The Travisano Family (2 adults and their daughter, age 22) traveled to Israel in late June through early July to visit their son who was taking part in an Onward program in Tel Aviv.  Their trip began with an expedited VIP arrival service at the airport.  Their first three independent nights in Tel Aviv were spent at the Metropolitan Hotel, just two blocks from the beach.  The hotel upgraded them to a 1-Bedroom Suite….they were thrilled!  While in Tel Aviv they went to the beach, relaxed at the hotel pool, did an amazing graffiti tour, went to the street market, and more. Then they began a 7-night group bus tour organized through Gray Line.  This Israel highlight tour was geared toward all religions and the family thought that the tour was fantastic.  There were people of all ages and they met lots of nice families.  The tour started with 29 and ended with 13 people (as this tour can begin in different cities).  They also said that their tour guides were excellent, stuck to the schedule, and were so knowledgeable.  They had a great bus driver as well.  The first tour stop took them south to the Negev Desert including Masada where they took the cable car to the top and then for a float in the Dead Sea.  Onward to Jerusalem for a 3-night stay at the Grand Court Hotel.  They enjoyed the location and expansive breakfast buffet.  In The Holy City, they visited the Israel Museum, Ein Karem, Yad Vashem, and Bethelem one day and the Old City, Mount Zion, Mount of Olives, and the Mahane Yehuda Market the next. Upon leaving Jerusalem, they drove east to Jericho before heading north to Galilee to Beit Shean, Nazareth, and Safed.  They spent the next two nights at a Hagroshim, a kibbutz guesthouse.  They found the hotel to be very nice and modern with great food.  The next day was spent exploring the Golan Heights, a winery, and the Sea of Galilee highlights including Capernaum, Mount of Beatitudes, Tabgha, and Tiberias.  On the way back to Tel Aviv they drove down the Mediterranean coast and saw Acre, Haifa, and Caesarea. The tour ended with a short city tour of Tel Aviv and Jaffa.  Overnight in Tel Aviv completed this tour experience.  They gave a special shoutout to the tour company for handling their food allergies but found that lunch was very similar day to day (which is fairly normal for a bus tour trying to feed large numbers efficiently and meet everyone’s dietary needs).  Overall this was a cost-efficient and effective way to experience the best of the Holyland.