Unedited reviews from Tripadvisor, Google and Facebook.
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Tripadvisor
“Don’t think twice - book Samuel now!”
“Samuel came at the recommendation of my friend, who traveled with him on a Wharton MBA trip. Boy am I glad she told us about him - my boyfriend and I had the best week traveling throughout Israel with Samuel! A few things you need to know about him - 1. Safety - If you’re at all concerned about traveling to Israel, especially to Jerusalem, Samuel is your guy. He was in constant contact with the authorities to make sure that we would be able to enjoy our trip without worry. I felt full confidence in his ability to recommend whether activities in our itinerary were safe, and whether where we were staying was safe. 2. Pre-trip planning - Samuel makes this as easy as possible. From catering the itinerary to your interests, to where to stay on your budget, to the restaurants to dine at, Samuel has you covered. I was amazed at the level of care he took and the amount of time he spent pre-trip to make sure our vacation was exactly to our liking. If you’re a foodie, even more bonus points - per request, Samuel booked us reservations at the best places around the country. 3. Depth of knowledge - Both myself and my boyfriend are total history/culture nerds. Samuel plays at that masters’ level, like a grad-level course in Israeli studies. He’s open to any questions, and gives you straight answers - both sides of the story. 4. Every faith - One of the things I loved most about Samuel was his ability to give the Christian, Jewish and Muslim history of any sight in Israel. So if you’re looking for a specific viewpoint, you’re covered, and if you’re looking for a broad perspective, you’re covered. 5. Unique - The more you travel with Samuel, the more you learn what a unicorn he is. This isn’t your average tour guide - he’s a rapper, a DJ, a former marketer, a professor, and a friend. You won’t be disappointed - I promise. What are you waiting for? Book now!”
“His perspective deepened our own Judeo-Christian roots.”
“Samuel Green is the best! My husband and I had a fabulous time with him, traveling all over Israel. Samuel is a walking encyclopedia with a vast knowledge of geography, history, politics, socioeconomics, religion, culture and so on! You can ask him about anything and he will probably know the answer! Samuel makes these historical sites come alive with his stories and understanding. Furthermore, Samuel’s humor made for so much fun! We laughed as we learned, and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. Throughout our trip, we ended up changing our minds about our plans and Samuel was flexible and so gracious to switch things up. He wanted to make sure that we got to do all the things that we wanted to do while being mindful of our budget. Samuel was also attentive to us on a personal level, taking great care to make sure we were feeling good, protected from the sun and well hydrated. What a great guy! Lastly, my husband and I pastor a Christian church and and we thoroughly enjoyed having the perspective of this wonderful Jewish man. Samuel’s passion for Israel and Judaism greatly enhanced our own understanding of our Judeo-Christian roots as we journeyed through the Holy Land. God’s love towards Israel lasts forever! Ezra 3:11”
“Samuel’s approach is to be our lifelong guide through Israel. He started planning with us long before our trip and continued with advice and answers even after wrapping up our two-day journey through Golan ending in Jerusalem by way of Bet She’an. His passion for Israel and her history comes through in the stories he shares at each site. Whether you’re a first timer to Israel (husband) or a repeat visitor (me), Samuel sets the foundation you’ll need to understand the architecture or historical significance of a site when visiting it. He crafted a route and included sites that matched our interest in Israeli history. He recommended places I’d not experienced so even my 3rd trip to Israel was new. During the drive he added valuable insight into religious history and politics and adjusted the itinerary as our interests evolved. I feel as if we’re going home more educated in all aspects of Israeli culture. (PS - he also helped us find cell phone repair 4 days after our journey ended). Samuel’s contact info is in my address book so I can quickly recommend him to friends headed his way.”
“We just had the BEST travel guide in Tel Aviv! Samuel was knowledgeable, funny, interesting, and a delight to spend time with. He guided us thru the history of Jaffa and Tel Aviv with a tremendous knowledge base. You will not be disappointed! I loved how easy he was either our pace. Highly recommend!”
“We have used many tour guides all over the world....Samuel established a new top standard! Three couples spent all day touring Old Jaffa and Tel Aviv. Very good...wonderful pace...in depth knowledge! Highly recommend Samuel to the world!”
“We were the second family members to tour with Samuel, our daughter first had him with a group and suggested we use him for a private tour. He was wonderful! Samuel is highly educated and knowledgeable. He makes cross references which helped us to place what we were experiencing in historical and current perspectives. He was responsive to our list of sites to see and added his own favorites as well to carry out an overall theme covering geography; archeology; the layers of history, religion and politics, and current issues. He was very communicative in advance of our trip so we could together decide our priorities - this gave us a chance to do some advance reading. He made sure that we were comfortable on the day of the trip including suggesting we dress in layers for the expected weather during the day, and remained ready to modify our plans if we needed to or wanted to. His concern for our well being extended to suggesting a dinner location and making a reservation in advance for us. We felt that we learned so much from Samuel’s tour and whole heartedly recommend him to others. Thanks Samuel for introducing us to the fascinating ancient and current city of Jerusalem.”
“Samuel is the only tour guide in Israel you’ll ever need, if you want a truly fascinating, authentic experience that is customized to your needs and preferences. 10/10. Before the tour: My girlfriend and I contacted Samuel a few weeks prior about a full day tour of Jerusalem. Right away he was very responsive, suggesting itineraries and asking of about our preferences. We felt truly catered to. Logistics were a breeze and Samuel’s pricing is transparent and in-line with other top private tour guides in Israel. During the tour: We spent a full day in Jerusalem with Samuel until we were ready to return home.We never felt rushed to complete the tour. One of the things that separates Samuel from any other tour guide, is his vast and diverse knowledge of history, geography, architecture, cuisine, politics, present-day life, and other topics. Jerusalem is so diverse and has such a rich historic and present-day significance that is it important to have a guide with the right depth and breadth of knowledge. Flexibility is also key. While some stops along the tour were planned (Mount of Olives, Via Dolorosa, etc.) we decided to play the rest of the tour by ear. Wherever we went, Samuel was able to provide relevant and interesting information. When we were hungry, Samuel knew just the right places to stop for a snack, try local cuisine, and take a break. Another thing that separates Samuel from many other tour guides, is his ability to keep you engaged and entertained for a full day - a tall order for anyone! He wove our experiences and stops into themes, organized stories around where we were, and made us feel like we were coming away with a true understanding of the spirit of Jerusalem. And he did it all with great humor and enthusiasm! During your tour, make sure to communicate with Samuel about your needs! Whether it’s a site you want to explore, need to take a break, or anything else, he will make sure that your needs are met. We returned home fully satisfied and inspired by the experience. After the tour: Samuel made sure that we were satisfied with our trip. He later followed up with a few pictures he’d taken along the way, which was much appreciated. When we return, another tour with Samuel will be on the top of our list of things to do.”
“Samuel is an amazing storyteller that presented the history of Tel Aviv in a very unique way we had not experienced elsewhere in any of our travels. There was not question too difficult: architecture to grafetti, history and so much more. We spent 7 hours walking from Jaffe, to Florentin, Neve Tzedek, and onto Rothschild Blvd to Sarona Market: an exciting story everywhere we went - truly exceptional.”
“Samuel took us on a tour around Jaffa and was excellent. He’s incredibly knowledgeable, passionate and funny. I would recommend Samuel for tours across Israel”
“Samuel took my husband and I on a day tour around Jerusalem. He was a great guide, tailors the tour to your interests and has a wealth of knowledge to share. Highly recommended, you won’t be disappointed.”
“This was a cool thing to do for an evening in Jaffa. Samuel is an awesome guide and story teller. His approach definitely makes it a lot more interesting than the typical historical tour. Highly recommend.”
“We have been going to TLV for years and the only thing that came out of that tour is that we should have done it a long time ago. Samuel gave us an insight on how the city has been shaping itself since its inception, both on a historical and religious level, with a hint of poetry... It is the City of Dreamers as he says, and he is definitely one of them. We highly recommend him and we will definitely call him again next time we are in Israel.”
“Exceeded my expectations - Samuel made our trip an incredible one!”
“Samuel made our trip to Israel so much more than my wife and I expected. His vast knowledge of history, culture, and current events make each site visit engaging and fun. This was my first guided trip/vacation and early on it became clear than Samuel had planned everything so carefully that all that I needed to do was relax and enjoy the sites and stories. When I return, I’d be more than happy to reach out to Samuel for further touring events, or just to grab a lunch to catch up. Great guide and great person as well!”
“Sam not only helped me better understand the history of Israel and its relationship with neighboring countries but also helped me think more deeply about human experiences - how does one remember one’s national history, how does one think about one’s identity, how does a place become a holy site, etc. He was a combination of knowledge and fun - traditional and modern - history and myths.”
“Samuel is the perfect tour guide. If you are browsing this site looking for a guide for Israel, do yourself a favor and book with Samuel. I’ve traveled through most of Europe and the Middle East, and this was by far our best tour guide experience. My girlfriend and I spent 8 days one on one with Samuel, visiting everything from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to the Golan Heights and the Negev desert. Here is what you need to know about Samuel. 1) First and most importantly, he is very smart & knowledgeable about Israel and its history. We visited sites from ancient Israel to present, and Samuel had a constant stream of interesting and unique stories to share about both the magnificent history of the times and the everyday people who lived in them. 2) He was HIGHLY flexible. Travelling is and should be about learning, exploring and taking part in an experience you will never forget. This means your plans can change, certain sites take more time than you think, and some won’t be as interesting. We changed plans several times - something that can be tricky when you have an itinerary and set amount of days for travel. Samuel not only was okay with this, but was incredibly helpful along the way. 3) He was very responsive in the pre-trip planning process and did a lot of work to help us pick dates, find hotels, book tickets and more. 4) He went above and beyond the line of a tour guide several times. First, our flights were delayed by an entire day. Samuel was on the phone and in contact throughout the process, rebooking drivers and helping us adjust our plans. After my baggage got lost for several days, took point in getting it tracked down. This was all without being asked. 5) We visited Israel during some of the recent unrest and attacks. Samuel was in constant contact with the police and always aware of where we were safe and where we should avoid. We felt safe at all times. 6) Samuel is simply a good and fun person. By the time our tour was over, we had met his wife and been invited into the home of his friends for a Shabbat dinner. Samuel has a bunch of fun interests in addition to history - music, humor and food among them. 7) He also knows a ton about great food and restaurants. If eating at fine restaurants and finding the best out of the way spots for a great bite is your things, Samuel is your guy. 8) We spoke extensively about the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts. He presented them in a fair and neutral way that I really appreciated. Thanks Samuel!”
“Samuel was informative and engaging throughout our tour of Israel. Always respectful, he accepted questions of any kind, and maintained a neutral context whenever discussing controversial hotspots. I hope that Samuel will be also guide my next trip!”
“Samuel showed us around Tel Aviv, Jaffa, and Jerusalem. He was very knowledgeable and willing to talk about ancient history and more recent history. He also did a great job at linking these historical events to the common day beliefs and culture. Wouldn’t change anything and I won’t be forgetting the sights, history, conversations, or the Food!”
“Samuel is a fount of information on a wide array of topics. His attention to detail and historical accuracy is commendable as is his way of keeping the tour fun and interesting. Highly recommended.”
“We went on a fabulous trip to the north of Israel with Samuel. He took us to interesting and beautiful sites, and was very knowledgeable about the history, geography and political significance of both the sites we visited and many places on the way there and back. He had an answer for all of my many questions! He also took us to a hidden gem of a winery and dairy, which we would never have known about on our own, where we got to taste some of the products and chat to some friendly locals. Overall a great day out and brilliant value for money - highly recommended!”
“Samuel was our guide in both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as part of tours given in conjunction with a wedding. He was very personable and extremely knowledgeable.”
“Sammy had a great, well thought-through and interesting itinerary planned down to every detail. The sights had a nice assortment of different periods and interests, and the explanations provided were entertaining and informative with the right amount of humor and knowledge. He was great at answering questions and taking cues from the crowd about what to spend time on and go into detail. We were very impressed by how smooth all the logistics were from transportation to getting into the sites, as well as food provided. Also having traveled Israel several times on tours, we found this trip to be very off the beaten path and to give great context to the centuries of history and various people who are a part of the land. We learned a lot and had a great day, cannot wait till our next tour with Sammy. Highly recommend to everyone.”
“Sam is a fantastic, knowledgeable tour guide with a wonderful sense of humor. When leading us through Ramle, he put a personal touch on its history, beginning with how the original immigrants would have walked the same roads we walked and seen the very same things we did. He later went into detail of the region’s political history and the city’s origins, taking us from sight to sight, before we finally finished with a unique and memorable boat ride in an 8th century reservoir. Oh, and mustn’t forget to mention lunch: Sam chose an excellent restaurant, and when learning I was vegetarian, made sure that I had a meat-free entree and plenty to eat. I highly recommend Sam and his tours.”
“Sam was the most knowledgeable tour guide I’ve had going to any country! His passion for Israeli history and knack for getting us engaged really struck me and made my trip as memorable as it was. Highly recommended!”
“A tremendous thank you to Sam for a wonderful and comprehensive tour on our 8-day stay in Israel. Sam was simply the best -- very knowledgeable, thorough, and had a really good sense of humor. He planned each day in a very well organized pace without skipping any of the details. His knowledge and passion of each site made us want to learn more about Israel’s history, culture and traditions. Our trip to Israel was truly phenomenal and I very much am thankful for Sam for the amazing, unforgettable experience. We would highly recommend Sam for anyone considering visiting Israel!”
“Samuel is knowledgeable, professional, sensitive, easy to be with and a lot of fun. He took us through the history of Tel Aviv/Jaffa in a whirlwind afternoon. He gave an informative tour with out being pedantic. I loved the way he wove wonderful stories with history and fact. Samuel checked in with us often about how we were doing, hungry, thirsty, tired, up for more etc. I would highly recommend him as a guide and next time we come back to Israel, we would love to have his as our guide.”
“Samuel is a knowledgable, fun and interesting tour guide. He was great at taking all of us around Israel and was always to ask any questions we may have had.”
“Wonderful day tour of Jerusalem with very knowledgeable guide”
“We spent the day touring Jerusalem with Samuel Green- before we left he was in contact with me several times to put together the itinerary we wanted as opposed to a set itinerary which you often get with guides - this way we could do what interested us personally. Samuel was really friendly, knowledgeable, enthusiastic and interesting- he set the pace just right and has a really in depth knowledge of all aspects of Jerusalem. We had a really fulfilling day with him and one which we will remember for a long time.”
“We toured Jaffa with Samuel a week ago. His unique approach, story-telling rather than throwing dates & names, made for a highly enjoyable day and provided a lot context to this highly complex region. Our only regret was that we didn’t tour Jerusalem with him. Also, don’t forget to ask him for a lunch recommendation - ours was at a local venue with the best local food you can ask for. Hummus with beans - still on my mind! This dude knows his stuff: both the art of entertaining yet insightful touring, as well as the region itself.”
“Samuel is one of the best tour guides I’ve met in Israel! His knowledge, passion and love of Israel is incredible and you can really feel it in the tours. Samuel is a native English speaker and is able to put together a tour suitable to your specific style: if its waking up early and getting the most of the day or taking life easy and eating at the best restaurants in Israel, Samuel is for you. I was fortunate to have Samuel as our guide in the Golan Heights. He is very knowledgeable of the region, as well as the history relating to the area - from the Dulman people of 4000 BCE, to the Ottomon Empire and modern day Israel - there was not a question he could not answer! I really feel that Samuel goes the extra mile especially in the preparation in order to ensure your trip runs smoothly.If you have the chance to do a tour with him you will not regret it!”
“Great experience showing us Israel and other parts of the Middle East”
“Sam did an excellent job of guiding us around Israel and made it a point to answer all of our questions no matter how difficult. He gave us an honest view of some of the historical sites we visited. Additionally, he showed us the best social spots in town.”
“Samuel was a delight! His knowledge of israel and how things came to be is amazing and very entertaining. Sam’s stories of the dreamers and how they influenced the development of Israel is very helpful to understand what you see today. He also knows the best way to begin your adventure to set things in perspective. We spent a day walking in Tel Aviv and Jaffa and another day driving (with an excellent driver!) to Zippori, Kiryat Tiv’On, Rothschild park, and a wine and chocolate tasting. Samuel will tailor your trip to your tastes and goals. Thoroughly enjoyed every minute spent with Samuel!! Peter S”
“We gave Samuel the challenge of taking us to places we had not been before and he more than met the brief. We went up to the north of Israel and had a wonderful drive up and Samuel pointed out everything of interest on route. We had a wonderful lunch on a kibbutz where I add one of the best steaks I have ever had!!! Overall it was a wonderful day and nothing was too much trouble for Samuel, he answered every question and told us some wonderful stories and really brought the the sites to life for us. Thanks for everything.”
“When my daughter suggested we hire a private tour guide for Israel, My wife and I were skeptical. It just seemed too expensive. I can now say our time with Samuel was worth every sheckle and more. I can attest to other reviewers comments about his thorough knowledge about the area, both past and present. What I want to make sure people know is how easy it is to be with Samuel. He is kind, attentive an unassuming. He was sure we got what we wanted out of our time in Israel. He constantly was checking in and giving us options. As he got to know us, he tailored our visit to what he thought we would appreciate most. We are Christian and he had Bible passages ready to read at every site. He allowed us time for prayer. He never seemed rushed. He was able to navigate us around the large tour groups and we came away with a very intimate experience of the Holy Land. I personally cannot imagine a better way to experience such a rich, complex and holy area than with Samuel.”
“Samuel gave us a power-packed day rich in experiences in Jaffa/Tel Aviv. He thoughtfully connected the ancient history to the present day. From the start, Samuel was sensitive to our interests, leading us to historical sights, local food, architecture, and Israeli lifestyle. If you choose Samuel, you will certainly have a blast!”
“Samuel took us on a short walking tour of history and stories of the old city of Jaffa. Everything was there from Egyptian Pharoah’s, to Greek Demi gods, Naploen, Turkish Effendi’s, Houses of disrepute and more, all wrapped up in Samuel’s pleasant easy going presentation. Definitely recommended.”
“We were guided by a gentle man whose intellectual capabilities were firmly concentrated on making the tour a most memorable one. Samuel is most obviously passionate, knowledgeable, considerate, caring and capable in his approach to this part of his chosen profession. And lets not forget "most entertaining"”
“Samuel’s guiding service was top notch from start to finish. Samuel was very responsive via email and WhatsApp and answered all my questions in advance, even giving me transportation tips. My husband and I booked a one day tour of Jerusalem and enjoyed the day immensely. Samuel went at our pace and tailored the tour to our backgrounds and requests. He knew some great local restaurants and lots of hidden facts and stories about the Old City. He has a wealth of knowledge and is a great story teller, even sharing visual aids, as needed. He also always had his bible ready to read from directly, according to each place we visited, which we found really added to our experience. Samuel is easy to be around, relaxed, friendly, patient, and funny. He was quick to offer things to help us (paper and pen to write a note at the western wall and even shared his wifi so that I could quickly check in with my kids back home). Samuel had a great understanding of history, religion, culture, holiness, and people. We would recommend his services without hesitation. He is a great resource and a genuinely good person. We enjoyed our time with him.”
“Which guide to use is the most important choice to make about your trip because it sets the tone for everything. From the first email, we could tell that Samuel was the right guide for us. His calm manner, attention to detail, and vast knowledge of all things Israel made our once-in-a-lifetime visit to this beautiful country amazing and unforgettable. Samuel puts a lot of work into your trip even before you get there. First, he finds out what you would like to see and what you’re hoping to get from the experience. Then, he puts together an itinerary to specifically suit your wishes and needs. We couldn’t have seen all of the sites we did without his careful planning. On the tour, he talks just the right amount- not too much and not too little. His description of the sites is spoken with meaningfulness and respect. And if he suggests a restaurant or a place to stop just for dessert- go with it! You won’t be sorry.”
“Treat yourself to the best ever maestro of travel through Tel Aviv-Yafo and beyond.”
“Our one day tour with Samuel Green was beyond expectation. Samuel is not only a fabulous tour guide but a very special multi-talented guy. He crafted a custom walk for us through Tel Aviv-Yafo of the old, new, quirky and unique making modifications on the fly based on what interested us. Samuel also helped us plan our few days on our own that resulted in a wonderful dinner that led us to making new friends. Treat yourself to the best ever maestro of travel through Tel Aviv-Yafo and beyond.”
“This was the second trip my fiancee and I have done with Samuel (I plan to do many more!). This time we spent the day in Akko when Samuel took us around the beautiful old city and crusader tunnels. His breadth of knowledge never fails to amaze me and he has a talent for communicating this in a hugely accessible and amusing way. Knowing that we were into our food, he has arranged a number of stops for us to sample local delicacies both in and outside of the Old City. We look forward to undertaking many more tours with Samuel in the years to come.”
“Spent 11 days in 3 hotels learning and viewing old and new Israel with great guidance from Samuel Green. We saw and learned about everything I always wanted to experience and much more. Samuel was both informative and personable. I highly recommend him.”
“I’ve worked with many, many tour guides all over the world - Samuel was by far one of the greatest. He has everything you want in a tour guide: intelligence, flexibility, patience, and a sense of humor. He took lots of time before our tours to get to know us and what we wanted to see. He curated our tour from scratch and it was extremely worth it. I would recommend him over and over again.”
“Samuel during a week trip guided us among other places to Jerusalem, West Bank, the Golan Heights, the Dead Sea, Tel Aviv. He is very knowledgable, approachable, reliable as well as funny tour guide. Thanks for this great experience! All the best from Switzerland!”
“Due to work schedules, we had to book our trip quite close to our date of departure to Tel Aviv. Samuel was integral in the success being a trip. He was excellent in helping us plan our stay in Jerusalem, The West Bank, and Tel Aviv. Major Takeaways: Samuel is an incredible guide. From history to music, food to planning, Samuel takes his job very seriously and backs up this logistical expertise with knowledge, historical accounts, and a ‘go with the flow’ attitude. He always checked in to ensure we were well fed and well watered (or coffee’d in our case), and we were very happy to learn at every chance. He was open to any and all questions we had as first time travelers to the country, and we were very impressed with him on all accounts. He made us feel as if we were going to local places to eat that were away from major touristy thoroughfares, which also heightened our enjoyment of the entire experience. Jerusalem: We covered one full day of history and walking tour in Jerusalem. Samuel and his driver picked us up from the airport and commenced on our trip to Jerusalem but giving us a historical overview of Israel, complete with maps he had prepared in advance. This was key to understanding this complex country. In Jerusalem, he tailored our trip to what we wished to see, historical and religious landmarks, and even gave us a history of our hotel. He offered excerpts from religious texts to put the sites we were seeing in context and made sure we had a dinner reservation on Friday evening, when many places are closed for the Sabbath. Very thoughtful! West Bank/Dead Sea: Samuel organized a guide for us for the days we spent in Bethlehem, Jericho, Masada, and the Dead Sea. This guide was also very proficient and knowledgeable. We would not have been able to organize this part of the trip on our own, so we were very grateful for Samuel to take the reigns and organize these two days of our trip. Tel Aviv: We booked Samuel for a food tour in Tel Aviv and we went around to many markets, first starting in a typical grocery and moving to open air markets. We were so pleased for this as we explored the many aspects of Jewish, Israeli, and Middle Eastern food. It was clear Samuel knew all the local places that were off the beaten track, and gave us a good history lesson in the families that owned the restaurants/stalls, and the varied tastes involved. We were stuffed afterward and it was delicious!”
“We spent a very special day visiting the Dead Sea and the Old City of Jerusalem with Samuel. We were coming from a relatively low baseline in terms of our existing knowledge of Israel but he made everything very accessible and digestible (without dumbing anything down!). We both got a lot out of the day and we would absolutely recommend Samuel if you are looking for a guide during your time in Israel.”
“My husband and I spent several days travelling with Samuel on a recent trip to Israel. From first contact, he helped organise our itinerary. We spent time in Tel Aviv, Rosh Pina and Jerusalem, with several stops along the way. He is very knowledgeable with an easy sense of humour and you can’t help but feel relaxed in his company. He takes a great pride in his story telling and brought to life the history of the places we visited. Nothing seems too much trouble, and on learning of my interest in birds, we made a managed impromptu stop at a wildlife sanctuary in Hula where we saw thousands of migrating cranes - a truly memorable sight! The hours spent travelling in the car were filled with conversations on many subjects - politics, music and family amongst others. An added pleasure was that Samuel and my husband shared a love of the same football team! What more could you ask for?”
“A witty, brilliantly curated and insightful tour of Jaffa and Tel Aviv by Samuel”
“A few months back my partner and I were lucky enough to have spent a day with Samuel in Tel Aviv. The tour began in Jaffa where Samuel explained the historical significance of the city. At every point Samuel was sure to weave anecdotes, witty tales, and interesting facts into the more serious history of the port. I had previously been in touch with Samuel and explained that we had a keen interest in the food culture of the city. Samuel went to great lengths to make sure we were not disappointed. We went to Hatikvah market (less touristy than The Carmel market). This was undoubtedly a highlight of the whole trip. Samuel had an deep understanding of the market, its traders and history and this meant that we were able to sample the all of the market’s culinary delights - the best Halva we have ever tasted, sabich, and a slightly baffling mixture of Shakshuka and hummus at the counter of a restaurant where everyone was dancing on tables by the end of the meal. After this we meandered through the streets around Rothschild in historical Tel Aviv where Samuel used the architecture and cityscape to tell us about the foundations of the State of Israel. We then ended the tour in a frozen yoghurt shop where Samuel kindly stayed behind for quite some time and answered the multitude of questions we had on the back of everything that we had seen that day. What was obvious to us was that for Samuel this was more than a job. But rather an opportunity to show and explain the country that he cares so passionately about to visitors such as ourselves. We left with an appetite to learn more, visit the country again, and go on more tours with Samuel! We couldn’t recommend him highly enough.”
“Samuel gave us an indepth and thoughtful tour of Jaffa. His approach was original and refreshing—a bit of humor and story telling to keep it lively, which was helpful given the heat. We recommend highly.”
“We had an absolutely amazing time exploring both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv with Samuel! He is very knowledgable, attentive, friendly and always tried his best to cater our itinerary to our needs and wishes. What we enjoyed most was his ability to combine both stories with historical facts - making it more fun to listen and learn about the complex history of Israel. He also made sure to take us to different, less touristy spots and taste the wide variety of food dishes both cities have to offer. Communication with Samuel was always prompt and even after we left Jerusalem to continue our journey we relied on many of his recommendations for restaurants, things to do etc. I would highly, highly recommend him to anyone visiting Israel. You won’t regret it!”
“Excellent and Very Knowledgeable Tour Guide in Israel”
“Samuel is an amazing tour guide, combining a wealth of knowledge, the talent of story telling and a very down-to-earth manner - all of which make touring with Samuel such a joy. We did a two-day tour: one in Tel Aviv/Jaffa and the other in Jerusalem. Samuel prepared the tour by asking us what interested us generally and what we would like to do. From then, he tailored the tour exactly, while allowing a lot of flexibility during the tour. He brought the cities to life with stories of history and mythologies, along with people he know during the tour, e.g., a wonderful chef or the spice shop owner in Carmel Market. During the tour, he is also very attentive to our needs so that he could tailor the tour as we go. We highly recommend Samuel, whether it’s your first time to Israel or want someone who is extremely knowledgable about Israel to provide you with an even deeper insight into a wonderful country.”
“Many thanks to our phenomenal tour guide Samuel! In my husbands words “I’ll never forget Sam!” We had an amazing ten-day guided tour by the legendary “Antithesis”..you’ll have to ask him about his many hats when you meet him. Overall our trip was wonderful! The knowledge gained is priceless and we would never visit Israel again without calling Sam first. Thank you for sharing your light with us. We love you! The Wilsons”
“We visited Jerusalem for a day trip with Samuel as our guide. Having read a lot about this incredible city we could not wait to see it and Samuel was an excellent guide. On the drive from Tel Aviv he explained the day structure and what we would cover based on our interests. We first visited Yad Vashem and Samuel took us through this museum explaining the various events and how that was encapsulated in the museums structure. After this we headed to the western wall but had a lovely lunch on the way. Samuel explained the area surrounding the holy places in great detail and was able to answer all our questions very well and in detail. We managed to fit the western wall and church within the afternoon whilst walking and spending time on the ancient streets and soaking up the local culture. At 5 pm we headed back to Tel Aviv. An incredible day indeed and would highly recommend Samual.”
“Having used Samuel a few years ago and been delighted with his detailed organisation, interesting locations and knowledgeable insights, we decided to book him again for our next trip. We again wanted to try to see some different aspects of the country and this time discussed the possibility of doing a good focused tour as we were aware of the range of high quality food available. Samuel drove us to several places across the country where we were able to try and buy splendid things ranging from amazing olive oil, vegan ice cream, cheeses, direct from the farm organic vegetables and freshly baked goods. Everything was delicious and I ate far too much! Overall we were very impressed with the places selected for our tour as the was no way we would have found them by ourselves. We had a great time. Thank you Samuel for also putting up with my constant need to take photographs along the trip. Again we can recommend using Samuel unreservedly for your trip to Israel!”
“Samuel was a wonderful, helpful and very knowledgeable guide. He took us to places that we had not been to before which was very refreshing and so interesting. We highly recommend Samuel for a fun and informative day.”
“I took a 2 hour long tour of Jaffa with Samuel which I greatly enjoyed. He took us to places in the old city which I’ve never been to before, explained about the history and made sure to throw in the mix some interesting stories and of course humor! Afterwards he gave good recommendations for places to eat lunch in the area. Samuel is a fun and charismatic guide, I highly recommend!”
“Jaffa Day Trip - a most excellent day spent with a most excellent guide”
“This was the last day of our Israel trip and we had half a day before heading to the airport. We were very fortunate to be able to round off our Israeli pilgrimage with Samuel. As a Jew who was born and raised in UK, he afforded us an interesting insight into Jewish beliefs, customs and his thoughts on Judaism. We benefited greatly from his candour, and learnt much about the Jews. His ability to marry the bible, both Old Testament and New Testament, with what we see before us today was especially precious and gave us greater insight into biblical history and context. The day trip to Jaffa was filled with many moments of laughter- through sharing of knowledge and experiences, and story telling. Our group of six enjoyed our time with Samuel tremendously! (My husband especially enjoyed the British humour during the tour) It was a fantastic way to end off our trip on a high note! If you are looking for someone high approachable, knowledgeable and is able to parcel those chunks of information in easy pieces, look no further :) You will not regret choosing Samuel for your Israeli trip! :)”
“Samuel is the best guide we have ever used in Israel. He possesses an Incredible combination of knowing the history and knowing all of the best places to eat, the two things we care most about when we visit. We have visited a number of Israeli cities with him and he always finds the right places to help you fully absorb the importance of each city in the context of Israel. Really an invaluable part of our best trips to Israel. Can’t wait to use him again.”
“We just finished two days of touring with Samuel, and he made our trip fantastic! On the first day, we saw the Christian sites in Galilee and Nazareth, and even stopped by a date farm after Samuel learned that I love dates. The second day was a full day in Jerusalem and the Old City, ending with a trip to the huge Machane Yehuda market to sample a delicious variety of international foods. We loved every minute of it! From the moment we reached out to him, Samuel was prompt in his communications, made the reservation process easy and tailored the tours to our desires. He was organized and on time, and came equipped with maps, diagrams and other visuals to help us understand not only the sites we were seeing, but the political/social/religious backdrops that impacted them. Samuel is extremely knowledgeable, smart and very personable, making conversation easy. We felt comfortable asking questions and telling him what interested us and what did not. We have used private tour guides in several European countries, and Samuel is at the top of the list of those! Take your tours with Samuel - he will be the highlight of your trip!”
“An absolutely incredible experience. Samuel gave an absolutely amazing tour of Jaffa making it interactive and tailoring it to our backgrounds (Classics and History). It was great fun and we learnt so much though stories and anecdotes. I cannot recommend Samuel highly enough!”
“Epic 2 day private tour with best guide (Samuel)”
“My wife and I went on an epic 2 day private tour with Samuel around Masada, the Dead Sea, and Jerusalem. This was a true VIP experience and we felt just like the celebrities Samuel is used to guiding around the country. Overall Samuel is such a knowledgeable guide that captivates you with the way he shares the stories. We loved that he provides all different perspectives to open up thoughtful discussions. Below is a summary of our experience, but Samuel customizes his tours and experiences for exactly what you are looking for. We really appreciated this bespoke approach and highly recommend trusting Samuel with leading your Israel experience. He’s the best! We started from Tel-Aviv with Samuel and our driver, Dror and whose also fantastic, and headed to Masada in a Mercedes van. On the way we learnt a lot around the modern day boarders and politics. The conversation with Samuel made the drive to Masada go by so quick that we almost found ourselves wishing the drive took longer. At Masada Samuel took care of everything to effortlessly get us to the top where we had the most amazing tour and heard all of the different stories that occurred at the site over thousands and thousands of years. We then headed to Dead Sea where Samuel provided us with all our history and background on the sea. We then spent half a day floating at the sea and having luck at one of the top resorts. After our time at the sea we headed to spend the evening at the Waldorf in Jerusalem. The next morning we left from the Waldorf lobby and toured around all of the major sites of Jerusalem. Samuel shared so many great perspectives and historical facts that made the trip so rewarding for us. I had been on tours of Jerusalem before, but nothing like this with the insights and perspectives Samuel could share. After about 8 hours in Jerusalem we headed back to Tel-Aviv where Dror dropped us of for dinner and then picked us up to bring us to the airport. What a great experience! Highly recommended.”
“We are so glad that we had a chance to explore old Jaffa by night with Samuel on one of our last nights in Israel. The many centuries of Jaffa came to life under the moonlight on a warm September evening. Samuel is a gifted story teller - his superb tour wove together histories, legends and lore (and lots of fun puns!). It was unforgettable. Samuel was also incredibly generous and went above and beyond before and after the tour too. We connected with him a few months earlier and gave us the best guidance when it came to planning our trip. He is also a great source of info about Israeli music and has a terrific podcast. Thank you Samuel!”
“Samuel was an excellent guide for our evening tour of Jaffa. He’s is super friendly and amazingly knowledgeable about all things Israel. The evening walk through ancient Jaffa was a delight and Samuel was very attentive, making sure we were happy throughout the tour, and adjusting the pace appropriately. I would definitely recommended Samuel if you’re thinking about a guide anywhere in Israel. He is friendly, personable and a total expert!”
“Great tour! Samuel is a uper knowledgeable and funny. Will definitely go on another tour with him. All-in-all, we had a great time and learned a lot.”
“We spent a delightful relaxed day strolling around Tel Aviv and Jaffa wit Samuel Green. He made it come alive for us with delightful stories and anecdotes that made the history come alive. He is very collaborative and will customize your tour to meet your needs. We recommend him very highly.”
“We had a fantastic day exploring new tel aviv in the morning and jerusalem old city in the afternoon. Sam was a brilliant guide- he was extremely well informed on all topics related to Israel and answered all of our questions- from modern day Israeli life to food, politics, archeology and geography. His routes and stops were well thought through and he tailored the day to anything we wished for. I gained a much better understanding of the cities with Sam than I ever could on my own with a guidebook or from a large group tour. I would throughly recommend Sam and will be bringing my own family back in the future for another tour. Thank you!”
“We recently toured Old Jerusalem with Samuel. As stated by others, he takes the time before hand to understand your interests and desires and also provides guidance based on your input. He is a pleasure to be around and shares his extensive knowledge in an interesting and entertaining way. If I were to return to Israel I would definitely contact Samuel for advice and guiding services as needed.”
“Samuel arranged a wonderful day out for us. He took us to see the really interesting historic site of Beit Guvrin and then an afternoon of wine tasting (at a wonderful Independent boutique winery in the Ella Valley) and even an ice cream stop on the way back, what’s not to love Great education, great food, great tour, great guide.”
“Samuel led a customized 1/2 day tour of Jaffa and Tel Aviv for me and my wife who are both of retirement age. As this was our first trip to Israel and only 8 days in total, we stayed in central Tel Aviv and booked a tour with Samuel on our first day to get a feel for the city and the country. Samuel grew up in the UK and his English is impeccable; email communication to arrange the trip was simple and quick. He met us at our accommodation at the appointed time and took us by cab to Jaffa, where we spent several hours walking through the old city and its remarkable attractions. Samuel is very informative, funny, responsive to questions, and patient--in short, an excellent teacher. In Jaffa, we saw the sights and heard the lore of an ancient city From there, we traveled by cab back to Tel Aviv (Neve Tzedek) and picked up the story of the Zionist movement and the establishment of modern Israel. Samuel is very adept at pointing out important locations and using historical maps and other visual aids to illustrate what he says. After a half day, my wife and I had learned an immense amount and possessed a much improved, high-level understanding of 4,000 years of history in the region, which gave us a strong foundation on which to build the rest of our visit. We can’t recomment Samuel highly enough.”
“Samuel created a fabulous journey of the historical , political , religious and cultural backgrounds of the Old City of Jerusalem. He customised the tour based on our interests and brought clarity to a complex and multi-faceted society. On a personal level, it was very easy to engage with him, and we could move along at our own pace depending on what was required at the time. A thoroughly enjoyable day, and authentic lunch. We came away having a deeper understanding of the country and its people.”
“We just finished touring with Samuel throughout Israel for 5 days. He did a terrific job! He tailored his itinerary to our interests, which he fine-tuned with incisive questions he asked during a phone call at the beginning of the process. He was incredibly informative, humorous, and very easy to be with. He anticipated many of our questions and answered all the others on a variety of topics. Nothing was off-limits. The breadth of Samuel’s knowledge was astounding! He made our visits to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Masada, The Dead Sea, Zippori, and more rich with stories, myths, historical events. He helped us with hotel selection and arranged a very congenial driver for our 2 days in the countryside. My wife and I enthusiastically recommend Samuel as your Israeli guide.”
“Samuel is a fantastic guide and immediately got our attention with his natural and humorous story-telling, making history come alive. He is extremely knowledgable and our trip to Jerusalem was both relaxed and stimulating. Samuel managed to avoid really crowded areas and found little shady spots to recount his tales. Thank you Samuel for a very inspiring 2 days.”
“Samuel is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to uncovering the rich and layered historical and cultural contexts of the cities we visited. His tours are both incredibly informative and equally relaxed and humorous. No doubt we will be back again in the future and we will only be seeking out Samuel for our next tour.”
“We have just completed a private tour for a week with Samuel and would highly recommend his services to anyone contemplating either a short or longer visit to Israel. Samuel tailored our tour to the things we were interested in. We visited Jericho, Bethlehem, the Golan Heights, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and many more sites. From visiting the Syrian border on ATV’s, a private lunch with a Druze family, to a food tour of a Tel Aviv market, Samuel put together an excellent and thorough program. He was very friendly, incredibly knowledgable, and took the time to explain the complex political situation as well as detail the historic significance of the sites we visited. Samuel’s communication throughout the planning and tour was first class. A trip of a lifetime! Thank you Samuel.”
“We did the full-day Jaffa and Tel Aviv tour with Samuel, who was one of the best people we met on our 2-week tour of Israel. He’s fun, informative and very amendable to whatever you want to do. He even brought us to a great Libyan restaurant for lunch. And he’s from England, so language is definitely not an issue. When in Tel Aviv, definitely see Jaffa. It has similarities to Jerusalem but is very much it’s own area and a great contrast to Tel Aviv. Samuel tours other parts of Israel as well, so definitely reach out for activities beyond Tel Aviv. Highly recommend.”
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