic guide; the breath and wealth of info and history he provided and the extra sites he added when we had extra time were unbelievable. He even arranged for us to visit a kibbutz to see my cousins we had never met. He was the best guide we have ever had.

Shalom Stark telephoned us often to ensure that we did what we planned, that we were satisfied and were doing ok. He even sent a dried fruit and nut platter to our rooms for us. Where do you get this kind of consideration and treatment? This made our Israel trip with Shalom Israel Tours the best we have taken in our 50 years of travelling. As a side note, we met many people at the hotels(some of whom we knew) and when we showed them our itinerary, they indicated that they did not see much of what we had seen and what we were going to see..

Our experience with Shalom Israel tours was absolutely flawless. We were picked up promptly at the airport and taken to our hotel. All 5 of the various hotels we stayed in, had the reservations accurately registered. The tour guide assigned to us, was very knowledgeable as well. We saw as much as one could expect in our 14 day trip. Our tour guide needed to rearrange some stops, which meant a few changes in the itinerary. I called Shalom and he took care of it immediately. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

I am a writer, but words won’t ever be able to adequately describe my gratitude to Shalom Israel Tours.

Most importantly, when I told Shalom Israel Tours what I wanted in my three- week tour in Israel, they listened to my every word. They created an itinerary that included snorkeling in the Red Sea, dancing at the Western Wall, a dune buggy ride in the Golan Heights, shopping in the Jerusalem market, a restful stay at a quiet seaside kibbutz, a Shabbat dinner with Israeli soldiers, a two-day desert adventure to Petra and Wadi Rum, touring ancient Roman ruins, sunsets in Tzfat and more.

Every hotel and every meal exceeded our expectations. I took our family of seven for a trip of a lifetime. Shalom Israel Tours created an experience that far exceeded every one of our dreams.

After searching the internet for many months for our very first “perfect” and all encompassing trip to Israel, we decided to travel with Shalom Israel Tours. What a pleasure to work with Shalom Stark. Every question and/or request was responded to immediately. The itinerary, chosen by Shalom, was incredible as we traveled north, south, east, and west. We learned and enjoyed EVERYTHING!!!! The historic sites were amazing; the guides were so knowledgable, considerate of our needs, and wonderful. You have done a great job Shalom and our first time experience in Israel is one that will never be forgotten! Thank you.

This trip was my first time in Israel. We were expecting a standard tour with the usual sights but received much much more from Shalom Tours. There is not enough praise that I can give to our guide Meni, that can truly indicate how magical he made our first experience in Israel. He went above and beyond to make sure that everybody was engaged in the daily activities and his knowledge of Israel is truly incredible. We have been on several tours in the past years of other places and countries, but I have to admit this company is definitely the most organized and professional company I have used and they truly enjoy what they are doing which makes it that much more pleasant for the customers. Our guide’s enthusiasm and infectious smile really set the tone for our tour. His love of his job and country comes out in every word and action that he displays, and his willingness to engage every person on the tour and make sure that everybody was having the time of their lives was unbelievable. I am not the type of person that writes reviews in fact this is my first, but the time spent in Israel and having Meni lead the way is a memory that will last a life time. I just wanted to thank Shalom Tours and Meni for making that happen for my wife and me.

Fabulous experience! We loved the trip. Shalom was very organized and responsive in helping us plan the trip. The itinerary Shalom recommended was a perfect balance of history, religion and fun. Our guide was great. He had to please 3 generations (from 76 years to 5 years old), plus balance 2 languages (all while driving, guiding, etc.) and he did it flawlessly. We would recommend this tour company without hesitation. We loved every minute of our trip. Completely interesting, hassle-free and fun.

Shalom Stark’s close personal follow-up on every detail of our Israel visit left us feeling we were in good hands. From the history lessons and current information about Israel, to the recommendation for iced coffee at Aroma, and everything in between Aaron, our full time guide, covered it all with a well displayed intense desire to do the absolute best for us. We walked on the Golan heights, Masada, at the Wall, Old and New Jerusalem, etc. We swam at a Kibbutz, a lake and the Dead, the Red and the Med seas. We went from the north to the south and east and west covering all of Israel in a 13 day well organized tour.

You would definitely enjoy Shalom Israels offerings.

We had an amazing two week trip which was arranged through Shalom Israel tours. From my first contact with Shalom everything went perfectly. I emailed our dates and he responded immediately with a prospective itinerary and cost. We had never been to Israel and asked for input from friends and family. I relayed this information to Shalom and he readily modified the itinerary. From the moment we landed we were looked after by the people Shalom arranged to assist us. We were met as we stepped out of the plane and driven to an separate customs desk-no waiting. We then picked up our luggage and were delivered to the hotel. We spent our first days in Jerusalem and Shalom arranged for Patrick to give us an informative walking tour around the wall and the different quarters. Shalom then placed us in the excellent hands of Shimon who enthusiastically relayed the history of Israel as we toured through the various sites. He wanted us to learn as well as experience the sites, and daily we went through the sequence of conquering armies and the events that occurred. He helped us tie things together and was a wealth of information. Shimon would modify our schedule slightly to show us something interesting to see along the way. He was so enthusiastic about every place we went and brought the history and country to life. Shalom was only a phone call away if assistance was needed. When I couldn’t unlock my rental phone (I arranged for this on my own and the company was closed for the day), I called him and he was able to tell me how to unlock it. I cannot thank Shalom and Shimon enough for their professionalism and experienced guidance in making our first trip to Israel so memorable.

After much research on the Internet, we decided that Shalom Israel Tours gave us the most for the least. We expected cut rate service for the price, however, we were pleasantly surprised that Mr. Shalom Stark gave us individualized excellent service from answering questions about his tour to providing direct support while in Israel whenever we had problems arising from the loss of our passports. He was always available by phone, consistently gave us courteous and reliable information no matter how trivial. Everything about the 11 day tour we took was exceptional, from the expertise and knowledge of the tour guide to the quality of the hotels and a great itinerary. Shalom Stark made what could have been a disastrous vacation into a truly memorable one! We cannot praise him enough.

Shalom Stark of Shalom Israel Tours arranged an incredible tour of Israel for my family (my husband, me, and 2 of our sons — 15 and 21 years old) for 15 days. I would highly recommend him and his tours to anyone thinking of visiting Israel. He is very accessible — by e-mail and by phone. I called during the daytime here and though it was night (7 hour time difference), he still answered his phone, and he answered all my many questions. Plus, I liked the fact that he was in Israel — that was definitely better to me than a tour operator who wasn’t even in the country I was visiting.

On top of it all — he surprised us with presents! We were given 2 netsticks so my sons had internet service on their laptop computers throughout Israel — even on the bus. We were each given hats and water bottle carriers (a necessity in the heat of the summer), and right before Shabbat when we returned to our hotel room after a long day visiting Qumran, Masada, an Ahava Factory, and the Dead Sea, there was another present awaiting us — a large tray of cookies and nuts. He was just so thoughtful!

This vacation will be long remembered by myself and my family as it was perfect and I attribute that to Shalom Israel Tours.

Shalom,  We had a wonderful time and learned so much. It was an unforgettable trip and Doron was amazing. Thank you so much for everything!

Hi Shalom,  Our trip was great and all worked out well. The choice of sites, coordination and accommodations were all good.

I want to put in a special word for our tour guide. He was excellent–very efficient, careful about details, appropriately concerned about our experience and well-being. He clearly was dedicated to the effort and informative about the subjects. He was warm, outgoing and personable. I think his approach helped to make the experience an enjoyable and memorable one.

Dear Shalom, We had a wonderful trip and everything was perfect. The hotels were wonderful. Our driver and guide made us feel that we were in our home. They explained what we were looking at and the story of where we are. We saw so munch and learned a lot.

The people of Israel have done so much in the last 60 years you should all be very proud of your country. As an american Jew we all felt we were in our home country and we feel much closer to the state of Israel and its people.

Thank you for setting everything up for us and making the two week a trip of a trip of a life time. EVERYTHING WAS WONDERFUL no problems came up I just wish time did not go so fast.  We would like to come back home to Israel in the future. There is go much to see of Israel and two week is not enough time.  Thank you again!  Arthur Kohen

Shalom, thank you for an incredibly memorable trip.  I had a fabulous time!  We went to places and saw things that others in Israel never get to do.  Your guide Mordecai was one of the nicest people and best guides I have ever had the pleasure of traveling with.  He and the Rabbi made the trip educational, instructive, and fun for me.  I can’t say enough about both of them.  Best regards and feel free to use me as a reference any time you need.  The trip was incredible and certainly was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget.  Thanx again, Richard Polisner

Shalom, I had been thinking about you since we left Israel and wanted to reach out to you first! Everything we saw and experienced is just beginning to sink in!  I want to come back!!  I can’t say enough regarding the wonderful itinerary and how smoothly the days passed.  Mordecai was the best and Elliot was amazed at how he presented the history.

It was so nice to see you a few times on the trip and match a face to the name.  I will never hesitate to recommend you and Shalomisrael tours to EVERYONE I meet.

Thank you for the trip and itinerary that was the best, bar none! Lorraine and Elliot

It was a wonderful experience and we thank everyone concerned with it.  Our guide was terrific, so pass on our thanks and best wishes to him. You know we will recommend your company to all our friends. Thanks again for a terrific time by all.

If anyone wants our blessings to book a tour with you, please use us.

Thanks and best regards

Susan Gilison

I wanted to send you some quick feedback about our trip as booked through Shalom Israel Tours. My husband and I had a fantastic time every day we were in Israel, especially in Jerusalem. Everything (the hotel, the tour guide, the itinerary, etc) exceeded our expectations and we feel truly blessed to have experienced Jerusalem this way. Your help — in customizing our itinerary, booking the hotel for us, and selecting such a knowledgeable and enthusiastic tour guide– was invaluable. Aharon, our guide, really made the history come alive and become unforgettable.

Thanks again for all your help. We are definitely recommending Shalom Israel Tours to our friends and we hope to book another trip in the future to Israel through your company!

Shalom, I wanted to thank you. You set up a fantastic trip with a great itinerary and wonderful guide. We’d return in a heartbeat. We particularly appreciated the upgraded rooms in Tzfat & Tel Aviv. Toby made the trip fantastic. Her knowledge, good humor, willingness to adapt to our changing interests and to suggest options made the trip that much better. Beyond that, we had fun each day and have been thinking about the agenda for our next trip.

While we didn’t know anyone before arriving in Israel, we now feel as though we have made some good friends.

I want to thank you so much for helping to make our trip to Israel so easy and meaningful.  You knew exactly what kind of connections and tour my father (83) and I needed.  Our travel arrangements and hotel accommodations were perfect.  We especially enjoyed the breakfasts at the Prima hotels and Kibbutz Lavi was a wonderful.  The tour guides were all fabulous.  They were able to share their vast knowledge and had the ability to make the information meaningful and entertaining at the same time.  My father even went into the Dead Sea and rode on the jeep tour.  Thank you so much for helping us have such a wonderful visit!  I wanted my father to have the trip of his lifetime, and he did!   Of course, I had a fabulous time as well.  I will be back!

Thanks again, Deborah

I recently brought a group of 20 of my congregants to Israel for a 12-day tour. I was very nervous as this was our first official trip and I wanted it to be perfect. Shalom created the most fabulous journey for us and it ran seamlessly. I didn’t have to worry about anything, All the logistics were handled for me and I was actually able to enjoy the trip despite the fact that I was the leader. Shalom’s professionalism was truly outstanding. During the months leading up to the trip he responded to every question that I had immediately. I was never left in limbo, I always had an immediate response and the answer was always, “Yes we can take care of that,” or “Yes, we can make that happen.” I would never consider using any company other than Shalom Israel Tours for future trips to Israel. I could not have been more pleased.
Rabbi David Begoun- Milwaukee, Wisconsin

When planning the trip, Shalom returned our emails with questions answered and great suggestions . … Promptly! No delays, no messin’ around. We contacted several tour Israel operators using the Internet, Shalom gave us the most options and the best service.

We had what we thought were good ideas, he was very patient exploring them with us and built a custom tour that we really enjoyed! His guides were terrific, they were never late and hugely, HUGELY knowledgeable.

We travelled from Calgary, Alberta Canada.

Shalom Israel tours took care of every detail on our ten day tour of Israel.  They whisked me through the airport on arrival and departure, they put me in great hotels, their guides were superb-  Everything was on time and as planned.  They have a great customer service attitude, you could not do better.

Dr. Jeffrey Belkin, Detroit

The trip was great and Shalom took care of every detail. It wasn’t just the tour itself but his attention to all the details outside of the tour. I plan on using him when I take my congregation on a tour next year.

Rabbi Mendel Teldon

It was only a couple weeks before I was going to fly to Israel, my first journey to the Holy Land, and I was still unsure as to where I was staying and what I was going to do while there.  After a few Google searches I landing at ShalomIsraelTours.com and inquired about a tour starting in a couple weeks.  Mr. Stark contacted me with all the details quite promptly and as if this guy needs no sleep was available every hour I tried to contact him for additional questions and from then on until the trip started I felt I had not only a plan, but someone very knowledgeable to assist in every detail along the way.

The entire tour was so well guided by a veteran of 42yrs in the tour guide industry and part time police volunteer.   His insight and ability to truly explain the depths of the significance of the places we visited added a realism to the experience that I only wish I could have video recorded the entire thing.  If someone were to ask me for a suggested tour company to use and guide I would have no trouble at all recommending Shalom Israel Tours and their choice in tour guides.

Dear Shalom – I want to specifically thank you for the tour of Israel.  It was exactly what you promissed and more.  The sites were interesting and well selected and the accomodations were excellent.  Thank you for helping me with all the arrangements on such short notice.  You did a great job.

I also want to give a special note of commendation to our guide, Lior Eitam.  I have travelled extensively through many countries for many decades.  I can honestly say that Lior is one of the very best guides I have every had in my entire life-  The world should send Lior to the United Nations to resolve all problems.

It is not often that I am able to say that my expectations were exceeded, in fact, greatly exceeded.  Yet, Shalom Stark did exactly that by delivering the perfect Israel tour.  No easy feat because my wife’s interests and my interests are quite diverse- she also wanted to see all the Christian sites and I being Jewish wanted to see all the Jewish sites,  We both gravitate to small tour groups and private tour guides.  Each of us had never been to Israel before and we wanted our 17 day trip to be the best ever.  I was constantly calling Shalom for ideas and how to best arrange our trip.  Even with the substantial time difference (I’m from California) he took my calls or returned my calls almost immediately.  He was professional, knowledgeable,thoughtful, and truly designed a personal, custom, and very unique tour for us.

If anyone has any questions and would like to talk to me directly, they are welcome to do so.  I give Shalom Tours my permission to provide my email address to anyone who would like me to share my experiences with them.

Thanks Shalom for a most memorable and unique tour!

Neal Fialkow

This summer I took a group to Israel for the first time.  As a young Rabbi with limited recourses I was concerned that the demands of planning and coordinating a trip would be too much for me, and to expensive for my community during a recession. Shalom Stark at Shalom Israel Tours laid my fears to rest. Based on my group’s interests he planned out a fabulous trip down to the last detail and he worked with our budget to make sure the trip was affordable.

Once we arrived in Israel, I didn’t have to worry about anything, Shalom handled every twist and turn with skill and ease so I could concentrate on my group and connect with them.  Every Rabbi in his community should consider a group trip to Israel, and with Shalom Israel Tours you can truly give them the trip of a lifetime!

Shalom Stark made our visit to Israel the most memorable trip we have taken. The tour guides he works with are extremely knowledgeable, very personable and passionate people. Shalom was efficient and responsive to our individual needs (because we were traveling with a 10 month old baby). Shalom was always accessible to us during our entire trip.  He is very easy to work with, flexible, and accommodating to last minute changes.

When we make plans for a future trip, we will definitely be contacting Shalom to arrange the details and tours. I highly recommend Shalom Stark for your trips to Israel!

From the moment we arrived everything was taken care of.  We had a private taxi from the Airport to Jerusalem.  We met Shalom there the first night. I am not sure if you have talked to him yet, but he was exceptionally pleasant and helpful even before I left, answering all questions that this first timer had!

We saw him almost every day when we were in Jerusalem, but not when we went to Tiberias.  He did give us his cell phone number as well as did we give him ours.  When we were in Jerusalem, he would chaeck to make sure everything was going well.  I mean personally one on one.  He showed a true interest in making sure we were enjoying Israel. Even when we went north to Tiberias, he called a couple of times, again … Just to check in.

We had no change in plans due to any issues in Israel.   We ourselves as a group suggested a few things that we would like to do, and Shalom made them happen. The hotels were nice, to be honest, I was just thrilled to be in Israel.

I highly recommend Shalom!  

Last summer I had a fantastic trip to Israel with Shalom Israel Tours.  Shalom himself personally was always available to me by phone prior to the trip to answer my questions.  In addition, he personally came to our hotel on the first day to meet our group.  The tour guide he provided was phenomenal!  Everything went very smoothly. I will definitely recommend this company to my friends.

As we were deciding on a tour, we began contacting various operators.  When we contacted Shalom Stark, we learned not only that he is really in Israel, but that he is originally from Ohio.  Since we were from Ohio, we asked about his Ohio ties.  We were thrilled (Jewish Geography now) that he worked with several Rabbis in Columbus, all of whom we knew quite well.

When I inquired about the tour, he immediately began giving us suggestions based upon our input.  We liked having the opportunity to have someone listen to our objectives and tailor a trip to meet those objectives.  Shalom also routinely contacted us with follow up questions and was readily available to answer any new questions or ideas that we came up with.

We met 24 other Jewish travelers on the tour, all that purchased their tours from their own agents.  Naturally, everyone was given different advise by their own agents and also paid a different tour package fee.   When we got on the bus initially with the entire group of our new friends, we were the only ones to be handed an envelope with another copy of our itinerary, hats and maps for our tour.  None of our fellow travelers were provided with same.

On the last Sunday morning of our time in Israel, Shalom actually met us at our hotel for coffee.  His number one concern was our satisfaction.  He asked what if anything we could suggest he add or change to the tour and about our tour guide.  He spent a good deal of his morning with us.  Amazingly, shortly after returned home, we were sent a blanket e-mail with a couple of new tours for Israel from Shalom Israel Tours.  Our comments and suggestions for changes were IN THE NEW TOURS he was offering.  Talk about listening to clients!

Our Shul being the Sydenham Highlands North Hebrew Congregation in Johannesburg decided to have a tour to Israel in June 2011.  At the outset we got quotes from 5 different tour operators in Israel and after much correspondence with all of them decided to use the services of Shalom Israel Tours.

The main reason for choosing Shalom was his efficiency in responding to all our questions and changes that we wanted to make to our itinerary.  Nothing was too much trouble for him and believe me trying to make 29 people happy with all their requests was not an easy task for him but he handled it  with true professionalism. 

Suffice it to say that we  all had the most wonderful and enlightening tour of Israel which will remain with us forever.  Our Shul will hopefully have more tours to Israel in the future and I am positive that we will call upon the services of Shalom once again. 

Louis Goralsky
Co Convenor of The Sydenham Highlands North Shul tour to Israel June 2011

For those looking to travel to Israel should not look further than Shalom Stark. His assistance in the planning phase of the trip was perfect. He works with you and he is very patient. He is able to connect with you and plan the perfect trip for your family based on your interests.

The actual trip was pure quality. He only has the best guides. We were very lucky to have Shimon who was excellent. Beware , you will be thinking twice about leaving Israel after touring with him.

Shalom did not mind calls as we were in Israel. He was always a phone call away. He helped us to make last minute changes on the schedule or even flights. Having access to him while you are there gives you peace of mind and is priceless. The price of the trip was very reasonable without compromising in the quality. No other company was able to match his prices.

Overall my experience with Shalom and his company was excellent. I could not have had ask for more. I recommend him without hesitation.