Passover or Pesach is one of the most important Jewish holidays and a highpoint of the Jewish calendar. Luxury Passover getaways to the world’s top tourist destinations allow American Jews to rediscover their sense of freedom and explore the concept of personal and spiritual renewal, while relaxing in truly elegant and sophisticated surroundings.
Tailored Passover vacations create an opportunity to forge a new connection with a Jewish tradition that goes back at least 3,500 years! The ancient Pesach rituals take on new meaning when you celebrate them with a gourmet seder in Jerusalem, or overlooking the sea at a Caribbean beach resort, or even amidst the splendour of the mountains at a kosher-friendly Alpine hotel.
This article looks at three exciting options for kosher Passover travel with an emphasis on comfort, luxury – and the chance to really enjoy one of our oldest Jewish holidays!
Seder by the Sea: The Caribbean Experience
If you’re looking for a luxury travel experience, very little beats the Caribbean’s most famous resorts. 5 star hotels in destinations like Punta Cana and the Bahamas provide some of the world’s best service standards and the advantage is that their sun kissed beaches are only a few hours flight from the US. Imagine an exclusive beachfront seder with white-glove kosher dining and a customized personal experience. The best hotels can fly out kosher chefs to devise special seder menus that blend local produce with imported delicacies, and to cook and supervise food preparation during the Passover vacations.
It’s hard to imagine a more relaxing Passover experience than gazing at the stars and listening to the waves lapping against the shore as you sip a glass of kosher wine and feel a sense of peace with the world. You’ll also be struck by how the ancient seder rituals, first celebrated by our nomadic desert ancestors, continue to resonate and strike a deep spiritual chord.
Kosher Passover travel to the Caribbean creates some wonderful opportunities for fun, or even adventure, on the days of Chol HaMoed. If you’re traveling with kids or grandkids, they’ll love the local watersports, or the chance of a boat ride or a sea fishing trip. There are also hiking trails, as well as spas and luxury shopping excursions for the less active. A warm and sunny April vacation in the Caribbean provides all kinds of family bonding activities.
Jerusalem in Bloom: A Holy Land Holiday
Israel is arguably the top destination for Jewish holiday travel and Pesach is a superb time to visit the country’s luxury resorts. Not only is the country in bloom as winter gives way to spring, but the Jewish people are in full festive mode. Passover brings a specially friendly and welcoming vibe that helps to create a wonderful travel experience. Seders bring family and friends – and sometimes even complete strangers – together and strengthen the sense of family and community. Even tourists quickly get to feel the timeless Passover magic.
Many American Jews think of luxury travel in Israel in terms of Jerusalem’s boutique hotels and gourmet restaurants, Tel Aviv’s bustling cafe scene and sunny beaches, or an exclusive Dead Sea hotel with ultra-modern spa facilities. All of these are amazing options and Jerusalem in particular exerts a powerful emotional and spiritual pull during all the high holidays and Passover in particular. Our Israelite ancestors were commanded to visit Jerusalem for the Shalosh Regalim, and when you spend Passover in Jerusalem, you are upholding a truly ancient tradition.
In fact, there are plenty of other luxury options for Passover vacations in Israel. If you’re looking for a quieter holiday experience, or want to be close to nature, try self-catering for a few days in a luxury zimmer. A specialty Jewish travel company can provide a list of locations in the beautiful Northern hills, or even the stark and spectacular Negev Desert (in a good year the desert will be blooming with wildflowers after late rains).
A zimmer or family-run boutique hotel close to the spiritual centers of Safed or Mount Meron is ideal if you want a more reflective Passover that renews your personal connection to Judaism. Your travel company can also recommend all kinds of interesting and adventurous day trips and guided excursions to archaeological sites, historical synagogues, art galleries, craft stores, or modern hiking trails.
Alpine Elegance: European Passover Retreats
April is the month when the snow covered Swiss, Austrian and French Alps begin to transform into gorgeous Alpine meadows and the sunny lower slopes become a magnet for hikers, ramblers and nature lovers instead of skiers and snowboarders. The spring mountain views are even more stunning than the picture postcard winter scenes and the exclusive Alpine resorts offer a superb Passover escape. Visitors can soak up the crisp mountain mornings, clean air and sunshine, and then sleep soundly during the cool mountain nights.
The Alps might not be the first place you’d associate with Jewish themed holiday travel, but they were once a popular destination for prosperous European Jews. Many resorts are within relatively easy reach of some interesting Jewish heritage destinations if you are in the mood for cultural excursions. The main attraction of the luxury Alpine resorts is their exclusivity and tranquility. If you need to recharge your batteries, or want to spoil yourself with spa experiences and gentle walks. The top Alpine hotels offer a blend of cultural sophistication, luxury and charm that’s hard to beat. They are also accustomed to welcoming Jewish guests and can provide traditional Ashkenazi seder dishes, or kosher versions of gourmet European cuisine.
A Pesach vacation in the Alps is above all an opportunity for quiet contemplation and reflection. There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy good company and meet new friends, but the mountains are conducive to “me-time” and quiet family bonding. Take some good books, or download interesting podcasts or your favorite music and enjoy them against the backdrop of the breathtaking Alpine scenery.
Create the Perfect Travel Itinerary for a Kosher Passover Vacation
Passover is a special family holiday, but the annual seder dinner can become an uninspiring routine. Getting out of the US and celebrating Passover abroad is a wonderful way to reinvigorate your Passover – and to skip all the preparations, chores and stress that come when you host a big family seder.
A luxury Passover break is a great way to relax and reconnect with the deeper meanings and the history behind this important Jewish tradition. You can celebrate freedom, and enjoy the beauty of nature, while experiencing the special sense of community and shared heritage that accompanies Passover in a foreign location. Whether you’re travelling with family, friends, or welcoming strangers to your table, Passover is a time for renewal.
Talk to Gil Travel today about a luxury Passover trip to any of the world’s top travel destinations, as well as exotic and off the beaten track locations like Japan, Morocco or India where local Jewish communities also welcome Passover guests.
