Central Europe & The Baltics
Reviews
Everything was great, all the activities on schedule and great hotel selection. The most relevant aspects of the trip were Katarina the tour guide and Johnny the bus driver. Both are amazing people and showed all the time a very high level of professionalism that Gate 1 Travel should be very proud for having them on your staff. Those are the person that make a different when you compare the service between travel agencies. My deepest recognition to them and to Gate 1 Travel for this unforgettable vacation that I had with you guys. We'll see you again! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Congratulations for your amazing service!
Manuel L.This trip was amazing, living the real meaning of Christmas the old traditions and family, the places were amazing, the castles were incredible. We were 22 of us in our group and at the end of the tour we became like family thanks to our tour guide Marija and driver Jerry that made it possible amazing crew very professionals and the service and love was amazing. Thank you Gate1 for making our dreams become reality.
Magnolia B.Great trip! Had a fantastic time enjoying the Christmas Markets in Central Europe. Thomas (our TM) was excellent! Very knowledgeable and he took fantastic care of us during the trip. Thomas was also very good providing timely information and letting us know about local options. Our driver was also excellent... I am always amazed how well these drivers navigate big buses through the sometimes very narrow streets in Europe.
Raul D.Thomas was amazing!! He was very knowledgeable and friendly. Gave excellent advice on things to do. Was always responsive if I had questions. There was never a minute he did not have a smile on his face!! The bus driver was also great! Always in a cheerful mood and went above and beyond. They made the trip amazing!
Tamara P.Romania trip with Nikola was fantastic. Nikola was very friendly and full of knowledge about both the history and current times of all the areas we visited. His surprises added to our overall experience and gave us many memories to treasure. He helped others with locations for currency exchanges, postcard stamps, and directions for seeking out extra sights. Our group really enjoyed his company and I would recommend him to everyone!
Stephanie H.We just completed the Christmas markets in Romania trip and once again we're thrilled with our terrific experience. Everything was wonderful from our hotels to meals and our driver Daniel and guide Sherman. The farm excursion was a fantastic experience, the horse cart was a great touch the family was so friendly and accommodating I felt like I was visiting friends in a genuine Romanian home.
Tonya K.I had a very good experience with my first tour with gate1. Our tour manager Greg was very accomodating and well organized. He went above and beyond what I expected, even paying for us to use the restrooms and also our entrance fee to one of the Christmas markets. And our tour driver Marius was the best. All of us felt safe with him driving us around, even in very tight spaces. His driving skills is very impressive. He should be renamed SUPER MARIUS. Greg and Marius was a great team and made our tour memorable and fun.
Ana P.I cannot say enough good things about our group leader, Mira. She was organized, professional, knowledgeable, funny, friendly, and kind. She makes me want to travel again very soon! Thank you Mira!
Amy M.I LOVED my trip "The 9 Day Christmas Tour", "Annette" the Tour Coordinator was awesome, fun, & delightful. She had many years' experiences, and it showed in her work. Annette brought the group together and made it a great social event. The tour moved very efficiently, and we covered a LOT of territory. Not to mention how great our Bus Driver "Bogey" was also. He moved us from point A to B safely and pampered us all the way. A super great job by two great professionals. Well done Gate 1 Travel!!!
Regina K.What a great trip! Janine was one of the best tour managers I have ever had with Gate 1--knowledgeable, sincere, humorous, enthusiastic, organized--and the list goes on. Every day she would share a special drink or goodie that brought the region to life in a more personal way, making the trip truly special, as well as treating us to wine with our meals. She and our driver, Roman, were a great team, taking wonderful care of all of us. Clone that tour manager! :)
Annette R.We had an amazing experience with our guide from Romania! He was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about sharing the country's history, culture, and hidden gems. Everything was well organized, and he went above and beyond to make sure we felt comfortable and engaged throughout the tour. His stories and local insights truly brought Romania to life. We couldn't have asked for a better guide and would highly recommend them to anyone visiting Romania.
Tanya D.My trip was amazing! I really enjoyed the Christmas markets and the local tours. The time on the ship was also wonderful. The crews on your ships are really the best! So friendly, professional, helpful...we miss them when we get home! The food is also amazing. Thank you for another wonderful Gate1 trip!!
Christine S.This was our honeymoon and first time in Europe and with gate 1. Julie and our driver Marick were amazing. They made our trip so memorable and fun. Julie was so attentive and knowledgeable I would ask for her to come with us everywhere we go but I know she is retiring next year and I'm so happy for her. Marick, our driver, was so nice and showed us some amazing sites. We never had an issue during the trip. Julie let us explore and made sure if we stayed out in the city we knew how to get back or her phone number. Being the youngest in the group had its perks with all eyes watching out for us. If Julie and Marick see this- thank you both from the bottom of our heart! It was an amazing trip and Blake, and I can't wait to explore more of Erik's through gate 1! I know every tour guide is the same but Julie, you set the standard for us. Thank you!
Emily L.Thank you for checking in and for putting together such a memorable experience. Our trip was truly wonderful from start to finish. The planning, coordination, and attention to detail made the journey feel seamless, allowing us to fully enjoy each destination without stress. The Christmas markets, river cruise experience, and overall itinerary exceeded our expectations, and it was clear how thoughtfully everything was arranged. We're very grateful for the experience and wouldn't hesitate to travel with Gate1 again or recommend your services to others. Thank you for helping make this trip so special.
Michelle S.Absolutely wonderful! Gate 1 will be my go-to travel company from now on! The staff, service, food, activities, were all exceptional. Thank you so much for exceeding my expectations. See you again soon!
Martha L.Romania was beautiful and the Christmas markets were charming. Tomoslav our tour director was great. He was very personable and gave a great historical accounting that was easy to understand and interesting. The local guides were also great they informed with expertise and humor. I would highly recommend this tour.
Cynthia F.I am still on a high the trip was simply amazing and more than I imagined it would be. Mario is the most generous and kind person and he made the entire trip a delight. He was attentive to everyone's needs and his charming personality created a fabulous environment for all the travelers while on the coach. I must admit there's always a concern when so many different personalities are together in a confined space but he managed it perfectly. I would go on any trip which is hosted by Mario.
Lynn D.Katarina was an excellent Tour Director. She is in our top 3 of tour directors from all travel companies. When she asked what our plans were on the day of our arrival, she suggested we change our mode of transportation due to ease of use. Her suggestion was spot on and greatly appreciated. She ensured we had time to visit the Christmas markets, and she met us at an appointed time and place to bring us back to the hotel.
David B.Tour manager Siobhan was amazing. She personalized everyone's trip by connecting with each individual and making comments/recommendations relevant to their situations. Her knowledge and local insight were so appreciated by everyone in the group. Her special added touches each day were such treats each day! Her preparation and up-front communication left no guessing for the group. She was able to pivot seamlessly if required and always made sure everyone was comfortable and satisfied. We would recommend Siobhan to anyone who has an opportunity to cross her path in the future.
Lauren L.I recently completed the 9 day Christmas Market Tour thru Poland, Czech Republic, and Germany and I wanted to give a shout out to our guide, Isabella. She was fantastic. Isabella was so willing to share her knowledge, time, and expertise with us at any hour of the day. She was personable, funny, and kind, and always available to offer advice for free time and help with our needs whenever we ask. She went out of her way to help me find things I hoped to buy while here. I especially like the pride she feels and shares when discussing her and country and its neighbors. Isabella is a huge asset to Gate 1 and I hope someday to return and will hopefully join one of her tours again. Thank you Isabella and Gate 1 for a wonderful trip.
Gayle S.My trip was absolutely amazing! It was everything I hoped for and more. Michael , our tour guide, was kind, funny and knowledgeable. I enjoyed his stories on the bus. I think Slovakia and the tribunal tour in Nuremberg were my fav parts! The farewell dinner was so cool, that was a magical night! I hated to say good bye. Loved every bit and learned so much history that we don't read about in history books! Thanks for setting it up!
Mary K.Our tour manager, Tereza, was amazing! She was extremely well prepared and kept the group informed in advance of all plans. She was knowledgeable on each of the cities visited. Tereza was very personable and interactive with all the guests but not overbearing! This was our first trip with Gate1, and she left us with a highly regarded respect for herself and Gate1. We will be travelling with Gate1 again!
Joe K.I loved this tour of Romania, a place I've always wanted to visit. I traveled solo and the hotel locations and itinerary offered the perfect mix of group activities and free time exploration opportunities. Our tour manager Ana was fantastic. She was so funny, caring, and knowledgeable. Every logistics issue was handled calmly and smoothly. Everyone enjoyed this adventure thanks to her, and she always went above and beyond. It was my birthday during the trip and as a special surprise Ana arranged for a children's folk ensemble to sing "Happy Birthday" to me after their performance - it was really touching and an occasion I'll never forget. There was only one optional tour but it was also a highlight of the trip. One of my travel dreams had always been to ride a horse-cart through a village and thanks to Gate1 that dream came true! I highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to experience the history, culture, and magic of Bucharest and Transylvania.
Brooke W.Trip was fabulous from start to finish! Our tour guide Marc is one of the best ever. He was upbeat and friendly and very informative, everywhere we went. Can't say enough good things !
Mary G.Our tour guide, Jolanta, was excellent! She was one of the best we have ever had. She made each day fun, interesting and worry free. She demonstrated a deep pride in her heritage, was very knowledgeable and shared her love of the countries/cities we visited. Jolanta was ALWAYS available to assist us or answer questions. She was so personable and extremely likeable. I really feel she played a huge part in making this tour so successful. Her upbeat personality was what brought our group together...we actually liked each other! Total strangers became friends in 9 days! Kudos to Gate 1 for finding this wonderful woman to represent your business
Judith P.The trip was wonderful. Tour Manager Nicola was outstanding, very pleasant, upbeat, funny and great sense of humor and laugh. His love of the Christmas season really came through and made the trip even more enjoyable. He started the bus trip each day with some favorite Christmas songs, which really set the mood for an enjoyable day. Kudos to Nicola for doing such an excellent job, and driver Daniel for navigating the streets and traffic in the Romanian cities. Together they made a great team!
Lucy B.Booking with the company in the past 20+ years, I look back, Dani P. was my agent, I was happy to have found this company and watched it grow. I have used other companies as well, when Gate 1 couldn't provide a specific area, but I return too and totally recommend Gate One. I have traveled individually and been on numerous tours, stayed in many hotels, and been in the daily direction of various tour guides. I was very impressed with the Romania Christmas Market, not the Christmas markets themselves, but the Tour Manager, Ana. She deserves special recognition, well organized - check, knowledgeable - check, entertaining - check. She made "herding cats" appear easy and she never lost her temper, each sidewalk became a walking history classroom, waiting in line and bus travel was informative, funny and entertaining. She knows what the company expects of her and had herself ready and together.
Cathy D.Fantastic. Denis, our guide, and Majic, our driver were both flawless! We thoroughly enjoyed the itinerary and hotels.
Jeffrey M.After 20 Gate 1 tours and river cruises with family and friends, this was my first solo. There were four solos and over 40 people in total. Everyone was absolutely wonderful and friendly. I never felt alone. I give Judit, our Tour Manager, credit for treating us as family, always being there for us, helping guide us for our time on our own, etc. She is quite an amazing woman and one of the best Tour Managers with have encountered. She is definitely an asset to Gate 1. I would love to be on another tour with her. Joe did a fantastic job getting us safely to our various destinations, dealing with tons of luggage, offering a hand getting off the bus, and even a hug. He is indeed a gentleman. I'm looking forward to my second solo trip to Japan in May, and a Christmas Markets cruise next December.
Ann G.We wanted to go out of our way and give a special message about Sam, our tour director what an outstanding person. He was able to communicate clearly always in a timely manner before we got on the tour and a pleasant character. Sam was always available and always at the point at the specific time that he mentioned in the bus, which is wonderful when you were already in a new area and returning to the bus. Seeing Sam always with a large smile and a great personality. Also a big shout out to Lucas from Poland .The bus driver. Very friendly and a wonderful driver and cautious. Thank you gentlemen for making our vacation so special. A great memory. We have been on many cruise lines but this tour stands out.
Ludwina V.This was our 15th Gate 1 trip and it was one of the best! The itinerary was perfect. We understand you recently changed the direction of this tour to starting in Vienna and ending in Budapest. We really like this orientation and encourage you to keep it. We loved Vienna with its magnificent monuments and beautiful Christmas Markets. St Stephens Cathedral is one of the most beautiful in all of Europe...one of our favorites. The monuments and markets of Budapest, especially at night, served as a suitable bookend to our tour. And Ljubljana, in the middle, was perhaps our favorite of all...a beautiful old town with narrow medieval streets and bridges along the river and Ljubljana Castle on the hill overlooking it all. Just magnificent! And a truly special shout out for Lana, our incredible tour manager. We've had a number of great Tour Managers on our Gate 1 trips. Its one of the reasons we keep coming back and have never seriously considered other tour operators. Its a difficult and full time job safely herding 31 noisy and unruly Americans through multiple crowded Christmas Markets in multiple countries. Lana made it look easy! She was incredibly well organized and always stayed 2 or 3 steps ahead, anticipating and avoiding potential issues. And when unplanned surprises occur, as they inevitably do, she handled it with ease. Lana, took the tour manager experience to an entirely new level. We were very impressed and pleased. Thank you for such a great and memorable experience. We will be back!
William B.My husband and I recently returned from one of your tours, and we wanted to express our sincere gratitude for the wonderful experience. Our guide, Dennis, distinguished himself as one of the finest we have ever encountered during our many years of international travel. Dennis was warm, welcoming, and consistently professional. His deep knowledge, punctuality, and attentive accommodations elevated the trip to a truly memorable level. We appreciated his friendly manner, his ability to share rich cultural and historical context, and his flexibility with the group's needs. As business owners ourselves, we recognize and value what it takes to maintain a high standard of service. Dennis is clearly a standout asset to your team - someone who reflects the very best of Gate 1. Thanks to Dennis's exemplary guidance, we will absolutely be choosing Gate 1 for our future travels. Please pass along our sincere thanks and commendation to him.
Jenicha W.Amy at Front Desk was amazing! So helpful, friendly and just joyful. Great 1st impression for all guests boarding ship. Activity Director and Cruise Director were great! Fun onboard activities and additional entertainment from servers was a bonus Everyone was on point! Can't wait to cruise again on Gate 1
Cheryl K.We had a fabulous time on our trip through Gate1 Travel to Germany & Austria for the Christmas Markets. It is hard to say what part of the trip was our favorite as each destination was great and had such unique and special things! Our tour Manager Michael was phenomenal - so knowledgeable and kind and funny as well. He made us feel so comfortable and was always willing to help in any way. He was natural at making us feel like our group of 41 people was family and friends! He is such an asset to your organization! All our hotels were nice and clean and comfortable! I would not change a thing about our trip. We will be repeat customers
Janis L.Our trip was fantastic! George was a really good leader for the group. He is very organized, knowledgeable of all the cities we visited, willing to do more than was expected. The hotel in Vienna was very nice, centrally located and food was delicious. Thank you for the upgrade on the river cruise. We were surprised and very appreciative. We love traveling with Gate 1. The Ship was so nice, clean, staff were so nice and helpful. Food was delicious I cannot wait to travel with Gate 1 again.
Nancy K.We just got back from the 8-day tour of Budapest Vienna and Prague. I feel compelled to let you know that the tour guide, Derek, was OUTSTANDING!!! Seriously, he made the trip one of the best Gate 1 experiences we have had.
Patricia B.We have traveled with Gate1 many times, but this was our first river cruise experience with Gate1. We have sailed with Viking and AMA previously. I have to say I really enjoyed the Gate1 experience. The boat was nice, Martin our cruise director was very good and quite pleasant and always organized and fun to be around. The activity host, Danny was SO much fun - just a joy to be around and kept everyone involved. The food was great for all meals - everything was delicious. I liked the way the excursions were run - you just pick a color and get on that designated bus. No fuss or thought! The crew was outstanding! EVERYONE was fun and pleasant to be around and no "stuffiness". Great trip and will definitely do another river cruise with Gate1!
Janice D.Tour Director Julian gave excellent service on all accounts including organization, timeliness, availability for questions, knowledge of history, group participation, and an upbeat attitude. Would highly recommend him for future visits. Tour Driver Attila provided excellent driving skills throughout our entire tour, cleanliness of coach, attentiveness to detail, luggage transfers. Would highly recommend him for future visits.
Sue C.We had a wonderful trip. Our travel escort, Patrick, was wonderful. He was always professional, friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and made the trip extra special. Our driver, Pavel, was courteous, professional and did a great job keeping us safe traveling
Linda G.We appreciate your Customer Service booking of our flights. We gave Courtney the days we wanted to fly and our wanting to have a minimum 2-hour layover at each airport. She quickly found flights for us and booked them within our cruise package. That was very helpful. The dining room and lounge wait staff were exceptionally helpful. The Activity Director Nick brought us passengers together with activities from early morning to late at night. He is very knowledgeable about music. Nick was a good catalyst. The Cruise Director Dijan worked well in each of the five countries we visited from Romania to Hungary. He explained each step and seemed to be popping up everywhere during our tours. Dijan's explaining the history and nature of the countries in his talks during the day were very interesting. He filled in between what we learned when we walked and rode around with the tour guides outside during the days. Overall, we enjoyed learning about Eastern Europe on this Eastern Danube Cruise. Your 27-page Travel Documents packet was well prepared. I liked the details given for each country in terms of currency, being courteous, and watching what we ate and drank. We appreciated the casual nature of the cruise, no smoking, no jewelry and art sale, no casino, and interesting daily tours.
Bruce D.Just wanted to write a brief note about our tour manager Nadine. We celebrated our 20th anniversary by taking this trip. Nadine went out of her way to recognize this and even got us gifts to celebrate the day. She also went out of her way to make sure our parents, who were on this trip, never felt like they were holding the group back and always making sure they were OK with the walking and hilly areas. Great job by Nadine. Also, it is a perfect location for the hotel in Ulm, close to shopping, grocery stores, banks, and places to eat. And our bus driver, very professional and safe driver.... always signaled when changing lanes and always maintained a safe speed. I loved the trip, looking forward to booking another one.
James J.Our trip was amazing and wonderful! Michael, who led our tour, was well organized, kind and generous. He shared his vast knowledge of history and his own experiences with clearness and doses of humor, which made the tour entertaining. On his own time, he took us to Charles Bridge (not included in the itinerary) so we could explore that part of the city. The group was very nice, friendly and fun-loving. We made new friends. The singing and dancing at every dinner made the whole trip more enjoyable and fun! Albert (our bus operator) ensured that our journey was safe and comfortable. Both Michael and Albert did an excellent job of taking care of all of us. Thank you both
Emelyn A.This was our first Gate 1 trip and my wife, and I had a fantastic experience! I would like to make specific mention of the individuals (besides cruise director Adrien), who helped greatly make our vacation so special: Zsuzsanna - she was in complete control of every minute detail and did an amazing job managing the entire crew and operations. Wait staff in the restaurant - Amr, Yee & Milos, all of whom were very attentive and took care of our every need, often without being asked. Other outstanding staff who enhanced our overall service experience and deserve special recognition - Amelia at Reception and Kellen in Housekeeping Finally, I'd like to reiterate that this was one of the best vacations we have been on, and we have every intention of making Gate 1 our primary go to in the future.
Glen D.I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for our exceptional tour guide, Ana, who led our recent Gate 1 tour. From start to finish, Ana set the tone for an enjoyable, well-organized, and memorable experience. Ana's vast knowledge of the region, its history, and its culture enriched every moment of our journey. She shared information with clarity and enthusiasm, weaving in humor that made even long travel days feel light and engaging. Her communication was consistently excellent-clear, and timely, and always delivered with patience and warmth. Throughout the tour, Ana demonstrated remarkable skill in managing a diverse group of travelers. She kept us on schedule without ever making the group feel rushed, and she prioritized the safety and comfort of every participant. Even when faced with a few challenging individuals, Ana handled each situation with grace, empathy, and complete professionalism. Her thoughtful suggestions for how to spend our leisure time added tremendous value to the experience. Whether recommending a restaurant, an activity, or the best way to explore on our own, her advice was always spot-on and deeply appreciated. In short, Ana's dedication, kindness, and talent made our trip truly outstanding. Gate 1 is fortunate to have such a gifted guide on its team, and I hope she is recognized for the exceptional service she provides.
Cara B.This was by far one of the best trips I have taken with Gate 1. There is so much history and architecture to see and learn about. Denis was awesome! No one was ever late which is amazing since we ended up with 35 people. We all got along and made new friends; it was a great mix of people! The hotels were all in very convenient spots in the cities and I always felt safe! I highly recommend this trip!!I am looking forward to my next trip with Gate 1 on December 1st!
Pat M.Our 8 days trip to Germany was amazing regardless of couple rainy days. Learning history of Eastern and Western Germany, see beauty and culture, traditional German food and of course German beer-everything was grate. Special thanks to our tour manager Tereza. She is very knowledgeable, kind, well organized and generous. She always had some treats for us during our trip, which was very pleasant. The group was also very nice and friendly, which is very important during travel. The hotel's location and service were also very good. Special thanks to our driver Karl. Thank you Gate 1 for organizing such a beautiful and affordable trip.
Tatyana G.My wife & I had a wonderful time. Our group got along pretty well. Justus, the tour manager was very concerned for our safety and enjoyment of the whole group. Tomas, our bus operator is an excellent driver, very smooth when braking and accelerating. This trip was a fun trip, interesting people we got to meet and made new friends.
Danilo K.This is our 1st Gate1 tour & we were blown away by the efficiency of the trip. Every detail was taken care of for us & it was a stress-free vacation. Julia, our tour manager, was the best! She herded her brood of 42 like we were her own family. She was on top of things, very capable & efficient. We would love to travel again with her. Not to forget, Boogie, our driver, had also very capable & steered us safely. Kudos to Gate1 for an efficient staff. My husband is already looking for a trip to Italy next year. Have you unleashed Gate1! We loved our trip to Central Europe with you!!!
Karen F.My Prague/Danube Cruise was so much fun. It was my first cruise of any kind and I'm so glad that I went with Gate 1. What a beautiful, comfortable, and delicious way to travel. Every staff member on the Monarch Queen was kind, efficient, and happy. I felt like I was traveling with family.
Ruth S.Our trip was wonderful! Macedonia is a truly beautiful country with a fascinating history and very friendly and welcoming people. Kudos to Gate 1 for the planning and staffing of this tour. This was our first Gate 1 trip, but I doubt it will be our last.
Steven R.


