We had just finished dropping off our respective carpools and peeled our Odysseys into the Starbucks lot when we sat down and waited for our names to butchered by the barista shouting them out, letting us know our drinks were ready. I was taking my first sip when Shana told me she was looking into going on a Pesach program. “I’m 70% happy for you and 30% jealous.” She nervously smiled, excited but unsure. I thought those were decently generous numbers considering the real ones were way off from the ones I gave. I was surprised because whenever the mention of Passover programs came up at the Shabbos table, it made her husband’s eyes bulge and his head shake. “Not happening! I love you and also not happening,” he would say.
“Well, I’m just starting to research. I want to figure some stuff out before I talk to Dov about it, she whispered. She said that she wanted to have it all worked out; to have a whole plan to present to her husband including all of the detailed information so they could have a real conversation about it. “Do you know where you want to go,” I asked. “No clue, but I can ask so and so and she has been before.” I figured that just going away was amazing and, well, how different could one program be from another? I generally like to think I know a lot of things about a lot of things but I am fine with sharing that after I helped her explore her options and carry out her plan, I can say that I was very very wrong.
Pesach Programs can vary a ton in FOOD (obviously), location, crowd, amenities, chol hamoed entertainment, speakers, kids’ programs, room options, weather, PRICING (the other obvious factor) and more. I remembered that another friend had attended a program in Florida and that her family found it through Passover Listings. Their family consisted of a sizable group with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins- everyone including the dog, and so finding a package with the right price and offerings for everyone was key. Her father-in-law had used the Passover Listings Pesach Program Pricing Tool to guide his search, based on their budget. He was also able to search based on country and state, which was particularly helpful because one family member was expecting and another was elderly. Flying was out of the question.
The site also includes reviews from actual attendees. My first thought was- but are they really people who went on the programs and are they really giving their true opinions? I learned that the answer was yes. In many cases, while not bashing a program, they shared honest reviews- including critiques about what they wished had been different and were frustrated by, as well as raves and accolades about what they and their families and friends loved and enjoyed. You can really learn about the various programs’ highlights, focuses and strengths and possibly things that are still being worked on. You could tell that the reviews were real since because they weren’t all roses and butterflies. They were real opinions and experiences being posted to help others find the program that they would enjoy.
Shana decided that one of the most important pieces of this pie (pun intended), was the kids’ program. She knew of a friend who had attended a program, having made the big decision to go away instead of staying home, knowing that she needed a break and wanted the kids to be engaged in a kids’ program. What she thought would be a dream vacation ended up quite the opposite. While the food was good, the activities fun, and the crowd nice, on day one of bringing her kids to the group, she discovered that the counselors were severely understaffed. The ratios were unsafe and they even lost a child the first day. She and her husband had made the choice to spend this money and go way to relax, and that relaxation never came. The friend had tried to speak with the owner of the program but he didn’t say much.
So, knowing all this, Shana knew that if she was going to sell her husband on going away for chag, it had to be a program with an excellent, safe, and well-staffed kids’ program. In addition the site, Passover Listings also has WhatsApp and Facebook Groups, called Passover Program Reviews, where prospective program attendees ask questions and engage with program runners and past attendees to help direct them toward the best options for them. Nobody can tell you more about a specific program or location better than those who have attended and experienced it firsthand. Shana was able to ask questions, read through reviews and comments, and look through pictures to see which kids’ program would best suit her family, with its range of ages and interests.
Shana decided today was the day. She was going to present Dov with the most thought-out, no-detail-left-behind-plan for their first amazing Pesach away from home. She knew the questions he would ask and she had the answers, ready to go. She cooked his favorite dinner and was prepared to watch his favorite movie and she wasn’t going to roll her eyes once tonight. Once the kids were asleep, she sat him down to have the big talk. “I got this,” she thought. “There’s no way he could say no,” she assured herself.
“I know it’s early,” she started, but I’ve been thinking about Pesach.” He started to interrupt, “Listen…” “I know you’ve always been resistant but I want to go away for Pesach and I really think—-” “Shana…” “Just hear me out,” she continued.” “Shana..” “Just listen!” “Shana…” “Would it hurt just to listen?” She was growing frustrated. She had done so much research- price, crowd, kids’ groups, shiurim, minyanim, a private seder….why couldn’t he just listen, she wondered.
“Shana- we ARE going away. I wanted to surprise you. I found a Pesach program site and was able to look up reviews and I booked it and I can’t wait for us to have the best Pesach,” he revealed.
“That’s it?” He nodded. “We’re really going?!?!” “Yup, he smiled.” She ran out of the room. “Where are you going,” he laughed. She ran back in with her phone. “Pesach is 5 months away! I need to start shopping!”
… And thus began their journey to their dream Pesach vacation.
