12 Nov 2019
cons:
1)little time spent at each attraction with feeling rushed to move (however the driver has time to run his own erons and see his 'friend'
2) Without us asking he put us in a extortionatly priced souvenir shop(the sign on the shop actually read "for tourists only"). everything was priced in dollars and very high, more then anywhere I had seen In all of Jerusalem. this tour guide insisted on taking the tour group there stating it was well priced and very good. We were getting rushed at the sights we went to see yet why were we insisted to come to this shop?! one word exploitation which is rampant in Jerusalem but was alot more evident on this tour. the tour guide or tour company were obviously getting a cut
3)I was feeling sick before the tour and on the journey the guide was driving like a racing driver doing sharp turns. I asked the driver if he could stop so could be sick or get some air, he stated "how an he stop on the motorway". 2 minutes later we passed a petrol station and a couple of other places where he could have stopped. He plainly wasn't bothered
4) there was only 4 people on this tour , 3 of us had brought a pack lunch so we said no to eating the st Peter's fish but we said we don't mind sitting around whilst the other party member eats. by the way upon hearing we had a pack lunch the tour guide stated "well that's nice of you"- whatever that means. anyway fast forward a few hours to 2.30pm, the tour guide states to the 4th person waiting for his lunch, "we have all decided not to eat lunch". like wtf! I just felt very sorry for this individual who must have been so hungry.
5)on the way home the tour guide actually stated "we don't get paid much as we are expected to make money via tips, so I expect 25 shekels from each person" (btw we are a family of 3 so he was actually expecting 75 shekels from us). well this is a load of crap, I went one tour 2 days prior, the tour guide simply had a hat at the front of the tour bus which said "tips". With no formal request for tips. especially after a bad day and spending £95 plus per person for this tour.
Pros:
1) the tour guide was knowledgeable
2) we purchased fresh pineapples on the way home after the driver stopped (I'm guessing only because he actually wanted to take some home also)
3) the tour group was small