There’s nothing quite like traveling to a destination to see what it's like for oneself. That’s just what four travel advisors did when they accepted an invitation to explore Israel on an August 13-19, 2026, fam trip that explored Tel Aviv, Galilee, the Dead Sea and Jerusalem.
Here’s what they had to say.
“This fam trip debunked safety concerns about Israel, especially given the many travel advisories before we left,” said Karina Nava of Exclusive Travel Partners. “It also helped debunk misconceptions about how Israelis treat others. Talking to the people there, they all just wanted peace and were so kind to everyone.”
Scott Kugler of The Altitude Team was surprised by Tel Aviv's energy.
“I had no idea Tel Aviv got down like that. The city was so lively,” he said, adding that many of his friends were jealous of the trip, including Christians, Jews and Agnostics.
Experiencing the Positive Energy in Israeli Cities
“I arrived in Tel Aviv late at night/early morning and saw people riding around on electric bikes, but with purpose, as if they were meeting up with friends. People were out enjoying the evening either walking on the boardwalk or dining outside,” he added.
Kugler found a similar energy in Jerusalem and Tiberias, which he described as “vibrant cities where I had to remind myself that I was actually in the Holy Land.”
Although Kimberly Shankland of Integrity Destinations didn’t have any misconceptions regarding Israel before the fam trip, she believed it was important to take advantage of the fam opportunity because she “knew there was a lot happening in the region, but I also knew that what we see on the news doesn’t always tell the whole story.”
“I wanted the opportunity to experience Israel for myself and form my own opinion,” she added.
Travel advisors visited Israel in August. (Photo Credit: Richard Liverance)
A Firsthand Account on Safety Issues
Maybe most importantly, and as Nava pointed out, fam participants said that they had no safety concerns throughout the trip.
Moreover, Dana Rasof of Exclusive Travel Partners said she felt safer in Israel than she does in the U.S.
“Israelis are out and about enjoying life, even until the late hours of the evening,” Rasof said. “The beaches of Tel Aviv were thriving with beach volleyball and families out walking and getting ice cream late into the evening,” she said.
“Jerusalem's restaurants and shopping centers were also bustling day and night,” Rasof added. “I spent a day wandering Jerusalem solo and never once was I concerned for my safety. We also had an amazing guide and driver throughout the fam trip who kept us safe during our stay.”
Shankland echoed Rasof’s comments on safety issues, noting that she too, also felt safer in Israel than she does in some U.S. cities.
“Whether it was 7 a.m. or 1 a.m., I never had to check behind my back or felt unsafe. In Tel Aviv, it was very lively at all times, especially at night,” Nava said.
Kugler said when friends, family and clients heard he was traveling to Israel, they were more concerned about his safety than he was.
“Personally, I have learned to let go of that control and put it in God’s hands," he said. “While in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, a few of us decided to walk back to the hotel from dinner. We did this multiple times and never felt unsafe. Again, so many people were out enjoying themselves that you felt comfortable. This has been my response upon returning when asked ‘if it was safe.’”
Travel advisors in Israel during an August fam trip. (Photo Credit: Richard Liverance)
Handling Client Safety Concerns
So what advice are advisors giving clients about safety issues in Israel? Kugler proffers up the same advice he would for many other destinations.
“It’s the same thing I tell people when going to downtown St. Louis or to another country: Travel with someone, be mindful of your surroundings, don’t act like a tourist and stay in well-lit and populated areas,” he said.
Shankland, meanwhile, has honest conversations with clients, sharing her personal experiences and what it felt like to actually be in Israel.
“Conditions can change anywhere, and travelers need to stay informed and make the decision they are comfortable with,” she said. “But I can now have that conversation from firsthand experience rather than simply repeating what someone else has told me.”
Nava relies on the trust she has earned from clients who depend on her for guidance.
“In this industry, people will listen to you as long as you are always honest,” she said.
Rasof never guarantees that any destination she books is 100% safe.
“I never guarantee that any destination I book for my clients is 100% safe. I always refer my clients to the U.S. State Department travel advisories and recommend travel insurance,” she said.
“I work with a number of amazing tour operators in Israel who provide during-travel support for my clients,” Rasof added. “Most of my clients will travel with local licensed guides who have years of experience and will work to keep them safe during their visit to Israel.”
A Country of Unexpected Contrasts
The trip also garnered some surprises for advisors.
“I was most surprised by how well everyone's lives mixed. Jewish people, Christians, and Muslims all live such peaceful and harmonious lives and I did not see any issues between their religious backgrounds,” Nava said.
“I was also surprised by how lively some parts of Israel are,” she added. “I always thought it would be more religious-based, therefore a little more serious with no partying.”
What surprised Shankland the most was how much Israel has to offer beyond what she had previously imagined.
“The history and religious significance were incredible, but so were the people, food, landscapes and different communities we visited,” she said. “There is so much packed into a relatively small country.”
Meaningful Connections Across Communities
Kugler was surprised — and delighted — by the diversity of the agents and others accompanying the trip. The group was open-minded and compassionate.
“All of us were there asking questions and learning, without being offended,” he said. “It brought out this truly organic dialogue that went deeper than surface level.”
“We were there supporting one another,” he added. “For example, when we visited an emotional site and saw someone having a difficult time, we supported them. And from a hospitality standpoint, “everyone was so welcoming and eager to share their stories.”
Travel advisors explore Israel firsthand during August. (Photo Credit: Richard Liverance)
Planting the Seeds for Israel Vacations
Advisors haven’t wasted any time promoting the country upon their return.
“I shared my experience in Israel through my social media channels during and after the trip and will be sharing information in my monthly client newsletter,” Rasof said. “I’m also spreading the word with my current client base that Israel is an incredible destination to visit with so much history, amazing food and beautiful sights to see.”
Nava has made it a point of mentioning the fam trip to her clients.
“I am in the works of contacting churches in my areas to try and get more pilgrimages to help tourism to rise and hopefully that will help my business as well,” she said.
And Shankland is currently working on a spring 2028 trip to Israel with her church and said she has several other clients who have expressed interest in traveling to the country as well.
“Having been there myself makes a huge difference,” she said. “I can now talk to clients about Israel based on what I personally experienced instead of only what I have learned through training or from other travelers."
Laying the Groundwork
For his part, Kugler is planting the seeds with his clients for trips to Israel.
“I have been stating that it should be a bucket list item for everyone,” he said. “People can go for the history. Israel has been the site of so many historical events, lastly, go for the food and nightlife.
Going forward, Kugler believes the Israel fam trip could result in two outcomes.
“The first outcome could be that it was just another amazing trip,” he said. “The second outcome could be allowing the trip, with all of its sights and experiences, to transform you.”
Either way, Kugler is sure of one thing. “I know that my life will be different because I went on this fam trip to Israel.”
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