PROTEXSIA PLUS | Testimonials

"Harvey and Shari, thank you again for arranging a fabulous week in Israel for us. Once again, you have surpassed all expectations - which were very very high - in terms of organizing the right venues, restaurants, hotel and transportation. We were a bit more casual and chaotic this time around given Meredith’s schedule but the team adapted perfectly. And, of course, having the privilege of spending time with Tomer as we toured was worth the trip in and of itself. He is a true gem. Many thanks as well to Itzik and Avi, who were superb at their job and a pleasure to have as company. Finally, Diane and I cannot tell you how much we appreciate your help finding Meredith the right doctors and being there if she should need you. A full service organization!! Until next time, thank you so very much. Best, Earl Doppelt Greenwich, CT "

—Doppelt Trip to Israel, March 8, 2020

"Thank you both for an amazing trip that exceeded our expectations!! And thank you Harvey for everything you did behind the scenes once we arrived in Israel 🇮🇱Not sure what we will do with all the extra time on our hands. Amy and Ryan Hyman "

—Hyman Bar Mitzvah, February 2020

"Dear Harvey & Shari: I want to thank you and all of your staff at Protexia Plus for your help in making our trip to Israel such a success. You and your team were so professional and responsive to our every need. You made the planning and execution of a group trip to Israel a real pleasure. I would highly recommend you and your team to anyone who is planning a trip to Israel. Thank you, Elie Istrin "

—Valley VillageYarchei kallah group, November 30, 2019 California

"Harvey and Shari, thank you so much for the most memorable family trip to Israel to celebrate our nephew’s Bar Mitzvah during Sukkot and introduce our children and cousins to the beauty and magic of Israel. From matching us with Tomer, our incredible guide who connected so well to the children and adults, to the flexible literary and logistics. Many many thanks. We look forward our next trip and sharing in many more adventures together – Andrew and Lee Fine "

—Fine family trip - Sukkot 2019

"Thank you Harvey, Shari and the entire team at Protexsia for helping to make our time in Israel so enjoyable and stress-free. We KNOW Israel is our home, but with your guidance, expertise, and friendship you made Israel FEEL like home from the moment we stepped off the plane. Can’t wait to be back and sharing simchas with you all soon! "

—Esti and Jeff Stein, Atlanta, GA, June 25, 2019

"Harvey, Shari, and the exquisite team at Protexsia Plus were instrumental in creating a once in a lifetime trip for our whole family. There was no stone unturned when it came to experiencing Israel and their service was impeccable. We had ages 3 years old to late 70's and everything planned will leave memories that we will all cherish forever. Thank you to this phenomenal team for doing it right and better than great! We cant wait to see you all again soon. "

—Cat Cora and Nicole Ehrlich, Los Angeles

"We recently traveled to Israel on a trip with Jewish National Fund and knew that we would call upon Harvey to assist us with transportation details before and after the program. This is the second time we have used Protexsia Plus for a trip to Israel. Once again, it exceeded our expectations as the process was completely seamless. Not only did we use the VIP services when we arrived in Israel, but Harvey worked with us when our plans changed on the last day of our program. He was able to coordinate with a driver to pick us up at the Gush Etzion Winery earlier than we had originally anticipated, as well as have a driver take us to the airport at 1:30 in the morning. Despite the fact that we were not on a program organized through Protexsia Plus, we were in constant communication with Harvey throughout our week in Israel. We even got to meet up for a quick Aroma in the shuk on Friday morning in Jerusalem! We will definitely be using Protexsia Plus on our next visit to Israel! "

—Rachel Herman and Sarah Herman, Beverly Hills, CA

"Dear Harvey, Shari, Sara, and the Protexsiaplus team, Thank you for planning our wonderful visit to Israel! Our three weeks of travel with you were truly magical. You did a fantastic job of planning our itinerary exactly to our needs and desires. Everything was like clockwork, down to the smallest detail. Our guides were exceptional; we learned so much. We found Israeli history fascinating and inspiring. Harvey, you are the perfect “host”, checking in at every turn to offer assistance. We really enjoyed the restaurants you chose for us and we appreciated having our dinners pre-arranged after a long day of touring. Everything was easy and convenient. Our trip was memorable and fun. Thanks for making it so great. Sincerely, Susan and Bill McKinney Denver, Colorado "

—Susan and Bill McKinney, February 2019

"Harvey, Shari and Sara, we arrived home safe and sound last night and already miss each of you and the State of Israel. On behalf of the entire Doppelt family, I want to thank you all for making this past week the most incredible vacation - no, make that the most incredible experience - that we have ever been privileged to enjoy. During my forty year career, I have engaged a number of first rate professional firms. I can count on one hand the number of times that someone has promised perfection and then exceeded it. Protexsia Plus is now on that list. At the risk of overly prolonging this note, let me thank you for the following: First, the overall strategy for the trip. Separating from the wedding party to stay in Jerusalem rather than Tel Aviv was brilliant. We thereby turned our commuting time into touring time. Second, the day-by-day mapping out of the itinerary worked brilliantly. The intelligent way each day flowed, the interesting and inspiring museums, tours and activities you chose, the sensible time allocation for each activity and for the entire day, the terrific restaurants Sara selected, all were perfect. And the ability to improvise on the fly - like when the Merkel security detail did not like our rescue dogs so close - was quite impressive. Third, the tour guides were simply the greatest. Without Tomer and Izzat, the trip would not have been the same. As i have already sung their praises to you, i will not repeat myself here but we fell in love with both of them. (However, I must add that reading no less than eight separate books on Israel before coming over barely enabled me to keep up with Tomer’s riveting explanations of the historical and political significance and implications of each of the museums and sites we visited.) Fourth, the van drivers were wonderful. Amjad and Morat were friendly, courteous, responsible and always exactly where they were supposed to be when they were supposed to be. They could not have been more helpful and agreeable to anything we needed. Not something to take for granted, to be sure. Fifth, the VIP service upon arriving at the airport and then when leaving was spectacular. Both of the teams we had were terrific. I do not like navigating unfamiliar airports - or anything else, for that matter - and this service was invaluable. Like flying private at a more reasonable cost! Finally, and most importantly, your tender loving care throughout the entire process was truly special and very much appreciated. From your collective constant attentiveness and WhatsApp texts to Harvey dropping by for dinner and walking us directly to the King David Light Show (at quite a brisk pace, i might add) to Sara offering to take my daughter to the doctor when Meredith was not feeling well, we always felt that we had close friends in high places to watch over us. In sum, your team made this a remarkable experience that none of us will ever forget. Harvey, when i pressed you before leaving with my last minute questions and requests, you said “just relax; we will take care of everything.” You were right, my friend. Thank you all very much. Best, Earl "

—Doppelt Trip, October 2018

"Dear Harvey and Team, As our relationship of friendship and travel continues for over 20 years, another perfectly executed trip. Every venue expected us and your drivers brought us there within 5 minutes of the schedule. The most exceptional execution was at the cemetery at Har Menuchot, where I was experiencing my first Yahrtzait for my Father. Harvey had his minyan waiting for me. Switched to the van on a side street changing room ready. Minyan had candles for me with proper prayer books of exactly what to say. Then we concluded with kaddish followed by several minutes in which I shared stories of my dad. They listened respectfully and off we went. This trip was with my 9 year old. All the drivers and guides managed to keep his attention at all places constantly. Especially in Hebron where Simcha,the guide was engaging and thought provoking. Protexsia arranged dinner for Friday night with personal greetings from senior management at the new Orient hotel. Very pleasant. Very well done resort in Jerusalem. As always, we had a fabulous time with perfect execution and not one second wasted. Thanks for everything Lehetraot. David Rubin, Los Angeles "

—Rubin Family - Summer 2018

"We cannot speak of any one highlight during our recent trip to Israel. It all began in a small coffee shop in Los Angeles. Harvey Tannenbaum, a partner from Protexsia Plus traveled from Israel to get to know and understand our family’s needs. We might as well have been drinking Turkish coffee since it felt like we had already begun our journey to Israel. His description of what he could offer us was exciting, but what we actually received from Protexsia Plus far exceeded any of our expectations. Harvey and his partner Shari Alter, along with their amazing staff tailored an itinerary for our family of five which allowed us to experience Israel in a way we didn’t think possible. Although not our first time and certainly not our last Tiyyul to Israel, this trip shed a much different light than the others. To begin, we were offered a VIP service when we arrived in Tel Aviv and again for our return trip to Los Angeles. These services included private drivers and special staff who escorted us through passport control and customs very quickly in order to bypass luggage handling, check-in and long lines and security. Once settled, we began a personalized journey full of rich experiences consisting of tours, food and discussions combined with knowledge and wisdom about the peace process. Our cars were always supplied with plenty of water and snacks. Communication took place all day long with the staff as well as with our family. We witnessed first-hand how people not only live side by side with each other but how together they embrace the rich history, beauty, spirituality and safety of the country. We scribbled graffiti on walls in the backstreets of Tel Aviv during a private lesson. We slept at night with open doors to the sound of the crashing waves of the Mediterranean Sea. We were reminded how close Israel is to her neighbors as we stood in the Golan Heights and listened to the Syrian conflict in the distance. The winery and dinner in Tiberias ended a beautiful day of visiting Safet and witnessing baptisms in the Jordan River. Protexsia Plus made all of the arrangements for a most unique day in Petra. They reserved air transportation to and from Eilat, prepared the required visas for entry into Jordan and confirmed that we would have a native Jordanian tour guide. When we arrived in Jerusalem, we knew we were home. Visiting the Kotel during Tishe B’Av was one large solemn community gathering since hundreds of people were at the wall that night. We visited with family. We had culinary experiences in choice restaurants as well as a private tour of Mahane Yehuda’s marketplace ending with a catered lunch in the market. In the West Bank, we traveled to Caliber 3, an anti terror academy with our tour guide Dan, an officer in the Israeli Defense Forces. We learned about some of Israel’s current challenges and how she protects herself from terrorism and we participated in simulation exercises of terrorism which concluded with a voluntary experience using actual weapons. Dan took us to an army base where we were able to observe and ask a lot of questions. We spent two days with Izzat, our Bedouin Israeli tour guide who drove us through safe neighborhoods in the West Bank and joined us for an authentic Shabbat lunch with Dan’s family in the Judea and Samaria settlements. This small summary cannot say enough about Protexsia Plus. Not only did they provide us with many unique opportunities which we could not have experienced on our own, but we came home informed with accurate facts, so we will know better how to engage in conversations with others about the regions in the Middle East. Protexsia Plus will be hearing from us again the next time we travel to Haaretz. "

—The Herman family - Los Angeles

"Dear Shari, Harvey, and Sara, We are so deeply grateful and in awe of you and your team for helping us make the wedding of our dreams a reality. Without your help this last year, none of it would have been possible. To Sara - thank you for being our voice of calm and reason for all things schedule-related for the last several months and especially on the day of the wedding. We will never forget your attentiveness, organization and support, it truly made our day. You are spectacular in what you do. To Harvey - thank you for the endless amount of support and assistance across all categories. You always made yourself available to us and our families at a moment's notice, and it meant so much to us. Your helpful guidance allowed us to make important decisions and get things done smoothly and quickly, and we will always be so grateful for that. To Shari - from late night meetings in NJ and phone calls, to helping us come up with ideas and designs for literally everything, and for taking our vision and making it happen in real life - thank you, thank you, thank you. Your attention to detail is impeccable, and your expertise and reassurance is what kept us sane through every step. We really felt the “above and beyond” approach from all of you and will never forget how this day was our dream come true because of your help. Thank you x1000 and more, please do stay in touch, and hopefully some day soon we will be blessed to be guests at one of the other weddings you plan!! Warmest regards and gratitude, The new Mr. and Mrs. Benny Maidenbaum "

—Maidenbaum Wedding 2018

"Shari and Harvey, Words aren’t enough to describe the most amazing week we’ve had. There were moments I just was speechless. When I go back and think of every moment, the planning, the details, activities and mostly the best organization ever I smile and cherish it in my heart. You have created an incredible company, with excellent people who truly give everything of themselves to help and make everything posible. Sara is an incredible women, she has been so warm and helpful. Our guests were amazed by your personality Harvey and the way you managed every persons needs the best way posible. They all say we would like Harvey to organize our lives! Shari, working with you has been great, I will miss our chats over every detail and idea. And we are so happy for you and your family with the new baby girl. Mazel tov! Rafael was super happy and grateful, he says he didn’t imagine how the week would be, but it was the best week ever and had an amazing time. Thanks to all of you very very much, Valerie and Simon "

—Fishman Bar Mitzvah 2018

"Harvey, Shari, Sara and their incredible team at Protexsia Plus, planned and executed an extraordinary and meaningful Israel trip for our multigenerational family. No detail was spared, no request was insurmountable, from the moment we landed to the moment we boarded to fly home, they were attentive, responsive and happily planned the trip of a lifetime for our family. We look forward to planning our next Israel trip with Protexsia Plus! "

—Kukin Family Trip, January 2018

"Protexsia Plus is THE elite travel concierge service for those wishing to experience Israel at its best. Never have we encountered this level of personal care, thoughtfulness and warmth. For anyone traveling to Israel, we can't recommend Protexia Plus highly enough. Faye and Jonathan Kellerman "

—Faye and Jonathan Kellerman, Trip November 2017

"Thank you Harvey & Shari: It has truly been a trip of a lifetime. We have learned so much and have enjoyed such amazing topography wherever we go. All of our guides have been wonderful but Ofir was outstanding. His knowledge, expertise and his friendly, delightful personality made being with him such a joy. He gracefully put up with me even when I couldn't explore one more historical rock Ofir also took us to great little restaurants. We loved the food!!!!!Overall I can't thank you enough for providing such a lovely, in depth tour of your beautiful country.We love the people, places and historically rich religions of your beautiful country. Israel to me will always be the center of the world. Thank you for all your kind attention on our behalf. Fondly, Toddy and Phoebe "

—July 2017

"I used Protexsia Plus to organize a recent custom - made trip to Israel. I am an experienced traveler and, as a well known academic surgeon, a frequently invited speaker on the world stage. The task I gave the team was to design an experience that covered 3,000 years of biblical history, with an added emphasis on the events which shaped the emergence of modern Israel over the last 100 years. I was not disappointed. After an initial simple questionnaire, I was given historical context choices; then specific choices from that; regions to include; hotel and restaurant choices etc. The guides were carefully chosen to match what I wanted to do. Everything was organized by the company, including a VIP team to expedite my passage in and out of the hectic Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv. Particularly impressive was the twice-daily check-in by Protexisa Plus to be sure that all was well. And impressive as well: the flexibility to change plans along the way, with minimal fuss. I had wanted to visit Israel since I was a child. Never did I expect that this first experience would be so good. I am looking forward to a return trip and I know I will ask Protexsia Plus to look after that as well. "

—First Time Trip to Israel 2016

"I can't begin to express my gratitude for helping create a wedding event that my family, friends, and of course, me will never forget. It was beyond anything I could have hoped for on an emotional, spiritual, physical (Chris is AMAZING!) , and gastronomical level. Not to mention, just plain fun! I haven't stayed up that late since college, and not sure my husband ever has. Each part of the event was perfect. Mashya was amazing - the food beyond belief (and my friends the Zabars are real foodies) and the service excellent. The Jerusalem day was wonderful and meaningful. I loved bringing people to Israel for the first time and having them leave with more understanding and a generally warm feeling for the country. How great is that?!?! Finally, it was such a pleasure working with the two of you! You both said it would come together even when we were nervous, and you were right. A special shoutout to Sara who won my heart on the wedding day. Having her around that day made such a huge difference for both Lily and me and helped bring the stress level down substantially. Can we please bring her to NY!?!? Tell her I so appreciate that she stopped by the dinner at Teresa to say goodbye. I know we have a number of budget/payment issues to resolve and that Lily has been in touch from her honeymoon (as usual, always on top of everything), but I wanted to send a separate note letting you know how much I truly appreciate everything you did to make our time in Israel so unforgettable. That is the perfect word, in fact, unforgettable. Love, Claire "

—Lily & Gal, Wedding 2016

"Our family trip to Israel was truly a trip of a lifetime thanks to protexia plus. Having never been to Israel we were overwhelmed with the prospect of planning our trip,as there is so much to see and do. We had a basic idea of where we wanted to go and what we wanted to see, but we were not sure of the best way to plan our trip. After contacting Harvey with our intensions for the trip he was immediate to respond with a fantastic itinerary. He is very knowledgeable and catered the itinerary to meet all of our families needs. We spent two weeks in Israel, spending time in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Eilat. The moment we arrived in Tel Aviv we were greeted at the airport by Aviad and taken to a beautiful welcoming ceremony overlooking Jerusalem. This really set the tone for the trip and made the experience of visiting Israel very special. Aviad was by far the best tour guide we have ever had. He was incredibly knowledgeable and his passion for Israel was contagious. We learned so much about Israel’s rich history and culture thanks to Aviad. Everyday with Aviad in Israel was better than the last and we are truly grateful to him for showing us the very best of Israel! Thank you so much for planning the most amazing trip for us, we will always remember and cherish it. We look forward to coming back in the future! - The Libin Family Calgary, Alberta, Canada "

—August 24, 2015

"Our guide Gidi was really incredible. Besides being a superb representative of Israel as a whole and an all-around great guy, he is also extremely talented at his job. The tree planting and barbecue dinner near his home were among the most memorable dinners we've ever had. We also appreciated how much personal attention you were able to give us on a regular basis, whether in person or in rapid response to emails and phone calls. We will definitely recommend you to anyone we know who is planning a trip to Israel. All the best, John and Leslie Kurtz New York-August 27, 2014 "

—Kurtz Family Trip, 2014

"We appreciate your attention to the details of our trip. While you took into account our interests it is your knowledge of the country that enabled us to experience and learn so much. Although we did not sit down for ten days, we all slept well on the flight home. Thank you for helping us have such an incredible experience. Marcie, Brooklyn, NY "

—Family Trip 2014

"Having just returned from a most amazing first family trip to Israel, I wanted to take a moment to rave about the people who made it all possible. Harvey and Shari – With 4 little kids – some with severe food allergies - it is difficult to just “play things by ear.” You and your fantastic team – made seamless what could have been very complicated and stressful. You vetted about a bajillion restaurants to make sure that our family was able to eat together (who knew that practically everything in Israel was made with egg??). You connected us with the most talented chef who made our allergy-friendly and fantastically delicious Yom Tov meals. You were accessible and responsive and super-helpful from start to finish. When our much-needed stroller disappeared on Day 1, you lent us a replacement for the duration of the trip. You had snacks and drinks and a wealth of information at the ready. You set us up with the most incredibly sweet and responsible babysitter that my kids took to immediately (they were just disappointed that we couldn’t bring her back to Englewood!). You truly thought of everything and made our trip great and we can’t thank you enough. Until the next trip… With sincere gratitude and appreciation, Orit and Seth Gribetz Englewood, NJ "

—Gribetz Family Trip, 2013

"I just wanted to take a moment and let you know how pleased we were with Harvey and Shari from Protexia Plus. Harvey and Shari were always 2 steps ahead with any and all details, and we were able to fully enjoy our party, as we knew that everything was being taken care of. We can’t wait till our next party in Israel! Sincerely, Edward Honig Lawrence, NY "

—Honig Bar Mitzvah Trip 2013

"Dear Harvey and Shari, We wanted to take this time to Thank You AGAIN for a wonderful trip to Israel. This is our 3rd time using your services and once again your planning and attention to detail was magnificent. From the time we landed in Israel until we departed you and your team were at our service. Our tour guide, Tomer was phenomenal and extremely knowledgeable and accommodating. At this point we consider Tomer to be a member of our family! Protexsia + (Harvey) anticipated our every need and went above and beyond the call of duty (picking up things we ordered at stores). My husband likens you to a symphony conductor - every part of Protexsia+ is in perfect harmony! We have referred friends of ours and they share the same enthusiasm in your services. We look forward to using your services again in the future! Thank you, Drs. Craig and Jackie Reiss "

—January 2019

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