Questions. Even when they’re not frequent.

Da’at crafts journeys of inspiration, education, and Jewish connections to Israel and worldwide. There are many ways to travel: plan your own unique journey solo, join one of our many scheduled trips with guaranteed departure, or journey with your community and synagogue.

For the last thirty years, we have created Jewish journeys for groups of all types and sizes. Over half of our clients are repeat travelers, and many others join us at the recommendation of their friends. Who travels with us? Private groups, congregations, federations, and organizations.

No! We can tailor your trip to accommodate the needs and interests of travelers of all ages. In fact, we take particular pleasure in creating multigenerational trips where both the youngest and oldest members of the group can enjoy a meaningful and pleasurable travel experience.

Your safety is our top priority. We take all precautions necessary to ensure a safe travel experience and will keep you up-to-date on any changing situation that may impact your trip.

A typical day is action-packed, beginning at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 5:00 p.m. Travelers should be in good health and able to walk 2-3 miles and stand for long periods of time with no difficulty. Active components such as hiking, biking, and walking longer distances may be included and hills or uneven terrain may be encountered. Some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. The amount of walking you do, however, is at your discretion and when we create itineraries, we are able to adjust the amount of activity based on your needs and preferences. Plus, there is always plenty of downtime and opportunity to rest on the bus!

If you require any form of assistance or special accommodation, please notify us in writing at the time of registration and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs. Due to space limitations, special arrangements may need to be made in advance to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers aboard buses, possibly involving additional costs. Da’at will notify you of any additional costs prior to the trip.

We select an expert educator who we believe will be a perfect match based on the size, ages, mindset, and interests of your group. What do our expert educators all have in common? They are all knowledgeable, engaging, and fun, and are out on the road at every opportunity so their insights and expertise are always up-to-date and eye-opening. They will bring the place to life through their personal stories and experiences so you can get a raw and authentic feel of the country you are visiting.

It is important to let us know at least 60 days prior to your departure about any allergies you may have, or special meals you may need for health or dietary reasons, so that we can make accommodations as needed. If there is a severe food allergy, we will always notify the hotels and other food providers however they may not guarantee that the food provided will be free of the allergen. Please contact our Customer Service Center to see if boxed/individual meals can be provided.

1. Use the Tripfinder to search by destination or by trip name/number to locate your trip webpage.
2. Your trip’s webpage will include all the information relating to your trip including the itinerary, highlights, and accommodations.

For any assistance with your reservation process or other trip-related queries, please contact our Customer Service Center at (888) 811-2812 or by e-mail: [email protected]

The quickest way to make a reservation is to register online or call us at 888-811-2812. We accept VISA, MasterCard, and American Express credit cards.
A $500 non-refundable deposit is required in order to complete the registration process.

If you wish to make any changes to your booking, please let us know as soon as possible. All requests for changes should be referred to Customer Service.

The balance of your payment is due 90 days before your trip begins, or as specified in your invoice. You will receive an email reminder 2 weeks before this date.

Various payment options are available as follows:

• Credit card.
  We accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express. Please check with your credit card provider regarding international processing fees. We are unable to process payments of over $1,000 over the phone. Please submit payment online or via a credit card payment form that can be found on your invoice. All credit card transactions are subject to a handling fee.
• Bank transfer.
  Payment should be wired in the same currency that is listed on your invoice.
  Please add the name of your group or invoice number as a reference and forward a copy of the transfer receipt by fax or email.
  The bank transfer should clearly state the beneficiary name on the wire transfer.

Please use the information below:

Beneficiary: DA’AT
Bank: Bank Hapoalim
Bank No: 12
Branch: 574
Branch Name: Hapalmach
Account Number: 162003
Branch Address: 38 Palmach Street, Jerusalem
ABA/Swift Number: POALILIT
IBAN #: IL37-0125-7400-0000-0162-003

Da’at Travel services reserves the right to automatically cancel your reservation on that date and it may be subject to reconfirmation should the final payment not be received.

All cancelations need to be made in writing. The cancelation fee depends on the date when we receive written notification of your request to cancel your booking. Please note that the deposit is non-refundable.

 Cancelation fees:

1. Cancelations made 90 or more days prior to departure incur the loss of the deposit.
2. Cancelations made 89 to 46 days prior to departure incur the loss of 50% of the full trip cost.
3. Cancelations made 45 days or less prior to the departure incur the loss of 100% of the full trip cost.

Cancelation fees may also include:

• Hotel or supplier cancelation fees.
• The cost of the PEACE OF MIND TRAVEL PROTECTION PROGRAM (POM), if this was purchased.
• Group airfare penalty fee.

 Da’at Educational Expeditions reserves the right to adjust its terms of payment, including cancelation policies and initial deposits. Please refer to the small print tab on your trip’s webpage or in your proposal for your cancelation policy and fees.

When you purchase a trip on a land-only basis (i.e. without international flights to and from North America), you are responsible for reaching the start point of the trip yourself. In most cases, the starting point is the first night’s accommodation, listed on your trip’s webpage. We provide detailed instructions on how to reach the starting point from the main airport in your destination. Meeting times with the tour leader and group will vary from trip to trip, normally depending on the arrival time of the majority of the group.

1. Book your own flight
   You can book your own flight using an airline of your choice and with your own airmiles. If you would like to be included in a group transfer, please check with the Customer Service Center or your trip leader.
2. Join a group flight

A group flight is usually booked by your tour leader and have specific guidelines:

• It requires a minimum of ten participants.
• Non-upgradable through points or a supplement payment.
• Seating assignments cannot be guaranteed.
• Confirmation numbers are not available. An E-ticket number will be provided a few weeks prior to departure.

If you want to ensure assigned seating and an upgrade, you will need to purchase an independent ticket on the same flight as the group.

Day 1 in your itinerary is the day you depart. Touring typically begins on Day 2. The final day is when you fly home. Please check your itinerary on your trip’s webpage.

Please check with your trip leader. We are not authorized to disclose this information.

If your package includes arrival and departure transfers, this will be detailed in your travel documents which will be emailed to you up to one week prior to your trip. If you deviate from the arrival and/or departure dates and time as specified in your travel documents, you will need to arrange your own transfers.

Alternatively, you may request a transfer service up to 3 working days prior to your departure and the cost of the paid transfer service will be added to your invoice. When requesting a transfer service, please provide us with your full flight itinerary. Your arrival transfer is guaranteed for up to one hour from your scheduled arrival time in order to compensate for minor delays. Da’at Educational Expeditions or the transfer company will not be responsible for delays, for any reason, beyond one hour from your originally scheduled arrival time. In case of a delay or schedule change, it will be your responsibility to contact us directly and/or to make other transfer arrangements such as a taxi. Transfer costs are non-refundable and any additional expenses will be your responsibility.

Once you have finalized your reservation, you will be looked after by our account manager, tour operator, and customer service team who are all responsible for your travel arrangements until you depart.

You may have months to go before you board a plane, but your journey with us begins immediately. From the time you register until you take off, you will receive emails with everything you need to know before you go including educational and fun items to help you get excited for your trip.

If you are a tour leader with a large group, you will also get:

• Your own customized trip webpage for all participants with trip information, tips, highlights, and online registration.
• Marketing materials: A specially designed catalog of marketing materials including: e-flyer, rollup banner, flipbook, and Facebook graphic to support your trip publicity and recruitment efforts.
• The Da’at App: Easy-to-use tailor-made app includes flight details, packing tips, itinerary, bios, study material & resources, interactive maps, and free time suggestions.

A visa may be required for certain countries that you will be visiting on your trip and must be obtained in the US prior to travel. You are responsible for ensuring that you have the proper travel documents and MUST CHECK with the respective consulate(s) or a visa agency to determine whether any visas or passports are required.
US and Canadian citizens travelling to Israel do not require a visa.
If you have Israeli citizenship, please let our Customer Service Center know.

Passports should be valid for at least 6 months from your return date. The passport number and expiration date of all passengers on the reservation is required to verify your identity with the hotel upon check-in. Please provide this information to our Customer Service department before your trip begins.

Names printed on the invoice should appear exactly as they appear in the passport (including any middle names, initials or hyphens). If airfare was booked through us, please note that any name change, including minor spelling corrections, may require airline reservations to be canceled and rebooked. Please note that rebooking reservations is subject to availability and to an airline rebooking fee. Da’at Educational Expeditions will not be held responsible for the denial of services by a carrier due to any name discrepancy. Name changes must be advised in writing.

We strongly suggest purchasing appropriate trip insurance covering medical, baggage, and trip cancellation as needed. Please discuss land, air & health insurance options with your insurance provider or contact Travel Insured at 1-800-344-6226, ext. 257. Some insurance programs provide more comprehensive coverage when the policy is purchased in close proximity to the initial trip deposit. We therefore recommend that you secure insurance within 14 days of your initial deposit payment date.

We do not provide medical insurance for our trips. However, if there is an emergency, our staff will be there to accompany you to the hospital and make sure your needs are met.

You will receive final documents prior to the trip, which includes hotel details and contact information of your tour educator (guide).

You should plan to visit your doctor or local travel clinic at least 4-6 weeks before departure to allow time for any vaccinations to take effect or to fill any prescriptions. If you received any vaccinations in preparation for your journey, pack your vaccination certificates in your personal carry-on baggage in case you are asked to show them on arrival.

We also recommend consulting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for up-to-date information on required and recommended vaccines and medications. Visit  cdc.gov/travel  or call 800 232 4636 for more information.

Yes, for any medicine, please bring a copy of the prescription.
Make sure that any medications you require, as well as copies of your prescriptions, are packed in your carry-on luggage and not in your checked baggage.

You can find the list of hotels where you will be staying on your trip webpage under the “Rates & Lodging” section.

There is no specific amount recommended. It depends on how much you would like to spend on souvenirs and on meals/evenings that are on your own.

You can find detailed information about how to exchange money in your destination by visiting Travel Tips and selecting your destination.

Most established places accept credit cards. Please double check with your credit card company as many card companies will add an additional tax and/or fee for purchases abroad or international transactions.

Check first with your phone company; otherwise you can get a SIM card at some airports.

Tips to avoid international roaming charges:

• Use your existing plan– contact your local carrier to find out plans and prices for data roaming.
• Rent a device– Rent a phone, download your information, and use the borrowed device as if it were your own.
• Get a local SIM card– Make sure your phone is “unlocked” before purchasing a local SIM card in your destination and using your phone on the local network.
• Wi-Fi only– Turn off your cellular data, switch your phone to airplane mode, and enable a Wi-Fi connection to access Internet hotspots in your destination.

Yes, you will need one. It depends on the country you are visiting. For more information, visit worldstandards.eu.

Please wear modest clothing; for women, knees and shoulders must be covered. In Morocco, for example, modest clothing is required in mosques. Click here to view our suggested packing checklist.

You can find detailed information about transportation options in your destination in our travel tips section.

Taxis are generally readily available at the airport. Once in the city, you can use apps such as Uber. Make sure to check which apps are available in your destination. In Israel, for example, the app “Gett” is commonly used.

Confirmation numbers are not needed. Make sure to have your passport accessible when you check into the hotel.

In order to ensure early check-in, you must pay for an additional night prior. Otherwise, the hotel will only allow you to check in when the room is available or at check-in time at 3 pm. Alternatively, you can leave your luggage at the front desk until it’s time to check in.

Hotel check-out time is usually before noon. If you are taking a late-night flight, make sure to organize adequate arrangements for accommodation until you are ready to leave for the airport.

Outside of the US, hotel rooms are typically smaller, comfortably accommodating two people in either one queen-size bed or two single beds. Some hotels offer triple rooms consisting of standard twin beds plus a sofa/folding bed or cot for the third person/child.

Special requests such as room selections, bed types, and other preferences are subject to availability and are strictly at the discretion of the hotel’s management on a run-of-house basis.

Each hotel is different. You can find the information by visiting the hotel websites (their links can be found on your trip webpage) or by reaching out to our Customer Service Center.

Yes, air conditioning/heating can be expected in all of your accommodations.

Most hotels provide hair dryers and virtually all hotel rooms have 110/220 volts electric sockets.

Most hotels have laundry services available, however, they are costly (they charge per piece of clothing). It is recommended to bring enough attire for your entire trip.

No but restrooms are always accessible along the way.

Check out our travel tips by selecting Resources on our home page, and then Travel Tips. We have everything you need to know before you go – from weather and food to tipping guidelines and everything money-related. If your questions aren’t answered here, call our Customer Service Center.

Please take the time to read our full Terms & Conditions.

By registering for a trip and paying your non-refundable deposit you are agreeing to the Terms & Conditions listed on our website. If we do not hear from you within 10 working days of your original registration date, we will assume that you have read the terms and that you agree to them.

Drop us a note here or call us @ tel:1-888-811-2812 Monday–Thursday (9:00am – 5:30pm EST). For complete details, see the Contact Us page.