Am particularly interested in non-USA pesach experiences: My sense is that its a lot less expensive.
If anyone is willing to share
1) approx cost per head for the sedarim, meals, accommodation etc for 9 days
2) was the food edible, average, excellent or over the top(5 dessert choices???)
3) location
4) %american and was it an english speaking program
5) organized, disorganized or total chaos
6) likleyhood of going back next year(pesach falls out the same way)
I was in Dubrovnik (Croatia) with Vered Holidays
It was very good value - worked out approx $1500 per adult full board for 10-11 days (from Thursday lunch through Sunday lunch) including 5 star accomodation, transfers, all food etc (but not excursions). My 2 year old was free, another child was $600 or so I think. No service charges or additional taxes so this is total cost (apart from flight..).
Food was average to good, not wonderful. There was plenty of food, and it was will organised - no-one went hungry. All meals buffet apart from Yom Tov/Shabbat dinner. Plenty of salads, 4-5 meat choices each meal, 1 fish, sides, lots of desserts etc. Basic tea room all day (soft drinks, cookies etc). Plenty of soda and wine at all meals included.
Program was generally well organized.Not perfect, but pretty good. Organizers are very nice people. Hotel was great, refurbished over the winter so all rooms brand new. Hotel staff had good english and were very pleasant to deal with. Really 5 star. See
http://libertasdubrovnik.rixos.com/overview/detail/OVERVIEW/65/28/0Location was superb. Dubrovnik is amazing, and there are fascinating excursions at reasonable prices (to Bosnia, Montenegro, and Elafite Islands, each around EUR 40 or you can rent a car for EUR 40 per day). Hotel is 15 minute walk from old city and port. They also arranged some evening activities (folklore evening etc), shiurim and kids club most hours of the day.
Group was approx 60% Israeli, 30% English speaking (UK and US) and 10% others (Belgium, France etc). There as an American Rabbi from Shalavim, and 2 sedarim etc. I think there was around 700 guests, but it didn't seem overly crowded.
I assume they will be in a different location next year, someone mentioned Barcelona....
Would recommend as a budget program as long as you don't expect 5* luxury meals (dinners/lunches where somewhat repetitive). FWIW most guests are modern orthodox or traditional, though kashrut level seemed high (non-gebrochts, only shemura matza for whole of chag etc). Under Strasbourg Beth Din, which has a good reputation.