A combination of wonderful experience with Michael...

A combination of wonderful experience with Michael WIlcox as a spiritual resource and a many logistics issues. We toured the middle east and Michael made the bible stories come alive.

The buses were miserable, the food was generally terrible, the local guides were semi informed and manipulative (not the American fun for less employees who were wonderful.)

One example: after traveling all day we got to the "5 star" boat on the nile. We went to dinner and it was italian night. There was a salad bar which we dared not eat in Egypt or Jordan. But we were expecting that. But the food.... rice, potatoes, lasagna noodles with bits of beef and red streaks, spaghetti with tasteless sauce and bread. That was the entire menu... Oh they had desserts. I don't eat them but was told they looked good and tasted not so good. I suspect it is because tourism is so bad they were trying to feed us as cheaply as possible. THe room was fine for a river cruise but certainly not 5 stars by US standards. CLeanliness was lacking.

We were given a heads up that we would not get lunch most days. We brought protein bars. I looked recently and one of the competitors highlights that they get great lunches each day. It may be a tradeoff of time but I suspect it is how they keep costs down.
THe guides in Egypt and Jordan also claimed to know the honest, safe people and places to buy things. One item, the guides said was available for $20US was available for $8 from street vendors. Another example.. camel rides.. At The "safe" rides one of the vendors told us they were required to pay the guides half of what we spent.

I could go on and on about the guides but suffice it to say they are out for themselves... And their tone / mannerisms are not always respectful.

Also this is probably not the right venue for type A personalities.

I will say it was convenient that hotel keys were waiting for us, etc.

Bottom line. I am glad we went but would have prefered for a lot to have changed. Perhaps that is the best that can be done with a large group.

PS: we didn't choose them for their low price claims. Perhaps had we gone on a more upscale tour we would have been happier.