I went on Ami's Costa Rica trip for Jewish young professionals in July 2016. I'd never been to Costa Rica before and it was an amazing adventure, full of new experiences and new friends. Some people are commenting that it wasn't the "relaxing" vacation they were seeking. I'd suggest that if you want to lie on a beach having cocktails for a week, then you should just book a stay at an all-inclusive resort. I'm not saying that in a mean way - I can totally understand wanting to just chill out. But if you want an adventure with fun hikes and unique experiences, travel to Costa Rica with Ami! And, while you'll have adventures, you'll still stay in nice hotels and lodges, in both city and jungle. Some of the hotels have lovely swimming pools. And there will be breaks when you can hang at a beach, or go for a walk yourself in a little village, or relax in hot springs on a mountain. A few of us wound up in a bar one night and joined a salsa lesson. So the trip is a nice mix of hiking and relaxing. But, like I said, this isn't just checking into fancy hotel and relaxing for a week. You'll be in remote locations, and you need to know some tips. I'll think of some tips to put here, but you can also contact me for more tips. SLEEPING TIP: One night in the jungle, I didn't realize that you're supposed to leave your balcony door open to let air circulate. So I got really hot. But once I learned that trick, sleeping was fine. EARLY MORNING WARNING: Mornings start pretty early, sometimes like 5 or 6am, so that you can get to locations and make the most of each day. I remember a particularly early morning before the white water rafting. But you can ask Ami what your particular trip schedule will be. BUS RIDES: Like one review mentions, there are lots of van rides around the country. But they were comfy, and the guide tells stories about what you're passing. You can chat with your new friends, or listen to podcasts on your phone. SUN PROTECTION: Especially when rafting, be like me and wear long sleeves, a hat, and sunscreen. Don't be like the pale girl who thought she could sit in the jungle sun all day without protection. And here are some of the experiences: FLOAT DOWN A RIVER: Toward the end of the rafting, we got to get out of the raft and float down the river with just out life jacket. That was an epic experience like nothing else I've ever done! JUNGLE HIKES: The trip isn't full of gruelling physical challenges or anything. It's just like nice hikes through the jungle. One guide took us through a jungle and showed us plants and wildlife. Another guide took us through the jungle surrounding his resort, showing us all the medicinal plants he's growing. We walked up a path along a volcano and saw a great view of steam coming from the earth. We walked around an animal sanctuary and saw cute monkeys. LOTS OF GREAT FOOD: We also had nice hearty dinners at delicious restaurants. Costa Rican food, Israeli food, a buffet at a jungle resort... I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. TURTLES ON A BEACH AT NIGHT: We joined a tour to see turtles laying eggs in the darkness on a beach. You don't see that every day in your regular life! Now, I'm sure every one of Ami's trips is different, and he's learning and changing things with each trip. So you can talk to him about what specifically your trip will contain. And, in addition to the group trips, he also plans custom trips for couples, families, etc. It took me a few days to get into the rhythm of early mornings and hitting so many locations. But that might just be my personal rhythm - I might just be kinda lazy. I found the early mornings on a different company's Israel group trip tough to handle too. Also, I thought I'd have time to do my voice acting from my laptop or go to the gym. But this was not that kind of trip. Every day was full. So be ready to devote yourself to having a bunch of new adventures for the week. By the end, I'd made a couple of loyal friends who came with me to help me find my iPhone which it turns out I'd dropped in a cab. And I'm glad I pushed myself to do all the adventures, even scary ones like floating in the river and zip-lining high above the jungle. I wouldn't have wanted to miss anything. I didn't have the guts to put a spider on my head or eat live bugs during a jungle hike, like one of the trip members did. But, I did get a video of him doing that. By the end, I was enjoying Costa Rica so much, I didn't want the trip to end. So, at the end of the trip, I changed my flight to a few days later, and I hung out with Ami, checking out new hotels for future trips. Ami is very knowledgable about Costa Rica and he genuinely cares about you and wants you to have a great time. Because every minute was filled with new experiences, I filmed so much that, 2 years later, I'm still editing it. But I'll be posting vlogs soon. So follow me at: http://facebook.com/joshrachlis http://instagram.com/joshrachlis http://youtube.com/joshrachlis read more

The worst trip of my life, be aware of amir he's sneaky arrogant and disrespectful. Amit Greener shouldn't be around kids. So it all started with the way the trip took off, we had to wait hours for amir to arrive, he then was very rude and impatient. We asked to see maps and relevant information for our trip and Amir refuse to acomódate our requests. read more

STEER CLEAR OF THIS TRIP ORGANIZER!!! This is a review of the Jewish Young Professionals trip based on my experience on the summer 2019. This trip organizer is entirely unreliable and knowingly lies to potential participants. Various participants were lied to about everything from the age group of the trip, to accommodations of allergies, to accommodations of shabbat and kashrut observance. This trip is also overpriced for the quality and full of hidden costs. On the trip I was on it is laughable how far removed the original itinerary from when the trip was "called" was from the actual itinerary which we received just days before the trip. First a couple of things regarding safety. One day we went white water rafting, the rafting company specifically breaks the trip with lunch to ensure everyone has high energy levels throughout. Greener went out of his way to have the rafting company skip the lunch portion which resulted in exhaustion in many of the group members and even a boat flipping over towards the end. This was despite the rafting company raising concerns and the group members protesting the decision. There was a trip participant with several severe food allergies. I will spare the personal details but anyone involved with operating a tour group knows that these are without exaggeration life and death issues. Greener was emailed beforehand indicating the full list of allergies. During the trip the participant twice had to use an epipen due to mishandling of this, and multiple times on top of that had to wait until after the rest of the group had eaten for food to be made as Greener did not make arrangements for this in advance. MOST CRITICALLY Greener admitted to not even having read the allergy list because it was "really long" For those shabbat observant this is not the trip for you. Greener repeatedly confirmed no driving on shabbat, and within 2 hours of shabbat starting asked everyone to get into a van. Greener had made excuses here that he is "saving your life" which trumps shabbat. This is obviously not valid, and on top of that would not explain why it was necessary to lie about this both before the trip and even an hour before shabbat. I really cannot fathom why Jewish observance would not be respected. In the interest of keeping this readable I've limited myself to a small number of examples, but this is honestly the tip of the iceberg. If you would like to hear more please feel free to message me directly and I'd be happy to answer questions you have or put you in touch with other trip participants. My recommendation to the tour operator would be to value the safety and needs of his customers over the value of a dollar, and stop organizing trips immediately. If you want to personally travel for free try a GoFundMe or maybe beg for money. read more

I went to Costa Rica for nine amazing nights. Ami organized this trip so nicely, to the smallest details (activities, hotels and meals). Thanks for a superb life experience! read more

Greener Travel - Travel Services Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I used Greener Travel recently for a 12 day trip to Costa Rica, and am so glad to have the assistance in planning the trip. My friend and I wanted to have a getaway after having a crazy year working as healthcare providers in NYC during the pandemic. Since we both were vaccinated, we took the chance to do a trip to CR knowing we would be safe since it was mostly all outdoors. Ami took his time to listen to what we wanted out of the trip in terms of budget, location, activities, hotel experiences, safety, and transfer services. He took into consideration everything we talked about and even accommodated for our specific asks in hotels. Yes, you could book everything yourself, but having someone we could be in constant contact with and was able to get on the phone immediately when we ran into issues was stress relieving. For example, the shuttle service that was booked had not arrived in the time we reserved, so I contacted Ami, and he called the company directly and was able to handle all the customer service issues for us. There was no need to get on the phone and deal with a language barrier and being placed on hold. Luckily, our driver happened to be there the whole time, he just had the wrong names on his sign. Ami created a great itinerary for us, and it was really nice to have everything planned out in detail. He made great recommendations that we probably wouldn't have considered. Normally, I'm the type to do tons and tons of research and do all my booking, creating my own detailed itinerary. But this was the perfect respite after a crazy year, and Greener Travel made planning effortless. All we had to do was make sure we were ready at the times noted, and we were off for an adventure everyday! We knew we wanted some downtime, so Greener Travel made sure to include "relaxation" days for us through our 12 day itinerary. Communication was great and reliable. We had such a good time and love Costa Rica, and thankful to have Greener Travel to assist us. One more thing, If you're adventurous, definitely do the rafting and rappelling in Arenal! It was our favorite adventure day! read more

Earlier this month, I joined my second Greener Travel group tour: a 4-day winter adventure to the frozen Lake Umbagog on the Maine/New Hampshire border. I was excited to be on the trip, as I had never been skiing, dog-sledding or camping in the snow, nor had I ever seen a frozen lake. I got to enjoy all of these experiences and more, thanks to the efforts of Greener Travel's well-organized, friendly and conscientious partners: Mahoosuc Guide Service and Burning Bush Adventures. Before leaving my home in Washington DC for the flight to Portland, Maine, I prepared for the trip by buying and packing several items of winter apparel and camping gear on a Mahoosuc-recommended list, which also detailed additional winter items that would be provided to us in Maine. The excursion began with a one-night stay at Mahoosuc's lodge in the small community of Newry. My group had arrived at the lodge at about 8pm, after a shuttle van drove us from the Portland jetport (a roughly 2-hour journey). Mahoosuc founder Polly and her staff Emily, Kate and Zach, along with Howard Cohen of Burning Bush, greeted all of us warmly. They also patiently and helpfully ensured that each of us had the gear that we needed for the journey, supplying us with sleeping bags, winter parkas, boots with gaiters to slide over them, and mukluks with booties to wear around the camp. We also were provided with large backpacks to bring our personal belongings and other supplies with us. I then had a good night's sleep in the lodge, which offers comfortable bunk beds and clean bathrooms with showers. The next morning, we sat down to a delicious breakfast - one of many great meals prepared by Emily during the trip. We also were introduced to the delightful Yukon Huskies who would accompany us on the journey. As we soon learned, the huskies love to be petted, apart from a few who are shy. Next, the Mahoosuc team drove us from Newry to the New Hampshire side of Lake Umbagog, where our group split in two. Some of us volunteered to ski across the lake to the camp several miles away, while the others boarded the dog sleds to mush their way to the site. I chose to don the skis - a new experience for me - and was given some useful tips by Howard about how to maneuver over the snow. We skied along at a reasonable pace, considering that most of us were novices, and took a time-out for a picnic on the snow-covered lake. Mahoosuc provided plentiful snacks for us to eat between meals, ensuring that we were well-fed and energized for our physical activities. Our camp was in a forested area on the edge of the scenic lake. The site had three large tepee-style tents, one of which served as a food preparation and meal hub. An outhouse with a padded toilet seat and toilet paper was located a short walk from there. All of the tents were neatly padded with fir boughs and rubber sheets at the base, and heated with wood-fired ovens. Mahoosuc staff did a good job of supplying the ovens with wood as we went to sleep, and then re-supplying them as we woke up. In between, the ovens did not burn, and the tents cooled down significantly. But Mahoosuc staff provided us each with two sleeping bags and offered tips on how to insulate ourselves through the night, which helped me to stay warm. The huskies were positioned around the tents and were mostly quiet after dark, although they did have a few barking spells. On the second and third days of the trip, I had my opportunity to mush with the huskies - easily the highlight of my adventure. Before we set off, Polly and Cate gave us instructions on how to stand at the back of the sled, how to communicate with the dogs to start and stop, how to brake, and how to lean forward or backward to keep the sled upright while going around a bend. As we glided along the frozen lake, I savored the stunning landscape as well as the chance to learn how to handle a dog sled. By the end of the excursion, I had gained a new appreciation for the ways that dogs can enrich our lives, as well as how we can give back to them. Overall, I would say the trip had physically demanding aspects, including the cross-country skiing, mushing, and coping with cold temperatures. But, as someone who is in physically good shape, I was confident that I could handle these challenges. And Greener Travel and its partners worked hard to ensure that I was comfortable, safe and having fun. read more

Since 2015 one of my friends introduced greener travel to me. Ami , is a person I worked with. He is wonderful. Precise detail oriented and provide every thing that I asked for. I went to st Miguel de Allende , chapala, Guadalajara and Porto noevo He reserved my tickets , my hotels ( excellent ) , private tour guide to pick me up and spent the days with me showing me the city , museums the town , shopping , churches restaurants , night shows.also he arranged with realeastate agents to Show me places to buy or rent for future investment as I asked for. Excellent travel agency , serviceswith perfect detailed itenary , excellent work relation and excellent price with highly sofisticated team work . I will continue to travel with greener travel agency And highly suggest them read more

I usually plan my own vacations but decided to go with Greener Travel for our honeymoon to Costa Rica. Ami did a great job of putting together a custom-tailored two week itinerary to Costa Rica that was the right mix of adventure and relaxation! He is very detail-oriented and I greatly appreciated his dedication to meeting our needs and desires rather than pushing or selling us his own agenda. I have never had a personal travel agent before, so I was very impressed by the virtual support and attention Ami provided before and during the trip (we had a flight delay crisis that would upset the rest of our plans and Ami was available to talk/help me through it even at 10PM - I don't think any other travel agent does that!). All said, Ami knows how to create a memorable, authentic experience in Costa Rica and I would highly recommend Greener Travel for your next vacation to paradise :) read more

We wanted our Costa Rica honeymoon to be fun and luxurious, half an adventure in the rainforest and half a relaxing vacation at the beach. Instead, we have gotten two weeks of constant bumpy van rides between forest huts, on opposite ends of the country, most of them without air conditioning in incredible humidity (feels like 114 today). The natural beauty and interesting wildlife here cannot make up for the poor transportation and electrical infrastructure, unappealing Caribbean beaches, constant attempts to scam tourists (many successful due to lack of alternatives), and generally poor customer service. By halfway through, we were wishing to go home. Not all of this is due to our travel agent, but Ami seems to have set us up for his own vision of trying to hit as many rustic eco-tourism destinations as possible, instead of the memorable but pleasant honeymoon we wanted. Relatively minor issues include bad instructions for getting a working phone, and at least one day scheduled to start far earlier than necessary. On the other hand, there were a couple of gems (like the rafting trip he encouraged us to do), and we did agree to all of it without doing enough research of our own to know exactly what we would be getting. We will be saving up for a replacement trip when we next get the chance. read more

In the Summer of 2019 I was in desperate need of a vacation. I went on a Young professionals trip to Costa Rica, with Greener Travel, at the recommendation of a friend who is a travel agent. The organizer went out of his way to help me to experience Costa Rica and to deal with physical limitations resulting from a very mild physical disability. We talked about the itinerary beforehand, and it was exactly as he stated it would be, complete with an appropriate description of the physical difficulty of the hikes. I did not feel unsafe, even though many portions of the trip were outside my comfort zone, and I am not a person who ventures out of my comfort zone easily. We all must learn to advocate for what we need when we speak to trip organizers, guides and those who help us along the way. It is Costa Rica, it's not the USA. When you travel, some things will be different than you expect. This is not travel like a business executive would do it, it's travel like a young professional would do it. If you want 5 star restaurants and accommodations, you will pay 5 star prices. The organizer does a good job of balancing what people can afford, and what they can receive. I should also mention that I speak fluent Spanish and that I found this helpful, as it would be helpful in any country to speak the language. The organizer was honest about costs involved, and I would recommend using this organizer to anyone who wants to travel, especially to Costa Rica, as the organizer has been doing this for years. -Jason, Washington, DC read more

Group travel with the Costa Rica Caribbean Experience was phenomenal. We received an extensive itinerary, but Ami was accommodating to personal preferences and needs. The trip was fun and active... never a dull moment! The group trip was perfect for those of us who enjoy nature, being active, and learning about different cultures. If you are more into beachgoing and relaxation, this trip is probably not for you, but perhaps a personalized itinerary would be the way to go. Some personal favorites were whitewater rafting, ziplining, hiking, and having a Caribbean cooking lesson. The trip was also moderately priced, and saved me the pain of having to plan a trip and coordinate a group of friends who all have different agendas when it comes to traveling. In sum, I highly recommend Green Travel! read more

I had a wonderful time on Ami's Costa Rica trip. He plans everything meticulously from top to bottom. I used to travel on my own but now understand the benefits of having your travel planned out for you! You can really relax and enjoy many wonderful spots and adventures that you may not have found on your own. I'd go on any trip Ami organizes. Highly recommended. read more

Amazing trip to Costa Rica. Big thumbs up for Ami Greener and Greener Travel. Pura Vida! Read my blog post for more: http://joshtravelblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/costa-rica-adventure-august-2014.html read more

I had the amazing opportunity to go on Ami's May 2012 Costa Rica trip! Ami's trip was great for young professionals & was the perfect mixture of non stop adventure travel to include zip lining, hiking & white water rafting & paradise leisure travel to include walks on the beach, sunbathing with a piña colada in hand & lounging by the pool! My favorite parts were zip lining in the pouring rain, Tilapia fishing on a farm & taking a night walk on the beach to see sea turtles lay their eggs! Book now with Ami & you won't regret it! He takes good care of his group & makes sure they have the time of their lives! Go now! read more

Ami helped us organize a large part of our Costa Rica trip. He loves what he does and it shows! He gave us great advice in telling us to go to a far-off location (Drake Bay) that we would have never made it to otherwise. We saw more wildlife than a zoo and had an amazing time. read more

Greener Travel is the best. I have used this agency three times to book trips to Costa Rica. Every trip that I have been on has been memorable, fun, engaging and meaningful. Ami is a fantastic trip leader. Knowledgable, funny, enthusiastic and energetic are the best words to describe him. If you are interested in group travel to Costa Rica or for just you and a friend or partner; I highly recommend his trips. He packs a lot of fun into them at a reasonable price. You won't be disappointed! read more

Greener travel will take the time to individualize the trip for you, they are not expensive (I compared prices with friends who planned a trip on their own and the prices were very close). I enjoyed the trip a lot. read more