Belgium & Holland

Reviews
Our tour manager, Thijmen (Ty) was EXCELLENT! He made our entire trip an experience we will never forget. He was outstanding in every regard. You are fortunate to have such a capable, caring and fun-loving tour manager! Giannis, our driver, was a delight and went above and beyond when I misplaced a bag. Our local tour guide in Paris, Joyelle, was terrific ... but our local guide in London (Tim) was UNBELIEVABLE! He brought the history of England to life! I had goosebumps when he recited Churchill's famous "We shall fight on the beaches!" speech. The tour was absolutely wonderful in every way. The included tours AND the optional tours were great (Versailles was a tad too long, but enjoyable). I would always recommend taking the optional tours! Restaurants were lovely. One extra day in Bruges might be good. That city is awesome. This was our first Gate 1 tour but it won't be our last. It was more than we could have hoped for ... due in VERY LARGE PART to Thijmen. What an asset he is! We miss him!!
Francis L.We had a wonderful time on the 10 Day Classic Amsterdam, Bruges, Paris & London trip. We had the good fortune to have Thijmen, Ty, as our guide. He was witty, kind and very well informed about each stop. He certainly made our time with him a pleasure. Our driver, Giannis, was very pleasant and took us safely through Holland, Belgium & France. Taking us to see the Eiffel tower lit up at night after a wonderful dinner was very special. Tim, our guide in London was terrific. He & Ty managed to help us circumvent a "protest" march & we safely marched on to see the sights in London. Tim made the Tower of London tour terrific. Thanks to Gate1 for having such great people working for them. Each day was a pleasure & the good weather was the icing on the cake!
James B.I'm looking back on this trip with great memories. Our tour manager, Peter, was outstanding. He was extremely conscientious about all of our activities and schedules and always kept us informed of what to expect next. Any tiny issue that arose he took care of swiftly and professionally. Our bus driver, Yoris, was also magnificent. I marveled at how easily he maneuvered the narrow streets, especially at night with no street lights. He was always happy, smiling and even brought us cookies on several occasions. The hotels were wonderful and the food was interesting and plentiful. I particularly liked the French cooking class! I'm looking forward to my next Gate1 trip!
Linda W.It was one of the most memorable trips I have taken with Gate One. Our tour manager Nicholas is the best that I encountered in 40 yrs of travels. His knowledge and service was beyond what I was expecting, And everyone in our group felt the same about him. I would give him 10 stars if that was possible. What an asset for Gate One.
Miguel G.I had a magical time with Gate 1 again. I went on a trip a few years ago with family and decided to go on another trip by myself. As a solo traveler it is important to have a great tour company to make the journey less intimidating and keep everything organized. Gate 1 did not disappoint. Our Tour Guide Joaquin was top notch. He handled everything and went above and beyond to make sure that everyone had a trip that was memorable and full of fun. He went out of his way to help us all so much that I wondered what I would do when I got home to my real life and had to handle it without Joaquin! And I am in Law Enforcement, so that is saying something about how much we respected him and relied on him during our trip! We all had a blast and I made lots of friends along the way!
Donna B.This was our 1st trip to Europe & with Gate 1. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves & all the sightseeing we were able to do. Our tour manager, Arjan was very informative, friendly and helpful. He shared many trips with the group which we found very useful. We are looking forward to booking our next trip.
Patricia R.We had a wonderful time traveling with Gate1; our trip was flawless. Arjan was an excellent and very knowledgeable tour guide. Our hotels were upscale and we plan on using Gate1 in the future.
Lavonne K.A trip to Paris was so cliche until our youngest daughter wanted to go. As I always wanted to go to the Netherlands, we decided on your 8-day Amsterdam, Bruges, & Paris. Although I enjoyed every city and province we visited, Paris exceeded my expectations and I thank Gate 1 for that. It was an experience I will always remember.
Patrice W.I already shared by feedback about our recent tour of Amsterdam, Brussels, Bruges, and Paris but I want to add how phenomenal our tour manager, Patrick was! Patrick went above and beyond sharing his knowledge about each destination. Not only was he informative but he was witty, approachable and a joy to be around. Our vacation experience was perfection. Every detail was carefully thought out so that we as the guests could sit back and relax and enjoy. Our driver, Ynes, was also fantastic and always offered us cold waters on the bus in addition to safely getting us around especially in traffic. Thank you so much for this wonderful experience. It won't be our last with Gate 1 and we look forward to future adventures.
Amy D.Last month, we booked another vocation with Gate 1, the 12-day Holland, Germany, Luxembourg & Belgium, and this was our #5 times with Gate! It was really an amazing trip, and thanks in large part to our excellent TM, Eric. Eric was accurate, on point, professional, knowledgeable, resilient, thoughtful and overall, he was an outstanding professional. He diligently worked and was thoroughly prepared for each day, anticipating any risks along the way. Eric's deep understanding of the local culture, history, and traditions added a whole new dimension to our travel experience. The whole tour was planned, organized as well as executed perfectly! As our TM, he brought the region to life with his extensive knowledge, captivating storytelling, and infectious enthusiasm.
Li Y.I had a great time! Our leader, Fahid, kept everything organized. I appreciated the schedule he gave us for the week as well as a listing of all pertinent information and recommendations. He has a wealth of knowledge about each place we visited. He was clear, informative, insightful and always to the point. I appreciated the little French lesson he gave us as we neared Paris. He gave us just enough background to present ourselves well as Americans to Parisians. I know a little French, but what he gave us turned out to be just enough to help me navigate Paris and have cordial interactions with Parisians. The river cruise in Bruges was a welcome surprise. The driver, David, was excellent as well. The bus was comfortable and clean. I always felt safe. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the Dutch country tour. The visit to the windmill was memorable. The fish dinner we had that night was exceptional. I am always amazed by how many nice people Gate 1 attracts to its tours. At the last minute, my traveling companion needed to cancel so I went alone. I am 75. Everyone on the tour was so lovely to me. The whole group was congenial and interesting. I've been on other tours and have not found my fellow travelers to to be as friendly and gracious as the ones on Gate 1. This was my fourth Gate 1 tour. I have two more scheduled for 2023. The hotel in Amsterdam was excellent with a perfect location. I was a little disappointed with the hotel in Bruges, but I am also aware that a city that size has very few options for tour groups. The Mercure in Paris was a nice hotel with a particularly helpful staff. I wrote a review for the hotel commending two of their front desk employees, Farah and Marmie. The location was a distance from many Parisian attractions, but it helped to have the metro stop nearby. I would have no qualms about recommending this trip to my friends.
Diane S.This river cruise was my first and won't be my last. I had an excellent experience due in large part to the amazing crew, cruise director (Bart), and activities director (Nick), who were always available with a smile and good cheer. Despite losing hot water twice, the staff was immediately on it and forthcoming with updates throughout. I want to make mention of two exceptional local guides - Jacob at Kinderdik and Mary at Antwerp - who were EXCELLENT! I am impressed with Gate 1's attention to detail, smart thinking about everything, and always willing to go the extra mile. We arrived very early on Day 1 and were welcomed into the lounge until our room was ready. We had a late afternoon flight on our last day and were able to stay aboard ship through early afternoon. Gate 1 thought of everything. Thank you for making my first river cruise a very happy memory!
Jean T.We just returned from a ten day tour of Amsterdam, Bruges, Paris and London. Our tour manager was Thomas. We cannot say enough good things about Thomas. He was so friendly, approachable, and kind. But even more importantly, his experience and knowledge and general view points on life and travel were empowering! He gave confidence to unseasoned travelers, new ideas to the more experienced, and shared of himself at the core for the entire trip. He has an exhausting job but he did it with a laugh and a smile on his face. I cannot say enough good about Thomas. I hope we will encounter him again along our journeys through this world. Thank you for finding him and sharing him with all of us.
JoLynn S.This was my 17th tour with Gate 1, and my husband's 15th since I did a Christmas Markets with a girlfriend, and Spain (for the second time) with a teen granddaughter. Italy with her sister, also a teen, is coming up in June. This was, however the most memorable tour since it was a reunion 65 years in the making. My cousin and I were children together. Our fathers were brothers. After the unfortunate death of her father when she was only 3 and mine, when I was 12, our mothers lost touch, for reasons unknown. As adults we attempted to locate each other, but it was impossible. Then came DNA. It was a year ago we succeeded, thanks to 23&Me. We've been e-mailing almost on a daily basis since then, and she surprised me when she and her husband booked the cruise my husband and I were taking.....on the Monarch Queen. Needless to say, it was the happiest and most emotional trip ever. Now as far as Gate 1 goes, this cruise was as wonderful as expected. It did not let us down. My cousin and her husband had been on Viking and compared Gate 1 to Viking with high marks! The ports were delightful. The excursions just perfect. Our Cruise Director Maarten was one of the best we've ever met. He was friendly, always had a smile, and kept things running as smoothly as possible. Our Activities Director Danielle was absolutely wonderful. He did way more than run just the activities, and yet he made all the activities lots of fun. He was very entertaining. Besides being an employee of Gate 1, he became a friend. We believe Cruise Director is in his future! Both men are assets to Gate 1 and we hope to meet them on future tours. The complete staff worked very hard to provide everything needed or wanted on the cruise. They were always polite, friendly, efficient, helpful, etc., etc. Personally, I'm looking forward to Italy with my 14-year-old granddaughter. And....we just couldn't resist and booked one of this week's specials, the 13-Day Highlights of Egypt with 7-Day Nile Cruise. Can't wait!
Ann G.Thank you so much for giving me an opportunity to share how much my husband and I enjoyed this Gate 1 tour! We were blessed with a wonderful tour director, Farid. He was knowledgeable about every place we visited while sharing a great sense of humor and a real concern for each person in the group. He took time to answer any questions and he went out of his way to suggest places to visit or restaurants in which to eat for those not going along on the optional tours. We were traveling with friends in this group and they were all impressed with Gate 1. I think you may have earned new loyal customers!
Colleen M.I just wanted to send some positive feedback on our vacation to Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris during the 2022 Christmas time. It was my first Gate 1 trip and I couldn't have been more pleased with the whole experience. It was very well organized, we don't need to worry about anything! Our special big THANKS to tour manager Jean Pierre - he went above and beyond to make our time memorable, pleasant and informative! Everything ran smoothly because of him, we appreciated his knowledge and suggestions about local things. All together - it was a wonderful trip and I am looking forward to our next adventure with Gate 1!
Ella S.I wanted to take the opportunity to write a brief comment about my travel experience. I gave everything on the survey an excellent rating because it really was a fabulous trip. It was my first Gate 1 trip and I chose the company because a friend had recommended Gate 1. I couldn't have been more pleased with the whole experience. The tour director made it so special and I loved being able to sit back and enjoy the trip without having to worry about any of the major logistics (luggage, transfers, directions) that come with international traveling. Our tour group got to know each other and we had a great group harmony. I look forward to traveling with Gate 1 again!
Tracy F.I just wanted to send some positive feedback on my Gate 1 vacation to Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, and London. My husband and I had a wonderful time, and we are already thinking of our next trip we will take through Gate1!! I loved the city tours, and that we also had a lot of free time to explore on our own. Our main tour guide throughout our trip, Marc, was exceptional! There are no words to effectively communicate how truly wonderful he was to all of our group, how smoothly everything ran because of him, and how care-free I could be on this trip due to his knowledge, anticipation, suggestions, information etc. He was so funny, positive, and full of great information. I really had such a wonderful and unique experience, and look forward to our next adventure.
Kami S.I want Gate 1 to know about the extraordinary tour manager, Farid and bus driver, Bart that are in your employ. This was the 6th tour with Gate 1 and I've always been pleased. But Farid went above and beyond in providing us individual WRITTEN daily agendas, essential details such as phone numbers for emergencies, consulates, & hotels with information for public transportation that included the Station and Lines to points of interest. There are no words to explain how valuable that information was to me, enabling me to feel confident in cities where I don't speak the language. I sincerely wish that all tour managers would provide this detailed information, although I know that this preparation is done on one's own time and shouldn't be expected. We had 5 birthdays and Easter during my trip and was astounded at the generosity of Farid & Bart in the celebrations. I would also like to mention that they were both extremely professional and had great senses of humor! All in all, they truly are Gate 1's best assets and am hopeful that I may have the pleasure of another tour with them someday!
Sharon H.The trip was the BEST!!!! I went with 2 of my friends. We all had our own rooms. The Hotels were great and the staff was fantastic. The tours included in the package were great, we also did additional tours. The free time we had allowed us to mingle with the town folks and explore the cities at our leisure. The very best part was our Tour Manager Vic. His home was France, he knew everything about France and all the other countries were visited. He was fun, experienced, and knowledgeable about everything!! The other people traveling on the tour were the nicest!! from all over the world. I am looking forward to my next experience with Gate 1. Can not wait to check out some more trips.
Linda Y. Detroit, MIThe trip was excellent. We enjoyed every facet of it. The timelines, convenience, professionalism of every detail was beyond words. The tour guide Romaine, was exceptional. From the welcome dinner to the farewell, he did such a magnificent job, we have nothing but praises for him (he engaged everybody). We are looking to do another tour where he’s available. 5 stars to Gate 1 and to Romaine as well.
Pamela P. Lantana, FLWe couldn't have asked for more on our dream vacation with my sisters. Our guide Vic and the bus driver were on top of everything. We didn't have to worry about a thing. Accommodations were great, food and information were all spectacular. Thank you Gate 1 for another amazing trip.
Laurene & Donald G. Wareham, MAThe trip was awesome. The cruise director Gary was kind hardworking & kept everyone safe busy & happy. Betti was awesome & I loved the morning stretch classes & games & dancing in the evening. The ship was immaculate & the staff throughout were attentive & helpful. The food at all meals was plentiful & delicious. Wait staff & dining room staff were wonderful. I always love Gate 1 & am looking at another river cruise.
Maureen D. Jacksonville, FLOur trip was wonderful! Our connections we're flawless, the hotel accommodations we're lovely, the ship was beautiful, our hotel manager/cruise director was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and efficient, the local guides were very good, the food and drinks were great as usual and the entire ship's crew were a joy to be around. Thank you Gate 1!
Joe R. Weaverville, NCOur trip was great. Thank you Gate 1 for providing wonderful customer service and a delightful itinerary on which we felt safe and learned lots of information about the countries of Netherlands and Belgium. We will use Gate 1 again soon.
Sharon R. West Kingston, RIOur trip was wonderful! We did and saw so much that I want to go back now to just relax! Our guide, Arjan, was very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. He kept everyone upbeat. We added four additional activities, which were all amazing. We will travel again with Gate 1 in the future.
Vicki B. Andover, MNWe had an absolutely wonderful trip!!! It met and even exceeded our expectations. Our Tour Manager Gary was excellent. He was organized, professional, detail-oriented, and well-spoken. He went above and beyond and we especially liked how he created additional material to help us plan our free time in the various cities. These pamphlets were very helpful. We really enjoyed visiting The Netherlands and Belgium. Both were countries we hadn't previously traveled to. This was our second Gate 1 river cruise and our fifth Gate 1 trip. We are very pleased with Gate 1 and will surely be booking another trip. The worst part of our trip was when it ended!!
Beth S. Hamburg, NYOur trip to Europe was wonderful! Our tour manager, Nicholas, is an amazing person; his history/geography knowledge and customer service was beyond expectation. Very well organized tours, we sure will travel with Gate 1 again.
Linda P. Westminster, CATrip was excellent! Gate 1 did a great job. The tour guide Romain was great and took very good care of us all. We will definitely use Gate 1 travel again. Thanks for an excellent 20th Anniversary trip from my wife and I.
Edward J. Cary, NCOur 10 day Classic tour was a family trip arranged to celebrate our granddaughter’s high school graduation ... All arrangements throughout the trip were seamless. Each city tour allowed time for photo opps and the optional excursions were well worth the price. Hotels were great, especially the Apollo in Amsterdam ... Our guide, Anita van Vliet, was amazing ... She handled unanticipated problems efficiently and always showed concern for the welfare of her clients ... Her professionalism and knowledge was obvious. Our bus driver, Moe, should also be acknowledged for his professionalism and generosity. He went above and beyond when a member of the group left a passport in a hotel safe. Gate 1 is very affordable, yet first class in so many ways, and I would not hesitate to recommend Gate 1 to anyone ... Thanks for everything!
Carole P. Salado, TXIn one word I would have to describe our excursion as, "exquisite."... We enjoyed learning about the history of important landmarks, relics, and culture of each country we toured. We were extremely pleased with the location of each hotel in proximity to various landmarks, shopping centers and restaurants ... Furthermore our tour manager Mr. Arjan, along with our tour guides, poured their heart into disseminating facts about the history of each country ... This was our very first Gate 1 travel tour and I can't wait to replicate our experience from being on the London to Amsterdam tour in the near future. We can't stop talking about our experience with friends and family.
Sonia J. Brooklyn, NYOur first trip with Gate 1 was absolutely amazing! It was our first trip to Europe ... We are extremely grateful for our most excellent tour guide, Romain. He was very professional and took great care of our needs and tour logistics. In fact, would love to do another tour with him as our guide. We had the best ground transfer crews and local guides. I can’t wait to plan another trip with Gate 1 and I will recommend Gate 1 to all my friends. Thank you for helping me to plan a most memorable trip and experience.
Cheryl M. Fremont, CAOur trip was great! Adorom, our tour director, was very professional and knowledgeable and made our trip exciting, comfortable and flawless. This was our first trip with Gate 1 and my wife and I were very pleased.
Mike M. Bristol, CTIt was our first ever river cruise. It exceeded our expectations. The crew was very friendly and always smiling, keep up the good work. The boat was very clean, yet you never saw them working; food outstanding and so many choices. We met some of the nicest guests and hope to become friends. Overall keep up the excellent work!
Thomas L. North Grafton, MAThe trip was wonderful! We had perfect weather so the sailing was smooth. The tulips were in full bloom! Pictures cannot do the colors justice. The cruise director, Jean-Pierre, and the activities director, Nadhem, were great and kept us moving and on schedule...The captain and crew couldn't do enough and were friendly and approachable- including the captain. It was nice to be on a small ship. It felt very intimate. We were able to meet most of the passengers on board and made several friends we will continue to communicate with. We will recommend river cruising and Gate 1 Travel to everyone we know!
Kathryn R. Rockledge, FLMy wife and I had a wonderful time on our honeymoon. I also want to add that our tour manager, Wesley, was amazing! He honestly made the trip for us with his organization, knowledge of the areas, humor, and overall willingness to do what needed to be done to ensure everyone enjoyed themselves. Our experience has us sold on taking another trip with Gate1 in the future.
Robert B. Charolette, NCIt was another great trip. Gate 1 does an amazing job on all counts. This was a river cruise to see tulips, but the old cities were the hit for me. The cruise guide did a wonderful job and was with us on all tours. The activity director was lots of fun, and he, too, was with us on all tours.
Cheryl S. Rockton, ILThe trip from Amsterdam to London was perfectly paced, and quite enjoyable. Loved every moment! Ever charmed by Bruges and Paris, shear delights. Even a rainy London proved invigoratingly stimulating. A delightful excursion.
Cedric R. Fredericksbrg, VAOur trip was very nice. We were especially happy with our Tour Manager, Adoram. He was the best one we've had in our 8 trips with Gate1!
Victoria B. Rosemount, MNOur trip could not have been any better. From landing in Amsterdam to the time we left Paris we were treated like royalty. Our tour director, Adaram was amazing! We felt so lucky to have him leading our way through Europe. He is extremely knowledgeable and a total class act. He’s a true All Pro. Pasquel, our driver falls in the same category. We felt safe and taken care of beyond our expectations. Those two work together so well. It’s really tough to find people of their caliber. I also wanted to mention our tour guide at Versailles, Nicklaus, was by far the best tour guide I have ever been around. That guy is very interesting and entertaining. My trip was complete after experiencing Versailles under his leadership. I really was impressed with GATE 1. This is a first class operation and I will continue to spread the word!!!
Rita K. Lakeland, FLTrip was fabulous. Seamless, from start to finish. Our tour guide Aryan was wonderful, informative, accommodating and he just made the trip one of our best.
Gary P. Somers, NYMy Trip was wonderful, the tour manager (Romaine) was excellent with a great sense of humor, knowledgeable and sensitive towards the passenger's needs and inquiries. Hotels were very clean and accommodation were good. Would definitely do another trip with Gate 1.
Ramona P. Flushing, NYIt was awesome! Our tour manager, Romain, was wonderful - friendly, personable, knowledgeable, funny, and totally engaged and committed to making the trip memorable, comfortable, and enjoyable. Guides on our optional tours, Nicolas and Carine, were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Thank you, Gate 1, for a thoroughly awesome and memorable trip!
Catherine R. Duluth, GAWe had a wonderful time. The combination of Amsterdam, Brussels, Bruges and Paris was perfect. Our tour guide Farid Naciri was very knowledgeable and helpful. Looking forward to Tuscany in October.
Rebecca A. Staten Island, NYIt was a wonderful trip thanks to our guide, Jean. He was superb; well organized, helpful and extremely knowledgeable about the history as well as everyday problems we may face in visited cities. Great job, Gate 1!
Bozena C. Redmond, WAI loved the trip. Enjoyed going to new cities and revisiting others. Our tour guide and the local guides were fantastic. Can't wait for my next gate 1 trip!
Lidia G. Brooklyn, NYWonderful, well organized, no delays throughout the trip. Our tour guide Michael and bus driver Rudy were very knowledgeable and friendly.
Fortunato G. Brownsville, TXThe trip was great! We enjoyed fantastic sights, historical information and interesting stories about our destinations. Also met lots of new, friendly people. Another fun trip with Gate 1!
Kenneth N Jr. Bellerica, MAOur trip to the Netherlands, Belgium, and France was wonderful. Romain, our guide, was fun and engaging. He made sure to take very good care of us. In each city there was just enough scheduled time and free time. The optional tours were good as well, and the local guides were competent and very knowledgable. This will not be our last tour with Gate 1!
Stacy B. Breckenridge, MNOur tour guide Arjan was absolutely the best! Very knowledgeable and so fun. Would recommend this trip to friends and family.
Eny K. Litchfield Pk, AZ