Germany, Switzerland & Austria

Reviews
Our trip was amazing. And Switzerland was beautiful. We appreciated the stays at Wengen and Zermatt areas. Loved small group of 18. Marija was an excellent tour manager with her local knowledge, her caring attitude, and her quick-to-resolve skill that brought happy results to a few of our adventurous "mission impossible" occasions. Along with our driver, Peter, they both went above and beyond expectations, to ensure we had wonderful experiences. Thank you.
Van T.Thanks for your email. My trip was wonderful! I would recommend Gate1 to anyone and looking forward to travel with Gate1 again soon. Our driver (Ergo) is really good. Our tour manager Brigitte is exceptional She was knowledgeable, friendly, fun and kind. The hotels were ok, I don't expect that much. Overall it was a really good trip.
Chanida R.Our trip was absolutely amazing!! My husband and I enjoyed every moment. We traveled through Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Lichtenstein and Germany. Nicoletta, our tour guide, and Claudio, our coach driver, were excellent! They made the trip so enjoyable. Nicoletta has incredible knowledge of the countries and went out of her way to make it fun. Very efficiently run tour, and we left with postcard like pictures and memories that will last a lifetime! We will definitely book with Gate 1 again!
Linda V.Our recent trip to Scandinavia exceeded all our expectations from the Tour Manager to having a really good fun loving group of fellow travelers. The Tour Manager, Wesley was a true gentlemen and a scholar bringing his great Irish humor and conscientiousness to make sure our Tour a great success. He was always available for recommendations and to address the needs and concerns a couple may have. The bus driver, Meiko was both very professional and personable. We enjoyed the itinerary for our trip, the hotels, the optional tours and provided meals, with the journey on the Glacier Express a true highlight of our trip. We truly missed traveling with Gate 1 during the pandemic and are already looking into trips for 2023 with Gate 1.
Thomas O.More than perfect! This trip was very organized and our tour manager Neira is one of the best Gate1travel staff we had! She went beyond her ability to make this vacation an awesome trip experience! This is our 3rd trip through Gate 1 Travel. You guys rock!!! Once again, thank you for your great affordable vacation trip. We're already looking forward to our next trip!
Leonardo L.Our trip was awesome. Our guide and driver were incredible. She was extremely caring and knowledgeable of the history and significance of each city and site visited. This was our third trip and best with Gate 1. Not only was our trip great, but we bonded with our fellow travelers.We are in process of selecting another vacation with Gate 1.
Louis B.Returned home from Switzerland on July 20. The trip was fabulous owing primarily to the tour director Dennis. He was extremely organized. Have over 2000 pictures of a beautiful country. Hats off to Gate 1!
James L.My Classic Switzerland trip was awesome. This was my first Gate 1 trip and I was a solo traveler. The itinerary was terrific. Had something for everyone. Sabine our tour guide was great. Very knowledgeable. Of course the weather played a big part in this trip. Having investigated the weather for each stop beforehand indicated we would have rain, rain, and more rain. We had spectacular weather. Hardly any rain at all. The other travelers were terrific too. If I needed help everyone was more than happy to assist. Always had someone to eat with. Hats off to George and Ginger. They took me under their wings and it was appreciated. This will not be my last Gate 1 trip. Loved everything about your group.
Sandra P.What a great adventure. This was our first Gate 1 trip due to COVID cancelling 2 Christmas Market tours and i can say it was the best trip i have taken. Gate 1 took care of everything. Great dinners and hotels. Our guide Claire was so knowledgeable and had a vast knowledge of all areas and had lived in many countries. Our trips and guides provided an excellent over view and we had just enough time to venture out on our own. You cannot beat the ease of these trips or the cost. This is an extreme value that most people cannot understand unless they try a trip with you guys. So happy we have a trip already books for 2 weeks in 3 months. Cant wait see you then Gate 1. Salute to all of you there from the booking agents to the flight folks and the actual boots on the ground the guides and coach drivers you all are top notch.
Vincent R.I have traveled quite a bit, but I have to say, this was by far the best trip I've been on. Our Director Julian was outstanding. He made us comfortable, made sure we were always together and safe. He deserves a medal and a raise. He is one of the nicest persons ever. We all loved Julian and Conrad our bus driver. Kudos to them, our trip will definitely be one of the most memorable for years to come. Thank you. I will be traveling more with gate1.
Odein S.We were seriously hyped to make a trip during Covid-times. We specifically selected Switzerland to visit as a single, safe, superior, expensive country. Also, that major attractions are outdoors, free from Covid risk. Still, we were again seriously concerned about getting there dodging a phalanx of regulatory travel obstacles, and once there, how we would manage the bureaucracy of national medical rules. But, after the initial indoctrination of procedures by our trusted travel guide, Fred and seeing how easily we guests adapted, t'was smooth sailing on placid Swiss lakes and down-skiing on incredible snow-capped Alps. What makes a tour of like this successful? For us: Obtaining a memorable impression of places during the limited time available. This tour succeeded excellently, a quick and spare overview of Switzerland. Our most wonderful surprises: the beauty of mountains and valleys, the power of money and industrialization. Our companions were uniformly a very experienced group which made our travels all the more stimulating. The tour guide is key to obtaining a rapid cultural impression. Our very experienced guide was Fred (from neighboring Austria), an exceedingly personable retired-CEO who was a fountain of understandable history and geography enroute. For the safety and security of guests, he conscientiously repeated instructions and directions to shepherd us during peregrinations. Regarding planning, we luckily benefited from rare perfect weather, especially in the mountains, and from strategically located, superior hotels selected for us by Gate1. The number and quality of included meals were just right. I missed museums we normally visit. But wake-me-up! In Switzerland it's the mountains and nature that are de-rigeur! Riding the bus was a minor disadvantage, required to transport us from place to place, but was such delight to enjoy the beauty of the passing valleys, mountains, sky, lakes and scenery. A surprising aspect of this swift journey is how small Switzerland really is... we covered a mere 1100km or 680 miles during our sighting of 9 locales. Perfect tours are those you perfect yourself. For us this 10-day excursion succeeded as a gem of an overview of Switzerland. We will travel with Gate1 again.
Tibor K.It was amazing voyage. As always Gate 1 provided excellent service. Monique, our tour guide made sure we were all safe. She and our bus driver Irene provided outstanding service. As always, I'd like to say thank you to Gate 1. You guys are amazing. We are looking forward to traveling with you, as long as we are going to travel. That was our 25th trip, looking for at least 25 more.
Regina ROur trip was great. Charlotte, our guide, was very special. I’ve taken many trips and all our tour guides were very good. Charlotte, however, was bubbly, very caring, always on top of things and personable with all her passengers. Our hotels were always in a good location and comfortable according to American standards. The breakfasts were great as always and the excursions and general timing throughout the trip was perfect.
Barbara F. Escanaba, MIWe would like to thank Gate 1 Travel and staff for a GREAT vacation. This trip to Switzerland was everything we had hoped it would be and much more. The itinerary was well planned and allowed for group and personal experiences. We will definitely be traveling with Gate 1 again!
Anthony and Kim D. Saltville, VAIt was wonderful! Nadine (our tour guide) and Reinhard (our coach driver) were beyond amazing! Nadine always made sure we were comfortable and had great suggestions for things to do. Reinhard is possibly the best driver I’ve ever been in a coach with.
Allison V. Wallingford, PAOur trip was fantastic! We had a wonderful week in Germany (went by way too fast). My wife and I were talking the other night while we were showing our parents some of the photos we took, and we were in agreement that we would both absolutely travel through Gate 1 again in the future. Our tour guide, Noel, did a wonderful job--he kept us on schedule and kept us engaged and laughing. Only wish I could have spent another week traveling around Europe with him. Overall, I wouldn't have changed a thing about our time in Germany. It was a trip we will always remember.
Collin M. Glen Burnie, MDWe couldn’t have asked for a more fantastic European trip! From our wonderful accommodations, tour guide,Marc Van Reil,who was amazing,and travel ease, it was an experience which will be remembered for years to come! Of course, last but not least,was your helpfulness,knowledge, and understanding,Josh, for making this trip so uncomplicated!
Janet P. Sewell, NJWe enjoyed our trip so much. I cannot speak highly enough of our tour manager, Julian, as well as our bus driver, Tibor. It was our first time to travel internationally and we found the trip to be so easy and fun. We plan on booking another trip with Gate 1 within the next couple of years.
Jackie S. Beasley, TXBarry and I had the best trip ever. With Julian's wonderful personality the days flew by so quickly fun fun all day long.he has such a wonderful knowledge of all the history of the cities we were in.The extra touches of chocolates, making sure we were all on the bus , we were taken care of like family. The hotels food excursions were so interesting we will always remember . Will take another trip with Gate 1 again.
Carmel S. St Thomas, ON, CAOur trip to Germany was excellent! Our tour guide Noel was awesome. It couldn't have been any better.
Anne G. Chanhassen, MNI had a wonderful trip to Switzerland. Our tour manager and guide, Monique was excellent. She was so knowledgeable about the culture and places we saw, and she really helped make the trip so enjoyable. Kurt, our driver, was also great. We stayed in lovely hotels, and the itinerary was wonderful, enabling us to see and do so much. I have visited Switzerland many times, but this was my first time with a tour. I would definitely consider going on another tour with Gate 1.
Joyce Z. Glenshaw, PAThe trip was great. Our tour manager was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. We have learned a lot about Switzerland. Swiss people were very polite and friendly. Some towns are amazingly beautiful. The food there was good. Shopping for chocolates and watches was excellent. We have enjoyed this trip very much.
Chi-Ming H. Barrington, RIA great experience! Beautiful weather...beautiful blue-green lakes, green pastures dotted w/grazing cattle, goats & sheep...towering white-capped Alps...even the white puffy clouds added to the overall beauty of Switzerland! We loved the sounds of cattle bells, the beautiful music of the long horns, the church bells in all all the little villages & towns...but we did miss hearing the yodeling! Our tour guide...Remo...made it all happen...we loved his wit, his knowledge...first time for a guided tour in Europe, so first Gate 1 experience, and cannot imagine not having Remo for future trips! We hated to leave Switzerland & hated saying goodbye to Remo!
Susan T. Knoxville, TNOur trip was great and especially our Tour Guide Panareo was amusing and very knowledgeable. We definitely will consider doing another trip through Gate 1.
Akhtar P. Tucson, AZWe thoroughly enjoyed our trip through Switzerland. Otmar was an excellent guide, very organized with lots of valuable information about the country. Hotels were very nice. Pace of activities was good and Otmar had good suggestions for activities and restaurants during our free time. Otmar was very helpful in arranging transportation to the airport from Lugano to Milan. We continue to be impressed by Gate 1's itineraries and value. We look forward to our next Gate 1 trip in May.
Kathy R. Vernon Hills, ILWe had a wonderful time. While we have toured with other companies, this was our first time with Gate 1 and we were very pleased. We had an excellent tour guide, Remo Beretta, and we enjoyed the accommodations and the food, and it was a very good trip. Even the weather cooperated. So, thanks to you, and Gate 1.
Rene S. Warminster, PAThe trip was wonderful. would like to thank you all for meticulous planning. Ottoman, our guide, was excellent.
Jaswant G. Carmel, INHad a great time, many thanks for all your help in getting this of the ground. Look forward to our next one.
Ken S. VIC, Australia
It was my first tour to Switzerland and second with Gate 1. The trip was amazing, and I enjoyed every minute of it. The tour was planned very well. Everything was 1st class all the way, from hotels to the transportation. Our tour guide Remo Beretta was the best I have ever had. He was personable, helpful, very professional and made everything run smoothly. I'd like to have him as the tour guide in my future travel with Gate1 (I look forward to booking my next trip with them to Italy).
Thank you Gate1 for this Tour - I have lots of wonderful memories!
Larisa S. Union, NJ
Our trip was fantastic!! What beautiful countryside in Bavaria!! Dawn, our tour guide was exceptional and very helpful. My husband is gluten free and she was a big help in translating his needs. We met many new friends with whom we intend to stay in contact.
Thank you Gate 1 for a wonderful trip. We will be using your services again.
Joan W, Olney, MD
Our trip was fantastic!!! What a beautiful country. Great people in our group who love to travel. Hotel choices superb especially in Zermatt...balcony view of the Matterhorn!!!!!! Tour bus driver, a cute Italian guy...kept the back window of the bus clean so we could take clear pictures! Tour guide from Austria informative, a pleasure. Breakfasts included, a major plus to always keep on this trip itinerary...rest of day could just sample...so many excursions...so much to eat...the cheese, the chocolate, the croissants! Able to see a sample of other countries by just traveling through Switzerland...France, Italy. Glacier express, Mt. Pilatus tour, train to the Matterhorn, lake tours, all the quaint old villages and castles...all marvelous experiences!
I would highly recommend this trip to anyone! Gate 1 Travel was highly praised by other members in our group! Thank you for providing such a trip...a very satisfied customer.
Donna F. North Reading, MA
Our trip was great! We had a wonderful tour manager, Otmar (who we also had on a Gate1 Christmas Markets tour 3 years ago), fantastic bus driver, Daown, very friendly group of fellow travelers, and the most beautiful scenery in the world. What more could we ask for? Although it was the rainy season, the sun came out just at the times we needed it to (complete view of the Matterhorn and majestic mountain views at 10,000+ feet up) and it was just cool enough for us Floridians.
Flights, tours, hotels, etc., all went well for us. We want to give special accolades to Otmar for calming my husband when he left his fanny pack on a restaurant seat on a day trip to Italy (and didn't discover it till we were back in Switzerland). Otmar took the time to call the restaurant to be sure the bag was there and plans to pick it up on his next tour there and will mail it home to us.
This was our third trip on Gate 1 and we hope to take many more. I'm sure I speak for my husband, his sister, and our friend who were also on the trip.
Patricia A. Coral Springs, FL
We had a great time. Noel did a great job of keeping things organized and on schedule. He was very friendly and easy to deal with. We loved all the sights and history. The hotels were all very nice and close to restaurants, shopping and the historic parts of each city and river. I have a big fear of heights, and our driver, Paul, always made me feel safe riding on the bus, even up in the Alps. Have already recommended Gate1 to family and friends. We'll be back for another trip. Thanks for making everything so easy.
Gretchen M. Richmond, VA
My husband and I had a wonderful trip! We couldn't have asked for anything better. Gate 1 was so well organized and yet we had lots of free time to explore on our own too. We saw and did so much and our tours were awesome! Our tour guide Susie and our driver Steve were absolutely the best! Can't say enough good things about them. I am used to travelling independently and was a bit unsure about group travel. I was pleasantly surprised and would not hesitate to do it again with Gate 1.
Linda H. Cedar Falls, IA
This was our first trip to Switzerland and we are very happy that we chose Gate 1. Before the trip, our knowledge of Switzerland was limited to what we read on the internet. Now, we have an understanding of the Swiss culture which can only be experienced with a knowledgeable guide. Our tour guide Otmar's profound knowledge/understanding of the country extended beyond the typical tourist sights. He educated us on things that were not written on the tourism websites or could be researched easily. The whole group was fascinated at everything Otmar had to say.
We're so thankful that Otmar suggested the excursion to Chamonix. It was absolutely beautiful there. How could we have left Switzerland without seeing the place where the first Winter Olympic games were hosted.
Overall, we're extremely glad we toured Switzerland with Gate 1. We saw other tour groups and they were way too crowded. Our group size was perfect. During our flight back, we were already planning our next trip with Gate 1.
Selina G. Forest Hills, NY
The trip was Wonderful. What made it so was the thoughtfulness, thoroughness, ability to speak many languages, and his command of the history and general knowledge of the area. Yes I'm speaking of Otmar!! He was always in 100% control when it called for it. We could just sit back and relax. I'm so glad that we went to Chamonix to see the town and Mont Blanc. It really was the high point for me "The Matterhorn and Zermott".
I'm always concerned about bus accidents overseas. David was excellent. He was young, happy, and kind. He was always on his game. I never second- guessed one hairpin turn he made. I wish I could say the same for the ride we took to Milan from Lugano on the last day.
We got off in Andermatt and I had read that the rest of the ride was more picturesque. I would have like to have seen the Olympic Musuem but it was closed. Also possibly to extend for one day and do St. Moritz. A memorable trip!!
Dale W. Ft Myers, FL
My trip was fabulous! It exceeded my expectations, especially as we went
places that were not on the original itinerary. Our tour director was a very
knowledgeable and personable man, offering interesting information about all of
the places we visited. All in all, this was a wonderful
experience.
It was a trip of a lifetime!!! Hotels were great and especially our tour guide Noel was fabulous!!! This was my first experience with Gate 1 Travel and I will definitely book another trip. Thanks for making my first trip to Europe a memorable one!
Cindy R. Bethlehem, PA
Our Germany, Switzerland, Austria trip was so good! Gate 1 keeps delivering a superb experience.
On arrival in Frankfurt we were immediately met by a Gate 1 representative and put in a cab that went right to our hotel in Mainz. That night we met our wonderful guide, Derek. He was knowledgable, personable and had a great sense of humor. I would like to go on other tours that he leads. The itinerary was just as stated in the brochure and we enjoyed every minute. The bus was comfortable and clean and Derek made sure that everyone rotated their seats each day and we all had a chance to sit in the front seat and talk to other people.
The people on our trip were from all over the U.S., Canada and some Australians. They were an interesting group of people and we enjoyed talking to each other about past Gate 1 trips. I am looking forward to my trip to Turkey in October. We love your website- it is so easy to manage. I love seeing all the flights that are available for each trip. Other companies do not give us the information that Gate 1 does. Keep up the fantastic work. We will keep traveling with Gate 1!
Pamela C. Stewart Manor, NY
We had a great time, even though it rained 70% of the time. We made new friends and met good people. Our Tour Director, Ann Marie, was sweet and caring. She offered lots of options (dining, site-seeing, souvenirs, etc.), and made sure everyone was comfortable and happy (for the most part). Our Hungarian driver, Jyula, got us to our destinations safely. The local tour guides, Huerta (Salzburg) and Ilona (Munich) were very knowledgeable. They tried very hard to make it entertaining and educational, despite the rain and cold weather. One of the optional tours was canceled due to weather, but Ann Marie had offered a Sound of Music and Berchtesgaden Tour instead, which was great.
The hotels were stayed in were great - the rooms were clean and the amenities were nice. The Castellani Hotel in Salzburg stands out for us because the hotel and our room were nicely appointed. We also liked our hotel in Innsbruck, Grauer Bar, because it was more spacious. It had a handicap-accessible bathroom, which we didn't mind. Breakfasts at the hotels, particularly in Germany and Austria, offered lots of variety and very tasty. The coffee is always good; smoked salmon and pickled herring are great options although they may not be popular for the American pallet. The dinners were meat and potatoes - very hearty.
I would have to say, the highlight on our trip was the optional tour of Mount Pilatus, in Lucerne. We could not have asked for a more perfect weather. All in all, the trip was very memorable and is highly recommended.
Julie O. Dublin, CA
The trip was great! Our tour guide, Sue, did a fantastic job. She has a wealth of knowledge at her fingertips. In spite of a lot of rain, Germany and the Netherlands were lovely. We got a nice flavor for each country on our journey. It was also fun getting to know other people from the US in our small tour group. Breakfasts were all wonderful. Each of the 3 dinners got progressively better. A big thank you to Gate 1 for all of their assistance in booking this trip!
Anita G. Santa Rosa, CAThe trip was amazing! The itinerary allowed us adequate time to explore and become oriented with each city we visited. The hotels were convenient and comfortable. Included breakfast buffets were great. The excursions to Bratislava and the Austrian wine tavern were top notch. Our guide, Michael, was a true professional. He was highly organized, clear in his instructions, and was an outstanding teacher. My girlfriend,Tina, and I are considering visiting Germany and Austria in the future with Gate 1 and Michael as a result. Our driver, Lazlo, was awesome. First and foremost he was a safe and skilled driver. He made everyone feel at ease even in the most difficult driving conditions such as a snow covered Alpine road or a tight turn on a Viennese street.
Bart G. Delray Beach, FL