Frequently Asked Questions for Israel Tours 

1. Who is King David Tours and Travel ?
Prior to the establishment of  King David Tours and Travels the company’s management and the key staff members already had many years of experience in all aspects of the travel industry.
King David Tours and Travels is a travel organization with international partnerships which provide you with all the necessary components to assure you an exciting, educational, enjoyable, life changing & unforgettable journey. King David Tours and Travels will book your hotels, and arrange for your sightseeing aboard motor coaches with the best available English speaking licensed guides. King David Tours and Travels contracts all of the above services with the most reliable correspondents who are constantly re-evaluated so that the quality of service we offer always meets King David Tours and Travels highest standards.

2. When is full payment due?
We strongly recommend that you collect full payment as soon as possible. If a passengers is unable or unwilling to make full payment in a lump sum, then perhaps he or she would prefer to make periodic installment payments. Once again the passenger is apt to be more committed to the tour if he has an investment in it. Final payment is due to King David Tours and Travels offices a minimum of ten (10) days prior to arrival. Please check your individual tour brochure for specific dates.

3. Does King David Tours and Travels offer a reduced rate incentive for early payment?
The “early bird discount incentive” amounts vary with the price of each tour and several other factors. Each tour host should check with King David Tours and Travels to find the exact terms for his or her particular tour. They are popular and powerful inducements for people to sign up and pay up early, and should be stressed when the tour is being sold. We work very hard at providing “early bird discount incentives” to our programs, to help you with the initial promotion of your program. Your first ten to fifteen registered passengers, in turn, become your best tour promoters.

4. How do I calculate the price of a tour?
Start with the basic tour price as shown in the tour folder, then add the price for any extensions, options, or special services. You may also have to add airport US & Int’l. departure taxes, gratuities for your guide and driver, visas if applicable, optional recommended travel protection (insurance), etc. Please check your tour folder.

5. Will tour prices ever be raised after I have booked passengers?
We do all we can to prevent this from happening. However, our prices are based on current hotel rates, bus, guide and sites. Occasionally these rates do change. We also have to take into consideration the fluctuation of the US Dollar versus other currencies when traveling abroad. If and when this occurs, King David Tours and Travels is forced to adjust your tour prices accordingly. This should happen only very rarely, though, as King David Tours and Travel’s research department maintains a close watch for possible rate increases and is usually able to anticipate any such changes early enough to price our tours appropriately before the tours are offered.

6. Does it cost more if a passenger requests a single room?
Yes. Check the “tour conditions and features” sections of your tour brochure to find out what this supplemental charge may be. Triple rooms are also available to help eliminate the need for a single room.

7. How many people are assigned to each bus?
In Israel the transportation facilities are as follows; 7 seater limousine; 10 seater zotobus; 19 seater; 30 seater; 47 seater; 51 seater motor coaches. The buses in Jordan are 30 and 47 seaters, the Egyptian buses are 10 to 51 seater similar to Israel’s. Remember that the larger buses cannot get into the tight streets for close in sightseeing, and in some cases you may have to walk up stairs in order to reach areas that you may have reached with a standard motor coach.

8. Does King David Tours and Travels offer first class hotels, English speaking licensed guides, and modern group transportation?
In most cases King David Tours and Travels offers modern first class and superior first class hotels. You should check your folder’s to determine the class of hotel being used on your specific tour. All guides employed by King David Tours and Travels speak English as well as other major languages. All buses used by King David Tours and Travels are modern vehicles.

9. What are the differences between an “option”, “extension”, and a “deviation”?
An option is the opportunity to have additional sightseeing when you have leisure time. All options must be purchased at final payment time if to be purchased in US Dollars. If options are purchased after time of final payment, most options will need to be purchased in the local currency.

An extension is an addition to your basic tour. For example, if your tour is an 11-day tour, you may add an additional 4 days to touring provided you have a minimum of 20 passengers traveling together in a predetermined itinerary. All extensions must be prepaid prior to arrival.

A deviation from a tour occurs when a passenger requests: (1) to leave the tour within its progress, or (2) to be ticketed as an individual (e.g. earlier or later return, not with the group). This is often requested when someone wishes to stay on longer when a tour is over or travel prior to a tour and wishes to travel on his own, not with the group. Please understand that deviation fees will be charged by the airlines, and most airlines only allow for 10% of the group to deviate, in order to maintain the group contracted special airfare. Also, deviations may have additional surcharges if the class of seat that they need is not available for their request. All deviation requests must be provided in writing with dates and special request. Not all deviation requests will be available.
Remember, no group travel situation will ever meet all individual desires. After all, passengers are taking advantage of the economies that are possible through group travel – and deviations defeat the whole purpose: they can also be expensive.

10. Can any of my passengers make “optional” tours?
Yes, but urge your tour member to select and prepay any such optional tour at least by final payment time so that availability can be confirmed.

11. Are optional tours guaranteed?
Yes, if the group size is above the stated minimum. However, from time to time, optional tours can be over-booked, so please discuss this with your tour manager in advance.

12. Can a passenger join a tour enroute?
Yes, but King David Tours and Travels requires notification of such plans at least 90 days prior to arrival of the tour to Israel.

13. If my group travels with another group, can I assure my passengers that the two groups will be compatible?
Yes! King David Tours and Travels designs its tours with special emphasis on compatibility. We do everything in our power to assure that you will travel with people of similar interests and backgrounds.

14. Does King David Tours and Travels recommend travel and baggage insurance?
No. In any event, we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance of some kind either from elsewhere or us. King David Tours and Travel does not accept responsibility for loss or damage to luggage. And since liability on most airlines and overseas handling agents is limited, we strongly recommend that your passengers secure reliable travel insurance.

15. Are service charges, local taxes, and tips included in King David Tours and Travel’s tour price??
Service charges as imposed by hotels and taxes levied by local municipalities are included in your tour price. Each program varies, so please read your brochure and tour conditions for specific inclusions/exclusions. Gratuities are generally not included (unless specified in your program brochure). We also recommend a “love offering” at the end of many of our programs, which is fully optional. This is for your guide & driver, should they meet and exceed your expectations.

16. What should my passengers and I expect to pay in the way of gratuities?
Tipping will vary depending on the individual tour. Usually you are expected to tip anyone who performs special individual services for you such as headwaiters, bus drivers on your tour bus, sightseeing guides, etc. King David Tours and Travels will send you a guide with more detailed recommendations on tipping for general planning purposes. On land, normal tipping is approximately $8.00/$9.00 per day. Shore excursions are $1.00 per person for a half day tour; $2.00 to $3.00 per person for a full day tour.

17. Does King David Tours and Travels secure passports for its passengers?
No. All countries law requires every citizen traveling outside the country to secure his own passport personally. Please keep in mind that it can take as much as three (3) months from the time of application to receive your passport, so plan accordingly in securing your passport. Also, certain customs laws require that a passport be valid for a minimum of six (6) months after your projected return date to the your country If you do not already have a passport, we recommend applying for your passport as soon as possible.

18. Does King David Tours and Travels secure visas for its passengers?
Yes, but for U.S. citizens & Canadian citizens only. All non - U.S. & Canadian citizens must secure visas through the visiting country’s consulate.

19. When do I get my visa?
For most tours we will secure group visas, which are issued locally upon arrival. If you need a personal visa please contact us to furnish you the necessary information and applications. In most cases all personal visa applications should be in our possession at final payment time, ten days prior to arrival. Consult with your local Embassy Office for further information.

20. If a passenger cancels, will his deposit be refunded?
Yes, but with certain provisions. Special refund policies apply on certain tours and you should consult the “fine print” and “conditions” section of your tour program brochure. In most cases there is a minimum $75.00 - $100.00 administration fee if cancellation is made prior to final payment – 90 days prior to departure.

Refunds are always limited to the amount recoverable by King David Tours and Travels, and no more. Ordinarily it takes eight to ten weeks to process and pay a refund. Because of the heavy cancellations on some tours, we strongly urge all tour members to purchase some form of optional recommended travel insurance.

21. If a passenger leaves the tour and later rejoins it, will King David Tours and Travels pay any refunds on the unused portion?
No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour once travel begins.

22. When does the tour host receive all final schedules, lists, and all other necessary material?
King David Tours and Travels will send hotel lists, and other final document information to the passengers approximately three weeks prior to arrival, provided that the tour has been paid in full.

23. Will King David Tours and Travels representatives meet my tour group upon arrival abroad and assist us in departure for the return trip?
Yes. All groups will be met at each arrival by an King David Tours and Travels overseas representative. Our representative will assist you in reaching your assigned hotel and in looking after other concerns. Upon your departure you will again be assisted by our overseas representative.

By offering you this list of questions and answers we hope we have helped you to learn the important facts about your association with King David Tours and Travels. Undoubtedly, you will have other questions, and we are eager to answer them for you. Most of the additional information is available in a series of other publications that we will be sending you. Of course, you should also study your individual brochure program thoroughly – so that you will know the day-by-day itinerary, its features, terms, and the conditions of your particular tour.