Passover travel on a budget (Photo: Envato)
Do you make Pesach every year but dream about going away? Passover is an eight-day holiday that can take anywhere from five days and for some people up to a month to prepare. Some start cleaning and cooking in their Pesach kitchen right after Purim. The holiday of Pesach involves a lot of preparation; cleaning, shopping and cooking. People who work full time might try to do a little bit every night or take off a few days and cram all the cleaning, shopping and cooking into those days but then they come to the Seder completely exhausted.
Don’t assume that there is no way that you can afford a Passover program. Calculate your expenses of making Pesach and don’t forget to include kosher for Pesach food, cleaning, vacation days from work for shopping, cleaning and preparing, and the expense of entertaining the kids, then add in your annual vacation budget and you’ll see that while it isn’t cheap, it is doable. There is also the value of your mental health of dealing with the stress of holiday, which is priceless.
Don’t assume that there is no way that you can afford a Passover program. Calculate your expenses of making Pesach and don’t forget to include kosher for Pesach food, cleaning, vacation days from work for shopping, cleaning and preparing, and the expense of entertaining the kids, then add in your annual vacation budget and you’ll see that while it isn’t cheap, it is doable. There is also the value of your mental health of dealing with the stress of holiday, which is priceless.
There are amazing high-end programs at luxury resorts but there are also more moderately priced Passover programs. There are Passover programs to fit different budgets. Not everyone can afford luxury Pesach resorts with top chefs and known entertainers. There are many modest programs that offer nice accommodations and good food. These are great options for families who are looking to avoid the work and hassle of the holiday without breaking the bank. While there aren’t cheap programs, there are affordable Passover programs to suit a range of budgets.
There are Passover programs on the Adriatc Sea in Split, Croatia (Envato)
Top tips to help you find budget friendly affordable Passover programs
Booking programs early saves money
The earlier you book a program, the more money you save. The Passover program industry is like any other business and they too have Black Friday Sales in November and early-bird discounts. There is usually a lot of availability at that time and the program operators want to fill up the programs. The prices start to go up in January so it’s best to research programs and book as early as possible. There was very high demand for Pesach programs in 2024 and this will probably influence the prices in the future. The more affordable Pesach programs tend to sell out earlier. Based on the demand for Passover Programs in 2024, we expect Passover 2025 to offer more programs and sell out even earlier. Passover 2025 begins on Saturday night, April 12th and ends on Sunday night, April 20th (Saturday night, April 19th in Israel). It’s definitely not too early to start planning for next year.
The easiest money saving tip is to plan ahead and book your trip as early as possible. Passover programs are more affordable if you book early. You might be concerned about booking so early because nobody knows what the future holds. This isn’t an issue if you buy travel insurance. We recommend that travelers purchase travel insurance regardless of when you book your program. Since the COVID pandemic, many vacationers are buying travel insurance and this is especially true when laying out a substantial sum for Passover programs. The most comprehensive coverage is “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage, which can be expensive, but gives you peace of mind. There are travel insurance agents who specialize in travel insurance for Passover programs.
Pesach program prices vary based on amenities. (Photo: Envato)
Check the Hotel Amenities
Only pay for what you need and will use. Many high end Pesach programs are at luxury resorts and spas. These programs often include spa treatments and the resorts feature golf courses, water parks, indoor and outdoor pools, concierge service and more. If you don’t need all these amenities then no reason you should be paying for them. Many programs offer day care, teen programming, lectures and evening entertainment with known names. All of these program features are important to many people so they don’t mind paying for them.
Check what the different programs offer because all of those amenities are built into the price. Decide what you want and need out of your Pesach vacation and find one that meets your requirements. Just because a program is more affordable does not mean that they don’t offer any amenities. Some of these affordable programs offer kids programs and entertainment. The hotels might also have spas, pools and other amenities but are more affordable because of the location.
It’s all about location, location, location
There are certain more “popular” Pesach vacation destinations and these will cost more than other locations. In recent years, there have been some affordable programs organized in more “out of the way” countries. Successful programs on beautiful beaches in Western Europe are very popular and more budget friendly. Some tour operators source local products to keep food costs down. They hire workers from central and eastern Europe as another cost curbing measure. These tour operators know how to offer a quality program for less by cutting out some of the unnecessary frills.
These Passover program operators are able to offer all inclusive programs at 4 or 5 star hotels by choosing more affordable locations. Tour operators can provide nice affordable programs in the Far East. Joining a Passover program to vacation in the Far East is a great way to visit these countries without having to worry about kosher food.
Passover programs in Italy often offer more budget friendly rates. (Photo: Shutterstock)
Programs in the United States and Israel are very popular and tend to be more pricey. If you want to travel then a program in Europe might be within your budget. There are programs in Greece, Italy and Spain. The program operators are able to secure nice hotels and offer gourmet food at a lower price, simply by leaving the “high traffic” areas for Pesach. By vacationing on a beach in Europe instead of Florida or Israel, you can save a lot of money and have a great time.
So are there any cheap Passover programs?
The straight answer is no, but there are ways to make your Passover vacation more affordable. As with everything in life, you get what you pay for but there are ways to reduce your Pesach Vacation costs. Use the tips provided above and invest time in research and preparations to find alternatives to the very expensive popular program .
Conclusion
Passover programs might not cost as much as you expect. It is not a cheap vacation but don’t just assume that you can’t afford to go away. Remember that there is a wide range of pricing options when it comes to Pesach hotels. Find a location that offers more affordable Passover programs. Be sure to book early because these programs tend to sell out fast. What’s better than a Pesach vacation on the beach or anywhere for that matter, with kosher for Passover food that you didn’t have to prepare?