From the Office of Mabat Platinum:
Dear Friends,It is with great pleasure that I we present you with this Newsletter.
The year 2008 was a banner year for tourism to Israel.
Family, synagogue and Federation groups are spending more time in the region, with more than 50% of our guests visiting Petra in Jordan, as a day trip. Two new 5 star deluxe hotels are being built in Jerusalem and, as you will see below.
New nature trails are being prepared by the park rangers and a number of new fabulous museums have opened in the last two years. We look forward to hearing from you in the not too distant future.
If all is well, one of our representatives is often in the USA. Feel free to drop us a line to set up an appointment. Best wishes, Mabat Platinum.
The Tour of the Month:
The overwhelming majority of our family guests get to the Ramon Crater, one of the most amazing places on Planet Earth. The Crater (in Hebrew it is referred to as a "Machtesh") is a huge geologic depression the size of Manhattan Island. One of the country's experts on deserts will take you into the heart of the Ramon Crater for a breathtaking and special jeep expedition. The trip lasts 90 - 120 minutes, with recommended times being at sunrise, when there is a chance of seeing wild animals such as gazelle, ibex, wild donkeys and more.You will learn of the botany, zoology, archeology and incredible paleontology of the region. As the Crater is some 2 hours and 35 minutes from Jerusalem/Tel Aviv, one usually gets there on the way to Eilat, to break up the trip. Or, one might visit the Masada/ Dead Sea region, spend the night at the lodge near the Crater, visit the Crater the next day and then return northward.
This is a must for family trips as well as adult travelers.
In addition to exploring the Ramon Crater, other sites to visit in the immediate area are the oasis of Ein Avdat, the Nabatean city of Avdat, the Ben Gurion heritage Site at Sdei Boker and more.
Many of these locations have en – suite Jacuzzis and saunas as well as home entertainment systems, espresso machines and more. In some facilities breakfast is taken in the main dining room, while in others, breakfast is served on the porch of your room.
Travel Tips:
If there is no cost difference or if it is minimal, then we strongly suggest that you take a night flight from the East Coast, landing in Israel in the afternoon. This will eliminate the need to reserve rooms for early check in.
So, too, in regard of departure, we recommend a late night departure, rather than a morning departure as this will eliminate the need for another night's stay.
Lodging in Israel:
In addition to the fine 4 and 5 star hotels and guest houses of Israel, we have successfully been using a select number of B & B's and country inns in the Galilee, to the satisfaction of our guests from the USA. In fact, just last week, a guest from Manhattan commented, "If only I would have known that the place was going to be so lovely, we would have reserved another two nights."Many of these locations have en – suite Jacuzzis and saunas as well as home entertainment systems, espresso machines and more. In some facilities breakfast is taken in the main dining room, while in others, breakfast is served on the porch of your room.
Travel Tips:
If there is no cost difference or if it is minimal, then we strongly suggest that you take a night flight from the East Coast, landing in Israel in the afternoon. This will eliminate the need to reserve rooms for early check in.
So, too, in regard of departure, we recommend a late night departure, rather than a morning departure as this will eliminate the need for another night's stay.
Contact Us:
We look forward to hearing from you soon!
