Mazel tov! You have successfully chosen and are now officially going on a Pesach program. You and the family are excited. You can’t wait. This is happening. Now, you can go on a program, go with the flow and make decisions there. Totally doable. or … you could keep reading and put these five tips you’re about to receive and get the most bang out of what is going to be an amazing Pesach.

1. Time it out. When I think back on trips and vacations with my family, the one piece out of all of them that would be amazing to extract would be not ideal timing and rushing. Rushing to get to the airport, rushing to get off the plane, rushing to get ready for Shabbos and Yom Tov. And listen, herding a group from place to place is a lot. As soon as you decide to leave, inevitably, a little person needs to use the facilities. All of that being said, there are ways to soften the inescapable challenges that come with group travel. The remedy, for as much as it can be remedied, is buffer times and patience.

Making sure you have adequate but not too much buffer time between flights or other scheduled events will give the group time for unavoidable delays and lessen that feeling of being in a rush. If you’re worried about extra lag time, keep a deck of cards or a pad of paper and crayons ready, age depending. When you first think about departing for your Passover program after you’ve booked it, consider how and when you would like to arrive and start your vacation, and then work backwards. If you know that you’re going to want a specific amount of time to rest and prepare for Shabbos, include that. If you’re going to want to use the hotel gym or spa, include that. Also helpful to think about is not only travel time but potential jet-lag time. If you want to have energy for the first Shabbos meal or for your kids to be awake, plan your day, travel accordingly and rest times accordingly. And if you have little ones, and they will be at a night meal anywhere around or past their bedtime, when I doubt, always bring the stroller. Always.

2. Next up is packing. Pack smart. Think about the places, climates, activities and possibly countries you’ll be in. You’ll want weather, event, chag or activity relevant clothing, shoes and accessories, and ample country appropriate electrical adapters. You want to be able to charge what you need to charge without having to triage which electronics need the charge the most.

Additionally, make sure to have enough prescription and over-the-counter medications like Children’s Tylenol or whatever your family uses and a thermometer so that if someone isn’t feeling well (such a bummer but it happens), you don’t have to figure out where, how and in what dosages to get them. It’s also a good idea to keep them, as well as your tech chargers with carry-ons or in locations which are easy to access while driving because they’re only helpful if you can reach them easily.

3. Bring the stuff that gives you and your family the warm and fuzzies or that makes you feel more connected to the holiday. Your kid’s Haggadah, song sheets and other Pesach projects that they’ve been slaving away (see what I did there?) for weeks in school — this is what they’ve been waiting for and want to show you at the Seder. Bring them!

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5. Everyone has different things that make you feel like “Pesach is here.” Maybe bring your own Haggadahs if you’re particular; keep in mind that if you’re vacationing in another country and you would like one with translations in your native language, it might be good to bring your own. Maybe you like a Haggadah with lots of commentaries. It may seem small, but I love to bring a reusable yet disposable hot coffee or cold drink cup. I get them at any major coffee chain or even a dollar store. I’ve been doing it for years and I’ve been glad I did each time. Going away on a Pesach program is amazing — and it’s also nice to have a few meaningful items that feel familiar and homey.
6. Book extras early. Upon arriving at a program, or possibly before, there are a number of add-on offerings that guests can benefit from. Everything from private babysitters who will stay in with your kids while you venture out to a night event or later Yom Tov meal out, to boat ride reservations and local excursions, to a massage in the resort spa and even a family photo shoot with the program photographer. These wonderful and enjoyable amenities are offered to enhance your vacation experience and you’ll be glad you booked your spot earlier rather than later as prime slots can fill up.
7. Prioritize your favorite activities. The volume and variety of activities, shiurs, lectures and events scheduled on Pesach programs is incredible. And that’s aside from the hotel amenities. At Kosherica Atlantis Paradise Island, the kids will definitely want to explore The Dig, a maze of underwater corridors and passageways guiding a journey through ancient Atlantis, but also Aquaventure, the resort’s nonstop water experience, with its thrilling water slides and mile-long river ride with high intensity rapids and wave surges.

And that’s aside from their incredible kids’ program. At California’s Upscale Legacy, distinguished speakers such as Rabbi Dovid M. Cohen, Ruchi Cohen, Dr. Jenny Taitz, Rabbi Dr. Moshe Goldfeder, and Rabbi Yaakov Jacknis share engaging and thought-provoking lectures. In Greece’s Kosher Culinary Travel, more than seven different bars and restaurants including cocktails, grill and fries on the beach and prime meats, offer guests countless dining and snacking and foodie moments. You couldn’t do it all if you tried. If you take a look at each program’s page on passoverlistings.com, you can find program highlights, features and amenities. It’s actually mind-boggling how these programs are able to fit the quantity and quality of activities, programs, lectures and other offerings into one Passover vacation.

So what is a guest to do? In this conundrum of entertaining choices, how does one manage? It’s a spectacular problem to have and the answer, my friends, is simply to pace yourself. Passover Listings, with their passoverlistings.com site, WhatsApp and Facebook groups, furnishes users and potential guests with program information that can provide them with an idea of what types of activities and amenities they can expect.

Take that and then, either before arriving at your hotel or once you and your family have had a moment to settle into your room, peruse the program’s schedule. Note the lectures, activities and amenities that intrigue and excite you the most. You might even want to chat with your group and hear what they’re thinking. This way everyone knows what’s important to the group and what you really want to make sure to hit. This way, you won’t be disappointed if you or someone decides to take a longer nap (hello, vacation) or have a lengthier stay by the pool because you already have the events that you know you want to experience in mind.

Hopefully, these tips have provided you with a running start on how to go about getting the max out of your amazing Pesach program. And guess what? Even if you don’t, it’s still going to be amazing. You’ve already signed up for someone to handle all the nuts and bolts of Pesach for you, in a beautiful place with lots of engaging and thrilling activities to experience and — it’s gonna be great.