Lee S.

Susan Weissberg, and the staff at Wyllys Professional Travel, provided me with the journey of a lifetime to Israel and Jordan this past month (June 15, 2010 returning July 7, 2010). I have engaged the services of several Perrin Top Travel Agents over the past decade and while each specialist provided timely service for their specific regional area of expertise, I found Susan particularly efficient, most friendly, flexible in meshing the intricacies of my timetable, and able to return calls in a timely manner. Most importantly, Susan advised then created detailed itineraries based upon the particulars I designated as must-sees then added to my experience as she developed passages to routes less traveled and to Israelis and Jordanians (Jewish, Arab Christian and Arab Islamic) infrequently encountered and thus able to provide magical moments based upon thought-provoking tours, discussions and personal insights: A morning chat with a founder-excavator and conservator of the first century "Jesus" boat at Ginosar preceded a morning hike to the Jordan River's source; shared stories with patrons during an extravagant lunch at a Druid establishment facing Mt. Hermon in the Golan... later that afternoon I visited and spoke with youthful IDF tank commando troops on maneuver; and the day was capped off by a personal wine tasting at Yarden Vineyards. A full day, yes...none of it hurried. Observing the cacophony of a dozen Bar Mitzvah's conducted simultaneously far below (at the Western Wall) as I proceeded to the entry point (for a rare guided personalized tour) of Jerusalem's Temple Mount...exiting Mt. Moriah and proceeding to discuss (historical and pathological) Christ's last earthly moments as we walked the Via Dolorosa's Stations of the Cross finding standing on the spot of execution: Golgotha. Scoring difficult-to-obtain admission for the subterranean tour-talk-walk paralleling the Western Wall's entire length. Strolling Petra's Siq and encountering more than the cliché' "Indiana Jones" moment (as I first caught glimpse of the Treasury)...supplied with a wealth of wisdom regarding the Nabataean culture and archeology from the most knowledgeable of guides. And then preparing (and most happily feasting upon) that evening, under the supervision of Wadi Mousa chefs, a fabulous six course feast at the Petra Kitchen. Susan's knowledge of terrain, subject-history-customs and cuisine, and her innate ability to create a specialized one-of-a-kind itinerary based on budget, time constraints and specified interests is only surpassed by the "contacts" (hotels, guides, transportation) to expert services she has nurtured over the years: While crossing into Jordan at the Arava checkpoint, every step in this intricate process was managed by capable guides. Ditto for entering and leaving the West Bank to visit Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity. Lodgings exceeded my expectations especially at the Akkotel in Akko (Acre) a boutique hotel originally fashioned (now refurbished, owned and operated by the most charming proprietor) as part of the town's Crusader Walls and at the Dead Sea Kibbutz of Ein Gedi (with a private beach and contemporary spa facility). Also, personalized services rendered at Jerusalem's Prima Royale Hotel and Petra's Movenpick Hotel enabled these tourist hotels to function more as intimate inns. I am quite sure that these lodgings realized we were Susan's clients and therefore went out of their way to provide extras in addition to their already superior service. Travel and all related services provided were first class...before, during and following my return home. Susan Weissberg receives my endorsement as deserving of her ranking as one of Wendy Perrin's Top 126 travel agents. Based on her expertise, contacts and caring attitude, I recommend Susan to anyone wishing to travel to Israel and Jordan as the most professional and accommodating of journey coordinators-planners that I have had the pleasure of working with for my 30 plus years of international travel.