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Gate 1 Travel Review: Are Their Organized Tours Worth It?

Have you ever wanted to take a trip where everything is planned for you? I was in the same boat when I found Gate 1 Travel, which offers escorted coach tours all over the world. If you're wondering whether this is the route for you, I did all the work to give you the inside scoop!

One of the best parts of traveling is getting to decide where you want to go and what you want to see. However, it can also be the most stressful part of traveling.

How do you make sure you see everything you want to see, get the right hotels, and eat at the right restaurants, all while staying on budget? One option I often think about to help alleviate that stress is to book a tour that covers all the nitty-gritty details!

When you're thinking about organized travel, you'll come across so many tours and guides that'll it'll hurt your brain.

One of those is Gate 1 Travel. So, the real question is does it beat out other options when booking tours?

I wanted to find out so that you'll have the essential info on its tours, prices, destinations, and more! This way you'll be making a decision with lots of valuable knowledge.

What Is Gate 1 Travel?

If you're not a fan of traveling with strangers, my advice is to go with a travel agency or plan your own trip. Don't go with Gate 1 Travel or other travel groups. Plan and go discover on your own instead with Pilot!

That's because you will definitely be exploring with a group if you book with with Gate 1 Travel.

Numbers fluctuate, but if you're keen on staying in a smaller group, be sure to check out Gate 1's Small Group tours . Also known as Discovery Tours, there are no more than 22 travelers on these trips, so you won't have to worry about there being too many people with you.

‍ Discovery Tours also allow you to get up close and personal with the country you're visiting in a way that often isn't possible in larger, escorted tours.

How Large Are Gate 1 Travel Groups?

If you're not a fan of traveling with strangers, my advice is to go with a travel agency or plan your own trip. Don't go with Gate 1 Travel.

Numbers fluctuate, but if you're keen on staying in a smaller group, be sure to check out Gate 1's  Small Group tours . Also known as Discovery Tours, there are no more than 22 travelers on these trips, so you won't have to worry about there being too many people with you. 

‍ Discovery Tours  also allow you to get up close and personal with the country you're visiting in a way that often isn't possible in larger, escorted tours. 

How Do I Book a Tour?

If you're interested in booking a tour with Gate 1 Travel, you'll first need to make an account.

You can head to the login page to do this. Once you've done that, you can start booking!

You'll select your tour region, followed by the country you want to visit and the tour that appeals most to you.

Choose your departure date, and decide whether you want flights included. You can then select those flights and any optional tours you may want to do during your trip.

What's Included in Gate 1 Travel Tours?

When booking a tour with Gate 1, you want to know what's included.

Something I liked to see is that every trip offers a "land only" and "air & land" price, so you can decide whether to have your flights included. Flights do only go to and from select cities, depending on your tour dates.

Escorted tours will include the following:

• Accommodation for the nights of the tour
• Hotel taxes and service charges 
• Transport between cities
• Certain meals (what's included will be outlined in the tour details)
• Sightseeing per the itinerary in an air-conditioned coach with a guide!

Not included is airfare for land-only trips, any visa-related fees, and optional extras you may decide to add to your tour.

Gate 1 Deals

Every traveler loves a good deal, and Gate 1 offers some great affordable vacations. It's actually one of the best bundle travel deal sites out there!

By heading to the company's Featured Specials page, you'll get to see Gate 1's flash deals, as well as any last-minute deals for upcoming departure dates. They also have a featured destination sale which will change from time to time.

To access the deals, you'll need to use the promo code listed on these pages, and then you're on your way to saving on your next trip!

From its website, you can also sign up to receive weekly deals via email. You never know what you'll get in your inbox!

How Do I Contact Gate 1 Travel Customer Service?

Whether you have a question or a complaint, it's never a bad idea to know how to contact customer service.

Gate 1 Travel is currently experiencing a high volume of inquiries, but you can still fill out a  form  via the website to send an online inquiry. 

If you're traveling soon, you can get ahold of the team by phone. The company has 24-hour assistance line can be reached in the US by calling 215-572-7676. 

Cancellation Policy

If you find you can no longer join your Gate 1 Travel tour, how can you cancel your trip?

Once you've made at least a partial payment on your trip, you have to submit a cancellation request in writing via the contact us page.

Cancellation fees will then be applied based on how much time remains before your trip and will be applied as a percentage of what has already been paid. 

Customer Reviews

Overall, travelers seem to be satisfied with Gate 1's services and its tours.

Many of the complaints speak to packages booked with flights and how flight cancellations or changes have upheaved entire trips. Others have also mentioned the mismatch of travel credits promised versus ones they actually offer.

Other travelers have complained about Gate 1's customer service as being difficult to reach and not entirely helpful. It sounds like quite a few individuals had a tough time getting a full refund for their trip, even with travel insurance, when booking with them.

Whether it's that explanations can't be given, refunds are not fully issued, or travelers are sent in circles, it sounds like customer service is a hit or miss.

Other complaints have also touched on the itineraries being too packed to truly enjoy what you're seeing or to feel rested enough for them. 

Is Gate 1 Travel Worth It?

After all my reading, my advice is to proceed with caution. Here's why.

My first impression when I got onto the website is that this is mainly targeting an older audience, with their branding outdated to the 2000s. That's not a judging criteria, but just a red flag in my opinion.

While Gate 1 Travel offers a lot of packaged tours, the volume of travelers who have had their trips impacted by flights booked through Gate 1 is concerning.

Instead, I would avoid the flight risks by opting for land-only tours. If you go this route, Gate 1 does offer tours all over the world, so it's a good place to at least browse through when you're trying to make a decision.

They also offer other kind of tours like independent vacations, European river cruises, and customized international vacation packages, but it's honestly not for me. The price is way too expensive and I can frankly plan it myself.

They also seem to charge a bit more than the actual ticket for many attractions, which to me seems like a dealbreaker unless it is actually hard for me to get the travel reservations myself.

In Gate 1 Travel's benefit, they sure do have tons of locations. From Paris to Peru, From Ecuador to Budapest, their tour packages extend to many destinations around the world. They also offer discount travel packages there and here, so that's something to consider for all you deal-seekers.

Keep in mind that some comments were made about the itineraries being a bit packed. So, if you're more of a relaxed traveler, I would be very careful going with Gate 1 Travel.

That being said, if you want to do and see as much as humanly possibly, Gate 1 could be the tour company for you!

If you like the idea of booking a tour but still aren't convinced that Gate 1 Travel is right for you, make sure to also check out companies like EF and Intrepid !

Our Rating: 3.1/5 

• Tours all over the world
• Small group options for more immersive experiences
• Includes accommodation, and guided coach tours
• Options for smaller group tours
• Flight cancellations can result in trip cancellation
• Poor customer service
• Some feedback of packed schedules

Gate 1 Travel FAQs:

Is gate 1 travel still in business.

Yes, very much so. They've been operating for over 40 years and continue to maintain its operations despite its outdated website design.

Is Gate 1 Travel better than Trafalgar Tours?

They both offer the same comparable luxury comfort tours, so it's hard to say. I'd give Trafalgar the edge since they have more experience under their belt, but individual experiences will vary. Read our Trafalgar Tours Review for more detail!

Is Gate 1 Travel an American Company?

Yes, they're an American owned and run company based in Fort Washington, PA!

Who is the founder of Gate 1?

Dani Pipano is Gate 1 Travel's founder.

Ready to Get Traveling?

Whether you opt for a Gate 1 Travel tour, use another company, or decide to freestyle your next adventure, we want to make sure that you have the best time.

Use Pilot so you can keep all the different elements of your travels in one place and easily access them all. Plan your dream vacation today with Pilot!

Disclosure : Pilot is supported by our community. We may earn a small commission fee with affiliate links on our website. All reviews and recommendations are independent and do not reflect the official view of Pilot.

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Gate 1 Japan 9-Day with tour guide... - GATE 1 TRAVEL

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I've been on about 7 Gate 1 tours and sometimes they are great and sometimes not. I just returned... read more

We had a fantastic tour of Spain and Portugal. Unfortunately, we were overcharged by hundreds of... read more

Gate 1 Japan 9-Day with tour guide Ichiro

Just came back from a Gate1 tour of Japan (9-day Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka). Overall, it was a really great trip. Well organized, nice accommodations, busy and well thought out program, and nice people. I would especially like to thank our tour guide Ichiro -- who was fantastic. He handled all the usual bumps in the road with perfect aplomb, and was extremely insightful about the places we visited and the culture and history of Japan. He also provided extra "walk" tours at some of the major stops free of charge on his own time. Awesome experience!

Could not have been happier with our selection to use Gate 1 Travel. Six friends decided to plan a trip to Ireland. Three of us had heard about Gate 1 from friends who has used them in the past. We were able to book the trip when the company was offering a special and were thrilled with the savings. Our trip was amazing!!!! All the hotels were comfortable, clean and in great locations. The meals that were included were very good. Our tour guide, Peter Guy Robinson, was excellent. He was knowledgeable, courteous, funny and always available to answer any questions. The bus company used by Gate 1 was also very good. The bus was always spotless and, Tony, the driver did an exceptional job. We met several people on the tour who had used Gate 1 before. Some told us this was their 5th, 6th and 7th trip with the company. We are already trying to plan our next trip with Gate 1. The only downside to our entire trip for 3 of us was United Airlines. Several flight delays and cancellations both going to Ireland and returning to the USA left a bad taste in our mouths with that airline. But that was not the fault of Gate 1.

Our Gate 1 tour guide, Javier Estrella is phenomenal! I travel solo and have done around 30 of these trips in 25 years with different companies and he is the BEST guide and tour manager I have EVER traveled with. The tour is very active and I am a somewhat sedentary person, working an office job in Chicago. It is a Gate 1 Discovery tour so our group was smaller. We had 16 total participants ranging in age from 30 's to 70's. Javier is a great leader. He gives 200% to the group. He is very personable and cared for each of us as if he was caring for his own family. He made the experiences accessible and enjoyable. He is highly skilled at both guiding and leading and helped us understand a great deal about all we were seeing and doing. He is super patient, and although an active trip, he was awesome at guiding us at our own pace. He is quite skilled at spotting all kinds of animals. It is obvious that he LOVES what he does! He experiences great joy by bringing joy to others! I highly recommend this tour and Javier. I would do it again and I will recommend it to my friends. Thank you Gate 1 and Javier for making these exotic places accessible and for sharing the richness of the culture, food, history people of Ecuador!

I have been on 3 tours with Gate1 and have 3 more booked. I have been so happy with the accommodations, the food and the Gate1 guides. I am used to independent travel but for some destinations I’ve found it better to travel with a group. All my tours with Gate1 have been their Discovery small group. I have been to India, Morocco and Ecuador/Galápagos on Gate 1. Yes, some of the itineraries are very active, particularly Ecuador, but that was due to covering so much territory in such a short time. I consider travel, travel and vacation vacation. They are not the same. Travel can take some work but has always been worth it with Gate 1. I will be returning to India with them, Uganda, Nepal and Bhutan. Every trip I’ve had with them has been fantastic and my fellow travelers are all repeat customers as well.

I just had my 8th Gate 1 Travel tour in Morocco. And another one coming up next month . the Canadian Rockies. All my trips with this agency had been truly wonderful ! The hotels we stayed in all my trips were good except for one, years ago. All the places we visited were beautiful and worth seeing. The restaurants we went to, were great, with delicious food served. The tour guides were knowledgeable , professional and helpful., made sure that the group were safe .everywhere we went, even the local guides were mostly nice and good in their jobs. I liked my trips .They were educational , in addition to the beautiful places in the world that I enjoyed to see. Gate 1 Travel took care of their customers from the time they arrive in the airport and during departure ,made sure that they get to the airport on time and have checked -in for their flights. I have been recommending them to friends and acquaintances.

We did the one week Amsterdam, Bruge and Paris tour. The tour guide- we never got decent directions from him, and there were 3 of us with 3 single rooms and we requested to be on the same floor. That never happened -- no effort from Gate 1 and no effort from the tour guide. The hotels-- you start out okay and just goes down hill from there. There is no thought to safety and security. First floor hotel rooms to women are a big no-no, especially when you tell them it is an issue. The hotel in Paris was in the worst area of Paris. All the hotels, because this is a budget trip, are outside of central locations. In the second hotel we had to be our own porters. There was no discount provided. Did I mention the tour guide didn't know our names, and also forgot us on a dinner?

Gate 1 Travel Blog

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Gate 1’s New Tour Types, Explained

Gate 1 Travel has released a new system for categorizing our growing range of travel experiences. We hope that the new categories, which are now listed on the table of contents for each destination, will help our passengers find their preferred travel experience more quickly.

The new tour categories focus on a few key elements: season, itinerary, length, and group size. The list below can also be found on destination tables of contents by hovering over the blue question mark at the top of the “Category” column.

Classic – First class accommodations, balance of included sightseeing and free time, transfers & multiple meals included.

Off Season – Beat the crowds with a Classic tour itinerary in the off-season, and save on land services and airfare.

Partially Escorted – A portion of your itinerary will feature escorted touring services with additional time traveling independently.

Value – Tourist and/or first class accommodations, minimal inclusions with a variety of optional tours available to customize your experience.

Express – Short getaways featuring the highlights of a destination with maximum efficiency.

Luxury – Deluxe accommodations, unique & exclusive experiences, exceptional food, all touring and most gratuities included.

Small Group – Maximum 22 travelers, unique & boutique accommodations, enhanced cultural immersion

Independent – Explore at your own pace, without the included features of an escorted tour.

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Reviews 2.7.

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Not worth it!

My husband and I have taken many trips with Gate 1 but something with the company has changed and I do not recommend travelling with them now. We travelled on their Japan, Then and Now Discovery trip in March and there were so many problems–some with the itinerary and some with the Tour Manager. Many of the activities were unnecessary or badly timed. I never got to see the “NOW” in Tokyo or any other city. Plenty of “Then” as we constantly travelled outside the cities to see gardens that weren’t blooming or another shrine that was never explained why it was important. The food on the trip was terrible, whether it was a group dinner or a food court in a train station. Some of the hotel rooms were so small there was no room to open a suitcase. It was a Discovery trip but nothing was special about it. It was a lot of money for what we got and we will not with travel with Gate 1 again.

Date of experience : March 10, 2024

Reply from Gate 1 Travel

Thank you for sharing your comments. We regret that your experience did not meet your expectations. So that one of our representatives can provide additional assistance and try to make this right for you, please submit an inquiry here: https://www.gate1travel.com/contactus

Dumped on the side of the road

My wife, her two sisters and I took a 14 day tour of France with Gate 1 on May 8, 2024. Our guide, Jordane, started the tour with a speech about health and safety and how sick people must wear masks and sit in the back of the bus. Anyone who tested positive for covid would have to leave the tour. Two people in our group, Judy and Katy started the tour visibly sick. Jordane did nothing despite what he said in his speech. Within a few days most people were sick. I caught a cold around day 8. On day 9, Jordan asked me to wear a mask. I wore a mask. On day 10, Jordane asked me to move to the back of the bus. I moved to the back of the bus. On day 11, Jordan called my room and told me that I was off the tour due to my cold and that I would have to find my own way home. Several passengers were obviously sick but Jordane did not remove them. He never asked me to get a covid test. He just kicked me off the bus somewhere in France with no help to get home. I immediately called the Gate 1 24 hour emergency assistance line. The line was answered with a recording, “We’re sorry, we are closed right now please call back during business hours.” Before you book with Gate 1, call this number on a weekend night and you’ll get the recording. Now if you are persistent or just desperate and wait on the line, eventually you will hear options. Wait through 8 options and the 9th is for help. I was transferred to a nice man in India who listened to my problem and then told me there was nothing he could do to help. I was dumped on the side of the road in France with no help. Who does this to someone? Gate 1 is the only one I know who would do this. I found Jordane and told him that I should be given the chance to take a covid test. Fortunately, a local Gate 1 guide joined our conversation. She thought this was a good idea and gave me directions to the nearest pharmacy and told me what to do to get tested. I tested negative for covid. I had a common cold, sniffles and cough. I showed the results of my test to everyone on the bus and Jordane. Jordane reluctantly allowed me back on the bus. That wasn’t the only issue we had with our guide. On our second night, my wife tripped and fell while crossing the street. My wife was unconscious and bleeding in the street. While my wife’s sister and I tended to my wife, her other sister called Jordane. He said he was busy and we should do whatever we wanted to. That was the last we heard from him. He never checked back to see how we were doing. The next time we saw him was in the morning when he asked if we would continue the tour. He never showed any concern. We were fortunate that two nurses saw the fall and helped us get my wife off the street and call the local version of 911. It was the help of strangers, not Gate 1 that took care of us. Gate 1 claims that Jordane called us several times to check on my wife. This is not true. Gate 1 claims that many people on the tour were tested for covid. Again, this is not true. We expected there would be support and help on our Gate 1 tour. We got nothing. We definitely didn’t expect to be dumped on the side of the road with no way home.

Date of experience : May 08, 2024

Thank you for sharing this feedback. Your comments are very important to us. We regret that your experience did not meet your expectations. We have provided your contact information to our customer service team who will reach out so that we can try to make this right for you.

Cannot Wait to do another Gate 1 Trip

Just came back last week from a River Cruise Danube. It was fabulous. I do not have one complaint at all. The food, staff, rooms were top notch. We traveled on the Queen Monarch to Hungary, Vienna and Germany. I cannot wait to go again

Date of experience : May 05, 2024

Thank you for taking the time to share your comments. We truly appreciate the feedback and look forward to welcoming you on your next Gate 1 trip!

RUDE service

This company has absolutely the most rude customer service. I'm a travel agent, asking basic clarifying questions regarding airfare and prices, and I was yelled out and treated very rudely two days in a row. They must hate their jobs. Unbelievable. Do not use this company! So many other professional travel companies to use!

Date of experience : May 03, 2024

Tour guide can make or break a vacation.

Hawai'i 9-day tour 02/14/2024 thru 02/21/204 was busy and organized perfectly. Tours were organized and efficient. The preset hotels Queen Kapiolani and King Kamehameha were clean and well maintained. Due to the Lahaina devastation, which was hard to view, our hotel upgrade was amazing and impressive on Maui. Charles "Kaleo" Degala, the singing tour guide, made the trip. His love of his home, knowledge of the islands and respect for the culture of Aloha made you feel as if you were family not just a guest. Guides like him are a rare gift for a traveler.

Date of experience : February 14, 2024

We've had our guide yell at us and…

We've had our guide yell at us and other guests for little things like beings 4 minutes late one time over several days of being on time as expected, sitting somewhere other than the "assigned seating" even when there were vacant spaces, and for "just standing there" when out on a group outing (I guess we were supposed to interact more when he was watching us?). Our guide appears to be a tired and lonely old man that may need this position to support himself, as he wears the same outfit for the entire week so far & has no luggage. He rambles endlessly the entire duration of the ride in the tour bus about politics and religion with occasional spurts of local scenery, too late to get a photo of the attraction. I'd consider another Gate 1 travel but only after being able to review the ambassador of the trip. As for this trip, Serge was an absolute failure!

After reading all the negative reviews…

After reading all the negative reviews I decide to not go ahead and confirm the Baltic trip I had hoped to do with Gate 1 Travel. No way do I want to get stuck someplace with no help from the tour company. Glad I decided to read reviews before clicking the "Book" button.

Date of experience : March 16, 2024

Best trip ever!

I’ve traveled quite a bit and this trip to Costa Rica with Gate1 has been so far the best! This is the first time I book with them. It is very well organized, Gerardo, the tour guide was very knowledgeable and fun to travel with. The stay in Tortuguero was a great experience I will never forget. The Hot Springs was a beautiful place.The hotels that were chosen for us were terrific. The restaurants we were taken were fabulous. I will definitely book more trips with Gate1 without a doubt.

Date of experience : April 08, 2024

Thank you for your kind feedback. We can’t wait to see you again!

Never had a problem

I was very surprised to see all the negative feedback. It is true that the Tour Manager makes all the difference on these kind of tours and ours have always been exceptional. We have done Italy, Spain, and SE Asia and have loved everyone of them. We are not old and feeble so maybe that has something to do with it because Gate1 does make sure you see everything on the itinerary and you get your monies worth, which what we like. Our last tour manager was Tim for the SE Asia trip and she was amazing, in fact we are still in touch because we have become friends. From our view they keep getting better and better and we would recommend Gate1 highly. PS ask for TIM if you go to SE Asia won't be disappointed.

Date of experience : April 09, 2024

Poor customer service leading to loss of ticket value

No possible to reach the travel agents on phone. Hence, communication to the Gate1 travel agents is possible via emails only. By 3pm UK time on 18 Feb, I confirmed my request to change my flight, from 19Feb at 1:45am to another day. But no response has been received, although my response was within 30-40min since the agent's reply time.. I appreciate this was on Sunday, but a clear statement on working hours and limitation from the beginning would be helpful. It seems the value of the ticket is lost which is very unpleasant. This could be easily avoided if there was an opportunity to call to agree the change and pay the diff in tariff.

Date of experience : February 18, 2024

Hello, Thank you for sharing your comments. We regret that your experience did not meet your expectations. So that one of our representatives can provide additional assistance and try to make this right for you, please submit an inquiry here: https://www.gate1travel.com/contactus

Essential Portugal and Spain

Our experience was terrific! We were greeted at the airport by the tour manager Alex and taken to the hotel. Everything was so organized with time between tours for lunch or shopping. The hotels were nice too. We felt safe and cared for at all times. The tour guides were fantastic in each city giving us plenty of history without being boring. The bus driver Marco was excellent making sure our things were secured at all time. We will definitely use this tour company again.

Date of experience : February 29, 2024

Dear Susan, Thank you for taking the time to share your comments. We truly appreciate the feedback and look forward to welcoming you on your next Gate 1 trip!

Gate 1 great but their trip insurance provider is worthless

Great company with well-organized tours but the insurance company they route all Travel Insurance through—Arch Insurance—has terrible reviews and does everything to avoid paying claims. I had a trip scheduled to Mexico in March 2024–and paid for. I had to cancel my Gate 1 trip because I was hospitalized for 11 days after I flew a long airplane flight from Ireland. At the time I booked the Gate 1 trip I was well. I suffered from acute pulmonary embolisms from the long flight. Arch insurance only paid out $300 on my well documented claim. I am a retired lawyer and know how to fill out and document claims. Their denial was flagrant. Getting only $300 back made it a complete waste of time to file the claim. If 11 days with acute pulmonary embolisms preventing me from future plane trips is not justification, what is? Never ever accept Arch. Find another provider.

Date of experience : March 27, 2024

Everything went exactly as we had…

Everything went exactly as we had hoped. Very smooth and easy flights and hotel check ins. Hotels were all very nice and met our expectations. All interactions I had with Gate 1 were very quick and helpful.

Gate1 are uncaring ……After doing around 8 tours with Gate1 I…

After doing around 8 tours with Gate1 I unfortunately had to cancel over a month before we were commencing our tour due to having to have emergency surgery. I thought Gate1 might be understanding and give us a full refund or at least credit towards another trip. They would only refund half our money and yes that was in the cancellation policy but having been such a long term repeat customer who had recommended them to many, I was under the delusion they may have some understanding of my situation and refund the full amount or at least give credit towards my next trip. I am six months post surgery now and have booked this years tour with another company. Will never book with Gate1 again.

Date of experience : August 09, 2023

Very disappointed with Gate 1

Very disappointed with Gate 1. We’re scheduled to tour Egypt in November. However, due to the the conflict that’s happening now with Israel in Palastine/Gaza and the West Bank, we are justifiably concerned about our safety. Our trip is fully paid, but we had humbly requested to reschedule for a later date to travel (Not asking for a refund) just to reschedule. Unfortunately for us Gate1 outright denied our request disregarding our concerns. The Arch insurance that’s offered through Gate1 essentially only covers Gate1.

Date of experience : October 17, 2023

Travel Protection is a scam, thru Gate 1.…

Booked Christmas market trip for early Dec. Bought ‘Travel Protection’ that Gate 1 promotes. My travel partner needed a heart operation. Had to cancel trip. We’ve waited two months after providing info requested with letter from surgeon. Today they say coverage denied because she had defib prior. Of course the Protection was stated as covering pre-existing conditions!!!!!! Total rip-off. Deceptive scam artists. VERY disgusted!!!

Date of experience : December 05, 2022

The 8 day Tour of Spain was well…

The 8 day Tour of Spain was well organized, good hotel rooms and services . Our tour guide Rosemary capably led some great tours.We took a two hours in Alhambra which for me was the highlight of this tour. The only issue for me was that the return flights were far too long. Madrid,Amsterdam,JFK and then to Toronto. I will consider future tours with Gate1

Date of experience : March 25, 2024

Cancel for any reason doesn't really work.

We bought the cancel for any reason policy. We cancelled because we had to travel from NC to PA for my best friend's funeral. We were supposed to travel in October of 2023. So now we get a partial credit and a very small refund. Doesn't really do us any good because now it costs almost double for the same trip and we can't afford that. So we are basically out $1800 that we paid.

Date of experience : October 15, 2023

Diane, Thank you for sharing this feedback. Your comments are very important to us. We regret that your experience did not meet your expectations. We have provided your contact information to our customer service team who will reach out so that we can try to make this right for you.

Worst customer service

Worst customer service. I had booked a trip to Greece. I called them about my plane itinerary. No answer after being on hold for hours together. I emailed them, but no response whatsoever. I will never ever book anything with these people. Stay away from 'GATE1 TRAVEL". I 100% agree with majority negative reviews on this website. Please do yourself a favor and save yourself from tremendous future headache by not using this lousy travel company.

Date of experience : July 10, 2022

Dear Yash, We are sorry to learn of the delay in responding you your phone call. We were experiencing an increase in call volume related to our most recent promotion. We do value our customers and make every effort to answer calls as quickly as possible. Please be assured we will respond to your email, you may also request a call back using the call back feature. Thank you for your understanding.

Thereza, our tour guide in Europe

Thereza, our tour guide on Gate One's trip from Mainz, Germany to Venice, Austria November 2023 was extremely accommodating. She was punctual while caring for specific needs of some 40 people for 10 days. She was very knowledgeable of the 5 countries that we toured and surprised us continually with gifts; nice hotels; meals and even music that we all sang along with as we traveled. She was fun and we'd recommend her highly for a trip with Gate One travels in your future!!!

Date of experience : November 02, 2023

9 Day Tuscany & Amalfi Coast

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• Explore the Renaissance city of Florence with a guided walking tour Enjoy a Tuscan farm dinner with wine and olive-oil tasting Experience one of the world's most spectacular drives along the Amalfi Coast †Transfers are available for purchase for land only or on alternative flight dates

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• Cinque Terre

Trip includes

• Flights New York-Florence, Naples-New York Other departure cities available. Click on date of departure for selection and prices Airline taxes & fuel surcharges 7 nights First Class accommodations
• 4 nights Montecatini 3 nights Naples Italian city hotel taxes, fees & service charges Hotel porterage All transfers included only with airfare purchase on package arrival & departure dates† 13 meals: 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 5 dinners with wine Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach Services of English-speaking tour manager throughout Services of local guides in all major cities Entrance fees per itinerary Comfortable wireless earphones for enhanced touring

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• You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
• Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics

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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Gate 1 Travel Reviews & Ratings

Other gate 1 travel reviews, gate 1 cares about money and not customer satisfaction or safety.

We have loved Gate 1 and always sing their praises. We've been on 7 tours with another one booked for fall. We were supposed to leave for Ecuador this week, however ...

THE ABSOLUTE WORST

THE ABSOLUTE WORST. Dishonest, incompetent, fraudulent. We booked a trip to Europe with them, and it was a mess from start to finish. The flight that we paid extra...

Joyce Toler

Poor customer service

It has been about 7.5 years since I traveled with Gate 1 Travel. In the past, customer service was exceptionally great! Now I am appauded with the unprofessional and...

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Gate 1 Travel offers escorted tours, European river cruises, independent vacations and customized international vacation packages for less. Our discount travel packages and tour packages to destinations worldwide provide exceptional value, saving our customers time and money. We have taken care of all the details so you don't have to. Find your dream vacation today.

Company Background & Highlights

Mission: To deliver More of the World for Less by developing quality, affordable vacations for North Americans. To provide exemplary service to our customers and to earn their loyalty. To respect our partners. To invest in our employees, providing a safe and comfortable work environment. To know and understand our products and destinations. To constantly innovate and be a leader in technology.

Founded in 1981 with 3 employees; now with over 200 employees worldwide

Headquarters: Fort Washington, PA (Suburban Philadelphia)

Overseas Offices: Hungary, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Morocco, Argentina, Indonesia, Great Britain, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Peru, Ecuador, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

30+ years of providing travel services to clientèle

Product Types

Escorted Tours - Group Tours

Small Group Tours

European River Cruises

Escorted Bus Tour/Sea Cruise Combinations

Independent City Stays

Independent Fly & Drive Packages

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Custom Groups and Individuals

Target Consumer Market

Gate 1 Travel's target market is a traveler seeking high quality, affordable travel ranging from a superior tourist class to moderate deluxe class level of accommodations with the highest level of service.

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Gate 1 Travel is backed by the largest, most well-respected financial institutions and insurance providers, guaranteeing the greatest level of financial security to every passenger. Gate 1 welcomes your inquiries of any of those independent offices.

Gate 1 Travel's active membership in USTOA (United States Tour Operators Association), a professional organization representing the world's leading tour operators, requires that Gate 1 meet a minimum requirement of $1 million professional liability insurance (Gate 1 maintains a $5 million policy).

Additionally , Gate 1 is required to participate in the USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program, requiring them to post $1 million in security, held by USTOA, in the unlikely event of bankruptcy or insolvency.

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• Not Included:Optional tours and gratuities.

Additional Information: Land only price does not include arrival/departure transfers.

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Russia Charges Blogger Varlamov With ‘Discrediting’ Army

P opular travel blogger Ilya Varlamov has been charged with “discrediting” the Russian armed forces, the independent news website Mediazona reported Thursday, citing the Moscow court system’s open database of cases.

Moscow’s Tverskoy District Court registered a lawsuit against Varlamov that was filed by the local prosecutor’s office. The blogger is accused of “discrediting” the army — an administrative charge for first-time offenders.

The court database provides no further details about the charge, including a possible hearing date. Varlamov, who runs a YouTube channel with over 5 million subscribers, has publicly criticized Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Scores of Russians have been charged with “discrediting” the military since lawmakers passed wartime censorship laws shortly after the February 2022 invasion.

Repeat offenders risk being jailed for up to five years, while those convicted of “spreading false information” — another wartime censorship law — face up to 15 years in prison.

Last year, Russia’s Justice Ministry added Varlamov to its list of “ foreign agents ,” a label that requires individuals and entities to display a lengthy disclaimer in any publications and submit regular financial reports.

A Moscow court fined Varlamov 30,000 rubles ($334) earlier this month for refusing to label his publications with the “foreign agent” disclaimer.

Varlamov, who is recovering from surgery after he was injured on a ski trip last year, did not immediately comment on the charge against him.

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Billionaire building $20m sub to prove Titanic wreck site can be visited safely after Titan disaster

The billionaire wants to prove titanic can be visited safely, article bookmarked.

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A year on from the Titan submersible disaster , a US billionaire is launching a new $20m submarine project to prove that the Titanic wreck site can be explored safely.

Larry Connor, 74, a real estate tycoon from Ohio, plans to travel 12,400 feet to the bottom of the North Atlantic in a two-person submersible, made by Triton Submarines.

This comes after five people lost their lives – including OceanGate founder Stockton Rush – in a similar sub when it suffered a catastrophic implosion around an hour and 45 minutes into its dive to the Titanic wreck site.

OceanGate, which charged $250,0000 for trips to the site, subsequently suspended all its operations, pending an investigation that is still ongoing.

“I want to show people worldwide that while the ocean is extremely powerful, it can be wonderful and enjoyable and really kind of life-changing if you go about it the right way,” Connor told the Wall Street Journal .

Connor is working with Patrick Lahey, an experienced diver and submersible designer, who co-founded Triton Submarines.

They will make the journey in a sub known as the Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer – one of a range of submersibles produced by the company.

Already advertised on the Triton Submarines website, Connor said the vehicle utilises new technology that wasn’t available as recently as five years ago.

“Patrick has been thinking about and designing this for over a decade. But we didn’t have the materials and technology,” Connor said. “You couldn’t have built this sub five years ago.”

According to the company website, the Triton is the world’s deepest diving acrylic sub, and it is advertised as having “unmatched” capabilities.

“[He said], you know, what we need to do is build a sub that can dive to [Titanic-level depths] repeatedly and safely and demonstrate to the world that you guys can do that, and that Titan was a contraption,’” Lahey said.

It is not currently known when Connor and Lahey plan to make the voyage to the Titanic wreck site.

The billionaire was previously critical of the late OceanGate founder Stockton Rush and described his approach to deep sea exploration as “predatory”.

On 18 June 2023, Rush was instantly killed alongside Hamish Harding, Stockton Rush, Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, and Paul-Henri Nargeolet in the Titan submersible.

The sub is reported to have imploded under enormous water pressure as a result of structural weakness or an issue with its hatch.

The Independent has reached out to Trion Submarines for further information.

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