Reviews
The 18-day trip to Thailand with Laos and Cambodia was wonderful. Your guide "Yo" is a treasure. She is the best guide of my long life, and I am well-traveled! She has deep knowledge of the places she showed us, and great organizational and people skills. I loved the stories of Thai gods and princesses she told us at Sukhothai and Ayutthaya. She kept us laughing with her great sense of humor. When faced with the daunting "meals on one's own", Yo provided us with directions to various restaurants, which we tried and found to be excellent. When my son suddenly decided to stay in Bangkok, Yo offered ideas as to how he might spend his extra time in Thailand, and arranged through Gate 1 to get a later flight for his return to the U.S.. The tour surpassed my expectations. The hotels were beautiful, their locations central, and their breakfasts delicious. We signed up for all the tours and some extra ones, all arranged by Gate 1, and they were all excellent, especially the river cruises which brought respite from the heat. Gate 1 attracts such nice people to its tours! We shared lots of laughs together, and shared our best photographs through Whatsapp. I am proud of many beautiful pictures (taken by others in my Thailand group 'Family') which I can show my friends. I have recommended Gate 1 to other prospective travelers for years, and will continue to do so! Thanks Gate 1 for your thoughtful and action-packed 18-day Thailand tour!
Judith D.Dear Gate 1 our first experience with your group is when we recently traveled to Cambodia and Vietnam. It was an awesome experience filled history and events that we will long remember. Our tour guide, Steve was simply the best...outstanding in every way. I my humble opinion he is a 10+++. We traveled many times through out Europe with many different guides and NONE of them come close or measure up to Steve. This young man (Steve) has mastered the skill and ability to make things happen in a flawless way. Each day was a great experience as we enjoyed people and cultures of both Cambodia and Vietnam. Some the high lights were as follows: Angkor Wat; The Water Buffalo cart ride through the country to see the small farms; Boat ride on Tonle Dap Lake; Ho Chi Minh City (so, so big); The Mekong Delta; oh yes the Sampan ride, coconut candy; Thu Bon River; yes, cooking our lunch...what an experience; oh, oh yes the Cyclo ride through the streets...you got up close with all the motor bikes; Dragon boat ride on the perfume river; The crowing event...Halong Bay...so, so beautiful and awesome as well as a great lunch. The Hotels were 5 star...the food always mouth watering. Finally the tour of Hanoi...Thank you Gate 1 we will be going on more of your tours...overall rating 10++. We would like to go to Africa with you and have Steve Chang as our guide... lastly the trip was fantastic/fabulous but the "KEY" to this whole trip was Steve...we will remember his attention to every detail, his caring, kindness, love for his job and country and making feel special. Thank you again.
Alton J.My trip to Vietnam went really well. My family enjoyed it very much, and we would like to express our sincere gratitude to our tour manager Mr. Bee- not only he is extremely knowledgeable, he obviously loves his country and is very proud of it. Mr. Bee has excellent organization skills and the patient of a saint. Gate1 is lucky to have him. I would definitely recommend Gate1 Vietnam trip to my friends and family.
Chyi C.We completed the 12-day Vietnam tour and I just wanted to send some praise for our tour guide. Bee was amazing. He was able to not only help us navigate the aspects of the tour but give us great advice as to where to visit in our spare time and where we should eat, and even a glimpse into how the locals truly live. He was also very patient throughout the whole tour with everyone involved. We were some of the younger people on the tour (under 30), and he managed to appeal to us as well as the older generations. The trip was truly memorable, and Bee was a big factor in that!
Trevor S.I just got back from another wonderful, informative and extremely well planned vacation. This time was Vietnam. I wanted to specifically make a comment regarding your tour guides. All the vacation that I have taken with your company are incredible, the tour guides that you pick not only know their country and are passionate about their individual country, at the same time, they make you feel like family. Tom, our tour guide in Vietnam was not an exception but, he went way further than what he needed to do to make us feel comfortable and resolved any inconvenience.. At the end of the vacation we were all a family, Tom, solve all problems, made extremely good suggestions , and make us feel extremely comfortable in a country where we didn't not know the language, and it was a little bit difficult since most people don't speak English. He's directions to locations, suggestions to restaurants, the shopping was extremely helpful. His advice helped us get things of us good quality and at extremely good price. I had an incident and Tom with out hesitation solved it. Thanks again and really, you need to congratulate Tom for a job well done.
Linda W.I wanted to add some comments regarding our local guide in Cambodia and Tour Manager in Vietnam - Mr. Nivath, our guide in Cambodia, was delightful! He was extremely knowledgeable, passionate, funny and went above and beyond. His personal stories added a depth and understanding of the history and life in Cambodia and was greatly appreciated. Siem Reap was definitely a highlight of the trip! Khanh Nguyen (Kan), our guide in Vietnam, was excellent. His logistical skills of navigating with all 36 of us was evident. We appreciated his Vietnam Destination Information Booklet as it helped keep us all on time and informed. Kan's currency conversion guide was also a great help. Kan was very knowledgeable, patient and generous and we appreciated his local unexpected snacks. We enjoyed his stories, patience and humour. I would definitely recommend this trip to others - 17 days worked well and the balance of Bangkok, Siem Reap Cambodia and the majority of days in Vietnam was a good experience and pace for us.
Shannon S.The trip was outstanding. The tour Managers Jeffrey and Deno were both exceptional 100 percent knowledgeable of their duties, the Drivers were very hospitable and had great knowledgeable about their route. The food was enjoyable, all tours were on point, the hotels were beautiful. I have no complaints all accolades . Thank you for a wonderful trip
Pamela M.Our trip to Vietnam was perfect! It starts with our tour guide Tom who was just the best of the best! He kept our group in a family mood, and that helped us to have a wonderful vacation. He knew everyone's name, and gave attention to everyone of us. Our group was a mixture of different backgrounds and nations- Vietnamese living in California, Polish and Hindu living in NY, and others. Not an easy task for anyone to keep the group together, I think. But, for Tom it was not a challenge at all. He was able to manage this difficult task with ease! His sense of humor and great artistic spirit was a huge plus! He sung songs for us, made a beautiful collage of pictures and videos so that we will never forget Vietnam! Good job Gate1 for having such a perfect employee!
Krystyna N.Wonderful trip! Your tour manager "Ray" in Thailand was amazing! He made the trip so meaningful sharing his vast knowledge of the countries we went to, as well as an understanding of its people and customs. Many members of our tour group commented that he was the best tour manager they have ever had. I guess we got really lucky as this was our first Gate One trip! The trip went flawlessly and surpassed our expectations. We are usually independent travelers, but this sure was the way to see Thailand, Laos and Cambodia and all its experiences! If you have the opportunity, please share this with Ray.
Nancy F.As always, my husband and I enjoyed Singapore and Malaysia. This is our 31st trip with Gate1! Each country had their unique beauty, customs and traditions to experience. Ruslim, our tour manager was superb and very well organized. He made our tour very enjoyable and safe.
Maria P.I want to take a little extra time to share more information about our amazing trip to Vietnam and Cambodia! Our local guide, Sohpai, and our tour Director, Duc, were absolutely the best tour experience I've ever had! Duc. Especially went out of his way to accommodate my 82 year old father and made our experience in Vietnam a dream come true. I cannot express enough what a unique and compassionate soul Duc is. I hope that Gate 1 recognizes his exceptional service. For example, Duc helped my father go to the pharmacy after a small cut, gave him concern and helped bring cough drops for my partner who caught a cold. Duc really went above and beyond to help my family. Everyone on our tour thought he was amazing. I've included some of my favorite pictures from the trip, including a picture with Duc, that I will always cherish along with the friendship we built. Thank you for facilitating an amazing trip! And thank you for bringing us together with Duc. This truly was a once in a lifetime experience.
Emily T.This was the best trip I have ever had and the tour guides especially, went above and beyond to make sure that the trip was successful. Lift is delightful, funny and entertaining. Buffalo, no words are good enough to describe him. He is a tour guides teacher with a wealth of knowledge, a great personality, entertaining, a good photographer, caring and I feel privileged to have had him be out tour guide.
Hazel L.Both tour managers were excellent. Lift was great and had an infectious personality. Buffalo was the best tour manager I have ever had in all of my Gate One trips. He worked incredibly hard even helping with serving meals. He did a couple of excellent videos of our trip which he shared with the group. He even prepared a booklet with everything we needed to know including daily adventures and recommendations for restaurants in every city. Both tour managers are terrific assets to Gate One and I hope to see them again on another Gate One trip.
Robert S.Dang - our tour guide was magnificent from beginning to end. His knowledge of the country was stellar, his ability to lead the tour- keep everyone on track and happy was excellent. His availability, energy, enthusiasm and going the extra mile was apparent every minute of every day. There was not one misstep during the 17 days - all because of Dang!!!! He was thoughtful and provided our group with many little touches that made the trip even more special. Vietnam could not have a more stellar or genuinely committed ambassador. In Cambodia the country tour person was Sang. Another stellar guide that knew the history and imparted it with interest joy and empathy. A lovely gentle man who loves what he does and made the trip. We are astonished that in 17 days there was not one single issue!!!!! No small feat given we were 37 strangers to start with - and a lot of tour logistics. It could not have been a better trip. Most people on the trip were booking more trips for next year on Gate 1, before they even got home. Dang and Sang are exemplary employees that both provided us with the trip of the lifetime. I cannot say enough about how skilled, genuine and lovely they are. RUN don't walk to take this tour and try and get Dang and Sang as the amazing tour leaders.
Arthur A.Our recent Gems of Southeast Asia trip was the most extraordinary trip we've ever taken - and we have been committed travelers for years. Although the pace was a bit strenuous, we absolutely loved every aspect of the trip - the sights, activities, accommodations, and tons of information. I especially want to commend our guides - particularly tour manager Ukkrit or Steven, as he called himself for us. Ukkrit was amazing! He was organized, attentive, kind, unflappable, and extremely knowledgeable. We had a great group, and he got to know each of us individually - I really can't praise him highly enough. Our local guides, too, were exceptional and I learned so much! While we had some issues with Gate 1 at the front end, once we were on the trip it couldn't have been better. Many thanks - and we look forward to our next journey with you.
Deborah C.We had a great time. All of our Gate 1 Guides were good and we enjoyed seeing and learning about Bangkok, Siem Reap and the country of Vietnam. We especially enjoyed Tran Nghia, the Gate 1 guide in Vietnam. He is wonderful.
Dave F. Minneapolis, MNEnjoyed my trip to Bangkok, Cambodia & Vietnam. The tour managers were excellent guides. Kept us safe & gave history info & necessary information about the specific place we were staying.
Cristina A. Tyngsborough, MAIt was wonderful! We loved every bit of it! Great tour manager ( Ya), great local guides, great itinerary and great accommodations and wonderful foods. We couldn't be happier with our tour. Thanks for your help in arranging this Gate 1.
Mary Beth & Tom B. Burlington, VTThe trip was fantastic. Mark and I are still talking about it and telling everyone about all the things we saw and did. Udom Is amazing and probably the best tour manager we have ever come across!! Not only was he always organized, he made everyone feel very special and he took loving care of each of us. His dedication to the Gate 1 family was incredible!! On a personal note, I would go on any trip anywhere with him. To be honest we feel like we made a friend for life and hope that we can see him again in the near future. The local guides were top notch as well. We were very impressed with each of them as they seem to be very well educated in addition to being friendly, outgoing and helpful. The itinerary was jam-packed and we feel that we really got a first class introduction to Southeast Asia. This was our first trip with Gate 1 and I can’t think of a better way to have been introduced to your company.
Lonni S. & Mark R. Boynton Beach, FLIt was amazing! What a beautiful trip. Our tour director, Udom, was the best ever. The hotels were perfect, the food was fabulous, and the activities and tours were great. It was ALL so great that I’m running out of adjectives! It’s not easy getting to Southeast Asia, but so worth the trip. It’s good to be home!
Debbie P. Bloomingdale, ILI had a great time! Myanmar is a great destination. Flights, food, accommodations were ALL SUPER!
Maurice M. East Stroudsburg, PAGreat! – we had excellent facilities, Tim was great tour manager and local guides were all good. The group blended well. It is a long haul (flights) but worth every hour of travel needed to get there and back.
Gordon & Karen S. Venice, FLOur trip was great and we all enjoyed it very much. The itinerary was well-planned, interesting and informative. What we liked most is the Tour Manager, Tho, because he's so kind, organized, detail-oriented, caring, good sense of humor and likable. He's the best Tour Manager we've ever had with Gate-1 or any other tours.
Shaun T. Cypress, CAWe just got home from our 17 day trip to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam and cannot stop raving about this experience! Gate 1, you did a sensational job of organizing and executing this trip! Everything we saw and did was planned meticulously and went off without a hitch. The itinerary was fabulous! The combination of big cities, countrysides and small villages gave us a good taste of each country. The included activities were all beyond fabulous and we learned so much. We also had free time to explore on our own which we enjoyed and for which we were well prepared. The food choices offered in all countries were wonderful and I tried things I had never had before . Vietnamese food is now a favorite of mine! The hotels were all lovely and conveniently located and the breakfasts at each one were incredible! We chose to do all of the offered optional tours and were ecstatic that we did! Every one of them was outstanding and varied and we loved all the experiences offered. What a trip!! 17 days flew and gave us memories to last a lifetime! Our group of 20 was the perfect size. We were different ages and backgrounds and got along so beautifully which added to the enjoyment of the trip. I’d like to particularly let you know how exceptional all our guides were. Each of them was extremely knowledgeable, organized, enthusiastic and well prepared. They all spoke English so well and were easily understood. I always felt well cared for and safe in every environment. Tuk met us at the airport in Thailand and started off our trip in such a wonderful way. She carefully guided us through so many amazing sights and made everything interesting, fascinating and enjoyable. I fell in love with Sarnak in Cambodia. What a personable, charming and bright young man! His stories, both personal and educational, added such depth to our understanding and compassion for Cambodia. He deserves special recognition! We spent the most time with Tho in Vietnam. I can’t say enough great things about him! He was amazing and we were fortunate to have him with us. Efficient, bright, caring and organized, he thought of everything to make our trip safe, interesting, educational and fun. His recommendations for our free time were so helpful. I was so pleased that he gave us written instructions and recommendations everyday because there was so much going on and having a piece of paper to refer to was extremely helpful. He was the tour guide for all the optional tours we went on and his knowledge and experience made each day extra special. Tho was an exceptional guide in every way! I guess you can see that we loved this magical trip! Thank you Gate 1 for the trip of a lifetime!
Beth & Sheldon W. New Rochelle, NYI just wanted to reach out and say that Yo is the absolute best guide I’ve had out of 7 Gate 1 trips. She went above and beyond for everyone, and all of the little ‘extras’ and recommendations for free time were incredible. I’d go back on a tour to SE Asia just to have her as a guide again.
Lana B. Sylva, NCThe trip was absolutely wonderful! Our tour guide was so informative, my daughter who had been in Vietnam already for the past year learned so much information from him regarding the history and customs of this lovely country. He was most professional and patient with all questions and requests. The hotels were clean and conveniently located. The staff were so friendly and welcoming. The local tour guide for Cambodia was also a delight! We just had an absolutely relaxing and informative vacation.
Sheryl H. El Segundo, CAIt was my 1st trip with Gate 1 and it did not disappoint. The itinerary was a great blend of activity. The accommodations were wonderful especially the hotel in Luang Prabang, Laos. And last but not least was Tick, our tour guide, was packed with knowledge, patient, kind and a pleasure. We all felt lucky to have him as our guide through the entire trip. It was and will be a trip I will cherish.
Jeanne F. Chicago, ILThe trip was absolutely amazing. Everything about the tour was fulfilling: Our FABULOUS tour guide, Buffalo, imparting his knowledge, humor, and sensitivity, addressing all our needs throughout the 12 days we were together - Our Cambodian guide, who enabled us to learn so much about the country and historic monuments, the above average hotel accommodations, comfortable travel vehicles, pace of the trip and all the unbelievable sights we were introduced to. So happy to travel with Gate 1.
Nola S. Pompton Lakes, NJFantastic. Ray, our tour manager throughout could not have been any more well organized informative and pleasant. In addition to the amazing local agents. I would highly recommend Gate 1 to all and will visit your trip in near future. Job well done
Catherine S. Southern Pines, NCThe trip was great! We had a memorable experience. The 3 guides in each area of Bangkok, Cambodia and Vietnam were so helpful and informative. As we were in Vietnam the longest we want to sing the praises of Duc. He was fantastic. From helping us for our Vietnam visa to sharing his knowledge and insights of Vietnam, providing us tastings of Vietnamese food and experiencing unique aspects of Vietnamese culture, going into some of their homes and meeting the local people.
Doris B. Guam, GuatemalaIt was great! Very fascinating country. And our tour director Tom was the best tour director I have ever had on any trip that I’ve ever taken. And I’ve been on a lot of trips. He was amazing. He had such attention to every detail and he was so kind and caring and informative and funny. We enjoyed everything we saw along the way and the people there are awesome.
JoAnn R. Pompano Beach, FLThe trip was absolutely amazing. Our tour guide Tho was probably the best guide I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. His knowledge and passion for his culture and his professionalism is impeccable which made the trip unforgettable. I also, want to thank the folks who assisted with the flight changes due to Hurricane Dorian to ensure I made it to Vietnam. They were patient, understanding and very accommodating. I cannot wait to book my next trip through Gate 1.
Jessica S. Palm Beach Gardens, FLOMGosh! Where do I start?! I have traveled the world but this was the BEST trip ever! Small group (10) of us Fabulous Tour Director Wonderful history of Indonesia Lovely hotels Great drivers Beautiful fun cities to experience the culture After 2 visits 30 years ago the changes in Indonesia are many. The best was the friendliness!!! I felt welcome! Yet very much loved our visit to the family temple/compound where we were able to cook and eat! Also “grandpa” giving us a blessing. This was extremely potent considering that day was 5 years of the passing of my husband and his presence was with me! I experienced a Gate 1 trip in June to Kenya and that was fabulous but this trip beat Grand Circle and numerous other tour companies by leaps and bounds! I think I’m putting up my travel shoes but if I change my mind Gate 1 will be priority #1!!! Thanking you for scheduling these amazing journeys!!!
MerrieAnn M. Hot Springs, CAThis was our first time with Gate 1 and we were all very happy with the trip. The hotels were all nice with great locations. Our days were filled with interesting and educational tours. Our tour guide, Bee, could not have been better. Navigating Vietnam was a little daunting but Bee made it easy for us. He guided us morning, noon, and night. In addition to the guided tours, he advised us where to eat and what to see in our free time. He gave us an overview of the people and customs of Vietnam. Bee is an amazing representative for Gate 1! Our group of 6 was so satisfied with this trip that we all decided we would do another Gate 1 trip in the future.
Joyce G. Perkasie, PAThe trip was great. Indonesia is a beautiful and interesting country. The trip offered a variety of experiences - sightseeing (temples, palaces, rice terraces, etc.), village visit, school visit, cultural performances, dinner with the prince at the royal palace, shopping, etc. - and the accommodations were very nice. We were blessed with good weather, i.e., no rain. The heat and humidity can’t be avoided so appreciated the air-conditioned hotels and restaurants. We had a good harmonious group. Edy, our tour manager, was very caring, diligent, and flexible as needed. He had to deal with a variety of issues. The local tour guides were knowledgeable. Thank you Gate 1 for a well planned trip.
Angelica M. Rowland Heights, CAThe trip was fantastic, the organization of the the tour was excellent as were the tour guides, especially Rex, who went above and beyond in his job. We can't speak highly enough of him. The one downside was the excessive heat, which of course you cannot control, but we were provided with plenty of water and every attempt was made to make things easier.
Kevin O. New South Wales, AustraliaMy wife and I had a GREAT trip from the time we arrived in Bangkok, Thailand to the departure from Hanoi, Vietnam. We used to plan a lot of our trips which required a extensive amount of research and planning to get everything to flow smoothly. With Gate 1 I let the planning and research to them.....They did such a great job of taking care of the little things that most often get forgotten. We just pack our bags and enjoy the tour!
Walter and Marion S. Fort Lauderdale, FLWhat a wonderful trip! Gate 1 and the local coordinator, Tom, fit a number of sights and activities into 15 days! Gate 1’s customer service was also exceptional in assisting with logistics during our flights to Cambodia. Thank you for a terrific time!
Sarah B. Wilmington, NCJust wonderful. Buffalo was the best guide I've had on all my 7 or 8 Gate 1 trips. Favorite events were the rickshaw ride, the limestone cave in Halong Bay, all the boat trips, pagodas, Cu Chi tunnels. I'm getting ready to plan something for next March!!
Kathleen D. Hillburn, NYThe trip to Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia with the opportunity to visit a border town in Myamar was excellent. The Tour Manager, POK, was the best of the 9 tours I have taken with GATE 1 over the years. He was knowledgeable, funny, and treated everyone individually which was a challenging task since our group consisted of 34 people. The temples of Cambodia, Angor Wat, etc. were beyond my expectations. The White Temple in Thailand was unique and a special treat to see. The use of Le Meridian properties on the trip was an excellent choice. An unforgettable, enjoyable experience.
Wes W. Stephenson, VAWe are still talking about our wonderful Gate 1 trip, the things we learned, the people we met, and the fun we had. The more I think about this trip, the more I understand how difficult it is to plan an itinerary that pleases all on the trip. I must say that there was something for everyone ... we have no complaints. Our guides were all wonderful, especially Usa, our tour manager. She was efficient, pleasant, knowledgeable, and friendly for TWO WEEKS, and that is hard to do! I will have more thoughts once we get back to Houston, but at this point, I think we made a great decision to go with Gate 1.
Dinah M. Houston, TXIt was fabulous! Gate 1 always does top notch trips!! Everything was first class...tour guides, hotels, food, buses and driver's, and all the beautiful sites!
Teresa H. San Diego, CAMy husband and I were delighted with our trip. Everything went very smoothly from our pickup at Saigon airport to our transfer to the airport from Hanoi. The hotels we stayed in were all very nice, clean, with good breakfasts and pleasant staff. Our tour guide Duc was EXCELLENT he went above and beyond to ensure his guests every need was attended too. I inadvertently left my Bose ear phones on the final Air China flight from Beijing to Saigon and he helped me to recover them, for which I shall be forever grateful. He was knowledgeable and also compassionate ... All the trips we did offered us the opportunity to learn more about the country and were reasonably priced ... The support staff, drivers and assistants were also very pleasant. I am happy to highly recommend Gate 1 and look forward to our next trip.
David K. Marietta, GAIt was marvelous! Udom, our guide, made the trip. He was considerate, efficient, and informative. Without his knowledge and experience, we wouldn’t have gotten nearly as much from the tour. We learned about the history and culture of Thailand and of Buddhism, and he told personal stories that brought the facts and places to life. I especially enjoyed the school visit, and we both really appreciated the visit to the farms ... We must mention our extremely skilled drivers who handled large vehicles with calm and care. We’re in awe! Thanks to all who put these trips together and especially to Udom.
Janyce E. Loves Park, ILOur tours were wonderful. Our guides on both tours were superb and each made our experience so much more enjoyable. Monish on the Triangle tour is a 10+++++ And, Pok on the Thailand tour was equally talented!!! They both shared much of themselves with us while doing the impossible task of managing our groups. I can’t express how much they both enhanced our experience!!!!!!! The sights and the cultural experiences were sooooo much more enjoyable with those two as our guides. Our hotels and meals were also very well chosen!
Dean W. Lone Pine, CAThe trip was fantastic! I enjoyed it tremendously. I learned so much about Singapore and Malaysia, had amazing tour guides, great food and a fun group of co-travelers. I am so glad I went. I'm looking forward to more Gate 1 trips.
Mojirade J. Philadelphia, PAMy trip to Thailand was WONDERFUL! Our tour guide was the best! Knowledgeable, fun and happy, and willing to show us everything we wanted to see and more! She went above and beyond her job making sure our trip was perfect! She made sure each one of our group members was taken care of! We could not have had a better tour guide than Busabong!
Catherine B. East China, MIOur trip was great. Our guide - Oh- was very efficient and knowledgeable. Very patient as well. He made sure we had water and bathroom breaks; he said good bye to each of us and saw us off when we left Bangkok. He gets an A+ for his effort and efficiency. Job well done.
Flora W. Modesto, CA