Every year we hear about disastrous Pesach Programs, and this year is no different. There were at least 2 programs that we know were a complete failure and people literally went from חרות to עבדות!
One was in Albania and another in Morocco!
WARNING – PASSOVER PROGRAM ALBANIA
Runned by Koshertrip
We have just returned from what was, without exaggeration, the worst holiday experience we have ever had.
The gap between what was promised and what was delivered is simply shocking.
Food: repetitive, tasteless, often inedible – same meals every day. At times guests had to cook themselves just to have a minimally acceptable Pesach meal. Organization: chaotic and completely unprofessional. The organizer was not even on site. Hygiene: deeply concerning, especially in the kitchen. Accommodation: hotel under construction, poor room service, no hot water at times, broken facilities. Program: activities and entertainment repeatedly cancelled without explanation. Location: remote, far from airport, causing additional costs and long travel times. It was not in Golem (Last Minute Change of the Location) Religious standards: not consistently maintained.The situation became so bad that many guests left early or moved to other hotels at their own expense.
This was not a “bad experience” – this was a complete failure of the entire program.
We are now pursuing the matter formally (chargeback, legal steps, and Beth Din).
If you are considering booking with this organizer – think very carefully.
This should not happen to any family, especially not during Pesach
And now to the Crazed Morocco Ripoff
Sorry to hear the programs stunk.
ReplyDeleteWhen you stay home, you don’t have these problems:)
I know at least one of the guys involved in one of these two programs up here…
ReplyDeleteBefore booking, people must keep in mind that these organizers are very often uneducated mechalelei Shabos, therefore they have absolute no clue about what Yom Tov needs to be, let alone Pesach, let alone kashrus.
As my father in law A"H once said "If you want kosher, stay home". BH both my wife and I were brought up by survivors who taught us the real meaning of a seder. We once went to a program because I was offered a mashgiach position. I can tell you that 100% there things going on behind the scenes that the head mashgiach just looked aside.
ReplyDeleteOther that that, we have always made our own seders, surrounded by out children, and now BH, grandchildren. And they too, get to see what a real seder is like.
You get what you pay for
ReplyDeleteI was at a program at the Dead Sea and my one complaint was that lunch wasn't included in the program, something they said is standard in Israeli programs while in American programs it is included.
ReplyDeleteHowever the organization was great , good davening and shiurim, incredible food and lovely scenery.
Going to a third world Muslim country and expecting anything good is stupid.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/gkrfoodies/posts/3172424836276805/
ReplyDeleteEven the ones in Israel can be problematic. When my wife and I went to one during our second year here, there were two very serious issues we had to contend with.
ReplyDelete1. During the candle-lighting, they arranged all of the yahrzeit-type candles in a array on the table. Okay, makes sense. But then, some idiot women lit the candles that were up front, compelling the women who came later to have to reach over the burning candles to light their own. This was very problematic for my wife, who at the time was still using a wheelchair and had trouble standing up.
2. Speaking of wheelchairs, they shut of the Shabbat mode on the elevators at 11:30 PM. Which wouldn't have been so bad, except that the Rav who was conducting the seder kept talking on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on, and we did not get finished until after midnight; it was only then when we learned that the elevators were not in Shabbat mode.
On and on?? Ok!! We get it
DeleteTake a chill pill