Rick,
Happy New Year. My wife Judy and I had a most wonderful week in Greece with our new friends the Hagerman’s. It was the best trip we have ever taken together as everything was so professionally and carefully planned. Thank you for providing us this opportunity to travel and fellowship with such wonderful Christian folks.  We look forward to working with your company.
In Christ ,

Lindsay Graham, Pastor

Rick & ITT,

I want to thank you and the imagine Team for making it possible for 18 of us to travel to Israel.  From the moment I got your brochure mailed to pastors telling about your company I was impressed.  Of course I checked you out since I had not heard of you.  Everything I checked  turned out to be positive!  This was to be my 3rd trip so I did not want to find myself and others in a difficult situation on the other side of the world.  Though I had been 2 other times this would be my first time to be responsible for everything.  It had to be right.

Here are my impressions:

1. The organization of the trip in the year we spent planning everything was superb.  You provided everything I needed to promote, organize and finalize the trip.  Your staff was always courteous and accommodating in answering the many questions we had.  Even with the cancellations of those who had legitimate reasons they could not go your staff made that an easy process.

2. The organization of the trip once we arrived in Israel was excellent.  I must tell you I was somewhat apprehensive about getting there and wondering if we would connect with your representatives there.  There were no difficulties at all.  They met us and got us through customs without any difficulties.

3.  The guides were superb.  Hezi really caught on with our folks.  He is the pro.  He told us just enough but did not go on and on like some do.  Even the bus driver endeared himself to the group.  On our last night we asked both of them to meet with us before our devotional to present them gifts.  The guides in the Palestinian controlled areas were good too.

4.  The sights we visited were great.  There was a good balance between the Old Testament and New Testament sights.  We had plenty of time to take in each place.  Because of the rain in the Galilee, Hezi and I altered the schedule to make the most out of the days.  That was a plus.

5.  The flights over and back were good, only would have liked a slightly shorter layover in Philadelphia.  That was the only thing our folks had somewhat of an issue with.  Next time I would want to do that differently, if other options were available.

We have about gotten over jet lag and are looking forward to sharing about our trip with our church on December 18th.  Thanks again for everything.  You are much admired by the folks in Israel and now I know why.  You provide an excellent service for pastors to take their members to these special places.

If I can ever be of service to you or provide any recommendations to anybody I would be happy to do so.

Dr. Mack

Dear Rick ,

We had a great trip! I was extremely pleased with everything and I will be using you again for any future trips and have already recommended you to some other friends.

Thanks for Everything.

Dr. Jerry Prevo

All in all our trip was a wonderful experience!  We heard different people say that it was more wonderful than they had anticipated and they were so glad to have the opportunity to go to the Holy Lands.  Our guide Ze’ev was very knowledgeable on Israel’s history and the biblical accounts of the sites that we visited.  We had told everyone before we left to be sure to write down notes and thoughts of each site ASAP because our minds would be saturated with history and scriptures.  Several people made notes as Ze’ev spoke or as soon as we were back on the bus.

Nearly everyone thought that being on the Sea of Galilee and having communion at the Garden Tomb were highlights of the trip.  Lee Mangold has been in ministry for over 50 years and said that this trip was a dream he thought he would never get to experience.  Thanks to his children, he and his wife were able to be with us most of the time at each site.  Lee read our scripture at the Garden Tomb and gave his thoughts of being in Jerusalem.  I don’t think there was a dry eye when he finished. The hotels were all very nice and the food was great at each one.  The flight was very uneventful…which is a good thing.

At no time did we feel that we were in any danger.

It was a wonderful experience and we felt like we were well taken care of both in flight and in Israel.  That being said, Warren & I are ready to return.  We are interested in the 11 day “Second Timer Biblical tour of Israel” with some adjustment for souvenir shopping.

Thank you for a wonderful trip!

Warren & Susan Shake

I have been to Israel more than a dozen times–sometimes on my own doing ministry and sometimes on a tour–and our arrangements through Imagine Tours & Travel were as satisfying as any I’ve experienced. I was particularly pleased that they not only honored my desire to spend time with local Believers in Israel, they made it easy with transportation and guide logistics. We spent time with Arab Christians and Jews alike without any stress or concerns for our safety or schedule. I have worked with many different agencies and have had numerous difficult circumstances related to changing the program or doing things not normal for tour groups or even having the experience tainted by political zealots of one flavor or the other, but Imagine has avoided all those traps resulting in high peace of mind for the host as well as the pilgrims. On our last excursion we had several ‘world travelers’ and veterans of Israel pilgrimages who went out of their way to tell us that this was the best tour experience they had ever had; Imagine certainly played a big part in making our journey so successful!

John W Samples

I’ve been leading groups overseas since the ’70′s, and Imagine Tours is the best travel outfit I’ve ever worked with. Inside Israel, everyone seems to know Rick, and imagine Tours so all the operators, hotels, guides, etc, make sure we are well taken care of. I’ve led three groups to Israel and recruited three others. To date, we have a 100% satisfaction rate — everyone loves this unique and holy experience!

Jim Walter

Our Trinity group had a fabulous trip to Greece and Italy at the end of April. We strongly urge anyone and everyone to take this trip. Working with Rick and his team was so worth it — they take care of everything and are so accomodating.  Top notch guides … fabulous Biblical and Christian sites … great accomodations … can’t say enough how enjoyable it was.  Find out for yourself by booking with Imagine.

Scott Oelhafen

If you are considering taking your people to Israel then I highly recommend Imagine Tours and Travel as your travel company.  Rick Ricart and his staff do an amazing job of arranging the tours with the best of accommodations, arrangements, and guides.  I found them to handle any changes or small issues on the spot and to make every effort to insure that your folks will have the best experience possible.  ITT is my tour company of choice and I urge you to make it yours.

Gene Mims, Pastor

For many years, I wanted to visit Israel.  I always imagined how seeing the land of the Bible, experiencing the culture, and walking in the literal steps of Moses, David, and Jesus would be life-changing for me.  As a pastor, I had high hopes that what I would learn and experience there would give breadth and depth to my teaching ministry.  I didn’t want to merely read in black and white about these places and the world-shaping events that took place there.  I wanted to experience them in color!  When the opportunity presented itself to participate in an affordable Clergy Familiarization Tour with Imagine Tours, I didn’t hesitate.  And even with the accumulation of many years’ worth of high expectations, I was not disappointed.  In fact, the tour was more inspirational and beneficial to me and my ministry than I had hoped for.  Our leader was a gifted pastor and teacher.  Our guide was like a favorite college professor so full of knowledge and insight.  Our tour was exceptional, from the itinerary itself to every detail of lodging, transportation, etc.  From the moment I returned home, I began planning my next trip to Israel, knowing I’d take others with me.  Looking back now, my only regret is waiting so long to go. You’ll be a better student, a better pastor and teacher, and a better follower of Christ because of this experience.  If you can go, go!

Paul Thompson, Pastor,

The Pastors familiarization tour through the land of Israel is truly a “spiritual journey”.  Because a pastor is already a student of Scripture, each biblical site visited becomes rich with meaning and with the presence of the Lord.  The godly and professional leaders of Imagine Tours provide a quality experience for each pastor.  The Israel experience is definitely a “Win-Win” for both the pastor and the church he shepherds.  I highly recommend it! Thank you again for the opportunity!

Cecil Sanders, Pastor

Experience the intimate sharing of Scripture with your members and others through the daily devotions and at the numerous sites. Enrich the lives of your members through their first-hand experience of tracing Christ’s travels and re-living moments of His life. Enjoy the ease and worry-free travel with Imagine Tours & Travel.

Pastor Lyle & Marlene Muller

You will never read the Scriptures in the same way after going on this trip to Israel!  A trip to the Holy Land should be the Fifth Pillar of Christianity.  I believe every Christian should visit the Holy Land if they are able.

Pastor Matthew Brackman

I wish I had this trip 20 years ago.  Seeing the Bible sites was an awesome experience!  It greatly enhanced my look at God’s Word, has boosted my faith, impacted my preaching and teaching, and has invigorated me for ministry.

Pastor Scott Schmieding

Our tour to Israel was special from the beginning.  Imagine Tours’ attention to detail, no surprise pricing, and the staff’s personal attention contributed to a flawless trip. The tour was fabulous-great hotels, great food, a fabulous guide, a schedule that worked, no surprises other than the greatness of what we saw.  It was spiritual and a tour.

Pastor Steve & Peg Bartelt

I regret that I didn’t take this trip earlier in my ministry, ten or twenty years ago.  It has enlivened sermons and Bible studies and brought great joy to many aspects of ministry.  This is a trip that will always be treasured.

Pastor Nathan Brandt

How impressed we are with the leadership of Rick and Imagine Tours and Travel.  Our hosts, Tom and Miriam, were wonderful facilitators and helped us all along the way.  It was a faith enriching in the company of new friends.

Pastor Randy & Carlene Benscoter

Every pastor and every Christian should make it a primary goal to visit the Holy Land ASAP!  Plan and save – but don’t miss it.  Congregations should insist their pastors go, and do everything they can to make it happen!

Pastor Paul Schult

Imagine Tours is a company that really truly cares and is concerned about satisfied customers and more in all things.  It was especially nice to work with a Christian tour company and to have Christian guides in the Holy Land.

Pastor Dennis Kneer

We highly recommend IMAGINE TOURS AND TRAVEL. Their attention to detail, the care shown for individual need, made our tour most enlightening and enjoyable!!  Thanks also to Tom and Miriam for their gracious leadership.

Pastor Lloyd and Karen Bickel

The trip was greater than we expected!   Our guide was a solid scholar, great communicator and beloved brother in Christ.  Like the Emmaus experience:  our hearts burn with love and appreciation as the scriptures were opened!

Ray and Norma Kringel

Dear Prospective Program Leader: I have been leading numerous study tours in various parts of the world with several travel agencies over the years of my long academic carrier. However, in the past ten plus years, I have conducted such programs exclusively with imagine Tours & Travel. I have found their services to be reliable and efficient, their prices competitive, and their client relationships to be courteous. As program leader, I feel confident in placing my groups in their competent, secure care and in being spared the concerns and vexations that often plague group travels abroad. I recommend Imagine without reservation.

Dr. Gilbert Bilezikian

Hi Rick, I recently returned from my first trip to Israel as a tour group leader. Wow! Everything about our tour exceeded my expectations. The meals were delicious with a buffet variety which pleased everyone. Our guide, from Imagine Tours and Travel, did an excellent job of discovering the interests of our group and applying his knowledge and communication skills to give us a wonderful experience. Several in my group mentioned that they were pleased with every aspect of our trip and pleasantly surprised that they never felt unsafe during our entire trip. Even my wife, who is apprehensive of travel to a foreign country, was comfortable the whole time in Israel and definitely wants to join me on the next tour to Israel. No one in our group will ever be the same after our life changing trip!

Pastor Steve DeNicola

I’ve used Imagine Tours for two trips and plan to used them again and again. I have highly recommended them to many of my friends. Rick and his team responded quickly to my questions and concerns. They stayed in touch with us while on our trip. They treated me like I was their only client! Our team felt completely safe on our trip. The tour guide and driver were professional, knowledgeable and personable. They were always attentive to our needs and were flexible to our personal preferences. They cared about us. Their goal was to assure a fantastic experience for our team. For most people a trip to the Holy Land is a once in a lifetime trip. I have taken people all over the world and have used many tour companies. Switching to Imagine Tours was the smartest move I’ve made in a long time. On my last trip to Israel, I met another Imagine tour group. The tour leader has made 65 trips to Israel and he switched to Imagine Tours. Enough said.

Pastor Don Brock

Dear Rick, Amy and imagine Staff: We just returned from Israel, and we would like you to know that our experience was fantastic! Our guide was exceptional and enthusiastic.  He was not only knowledgeable regarding the history and biblical importance of the sites we visited, but he knew how to maneuver our group so as to avoid crowds in a wonderfully efficient way. Our hotels were off the charts!! They were very comfortable, the staff was courteous, and the food was outstanding. Having traveled to Israel many times in the past, I feel that the dollar value for this tour was definitely the best of all our trips.  The extension to Egypt only confirmed this experience. Our people were very pleased and every one of our travelers would recommend Imagine Tours wholeheartedly.  Those who had come with concerns about safety felt completely secure while in the care of ITT.  Thanks again for your servant’s heart which characterizes your business.

Ed Diaz

Our trips with Imagine Tours & Travel to Israel, Egypt and Greece were experiences that exceeded our expectations!  Our accommodations, guides and schedule were superb and safety was never a concern.  As we look forward to our return trips, including “The Footsteps of Paul”, encouraging others to join us is now our goal. Also, Rick and Amy Ricart have become friends who, together with us, share this passion for helping more people experience the Holy Lands!

Pastor Tom and Miriam Krause

Dear Rick, We have not yet met, but I have been the recipient of many blessings due to your wonderful tour company!  I recently travelled with the Search Ministries trip to Israel and Egypt, and I feel compelled to write a short note of thanks for the wonderful experiences I encountered while on that adventure! From the expert Biblical knowledge of all of the Search representatives to the excellent in-country tour guides, my whole trip was fabulous! Ed and Gwen Diaz were superlative in their organization and leadership on the trip to Israel, each working hard to be great hosts by individually spending time with every person on the tour as well as Gwen keeping track of us down to the little details of how many ladies were left in the “coffee out”, before we moved on to the next activity!! :) The devotional time which Ed and the other Search representatives led were inspiring and sincere. In Egypt, Don Barkley was an excellent host and guide, with his knowledge of the area and his determination to keep on learning, he made the entire area exciting as well as very educational. All of the leaders worked hard to allow us to see as many sights as possible, without rushing us, and we were constantly aware of how they were able to get us into unique places while keeping us out of extremely heavy numbers of other tourist groups.  I would also like to mention how knowledgeable and informative the tourist guides were for our groups. Hezi, in Israel, was able to give us a wonderful perspective of the Jewish traditions while maintaining a very respectful knowledge of our Christian beliefs. In Egypt, Heba was super! As an Egyptian with a master’s education level in Egyptology, she knew an infinite amount of details  regarding the history, language, and just plain awe of the ancient people and their treasures! She made Egypt come alive for us! She worked extremely well with our driver, Joshua, who must be commended for his driving skills in Cairo, as well as with Tamir who represented the tour company in Cairo. In addition to the great leaders on the trip, the accommodations were fabulous. I would personally like to thank you for the up-grades with the hotels, noting that the last nights at the beautiful Four Seasons  on the  Nile were the frosting on the cake of a wonderful trip! I have already recommended your tour company to a lady I had met while waiting in the airport to return to the States, and I will continue to sing your company’s praises. Thanks again for an excellent experience!

Debbie Houghton

Dear potential Pilgrim to the Holy Land: I cannot say enough about the trip of a life time to the Promise Land. I am a youth pastor who went on a familiarization trip to see for myself if Israel would be a trip suitable for high schoolers. My biggest concern of bring high schooler’s wasn’’t if the trip would make an impact in their faith, but if it would be safe enough. I have been in other parts of the world outside of the United States including Hungary, Slovakia, and Mexico. With that said, I felt completely safe the entire time and without any hesitation I would feel safe bring a group of high schooler’s. Now having experienced Israel, it has impacted my faith and my understanding of the Bible even more. I enjoy reading it even more now because it comes to life in ways I could never teach. That is why I am so excited about the potential it will have in the lives and hearts of my students. This trip is a MUST if you are even just remotely thinking of going.

Tim Ulrich

Diane and I had the trip of a lifetime to the Holy Land. Rick and his staff were wonderful- all our needs were addressed professionally and Rick and his father endeared themselves to everyone. Our guide could not have been more knowledgeable or sensitive to our needs and desires. The Land of Israel was truly a blessing. We were treated by everyone with courtesy and concern. We experienced nothing that suggested that our safety was in question. My deepest spiritual experiences were praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem and our boat excursion on the Sea of Galilee. We hated to leave and look forward to a return visit within the next year. Thank you Rick for the warm and meaningful spiritual journey into the Land of the Bible and in the footsteps of our Lord.

Don

Having helped plan itineraries for marvelous “heritage tours”of England, Scotland, Ireland and Scandinavia, I know the personal attention Rick Ricart gives to every host pastor, and the unique destinations he works into almost every tour’s travel plan. His imagination — and his flexibility — are phenomenal, and guarantee an outstanding spiritual experience for every tour he organizes.

Rev. Dr. William R. Russell

WOW! What a fantastic trip! I want to take this opportunity to thank you and your excellent team at Imagine Tours & Travel for hosting the April 2005 “Walk in the footsteps of Jesus and Moses Tour” to Jordan and the Holy Land. I am most delighted and blessed that I will co-host my own Holy Land and Greece tour with Imagine Tours & Travel in February 2006. Rick, with your professional leadership always actively involved and your personal friendship enormously compatible and helpful, I can say that I am delighted to work side-by-side with you in all future group tours. Please express my gratitude to your team for their excellent communications, professional print materials, and your guidance into planning and hosting our next tour. You have made my work an easy task. Again, thanks for all you do to make me look good with my travel tour group. Please give special greetings to Senior Ricardo Ricart.

Rev. Dennis W. Ford

We are home safely and trying to play catch up. It was a treat to see you in Israel and to meet your family during the Thanksgiving Festivities. I wanted to thank you for helping us enjoy a wonderful trip to the Holy Land. Everything was so nice and well organized. Your pre-trip work was very evident once we arrived in Israel. You made it very easy for me, a first time tour host, to lead the group and look good. Thanks again for all you did to make our trip a memorable experience. I already look forward to the next trip with Imagine Tours.

Matthew Martin

We would not have traveled to the Holy Land June 5, 2005 without your assurance that we would be safe. Your having visited Israel twice during 2005 helped us know you had the experience and information we needed for a successful trip. Your guidance enabled us to enlist 42 people from our church for our pilgrimage. Rick, this was the most organized and best coordinated itinerary of the five trips I have made to Israel. You carefully chose one of Israel’s best guides for our group and booked outstanding hotels throughout our travel. The land transportation, the food, the flight connections and the inspirational experiences exceeded our expectations. Every member of our group expressed superlative words with heartfelt appreciation for every day we had in the land of the bible. They did complain about the vigorous schedule, but they said they would not have changed one hour of the trip. They even complimented you on the total cost of our trip believing it was an excellent value for the first class services we received. I would like to offer my recommendation to anyone who is considering a trip to Israel. You and your company surpass the services of other travel companies I have used. You have always delivered even more than what you promised. I could not be more pleased with your personal attention to every detail of our trip. I look forward to traveling with Imagine Tours and Travel in the future.

Dr. Jim Collins

Dear Rick, I was most impressed by my recent “In The Footsteps of Paul”, tour to Greece. The tour was very well done and the driver and guide were professional. The ability to see and be in the actual places, in the midst of the ruins, was awe inspiring. In all of my jaunts through Athens and elsewhere I never had any concern for safety nor did anyone give me cause to be concerned. It was a fascinating trip which I’m going to be recommending to others and hope soon to be able to lead another tour group. Imagine tours delivered on what was promised.

Re. Matthew Rusert

First of all I want to thank you for your great hospitality while I was in Israel and secondly let you know that I think your operation is first class. It is not just a business to you but it is where your heart is; and that can only be known by your spirit bearing witness with mine. The trip was an excellent experience and the food and the hotels were better than I expected. This was my first trip to Israel and I left the states with some fear but was quick to find that my fears were unfounded. I felt safer in Israel than I do in St Louis. All of the details were as I had been told and I was very satisfied with the way things were handled. The trip has inspired me to read more of the Bible especially where it concerns places that I have actually visited for myself. When a particular location is mentioned I can see in my mind’s eye where the event took place, which instantly brings it alive as never before. I also learned many things that I would have never learned without having been there. Our guide was a walking book of knowledge and he not only answered our questions but also became a good friend. I also want to mention that our bus driver was simply amazing with his driving skills. I have told everyone since I have been back that it was a trip of a lifetime, and that my only regret was that I waited so long to go and that we are planning to go again.

Jack Johnson

“A Good and Perfect Gift” I went to Israel wanting to see the land where Jesus walked but He gave me more than that; He met me there and opened my eyes to Him in a new way. He was interwoven in everything we did. Nothing that happened was a coincidence; instead, as James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” We had an amazing time of fellowship, worship, teaching and prayer. It was awesome to watch the Lord visibly work in each life and mesh our group together in Him.

Pastor Joel Turner

This is my formal letter to you to thank you for all you and your staff did to help make our trip happen and for all the assistance in making it such a super, fabulous trip with all that you had to do with the millions of details involved for our program. You have won my heart, loyalty and trust and I look forward to our days of working together on our program for next year this and I count you a dear friend.

Linda Morris

Please don’t be cheated out of a wonderful experience that will enhance your ministry. I will continue to go to Israel because I believe it is a ministry in which I can show other people this wonderful land of the Bible. I certainly believe in God’s protection in such a worthy endeavor. We have always had wonderful guides and excellent facilities. I started going to Israel in 1964 with wholesale tours out of New York. They went out of business after several years in going with their company. I later met Richard Ricart and his father and have gone with them ever since. They are the most accommodating people that I have ever had the privilege of knowing. They have always gone “above and beyond the call of duty” to make me and my groups happy and comfortable on ever trip. I can honestly say that I have never ran into any problems with their company. I wish to recommend Imagine Tours and Travel without any reservation for your future travel needs.

Dennis W. Croucher

Having studied and taught the bible for years, there has been, in some ways, a missing piece of the puzzle. Reference materials, geographical maps, study aids all provide essential information in understanding the land of the bible. But none of these compare to having personally walked the land that Jesus and His disciples walked. The scriptures for me have taken on a new dimension, a third dimension. I can now literally see the pools of Bethesda were Jesus healed a crippled man, I can see the steps up to the temple in Jerusalem where Jesus walked, I understand the merchants and the by-standers who observed Him carrying His cross while they bought and sold their wares. It was a fascinating trip that made the bible three dimensional and added that piece of the puzzle. My understanding of the bible will never be the same. And Imagine Tours made it all happen. One of the questions asked of me before and after the trip has been, ”is it safe to travel in Israel?” I must say, I felt safer walking the streets of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv than I do walking the streets of some of our cities in the U.S. I was impressed with the Israeli police and military and never once felt threatened. This was a trip of a lifetime and I want to thank Rick Ricart and the Imagine staff. They have been extremely helpful and accommodating, their experience and contacts in Israel made the trip that much more memorable and I whole heartedly recommend them to coordinate your trip to the Holy Land. In fact, we’ve already started planning our church trip for the future.

Pastor Brad Hall

“Our trip to Israel was more than I ever dreamed it could be!  With all of the unsettledness in the world, Our group felt completely safe at all times. Our trip to Israel made God’s word come alive. The places we’ve always read about became so real during our trip to Israel.  I would like to thank Imagine Tours & Travel and the President Rick Ricart for making our trip to the Holy Land an affordable, safe, trip of a life time!  We look forward to going back soon.” Blessings on you and your business.

Dr. Joe Turner

Dear Rick, To say that our trip to Israel & Egypt went smooth is an understatement! We had a great time! It was a truly a rewarding experience and we will be back! I’ll get back to you with more details soon. Still getting caught up (and now under the weather this week, too).  Have a great weekend. Thanks for everything you and imagine Tours & Travel did on behalf of our group, it was nothing short of amazing!

Howard R Brammer

Dear Rick, We just returned from the best tour of Israel we have had yet! The twelve day tour gave us over 50 sites to visit including Shiloh and an afternoon of leisure at the Hod Resort on the Dead Sea. The pace was ideal. We had several of our guests who were somewhat concerned about safety and security in Israel before we left. One of them had already divided up his toys between his three sons should he not return. He told me after he had been there three days he Emailed home telling them not to expect to receive his toys. He reported everything peaceful. On our return I asked him if he ever even once felt uncomfortable or at risk. He answered “never.” I might add that we traveled to Shiloh, an area that some avoid. We also walked most every evening in Jerusalem’s Old City, and never felt anything but friendliness from everyone we encountered. That you for being so prompt in answering our every question and concern as we prepared for our journey. The accommodations, guide, driver, and organization you provided were more than excellent. Thank you again for your attention to detail. My co-host sent a message to me today saying that he already has half a bus full for our next tour. We will certainly be traveling with you again. Blessings to all of you at Imagine Tours & Travel.

Rick Hopkins

Dear Imagine Tours & Travel: Our recent (June, ’06) tour of Israel and Egypt far exceeded our expectations! We even visited Palestinian-controlled places such as Jericho and Bethlehem and had nothing but excellent experiences. Checkpoints were courteous and quick. Our guides spoke excellent English, and their knowledge of history, culture, and the Bible, combined with engaging personalities, kept us fascinated throughout the days. Imagine Tours knows the great guides! Our excellent hotels, right on the Sea of Galilee, near Jerusalem’s Old City, and when we visited Egypt on the Nile, had all the amenities one could want. We ate like kings and queens at buffet breakfasts and dinners, and we enjoyed Middle Eastern lunches at small family-run places or at a kibbutz each day. Our Lakewood, Colorado church, is already planning a 2007 return trip. Thanks, Rick and Imagine Tours, for making this trip an over-the-top success!

Mary Ann Jeffreys

Dear Rick & Imagine Tours & Travel Staff: First let me thank you for all you did to make our recent Holy Land tour so complete.  I cannot thank you enough.  We enjoyed all of the outstanding spiritual moments and visited all of the significant sites.  But, I wish to write you in regards to another aspect of our journey. It seems that the most asked question while we were in the recruiting stage of the trip was, “Is it safe over there?”  I just wanted to send you a few pictures taken by our group while in Israel.  At one of our stops, I asked an Israeli lady soldier if I could have a picture taken with her. She smiled and said, “Of course.”  Then our group started to ask various soldiers at various locations to have picture taken with them.  Always, unless they were on guard duty, the answer was, “Yes.”  When we arrived in Bethlehem, the people and the soldiers repeatedly welcomed us and thanked us for coming.  We know this area to be totally Palestinian.  You will even see pictures of a couple of our young ladies with a Palestinian soldier as well as a picture of me with a Palestinian soldier. When we arrived for our first night in Jerusalem, we arrived at the end of the day of touring.  After our wonderful supper at the hotel, I asked our group if anyone wanted to go to the Western Wall.  It was after 8 P.M. and dark.  We had been in Israel for three days at this point.  They felt safe. The walk was about 15 minutes to the Damascus Gate.  Then we walked through the little streets right up to the wall.  This was the Jewish Sabbath and the area was full of our Jewish friends worshipping.  I asked a Hasidic Jew if he would speak with us about the experience.  He started to tell us about what was going on in each area and then his father walked up.  His father was a Rabi.  He was delightful and full of knowledge.  It was over an hour that we stood in awe right in front of the Western Wall late into the evening soaking up a true blessing. The experience was one of the highlights of our trip.  Upon arriving back at the hotel, many of our people went to the phone to call home and tell family and friends just how safe the trip had been and how excited they were to be in Israel. While at the Jordan River baptizing eleven of our people, a sweet college girl saw us and asked if we would baptize her.  I asked if she was a Christian she said, “Yes.”  She said she was there alone.  I asked if she had been baptized before.  She said, “As a baby, but now she wanted to be baptized as a Christian for the world to see.” This was another highlight of a great trip. As you know, I have led several trips to Israel before this trip.  They have all been safe and inspiring.  Now I want to plan our next trip to Israel and already have a number who want to go to Greece, Turkey and Patmos for the “Foot Steps of Paul.” I had a group of seventeen people from the ages of 26 to 91.  The amazing thing to me is we all came home with the same impression.  The media has given the world a narrow view of Israel.  Yes, there are radicals everywhere, even in my backyard.  I’m ready to go again tomorrow and several who went with me this time want to go again. Thanks again and blessings on you and your team.

Rev. Charles L. Nelson

Dear Rick & Amy, It’s good to be back home, but we come home with a lot of fond memories and wonderful experiences. The trip was excellent and everyone that went really enjoyed it and were glad they had the opportunity to go. The trip was everything I thought it would be, having been there myself I knew what to expect more or less. But I did have a chance to see some things I didn’t the first time. And for everyone else who was there for the first time, the trip was very impacting for them to now understand what God has done through the land and what He continues to do today. Our tour guides were great. We really enjoyed them, they were very helpful, knowledgeable and very personable. I was very impressed with them. The hotels we stayed at were great; food was excellent. Everyone wanted a couple of more nights of pampering at the Hod hotel by the Dead Sea. Royal Jordanian airlines was fine and uneventful! It allowed us to include Jordan and this benefited the group. All in the entire trip was excellent, it was a blessing being able to be there. I know that everyone who went from our church really enjoyed it. Your staff did a good job in preparing me for the trip. You were very thorough with the info and it helped me a lot. As for the safety of traveling in Israel and Jordan it was a non issue. Nobody felt at all unsafe or at risk. It was a pleasant experience from beginning to end. I look forward to taking another group there in the future (Lord willing). Thanks again Rick for everything – you guys did a great job and I look forward to working with you again someday. God Bless!

Brent Smith

Dear potential Pilgrim to the Holy Land, I cannot say enough about the trip of a life time to the Promise Land. I am a youth pastor who went on a familiarization trip to see for myself if Israel would be a trip suitable for high schooler’s. My biggest concern of bring high schooler’s wasn’t if the trip would make an impact in their faith, but if it would be safe enough. I have been in other parts of the world outside of the United States including Hungary, Slovakia, and Mexico. With that said, I felt completely safe the entire time and without any hesitation I would feel safe bring a group of high schooler’s. Now having experienced Israel, it has impacted my faith and my understanding of the Bible even more. I enjoy reading it even more now because it comes to life in ways I could never teach. That is why I am so excited about the potential it will have in the lives and hearts of my students. This trip is a MUST if you are even just remotely thinking of going.

Tim Ulrich

After experiencing the land of Israel with Rick Ricart and Imagine Tours, I understand why God has chosen this land for His people. It is truly the land flowing with milk and honey. If you want your fellowship or church to experience a new dimension and richness in the Word of God, then I highly recommend traveling with Imagine Tours. Safety!? It is unbelievably safe and they handle everything for you! All you have to do is relax, enjoy the trip and absorb everything God has in store for you.  With 50 years of experience, in-country connections, impeccable service, exceptional food, incredible people and tour guides…trust me; you will not be disappointed with Rick’s ministry to the Body of Christ. I can’t wait to travel with him again. Shalom!

Paul Noetling

“It was a pleasure to go with you to Israel & Jordan with you!” We are so grateful for the opportunity. Your experience and thoroughness in taking care of every detail came through again and again. The transportation, hotels and food were excellent. We can’t say enough about our tour guides either. We felt completely safe at all times and had no problems with the border crossings or checkpoints, even in some places that regularly get media attention. In fact, we saw for ourselves the way the US media misinterpreted events in the area that gave a false impression. There’s no way to really predict just how much a trip like this will change your life. The way we look at the Scriptures is different now. Things we imagined or researched in reference books now come alive in our minds. We are so very glad we went. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to travel with Imagine Tours & Travel. It was an unbelievable experience that we’ll remember for the rest of our lives.

Roy and Becky Eyre

Dear Rick, Having just returned from our fourth trip to the Holy Land, I wanted to tell you that this was the best experience we have ever had. You and Imagine Tours did a wonderful job of taking care of all our needs. You are a joy to work with, and your company really knows how to take care of pastors and their people. The food, hotels, guide, and trip schedule was perfect for our needs. Some of our people were concerned about the safety issues of traveling in Israel, but never once did we feel unsafe. As a matter of fact many in our group commented that they felt safer in Israel than they did in Oklahoma City. I am planning to bring another group next year!  Several of my pastor friends bring groups to Israel. In talking to them about the price, service, and personal touch offered to them by their travel companies, none of them could match what Imagine Tours offered our group. Not only do you represent a great company, but your personal attention to our needs went above and beyond the normal call of duty. Thanks for being my friend and for helping our people experience a trip of a life-time. Already my people are telling me that the Bible has come alive in a way like it has never done before. The impact spiritually of walking where Jesus walked cannot be described. Visiting the Garden of Gethsemane and the Garden Tomb were two of the most moving experiences I have ever had in 35 years of ministry. Thanks.

Dr. Jim Butler

Dear Rick: My name is Shan Caldwell and I am on staff at Indian Creek Christian Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. Prior to my work at Indian Creek I worked with Cincinnati Christian University for 12 years. In both positions I have used the services of Rick Ricart and Imagine Travel. I had used other tour providers before I used Rick’s services, and I actually planned two trips with other providers since I started using Rick, but I have always returned. Rick Ricart provides the most consistent and positive tour services that I have been able to find. I have never purchased an “off the rack” tour, as all of the tours I have led have been custom built to fit the needs of either church groups or groups of college students I have led. These tours have always surpassed what we expected in every way. I cannot recommend his services highly enough, and I am looking forward to my next trip to the lands of the Bible in just a few months with Imagine Travel. You won’t regret it.

Shan Caldwell

Dear Rick: Here are a few remarks pertaining to my recent experience: My trip to Greece, retracing the footsteps of St. Paul, was more than I expected. Around every turn in the road, there lay eye catching vistas–soaring mountains, luscious valleys, marvelous seascapes.  Of course, the endless islands would capture the fancy of any dreamer!  But what made the trip memorable were the Greek people: cheerful, hospitable, fun-loving, unpredictable and full of contagious enthusiasm.  Our tour guide and bus driver epitomized the people! I have preached on the Apostle Paul’s Missionary journeys for years, but now after seeing Mars Hill, the Bema in Corinth, the jail in Philippi and the stream where Lydia was baptized with my own eyes, the texts have come alive.  The digital photos and life changing experiences with keep the memories fresh and real! Thanks for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime!

Dr. Jerry Landrey

Dear Rick, I cannot thank you and your staff enough for an absolutely incredible trip. I had very high expectations going into the trip. I never expected you and your team to surpass my expectations to this degree. Not only was every detail covered, but you went the extra mile in every way.  The tour bus was top notch! The hotels were better than most hotels I use here in the States. And the food – who would have guessed that I would gain weight on the trip? But you really shined on the most important thing, experiencing Israel. This was not merely a trip to Israel, it was a spiritual pilgrimage. Your tour guide led me to a much deeper understanding of the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. He made it fun, but at the same time was very sensitive to the needs of our group. We did not just see Israel; we worshipped the God of the Old and New Testament.  So thank you for making our trip better than I could have ever done on my own. You redefined customer service. This truly is a custom-built experience.

Don Dodge

Even the most spiritually moving location can be made more enjoyable with the right services and accommodations. With imagine Tours & Travel, there’s no worry about the quality of guides, lodging or food. You’ll stay only in approved quality hotels, featuring world-class cuisine and local delicacies. Here’s what some of our recent travelers have had to say: Our trip to Israel this fall was another great success! From our flights, to our accommodations, to the sites we visited, to our bus driver and guide – not to mention the savory food – everything was outstanding. Our group’s safety and security were never a concern, as we enjoyed our spiritual pilgrimage to the land of Israel. Once again, the Imagine Travel team handled our arrangements with skill and personal service. We were blessed beyond measure.

Glen Nudd

For those concerned about safety in Israel & Jordan, We recently returned from leading a large group to the Holy Land on September 19, 2005 and our group never felt unsafe or experience any problems whatsoever. I felt completely safe at all times. This was one of the best overall trip experiences I’ve had in my many years of leading groups. Thank you for all you and the Imagine Tours & Travel Team did on our groups behalf.

Pastor Eugene Kock

Our trip to Israel and Jordan was even better than we imagined. My wife and I had high hopes of experiencing the biblical lands and deepening our understanding of the scriptures. We certainly accomplished those goals, and even more. It was a special blessing to not only meet local people, but also to hear so many languages from around the world. Indeed, there was an amazing mix of pilgrims from around the world. Tour buses and hotels were teeming with people; the holy places were inspirational; the tour guides were informative; the accommodations were wonderful, and we traveled in total safety and comfort. Yes, our trip was more than we imagined, and we have memories to last a lifetime.

Mike Caroline

Shalom Rick, Our recent trip to Israel brought the Bible to life for me. Particularly the Kfar Kedem – Shepherd’s farm biblical tour experience. I am eagerly awaiting our trip back to Israel next year. Your team did a wonderful job. The trip was thoughtful and well organized. At no time did I feel in danger. It is for this reason that I will bring the person I love most (my wife of 30 years) with me on the next visit.

Bradley Tihinen

Rick Ricart has helped me with our church overseas study programs since 1993. I have always found Rick and his organization to be unbeatable in experience, service, price and dependability. The courtesy and response from him and his staff has been great. I can always depend on Imagine Tours & Travel and recommend them to everyone.

Jim Schiltz

Our trip to Israel and Jordan was more that Miriam and I had imagined or hoped for!  The blessings we received as we traveled with Imagine Tours last April was a wonderful experience, and not only for us but also for the 25 who traveled with us.  The hotels were great, the food was wonderful and abundant, and our guides weren’t only a blessing but they became our friends!  We particularly enjoyed our stay at the Olive Tree Hotel near the Old City in Jerusalem! Safety wasn’t even an issue for our group, and we journeyed through the West Bank towns of Bethlehem and Jericho with no concerns.  Our guide and driver were always looking out for “trouble spots”- but found none!  Our folks couldn’t wait to tell their friends “back home” how they had no reason not to go along next time! We’re already looking forward to our next tour, and others are asking “when & where to next “so they can make plans and tell their friends!  We’re convinced to only travel with Imagine Tours from now on!  We’re also going to use them to book our church’s mission trips to both Africa and Central America.

Pastor Tom Krause

Dear Rick, Our pilgrimage to the Holy Land was a blessing. We did not know each other when we began, but by the time we returned, we were close in faith and in spirit. I am happy to recommend Rick Ricart and Imagine Tours and Travel and their services without question. They were easy to work with and arranged the guides, drivers, hotels, flights, and daily Mass, accommodating them to our needs so that we could make the most of the trip. We had an incredible trip, all went as planned without a hitch…Thank you!

Fr. David Scotchie

Dear Prospective Tour Leader: Imagine Travel and Tours is a must for you to explore if you are interested in a tour or in hosting a tour. I have known and worked with Rick Ricart, the President, for nine years plus year. I have had many tours with him mainly to the Holy Land, Greece, Turkey, Italy, Germany, Austria & Switzerland. My experience with him is that he has been most helpful in planning my tours. I have found him to be honest, informative, and quick to answer my needs. He indeed has a pleasant, robust and positive personality. He has charisma. He knows the travel business and has been able to obtain for me good prices plus Christian and knowledgeable guides for my tours. Rick is a Christian, a family man, and is of the highest caliber. I wholeheartedly, without reservation, recommend imagine Travel and Tours for any of your travel needs.

Rev. Luther E. Vogel

Dear Rick & Imagine Tours & Travel Team: Where do I start? How can I begin? Our group from New Life Tabernacle in Beaumont, Texas, had a great trip in March, 2006. As a matter of fact, none of us will ever be the same. Not only do you see it, you live it! We had a group of 18 that traveled with our tour. Our pastor, Rev. L. Charles Treadway, had to cancel 2 days prior because of a medical report of cancer. Our hearts were broken, and we all even had doubts that we could enjoy the trip. However, Pastor Treadway encouraged us all to continue on with our trip and enjoy. We took him at his word! Our accommodations’, rooms, food and bus touring was without flaw! We were just a small part of a large group of tourist in the Holy Land, but we were convinced we had the greatest bus driver, Addie and tour guide, Mr. Israel Cantor, of all tours. As a matter of fact, there was a bonding with these two that when we had to separate, there was a lot of sadness and tears. They worked so well together and gave us a first class tour. It was a pleasure to sit down with them at the evening meals and fellowship. We were so fortunate that our tour guide, Israel, was very knowledgeable and lived his knowledge through every presentation. There were several ministers on our tours, and his expertise really opened the Bible up to them. There was a lot of excitement when we walked paths that Jesus Christ walked. There were sighs of awe and yet tender moments of reverence as we traveled from place to place. It was also wonderful that we could express ourselves the way we wanted to based on our own beliefs. We were given much freedom to allow our ministers to make comments, sing a hymn or whatever we wanted as granted to us by Israel, our guide. I guess some of the highlights for our tour was in the Upper Room and at the Garden Tomb. The Upper Room was the very beginnings for our church as this is where the Holy Ghost fell and the church was born. Once again, the Holy Ghost fell and we all received a new birth experience in worship and praise. Many other groups were also in the room, and they stood back with amazement and joy as we worshipped and as time passed, some of them joined us in worship. Then a beautiful hush fell over all of us as we one by one entered into the empty tomb. We all knew it was empty, but it was wonderful to see it for ourselves and know that He truly lives! Our communion service was awesome as the presence of the Lord hovered over us all. Yes, and there were times that our eyes were wide open with wonder as we saw how the people of Israel really lived. Under the protection of machine gunmen walking the streets and guarding the places that are sacred both to them and to the public. They were all very friendly and several of us had our pictures made with them to show they were there for our protection and were happy to be of service to tourists. Well, I could go day by day, moment by moment, but I must be kind and give others opportunity to share their experiences. I would just like to finish by challenging anyone who has pondered and wished they could make a Holy Land Tour, DO IT!! You never regret what you do nearly as much as what you don’t do! Do yourself a favor, make an Imagine Tours and Travel tour to the Holy Land. They will give you the finest trip you can possibly hope for. Thanks to Rick, Christina and all those that worked so diligent to make our tour a TRULY HUGH SUCCESS AND MEMORABLE ONE!

Dee Phillips

Dear Rick & Imagine Staff: Imagine Tours & Travel did an excellent job in making all of the arrangements for our Greece & Italy tour. We were very satisfied with our flights, lodging, tour guides and meals. We look forward to our next trip with your company. -Rev. Ronald Ash, St. Peter Lutheran Church In October 2006, I led a tour of church-people to Athens, Delphi, and the Greek sites of St. Paul.   We had a totally wonderful experience!   Imagine Tours gave fullest attention to our special requests, and their people in Greece were marvelously attentive and cooperative.  My travelers were bowled over, by the knowledge of our guide, by the quality of our hotel accommodations, and by the meals.   I couldn’t imagine a better firm to deal with.

Fr. Lee Ecola

Being my first trip to the Middle East, and since I was taking my entire family including my 11 year old daughter, I was concerned. Once on the ground, we all felt very safe. You could sense that the nationals wanted us there and wanted our business. We still practiced safe travel tactics like sticking to a travel buddy, asking the guide about what’s safe and what’s not, exercising vigilance for pick pockets. All which are good habits for wherever you travel and primarily served to comfort Dad. I would return without hesitation! Our flights on Royal Jordanian Airlines were great! Our guide in Israel was exceptional and our guide in Jordan was also very good. Having three pastors travel together was a great advantage to the group and made the trip more enjoyable. I’m ready to start the process for our next trip in 2008. Our overall thoughts for the trip was — it was a blast! Thank you again for the good service and a great trip!

Roger Shea