Passover 2023 Program Trends

Phuket Island, Thailand (Photo: Envato)

 

 

The Passover program industry is constantly changing and evolving. Some aspects stay the same but others change based on innovation, current events and what’s popular at the time. Passover programs were heading in a consistent trajectory before COVID. I know we are all sick of talking  about COVID but it definitely affected Pesach programs in 2020. The industry has rebounded in the past two years and is looking like it will exceed what it was pre-COVID. The industry is still feeling the ripple effects of the COVID pandemic but more on that later. Now that we got COVID out of the way, let’s discuss what everyone is talking about for Passover 2023.

 

UAE continues to be a popular destination in 2023, old location comes back after 15 years and new location for the first time ever

 

Every year, we see Passover programs in new places. Since the signing of the Abraham Accords, Dubai and Abu Dhabi have become very popular for Pesach and kosher travel in general. More programs in the UAE are in the planning stages. A new and exciting destination for Passover 2023 is Vietnam which will have a program for the first time ever. Turkey is back after 15 years. We have one program confirmed in the resort town, Antalya by Vered Holidays, and  there is also another program in the planning stages that will take place in the Are of Bodrum. 

 

There are various cities around the world that are hosting numerous Passover programs. While there are programs throughout the United States, Florida continues to offer the most options. For those who want to spend Pesach in the tri-state area, there are programs in New York, New Jersey and Maryland. There are also programs in Colorado, Connecticut, California and Georgia. 

 

Israel, Mexico and Morocco all offer up a number of great programs to choose from. Pesach programs in Europe have really gained in popularity over the past few years. People use Pesach vacation as a chance to visit different cities in Europe. Italy, Greece and Spain have numerous options to choose from as well as Cyprus and the Czech Republic. There is a new program in Kobuleti, Georgia - just 30 minutes from Batumi.

Budgeting for you Pesach vacation - there is a range in pricing (Photo: Envato)

Passover program prices: So, how much is this vacation going to cost me? Why is there such a wide range in pricing?

 

Another major issue that comes up a lot is pricing. People want to know how much Pesach programs cost and why there is such a discrepancy. TJT asked the operators and put together a price list of Passover programs for 2023 so you can find prices of different programs  in one convenient place. There is a wide range of pricing based on a number of factors: location, hotel amenities, type of program and type of room. Some locations cost more than others. This is true any time of year. If you travel to a city during its tourist season, that vacation will cost more than if you go during the off season. The same is true for Pesach so pricing will vary depending on where you are going.

 

Different hotels offer different amenities and you are going to pay accordingly. If you go to a five star luxury resort with a spa, golf course and concierge services then that will cost more than going to a nice four star hotel with a pool. Prices will also vary within the same program depending on the type of room that you want. A villa with a private pool will cost more than a standard room. Some hotels have 4 or 5 different classes of rooms and they are priced accordingly. 

 

Prices will also vary according to what the program is offering. All programs include accommodations, meals and minyanim. Some programs include entertainment, kids programming, lectures, shiurim, scholars in residence, excursions, poolside BBQs, 24 hour tea room and more. Even for programs that offer these things - there is still a range of prices because there are different levels of entertainment and programming. 

 

Passover 2023 ends on a Thursday night, which might be a longer vacation for some. Depending on where people are spending their Pesach vacation, it might be difficult or impossible to get home before Shabbat. Some programs are offering the option to stay the weekend after Passover ends, April 14-16. While this means you get an extended vacation, it is going to be more expensive. A 12 or 13-day vacation is going to cost more so that’s definitely a consideration when choosing a destination and looking at Pesach program pricing. 

Travel insurance is now considered routine when booking Passover programs (Photo: Envato)
 

Travel Insurance: No longer considered optional and will affect your vacation budget

 

Gone are the days of booking an expensive vacation without researching travel insurance options. Passover programs cost thousands of dollars and for years people would book their Passover vacations without a second thought. There were rarely any issues before COVID but in the post-COVID travel world, it has become routine to purchase travel insurance when booking a Pesach program. Most programs advise their guests to purchase travel insurance and some work with specific agencies who specialize in travel insurance for Passover programs. 

 

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to travel insurance. There are different options and it is important to figure out which one is right for you. Most, but not all, travelers routinely took out medical insurance even before the COVID pandemic and now many countries require it. Most medical travel insurance policies exclude COVID related illnesses so that must be purchased separately. Other popular add-ons to travel insurance include: theft, medical expenses, baggage, electronics such as laptop, camera and cellphone, cancellations, travel delays, search and rescue and extreme sports. 

 

Many travel insurance agents and Passover program operators recommend getting “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage. This doesn’t reimburse 100% of your trip but it’s your best bet if you want to be able to cancel for reasons not specified under the terms of standard travel insurance. CFAR coverage allows you to cancel your trip for any reason, up to 48 hours before departure and get reimbursed up to 75% of your non-refundable trip costs. CFAR cannot be bought on its own but is an upgrade to a standard travel insurance plan. This will affect your Pesach vacation travel budget but it might be worth your peace of mind when booking your Passover program.

 

Conclusion

There are only four months until Pesach. Passover 2023 begins with the first seder on Wednesday night, April 5th and ends on Thursday night, April 13th (Wednesday night, April 12th in Israel). Passover programs have started to advertise and are selling out fast. There are more programs still in the planning stages. The talk on social media these days when it comes to Passover programs revolves around destinations, pricing and travel insurance.

 

There are more destinations to choose from this year, including some new and interesting cities, some that have never had Passover programs in the past and some that haven’t had one in many years. With rising costs in every industry, Passover program pricing is a hot topic. We are seeing a lot more chatter about pricing than in previous years. There was a lot of interest in Black Friday deals and early-bird specials. One of the main effects COVID had on the industry is an increase in the number of vacationers purchasing travel insurance policies.

 

These are the current topics trending around Passover programs for 2023. TJT has more than 20 years of experience in the kosher travel and Passover program industry. We strive to keep you up to date with all the latest news and information. Check back with us frequently as we add more Passover program listings and Pesach blog posts.