Today we’d like to introduce you to Nir Margalith, Deb Lust Zaluda, and Guy Marom.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
What do you think when you think of traveling to Israel?
Ask this question to 20 different people and you’ll get 20 different answers because Israel is so many things and has endless things it can offer, which is one of the wonders of our country and it’s GREAT!
But when planning your next trip to Israel, this endlessness can become overwhelming and, well, scary!! What to see? Where to go? The beautiful north? The breathtaking desert in the South? How many days are enough to see Jerusalem for all its history? The Dead Sea for all its magic? And what if these places don’t even scrape the surface of what Israel really has to offer?
We found that when looking to travel to Israel travelers will go to a travel agent – even when they are used to planning their own travel in this digital. And often they will go to an agent who takes them to all the same old places, put a checkmark in the list of places the client “has” to see in Israel and boom, they are off to see the same old Israel. And it’s nice but something is missing.
“The REAL Israel” as we call it here at Puzzle Israel – putting the old together with the new, the secret Israel, the Israel that Israelis know and want to show you. This is that feeling you can’t explain. Being here, but not seeing Israel for all it really is.
Puzzle Israel is a different type of travel company. We believe that all these pieces of Israel, the old “checklist”, together with the new you never knew existed, have to come together in order for the client to really experience Israel. We founded Puzzle Israel in 2010, Nir & Guy, 2 young Israelis, and we founded it exactly for this reason. To show the world the true Israel. And in 2014 Deb, from Chicago, joined in as she too wanted to show people the REAL Israel that she had come to know after traveling to Israel countless times for over 30 years and after her daughter made Israel her home.
We aim to take our clients out of the box of being just “another tourist”. We seek to share with our clients all the pieces of the Israeli Puzzle – the old historic and breath-taking Israel, together with the new, exciting and beautifully complicated. We share the fabulous food – being chefs ourselves, trust us we know all the ins and outs of the Israeli Culinary scene. We will introduce you to the locals – the Jewish, Arabic, Druze, Bedouin – they are all phenomenal hosts and love telling about their culture and what Israel is for them. We will expose our clients to the true north with its geopolitical complexity, the true south where the camels roam free in the endless desert, and the secret stories of Jerusalem…
Whether it is a couple, a small family, a bat/bar mitzvah trip, congregation, federation, group of friends or anything else – we’ve got it covered. If the client is interested in more of a relaxed vibe, or prefers endless attractions and going at full speed, whether the client is more adventurous, or focused on things more historical – with our endless list of sights to see, places to go & activities to do, the client can choose & with the help of our expert advisors create the perfect tailor-made trip.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Like any small company, we have had growing pains. But we have worked hard over the last few years to grow slow and steady to ensure that any such pains are minimized and in no event have we let anything get in the way of servicing our clients to the greatest extent. Notwithstanding the volatility in the middle east our clients have always felt secure in our hands.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Each of us – Nir, Guy, and Deb decided to enter this line of business to feed, and share, our passion for Israel. We have planned trips for many people – and each trip is different as each client is different. We have no set itineraries, no set hotels, no set patterns at all. Some clients have minimal needs, and others have very specific needs. We have an intimate knowledge of Israel and for those things for which knowledge is less than intimate, we have resources available to me.
We are a young dynamic Israel travel company that invites tourists and visitors from around the world to tour and get to know Israel from the INSIDE. Nir, who is a trained chef and entered the world of tourism with his catering company, and Guy Marom, the company’s founders, have a real passion for Israel, Israeli food, food in general and they truly enjoy life. AND they, as well as Deb, love to share that passion. In the tourism realm, we love to show people Israel as being about MORE than the center – we love to highlight the areas that are less traveled (in Israel referred to as the periphery, though we are trying to change that).
We choose our guides carefully – and ensure that they have an understanding of the client and their needs and goals, as well as conditions on the ground that might necessitate some flexibility. We like to use guides who are young and energetic and don’t view Israel through a jaded lens but rather with fresh eyes.
What sets us apart from others is that we spend a great deal of time to ensure that each trip meets the goals and expectations of the particular client – the amount of time spent is not a reflection of lack of experience – rather it is a reflection of our goal of making each trip special. We are available to clients regularly – and interact with them regularly. We ask many questions because we don’t want there to be miscommunication. We also have a keen understanding of American travel sensibilities – which are VERY different from the Israeli standard.
It is also important that clients understand certain things that are different about travel to Israel. For example, service in Israel, though it has come a long way, has a long way to go. They have an expression “yihyeh b’seder” – “it will be ok”. But we know that this is generally not a sufficient response to the American traveler. When looking at 5* hotels or 4* hotels, there are no standards in Israel. It is all self-defined.
Most important that we have an understanding of expectation and goals so that we can ensure the client’s comfort. We do all the ground bookings (hotels, activities, etc) and we have knowledge of virtually all hotels and rooms throughout Israel, and those with which we are not familiar, we will become familiar. Our team remains available to our clients 24/7 while they are traveling, and is available in real time to handle issues should they arise.
Nir, Guy and Deb are all integral and extraordinarily well versed in all things Israel and everything that our clients may need or want – and being on both sides of the ocean we can deal with clients at all relevant times – before,during and after their travels, in real time (either in US or in Israel)
What were you like growing up?
Nir grew up in Yuvalim, a village in Misgav, Israel, in the hilly region of the Lower Galilee. Since he can remember, hikes and trips in nature have always been in his soul and over the years he has traveled extensively with his family, friends, and on his own. In addition to his love for the outdoors, Nir developed a passion for cooking and cuisine.
After years of experience gained working alongside the best chefs in the country, the knowledge he acquired, and the recipes he perfected, Nir established his own catering company that now works in cooperation with his traveling company, Puzzle Israel. Every single day Nir makes a habit of taking a moment to explore new areas, discover new places and meet new people whom he hopes will enrich his repertoire of experiences.
Guy was born and raised in Koranit, Israel, in the Lower Galilee. The roots of his appreciation for nature and love of Israel stem from his grandparents’ history. Escaping the European Holocaust, Guys ancestors settled in Israel and took to the work of building the land of Israel with their very own hands. Guy loves horseback riding, cooking, traveling, and playing the piano.
In addition, he has a B.A. in behavioral sciences from Bar Ilan University. After his three-year army service Guy spent eight months traveling across New Zealand and the Far East. His travels around the world gave him a fresh perspective on Israel and an understanding of what makes his homeland so unique – a perspective he felt he must share with others.
Deb is a lifelong Chicagoan, growing up, marrying, and raising her own family there. Following a long and successful career as a lawyer, Deb turned her vocational efforts to two of her deepest passions, Israel and philanthropy. She has had leadership roles in numerous Jewish and Israel-centric charities and continues in that vein, including efforts to help grow the population outside the center of the country.
Her love for Israel led her to start her own Israel travel business back in 2010. She eventually combined that business with Puzzle Israel so she could piggyback on their success – and on their youthful energy!
In addition to working to share her passion for Israel with others by showing them Israel “Puzzle Israel” style, she now focuses much of her efforts on Israel travel that combines both philanthropy and experiential travel.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.puzzleisrael.com
- Phone: 847-436-6849
- Email: deb@puzzleisrael.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/puzzle_israel/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Puzzle.IL/
- Other: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293983-d7907407-Reviews-Puzzle_Israel_Daily_Tours-Jerusalem_Jerusalem_District.html
Image Credit:
Adi Perez, Fred Stein, Ashley O’Brien
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
