Reviews
First of all I want to say how much I was impressed with Gate 1 service and how efficient Gate 1 was. Our trip was not even an accompanied trip and despite the fact it was an "independent" trip, we received excellent service. The information we received before our trip was precise, complete, well organized, clear. Airline, hotels, train transfers from airport to hotel in Paris and hotel to airport in Nice, had been well planned and smooth. I also want to command Gate 1 for the two excursions tours we took in Nice. The company you chose was excellent. Our driver/guide was absolutely great. I have used several travel companies before. Gate 1 was the best and I want to continue using it from now on. You have gained my loyalty with your efficiency and service.
Maggy M.Wowsa !! I cannot stress how wonderful this trip was thanks to Jenny our tour guide. She went above and beyond to make this trip an experience I won't forget. My only wish would be that she did other trips. Alas, she does not otherwise I would be on that trip tomorrow!! Gate 1 had a great daily itinerary that covered big and small sites that Jenny gave us a history of before each stop. It really made you understand and get a feeling for the background of the people and the site. Our bus driver Yuris was an excellent driver and helpful to all of us and especially to anyone with mobility issues. Great guy !! A wonderful trip with amazing sites to visit, thank you !
Donna C.Fabulous. The only downside is the flight to and from our vacation and you had nothing to do with that. We had a small group. Only 14 of us. Everyone was just as invested as we were in our vacation. Everyone got along and our tour manager was the best. Robby was so good. Can't think of any negative. I liked his humor. I like that we had individual tour guides for some of the venues we went to. They seemed to be experts in their field. I got so much more out of the Louvre and Versailles with our tour guide. We feel like we really got our money's worth for this trip. It was a trip we had wanted to do for a long time. It was well worth it. France exceeded our expectations.
Janet M.Our trip to Paris and Provence was amazing. You go to Paris to fall in love, and we did. Craig was amazing, he opened our eyes and hearts to the love and joy that is France. His knowledge of the art and history was so informative. I could recommend this trip to anyone and hope they get Craig.
Patricia S.It was the most amazing experience we've ever had although this was my 3rd trip to Europe but this time, with my husband. Thank you Gate 1 Travel for the wonderful accommodation. Adoram was our Tour Director from Paris to London and he did a wonderful job. Kudos to him! I even left my sunglasses in the tour bus , the driver's name is Ashian, while on tour to Stonehenge. My husband told Adoram and the next day I got it back. We found out Ashian came back just to dropped it off to Adoram in the hotel. Thank you so much to Ashian! We were 3 couples that went together on this trip as well.
Loida S.We had a wonderful tour with Robby our tour director. The weather couldn't have been better and the itinerary was top notch. We especially were entertained and educated by Nicolas on our Versailles tour. Robby was a lot of fun and ran a tight ship. He would give us a lot of information before we got to our next stop and was very clear in his directions. I would highly recommend him. He really knew his stuff.
Glenda W.I was very impressed with the 9 day tour of France, the Loire Valley and Normandy. This was my first visit to France and I found the beauty and history captivating. Craig, the tour guide, was phenomenal! He was extremely knowledgeable about the destinations we visited and made everyone's safety a priority. Just walking inside the cathedrals and chateaus that were centuries old and seeing the workmanship and learning the histories was amazing. My only regret was not being able to spend more time at Point du Hoc, Utah and Omaha beaches. I felt things there were rushed. It was such an important part of American history but at least I had the opportunity to actually see and experience it along with the Normandy American Cemetery. I did have the chance to see the Eiffel Tower and travel up to the summit. The views of Paris at night were out of this world. I also saw the Rekindling Ceremony at the Arc d Triumph and actually got video of the ceremony and the band playing France's National Anthem! I can't honestly say what my favorite place was .The cathedrals, chateaus, gardens, the Abbey, the Palace, Normandy...it's a tough call. I highly recommend this tour. It was well worth it I also have to give credit to our bus driver, Conny. She made sure the passengers stayed hydrated and kept the coach immaculate. Excellent driver skills too! Also to Nicholas, the Paris and Palace of Versailles tour guide who was very knowledgeable and to Scandinavian Airlines.I was very happy with them!
Joan J.We had a wonderful time! The trip was spectacular, and we really enjoyed having Craig for our guide. He was very knowledgeable, warm, kind and funny. We hope to go on another Gate 1 trip again soon!
Carol B.Our trip was great, starting with you. You were outstanding answering all of my questions and assisting me whenever I needed help. Gate 1 really gives good value and takes care of all of our needs. The river cruise was wonderful and our hotel in Paris was two blocks away from the Eiffel Tower. Our tour guide, Kurt, took care of everything and the activities director, Nad, made sure we had fun. Normandy was impressive. Thanks again for your help!
Linda S.I would just like to add a little comment about our tour manager Craig. He is really one of a kind. He is not only knowledgeable, but also very passionate about what he talked about when he introduced and explained about those places we visited. He organized his narratives in a truly touching way, although he had the least dramatic tone compared to the local guides. He is extremely professional as a tour manager, and yet his narration of the history and facts about the spots we visited went beyond just being professional. His narration shines with his intriguing perspective, demonstrating that he really cares about French people and has intellectual concern about the society. He gave his narratives a soul. We are truly lucky to have him as our tour manager. He took care of us, and he also inspired us. He is our hero.
Huazhi W.Craig is by far the BEST tour guide I have ever had. I do not say that lightly, as I have been on more than 30 guided trips, from Tauck and Kensington, to lesser quality ones. Craig was seamlessly and impeccably organized, most friendly, and knew his history of the area. He taught us in a very understandable manner. He was always happy and availed himself 24 hours a day. His subtle humor was entertaining and he simply made everyone on the tour happy to be there. And, he was EXTREMELY PATIENT with all of us, yet managed time better than a Swiss clock maker. I would go far out of my way to take another tour with Craig. He made our vacation unforgettable.
Thomas M.I just wanted to write and say how absolutely IMPRESSED we were with our tour manager, Elsa. She is excellent at leading groups, she sets the tone really well. We never had anyone late for anything during our 13 day Kaleidoscope tour of France. We never had anyone complain in the group setting. Elsa was always two steps ahead while keeping her attention on the current activity. Just super. Her knowledge of France is great (as expected) but she isn't over the top with this date and that date and this king and that king; rather, she weaves in a nice story that is memorable.
John M.Our 8 day Paris/London tour was wonderful! Our tour manager Adoram was exceptional! Very knowledgeable and went out of his way to make our trip memorable. This was our first trip with Gate1 and it won't be our last. Gate 1 has fantastic service.
Odalis G.Our trip was outstanding! Our tour director Laura was smart, knowledgeable and took an amazing interest in us (passengers). Once again we're extremely pleased by choosing Gate 1 again!
Marisa M.Just came back from this Spain and southern France trip. It was tremendous and I just wanted to compliment you on our guide. This is our fourth trip with Gate 1 and was probably the best. Our guide, Victor, was the best guide we've ever had with you or on any of the other trips we've taken with other agencies over the years. He was extremely knowledgeable and went out of his way to make this trip one to remember. Our bus driver, Julian, was also a pleasure to be with. With such a small group, it felt like we were traveling with family. Congratulations on the talent you employ.
Ronald S.I had a wonderful time. Everything was gorgeous! The tour guide Josep was incredible; very knowledgeable and well-informed on the sites, culture and he made sure every little detail was done to perfection so all guests enjoyed their visit to Spain & France. Josep made the trip a grand time for everyone. He has got to be one of the best tour guides in the world. I highly recommend him for Tour Guide of the Year!
Michele B.We recently completed the 9-day Paris, Loire Valley & Normandy tour and had a very positive experience. Simeon our tour manager, did an excellent job and is to be commended for his good work. This was our first time taking a tour with Gate1, and as a result of how impressed we were with Simeon, we plan to use Gate1 for future trips. He is a great ambassador for Gate1. Please convey our appreciation to him and also forward this message to his supervisors. Thanks.
Darrell S.Our trip was fantastic. Our tour director Simeone was exceptional. He was super accommodating, had exceptional knowledge of French history, and was just pleasant to be with. I will always stick with Gate one. Next stop Spain and Portugal. Thank you again for making this a dream vacation.
John N.We have just returned from an incredible panoramic journey of France. Our tour manager, Edo and our bus driver Kerry were among the best we have ever had. Our fellow travelers were respectful of one another, as highlighted by the fact that everyone was on the bus and ready to go early every single time. The tour itself covered over 3,300 kms, from Paris to the French Riviera to the Loire Valley. The hotels were superb as were the included and optional dinners. We came away with so many wonderful memories of the places we visited and the friends we made on our tour. We can hardly wait to explore more of the world with Gate 1.
Valarie D.It was excellent. We loved Paris. The food, the museums, the streets, well we just loved it. The high speed rail was very fun. South France was very interesting. Some of the foods were not our style but we were very happy to have experienced them. We are looking forward to our next Gate 1 trip
Samuel B.Such a good trip! Our driver, Shasha was the best ever! So smooth and expert a driver! Jordane was such a great guide with all his personal antidotes and knowledge of France and command of languages made it such a worthwhile trip. He gave us enough nap time but no one wanted to nap when he was recounting things. I really enjoyed his perspective and developed a real fondness for France during this trip. I would love to do a real food/wine tour of the country .Looking forward to our next Gate1 trip!
Sharon R.We had an amazing time in France and everything was perfectly executed. The beauty of France is unmatched and the thoughtful, knowledgeable and friendly care of our tour guide, Anne , made our trip wonderful and memorable. Thank you so much, Joanne, for assisting me with the booking! We love Gate 1!
Diane A.This trip FAR EXCEEDED our expectations. it was wonderful in every way from food right down to the bus drivers. Special recognition goes to our tour director, Craig who very professionally and capably gave us a trip of a lifetime experience. He always had a plan b in case plan a went awry, has masterful knowledge of the area and its history, has exceptional leadership skills, and always gave us 101%. I especially appreciated his appropriate incorporation of music while at Normandy as well as other times. Our stop on the way to Monaco for a glass of champagne is a beautiful forever memory. Craig is masterful in turning total strangers into a united family-which he had to do twice as the first portion of the trip merged with the newcomers of the second half. He was ever mindful of our safety (including keeping Covid at bay,) gave us great direction for free time and "on our own " meals, maintained a wonderful sense of humor, and piqued our interest at each and every stop. Gate 1 is very fortunate to have him and we are so grateful to have had this opportunity to tour and learn from this exceptional human being. This trip will be hard to top-but it also makes us just want more. We're searching now for our next adventure.
Mary C.We expected our Provence trip to be wonderful, but it was even more than that due to our tour guide Adoram. His knowledge of the history of France, Paris, Avignon, Aix, and Nice was truly incredible. He was able to share it in a way that always kept the attention, interest and involvement of our entire travel group. Additionally, he was always a step ahead in trying to accommodate the group's desires as to what to visit and where to dine. We were very fortunate to have Adoram as our guide and hope we meet up with him again!
Michael P.Gate1 did an excellent job with planning this trip. This was our first trip to Europe and it was amazing. All of the accommodations and services provided were Amazing. Highly recommend Gate1 to anyone and will definitely book with them again.
James W.Just a short note to thank you and comment further on my Northern France tour. First, let me say what a great job Anne did. She's very knowledgeable, enthusiastic and professional, especially in how she handled a Covid issue we had. Two thumbs up for Anne. And while my initial interest in the tour was the museums and cathedrals of France, everything Giverny and Normandy, there were several unexpected surprises. St. Malo was one of those. When I go to the UK I'll take the boat to St. Malo. Also, the Apocalypse Tapestry at Angers and the two overnights at the lovely and peaceful Chateau de Rochecotte in Saint Patrice. The secluded private chapel there on the second floor was very special. Chateau de Chenoceau was another beautiful and interesting surprise. Lastly, we had a small tour group that really hit it off and made the trip even more special. Thanks again for a great tour.
Christopher W.My wife and I had a wonderful trip with Laura, the gate 1 guide for our trip. She makes sure everything runs smoothly and her historical background for each location was so entertaining and interesting. It is clear that she did a lot of research and preparation for each location-exactly what we were looking for in our FIRST ever gate 1 trip. We will definitely do gate 1 trips again in the future.
Crystal L.The 9 Day France with the Loire Valley and Normandy tour was outstanding!! Craig, our tour guide was beyond amazing! He was knowledgeable, informative, helpful and established a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. Isabel, our driver, was the best!! And, it goes without saying that all of the destinations were phenomenally beautiful. This was our 5th Gate 1 tour and we are already searching the options for our next trip!!
Carol L.We selected the tour primarily for the various sites to visit. Those did not disappoint. Nothing related to the trip came anywhere close to disappointment. It was spectacular. The people on board, all the Gate 1 staff were excellent, most knowledgeable, courteous, humorous. approachable, and folks you would truly enjoy spending a week or two with everyday. The bus was excellent and the driver the most amazing driver I have ever travelled with. Jenny our Tour Manger functioned like four or five people keeping everything on schedule, enjoyable, memorable, interesting, even fascinating. She knew how to handle people and keep them happy no matter what the circumstances. A true veteran and consummate professional who you could talk to easily with a fount of information.
John L.My wife and I want to let everyone know how much we enjoyed being part of the October "Kaleidoscope of France" tour group led by Craig. This guy is the perfect guide: an encyclopedic array of historical, geographical and cultural facts, coupled with the knack for communicating them in an entertaining, humorous and enlightening way. (And I can attest to the fact that he comes up with a lot of his stories spontaneously and extemporaneously. Very impressive.) He good-naturedly kept us on schedule during a logistically challenging itinerary, all the while dealing very resourcefully and compassionately with several situations that could not have been foreseen involving members of the group. The biggest challenge for us was to resist the temptation to 'hang with Craig', monopolizing his time, and to let him do his thing for the benefit of the whole group. A very cosmopolitan and likeable fellow, we started to miss his morning greetings as soon as our trip had ended. We wish him well, and we're sure that Craig will bring great enjoyment to many more tour groups fortunate enough to be led by him.
James W.We would like to give a glowing recommendation for our guide, Edo! We have done a lot of traveling around the world over many decades and know Edo is one of the best guides we have had. He is extremely personable and made us feel like he was escorting his friends through Provence. His knowledge of the area and ability to relate to the local people we met such as the owner of the bull ranch in the Camargue region, the lady at Mas de Cadenet winery, and many of the restaurants we ate at was wonderful. Edo arranged some fun, unique experiences such as riding in a classic Deux Chevaux from the Louvre to Montmartre, making chocolate and eating an amazing buffet dinner at L'Esperantine Marseille Chocolaterie, and playing Bolles near the Cathedral with the setting sun as our backdrop! He treated us to several small and delightful gifts like a bag of lavender, nougat candy, and cookies. Also, Momo was an excellent bus driver with a great personality.
Gary M.Oh it was incredible! Everything went so smoothly with no hiccups at all. We loved the hotel in Paris. It was way cool and modern and had a great breakfast! We also appreciated being close to the metro in both locations. It couldn't have been anymore of a seamless process!
Emilie M. Mesa, AZFabulous. Hotels were great and locations worked nice. Great value and memories. Another great experience with Gate 1!
Walter C. Ankeny, IAThe trip was great. We loved it all, Paris, Provence, Nice...hotels were fine, food great and our driver Alfeo was excellent. Best of all was our tour director, Anne. There are no words to adequately describe her contributions...let me just say she is a gem and Gate 1 is lucky to have her. Gate 1 has not seen the last of us. Till the next time...
Robert F. Hawley, PAMy trip was fantastic!!!. I had a great time. History became alive . The trip was informative, fun and relaxing. Our tour guide Isabel was amazing. She was knowledgeable, organized, personable and gave me a true feel of France ...
Carol M. Brooklyn, NYMy trip was wonderful. My grandson loved the Normandy beaches and the cemeteries. I loved Mont St Michel best. Then of course there were Versailles and the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Our tour guide, Jenny, was exceptional in explaining things on the bus, giving us instructions at each place we went, and taking a personal interest in each of us on the tour. The whole trip was more than I had expected and was a great time to bond with my almost 13 year old very active and intelligent grandson. He charmed all the older folks on the tour because he is not afraid to talk to adults and they loved it. Thank you for arranging such great tours and tour guides. This was my 6th Gate 1 Tour and it won't be the last. The only thing I wish could have been different was to be able to see the military side of Versailles as well as the apartments.
Sylvia K. Edgewood, WAThe entire trip in France was fantastic!!! Everything was perfectly planned and organized. The tour manager, Siméon, was very knowledgeable about the history of every city we traveled. He took great care of everyone and made sure that we were all comfortable. That is very impressive and we all felt cared for. Siméon is very kind and polite. He looked out for us during all city tour and made sure that we were all okay. He was very organized, punctual and always on-time and every city tour was perfect, thanks to him. Our bus driver, François, was amazing! Always took out everyone's luggage. Greeted everyone and helped people come out of the bus comfortably. The ride was always smooth and we slept throughout the drive. We wish François all the best! This is my 3rd tour with Gate 1 Travel and out of the three, this was the best one! All countries are very beautiful, however, the tour manager and the bus driver are the ones who make the tour memorable and special. And I must admit that France was unforgettable, all big thanks to Siméon and François! Merci beaucoup! :)
Anna Z. Aventura, FLWe had a wonderful trip. This was our first time using Gate 1 and it won’t be our last. We found the 2 night stays in location great. Every place we stopped we enjoyed the sights. Our favorite stops were Mont St. Michel, Giverny & Nice. We did all the optional tours & enjoyed them all. Our tour director Anne was instrumental in making our trip. Her professionalism; knowledge, sense of humor & caring nature was a credit to her. All in all a great trip, thank you.
Vince & Sue C. Breakfast Point, AustraliaJon and I had a wonderful tour of northern France. The hotels were excellent, and the guide, Laura, did everything she could to keep everyone well organised and ease our way. She also had tremendous knowledge and taught us a lot about every location. Everything went extremely smoothly, including check-ins to hotels. The sites we visited were fantastic.
Antoinette P. Canberra, AustraliaFrance was amazing!!! Loved every minute of my visit. Such a beautiful country. The art and history was stunning. Edo, our tour guide, was the best!!! He was so kind, funny and knowledgeable. I could take another tour with him as our guide.
Stephanie V. Jeffersonville, INWe had a wonderful trip. Our first Gate 1 trip was everything we could ever wished for. Anne our Tour Manager was the best. She was full of information, engaging and so much fun. She cares for her group like a mother hen, anticipating our every need and being available and caring in every situation. She is the best and I am looking forward to be blessed enough to have her as a TM sometime in the future. Anne well done!! I was pleased with all aspects of the tour. Our flight on Air France was great. Accommodations were very good. The local tour guides were knowledgeable. Alain our bus driver was fantastic. Driving a bus through such narrow streets, turning on a dime, just amazing. Our tour was well planned, and the lovely French countryside and so many Chateaus and Cathedrals will live forever in our memory. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to France. We had a good group led by a Fantastic Anne ... Gate 1 you have a gem in Anne.
Marie B. Port St. Lucie, FLIt was wonderful! AnneMette made the trip educational and fun. We’ll use Gate 1 again if all guides are as competent, organized, and caring as AnneMette was. Enjoyed all the sites we visited and explored. Amazing trip!
Lynn F. Damascus, MDWe had a great trip. France was beautiful, great food, people, weather and we visited some really interesting and unique places. Laura, our tour guide, was fantastic! The best I think we've ever had, and we've had a lot of great tour guides.
Druci R. SN LUIS OBISP, CAWe loved the trip. Had excellent weather and a wonderful, organized, personable, and knowledgeable tour guide (Corinna). I came away with a whole new (positive) picture of France as a result. The hotels were wonderful, the meals very good, and the sites were beautiful. This was our second Gate 1 trip and we'll be seeing you again in another location!
Bret B. Vandalia, ILIt was fantastic! Anne was an amazing guide. She was so attentive to everyone’s individual needs and request. I really enjoyed the small group. The itinerary was excellent. We learned so much about WWll in Normandy, experienced the beauty of Monet’s house and garden, and stayed at a gorgeous Chateau in Loire Valley, it was a perfect trip that I will be recommending to everyone!
Allison S. Ann Arbor, MI.I had a fabulous trip to France! Can't say enough about it. Our guide, Sophie Lataste, was the best, and our drivers, Gary and Momo, were excellent. The itinerary was all I could ask for -- just a stupendous tour of France. And the hotels were well located and very comfortable.
Susan B. Cambridge, MAAbsolutely fantastic! I was pleased with everything Gate One arranged. It went like clockwork. Our guide Edo was delightful! Another local guide in Paris named Nicola was excellent. We were so impressed and exhausted. Perfect! Thank you for preparing an excellent program. Our group seemed to be seasoned travelers having gone to numerous Gate One experiences. I understand why. Wonderful value too.
Colette P. Eaton, COWonderful!! Jenny, our tour guide was fantastic. This was our 5th Gate 1 trip and perfect as always. We are already planning our next Gate 1 trip.
Terrence R. Lockport, NYOur trip was GREAT!!! It was pretty cool, windy and rainy some days there, but I know that Gate 1 didn't have a thing to do with that. Ha. Our tour director, Ann, was fabulous. She was very knowledgeable about the places we were visiting, and she was super nice as well. She had a great attitude and was very accommodating to everyone on the trip. I would give her an A plus for her job. Our bus driver, George, did a great job of keeping us safe and getting us where we were scheduled to be on time. I would give him an A plus as well. Our bus was very comfortable and it was easy to see the beautiful scenery with the nice, wide windows. I loved that they had cooled bottled waters for us every day. Our hotels were great too. Several people on our trip had been on Gate 1 trips before, and they all had nice things to say about Gate 1.
Linda B. Magnolia, TXOur trip was wonderful! My daughter and I are very satisfied with everything from the point of contacting Gate 1 to book our trip to our return, the airline, the hotel and Gate 1 personnel provided excellent service. I plan to explore other places through your agency. Feel free to post my comments as a review.
Joanna C. Orlando, FL