Reviews
We had a great trip! This is my second trip using Gate One and everything was wonderful. The hotels were all at least 4 stars. Every meal was delicious. Our tour guide and bus driver took us to every site early, so we didn't have to wait or deal with crowds. I'm looking forward to going with my husband to Italy in September using Gate One again!
Diane G.It was our 1sr tour with Gate 1. Special THANK YOU to Our tour manager Linda and bus driver Damien. Everything was organized, nice and smooth. Linda is very knowledgeable, organized, friendly and caring person. Everyone loved her. Driver Damien -our Superman. He knows every route to go against traffic; he "feels" the bus- the driving was safe and always on time! It was no stress on our tour. Everyone had such a wonderful vacation. Thank you so much. We are planning to book another tour with GATE 1.
Natalya S.This was my first tour for not only gate 1 but any tour. I'm so happy that my daughter chose your company and we got Derek as a guide and Andrajz as our driver. Derek was a wonderful mix of interesting info, fun Irish stories and knowing when to give us time to relax. Motels, events, bus, food... it was all wonderful! I'll be back to both Gate 1 and Ireland!
Nancy P.Thank you so much for reaching out. The trip was absolutely fabulous! The hotels were amazing, the group on the tour were amazing. Cannot say enough about our tour guy, Terry, who is extremely accommodating, courteous, professional And friendly! The same goes for the driver, Tony as well. Also, the car services were prompt and professional as well. I am so looking forward to my next Gate 1 travel experience in June to Scotland.
Brian K.Ireland Stay & Explore with Dublin & Dingle was perfect for our 23rd Gate 1 trip. Dublin is walkable, with many sites and great restaurants. Dublin at night is a colorful wonderland along the river. But Dingle town stole my heart. It is also walkable, with lovely nearby trails and boating for the active crowd. The optional day trips provide passive scenic stops around the peninsula and beyond. The locals were welcoming and extremely helpful. And, Dingle is a foodie town! A surprise Celtic jam session during dinner was a quintessential Irish experience---- absolutely priceless!!
Marianne V.I really had a great time on my recent trip. As always, the tour guide made the experience special, and John did a fabulous job. He took notice of our individual interests, played wonderful music, shared insightful podcasts about Irish culture, and was very funny. My husband usually does not enjoy organized tours, but he was very impressed with John's style and attention to detail. We never had to worry about logistics like fuel; we felt that John and Declan always had everything under control. This allowed us to simply enjoy our holiday without any concerns. Thank you again for a fabulous holiday.
Melissa N.This was a fantastic trip. Mr. Terry was our Tour Manager. Terry was very professional and he was fun to be around and very helpful. I appreciated that he gave us as much time as possible when we visited different sites. I loved his strategy, he would give us the information on the bus and as we're driving up an orientation. This was my second time at Bunratty Castle but my first time having time to explore the grounds without racing around. The local guide did an excellent job. In the castle she took us to the two rooms we could all fit in, gave us a brief history of the castle and orientation of things to see within 20 minutes. It was perfect. The lunch at Dirty Nelly's was excellent. This was my 3rd time at the Cliffs of Moher but my first time having time to visit both sides of the Cliffs, enough time to take in the views without rushing, and visit the shops outside the visitor center. This was my first visit to the Aran Islands. The lunch was fantastic, I enjoyed the tour around the island and again, we had time without having to rush. Finally, I liked that the hotels gave us pertinent information like breakfast schedules, wifi information, and etc in a one pager. I've attached one from the Morgan, but we also got one from the Galway hotel. This saves time, and you have something to refer to. Because Dublin and Galway have so much too offer, I look forward to taking this trip again and will definitely be looking at more "Stay" trips in the future.
Beverly B.Our trip was EXCELLENT! Our list of activities and places we stopped were varied, educational, engaging and fun! Shiela was a great storyteller and she and Mark had the extra job of navigating the haulers protests and getting us to our destinations! They were awesome.
Leslie E.The trip was awesome! - Thanks to the Gate1's flawless planning, David's great tour management (and his funny British accent, subtle sense of humor and new words in our vocabularies))), and our fellow travelers - such a great teammates!
Sergey V.There wasn't a place to let you know how fantastic our tour manager and driver were on our trip last week. Amanda took such good care of all of us. She made sure we all knew what time to meet, how long we had to venture out, what time we'd be leaving and what we'd need for the day. After the first day she wasn't just our tour manager she was part of the family, and we were so fortunate that our group of 20 was the whole tour group. We were so spoiled having her lead us through her beloved country. She is so knowledgeable about Ireland, and you can tell how deeply she loves her country and its history. And what can I say about Justin. What a champ of a driver he is. The roads in Ireland are so small, and he maneuvered those roads like he was the only driver on the road. He was able to get us through crooked streets with other buses coming towards us. I never felt afraid while Justin was driving. He was going to keep us safe no matter what. Here we are on our very last day. Our entire group along with Amanda and Justin. What a week!
Maritza B.I wanted to let you know how extremely pleased we were with our tour manager, Patrick. He truly made our trip! The four of us together on this tour couldn't have been happier with his expertise. He was fascinating, kind, helpful, and really, really funny. We all loved him! You have a gem in Patrick. I would take this tour again just to have him as our guide. Seriously, though, I wish every tour manager was as fantastic as Patrick was! We also were impressed with the quality of our hotels and their food! Keep it up, Gate1; we'll be with you again soon.
Michelle L.Hello there - I had a GRAND visit to Ireland. I would rate it a 5 PLUS Tour thanks to our amazing Tour Guide, Martina and our skilled Bus Driver, Andre'. Martina's engaging personality and knowledge of her country made our tour exceptional. And Andre's calm expertise behind the wheel of that tour bus was dazzling. Both Martina and Andre' always met us with smiles and on time! They are both great Ambassadors for Gate 1 and for Ireland, the country that they love so much. I would like to thank them for the privilege of letting us view Ireland through their eyes.
Susan W.Our tour manager Lenny was the absolute best!! Lenny went above and beyond to provide exceptional service to us. He was very knowledgeable and his friendly demeanor was exceptional!! This was my second trip with Gate 1 and I will be using Gate 1 again. If I could I would definitely travel with Lenny Cooke for all my future destinations!! On a scale from 1 to 10 Lenny is a definite 10+++++. Thank you Lenny for a memorable vacation!!
Deborah S.My wife and I can't express enough how amazing our trip was from start to finish, and everything in between. Thank you for being such a customer service driven company. Emmaline the tour manager and Kevin the driver were unbelievably great. Every step along the way we felt taken care of! We will tell everyone we know about Gate 1, which is exactly how we heard of Gate 1. Keep up the great customer service. Take care of your amazing tour manager and driver who made our trip a dream vacation. Keep customer service driven and your company will continue to be successful. Thank you again! We can't wait for our next Gate 1 adventure in Italy.
Anthony M.Our Tour Manager Emmeline was amazing. Her knowledge, energy, humor, friendliness and commitment to our group was extraordinary. She deftly morphed our group of strangers on a family tour within the first few days. We all had a wonderful time together - I only wish she could be cloned and lead ALL my future Gate1 tours everywhere. Our motor coach driver Kevin was phenomenal. He was friendly, courteous, funny, careful, respectful and was truly part of the reason our group bonded so well. The snappy rapport between him and Emmeline was a treat - he wasn't just our driver; he was part of the overall tour experience. I wish Kevin could also be cloned - I would trust and value him on every future Gate 1 tour anywhere.
Melissa P.I just have to say Shelia is a gem and her " Shelia- isms are wonderful and very funny! We had a great week with her guidance everyday from the time table to the itinerary to the great restaurants to try during all our free times! Our driver Fergal was so amazing and kind and very steady and fearless on the windy, narrow roads in the chilly rainy windy weather! My husband and I and our friends felt very safe and supported and entertained in their hands! We really would love to return to Ireland and have Shelia and Fergal take us around to the other side of the Island so we can see all the other beautiful places in the Republic of Ireland! It's so sad to think we can't request Shelia but we understand it would be too hard to promise us a Shelia Fergal tour!!! Thank you for a great taste of Ireland, we hope to be back soon!
Kathleen W.Our first Gate1 travel tour, the 8 Day Affordable Irish Highlights, was absolutely fantastic and beyond words. Much of the credit goes to our wonderful group and especially our guide, Colm. He is incredibly knowledgeable, witty, and caring, ensuring everyone felt special and the group mingled beautifully. Colm also provided excellent recommendations for local dining and shopping. With great hotels, seamless arrangements, and a perfect balance of group activities and solo exploration, this tour exceeded all expectations. I look forward to more Gate1 tours and hope to have guides as exceptional as Colm and drivers like Andrea. Thank you!
Parama C.Our trip was awesome...we had good weather, everything was right on schedule, food was great and we saw a lot of Ireland and learned so much an out its history. This was possible because of our super tour guide Lenny and a great bus driver, Tony. Lenny went out of his way to make each person feel special. He brought the group together so well. He was patient and funny and made sure every detail was covered. He was so knowledgeable and gave the best suggestions for restaurants, extra places to visit, church and music venues. I am recommending Gate One to all my friends. Looking forward to another trip.
Patricia Z.This was the perfect trip. Our Guide, John was excellent. He knew his stuff and if he couldn't answer a question, he followed up with it. His explanations of the history of our stops was phenomenal. He bent over backwards to ensure we were all taken care of and enjoying ourselves. Our driver, Jim was also excellent. I've worked with bus drivers in the past but none have measured up to Jim. Not only were his driving skills fantastic, but his joyful personality was very much appreciated. This is my 3rd or 4th tour with Gate 1 and I will continue to use you and recommend you to my family and friends. Thank you so much for a wonderful adventure!
Jane T.This was my 8th Gate1 trip and ALL the guides & drivers I've had were wonderful! However, on this trip our guide, Patrick, and driver, Damien, were ABOVE AND BEYOND SPECTACULAR!!! Patrick's knowledge of Irish history with dates, locations, names, connections were amazing!!!! And his delightful sense of humor was the icing on the cake. I took this same tour 2 years ago, but I learned so much more on this trip. Additionally, the guides for the walking tours, etc., were equally enjoyable and knowledgeable. THANK YOU, PATRICK AND DAMIEN, FOR MAKING THIS A ST. PATRICK'S DAY -- AND MY 76TH BIRTHDAY -- A JOY, AND SOMETHING THAT I WILL REMEMBER FOREVER!!!!! BTW, I have NEVER been disappointed in the hotels that Gate1 uses. Thank you for that.
Fay S.This was my first tour with Gate 1 after completing my due diligence on the company and this tour. We have traveled throughout Europe and the Middle East with other companies and found Gate 1 to be an equally wonderful experience. Peter, our tour guide, did an excellent job of explaining the areas we visited with colorful anecdotes and personal experience. He made this trip "come alive" for us, which was wonderful. We've already booked another trip in September!
Arnold L.This was a great trip. Though short, we learned many things about Ireland as our tour manager, Derek, was a superb guide. He'd always tell us facts and stories about the sites we were visiting, and Derek guided and took good care of us. He was so witty and had a great sense of humor that everyone in the group appreciated. He'd make us laugh with the way he'd tell stories, even fictional ones. Our driver, Denis, was a very careful, proficient driver and with him and Derek, our trip was truly enjoyable. They're great assets for Gate 1!
Modesta E.It was a wonderful trip and wonderful group! Ireland is so beautiful with so many streams, rivers, falls, and valleys. Killarney is a spectacular place with a scenic view of the Atlantic Ocean and the unforgettable mighty "Cliffs of Moher " and I love all the places we visited. And by the way we have an amazing Irish tour director named Edwina who is very well organized, intelligent and very knowledgeable.
Irene A.I just wanted to express how wonderful my recent trip to Ireland was. This was my 7th gate1 trip, and Edwina was the best guide I have had. She was knowledgeable about the sites and history of the country; she used personal stories to bring the culture to life. Her humor and friendliness contributed to high morale and group cohesiveness. It made such an impression on my family that we plan to return to Ireland and request her as our guide again.
Brittany J.I just wanted you to know your tour guide Matthew was outstanding. This was second time to Ireland with gate one and my third trip with gate one. His tour and my first tour didn't compare. I will recommend anyone going to Scotland or Ireland be sure to get Matthew. I brought my daughter she was youngest in group by 25 years plus, and even she had an awesome time and appreciated that Matthew even recommended places she would enjoy and discussed things she was interested in. He truly cares about his guest and wants them to have a fabulous holiday which we did.
Suzanne M.I wanted to let you know our tour guide, Lenny, was AMAZING! He was so patient, funny, enthusiastic, passionate, friendly, extremely intelligent, and so attentive to our needs. If I had to rate him, it would be beyond 5 stars! He was amazing! Andre, our driver, was excellent! He was so patient, friendly, and always kept our bus in its best condition so we were able to have a great view of Ireland's vast beauty! It is because of Lenny and Andre that made our trip so memorable! We loved our Ireland tour! AMAZING!!!
Graciela K.Our trip was FANTASTIC! Our guide was Jaimie and she had this incredible experience perfect! She is so knowledgeable about Ireland and shared lots of history and trivia about every area we traveled to. She has the best sense of humor and her laugh is infectious. She and our driver (Mark) had a lovely banter that really added to the experience. Jaimie provided great suggestions about places to eat when we were on our own and pointed out shops to consider based on the items we were looking for. The hotels were lovely and well-situated so we could get out and explore on our own if we wanted. We had nearly perfect weather - it was sunny every day! I can't recommend this trip enough - and hope that I am lucky enough to have Jaimie as a guide on a future trip!
Sarah S.I just wanted to give extra kudos regarding Patrick the tour guide for our vacation. He was so good. He made sure everybody had everything before we moved to the next location. He communicated well on time and gave previews of places we were going to. I thought he was a history major because he knew so much of the history, not only of the country but of the specific towns. He was humorous and easy to talk to. I just can't say enough good things about him.
Juliana R.I Just wanted to provide additional information on regarding my survey. This was our first time using Gate 1, but it won't be our last! We had an amazing time on our trip due in large part to the professionalism of your staff. Patrick was our tour manager and did an exceptional job. He had plenty of handouts with recommendations to maximize our free time. He did an amazing job of filling the travel time on the bus with relevant history, general information and humor. Jurica was our driver and provided exceptional service. At one point during a scheduled stop at a distillery, I had to run back to get an item off the bus for a fellow tour mate. I noticed that while everyone else was on the tour Jurica was washing the outside of the bus and straightening everything up for us. He was an exceptional professional.
Thomas S.Our tour guide, Lenny, could not have done a better job. He is extremely knowledgeable and shared so much with us. His humor is fantastic and his extensive experience made for a perfect trip. Lenny did an outstanding job keeping the group together which resulted in friendships beyond the tour. He set a very high standard for my expectations on future tours. Lenny and our driver, Arvydas, provided such a memorable experience that I would definitely use Gate 1 again for my future tours.
Elizabeth M.Our tour leader, Khristiene, was the most enthusiastic, fun, friendly, engaging, attentive, competent, sensitive and enjoyable tour guide I can imagine. Her knowledge and recall of history, culture, people, places, and events, was absolutely astounding.
Kip P.I would like to commend Mr. Patrick, our Tour Manager for this 9 Day Affordable Ireland Trip. Patrick is an extremely organized and meticulous manager who saw to it that everything is running smoothly. His attention to detail is beyond exceptional. He kept everyone informed of everything and anything. He is very friendly, accommodating and answers any question you have in a flash. He knows the area thoroughly and kept us informed of where to go and what to do during our free time. On our scheduled tours, he is on top of every detail necessary to run the activities smoothly. His presentation of materials to us are an excellent guide so we know where we are and what are the highlights of the area. He is a gem and definitely an asset to Gate1. Thank you Patrick for a trip I loved so much.
Y-Chie P.Amanda is amazing! We booked this Ireland trip to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. It was the most perfect, well-organized experience and we will forever have the most precious memories etched in our souls. Amanda treated us like family from the moment we met her. Sean is an absolute masterclass driver! He amazed me at every turn. I felt like I was saying goodbye to family when we had to leave. Thank you, Amanda and Sean, for showing me Ireland in a way I would have never enjoyed on my own.
Stephanie A.We had the best experience on our 10-day Ireland tour, and it is all because of our wonderful tour manager Khristiene. Khristiene is the loveliest, most thoughtful and kind person and we were so fortunate to have ended up on her tour. She is so knowledgeable about the history of Ireland, and she is so very proud of her heritage, and it showed in all her wonderful stories and history lessons she provided for us during our entire trip. She was friendly, engaging, attentive, and passionate about her job. She went above and beyond our expectations of a tour manager. We couldn't have asked for a better tour manager. We would do another Ireland tour with Gate 1 if we had Khristiene as the tour manager. She is top notch, and we can't say enough about her. In addition, we had Ireland on our bucket list, and we were not disappointed with this beautiful country that was so welcoming and friendly. We hope to return soon and maybe see some other areas not on the itinerary. For our first time, we believe the itinerary hit some of the top spots to visit in Ireland.
Lisa T.We had a grand experience on our Gate 1 tour of Ireland. The accommodations, the meals and the locations were all outstanding. But the standout was our guide, Martina. Her knowledge of the Irish people, culture and its history were beyond our expectations. Our bus diver Nick was a fun addition to our tour as well. We will be back and will recommend Gate 1 to our family and friends.
Deirdre M.Linda and Dan did a fantastic job shuttling our group around with accuracy and perfect timing. The itinerary was perfect, the food was perfect. Everything was perfect! Ireland is beautiful. And it hardly or ever rained while we were off the bus! Such luck!
James M.This was our first guided trip, and our overall experience was excellent. The trip was just as advertised; the accommodations and food were very good. Our tour guide Alaco was excellent, very informative and always had good control of the group. She was able to add a lot of valuable information as we toured. All of our activities were on time and well organized
Michael D.I just wanted to let you know how excellent our tour director, Liam, was for our tour! He was always so organized, put together, and friendly! Very knowledgeable throughout the tour! Our driver, Noel, was hands down the best driver. They both made the trip an excellent experience.
Emmalee H.Concerning our 16 day Scotland and Ireland trip, it was a truly a great experience. Our tour director (Gil) and our coach driver (Dan) were exceptional. Gil was very kind, professional, knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. We have traveled on 5 Gate 1 tours, along with several other travel companies, and Gil was the best tour manager we have ever had. Dan was an exceptional driver. He is also very kind, respectful, attentive, and professional. Both Gil and Dan are "people person" and very personable and interacted well with everyone. We had a super great trip. We will only travel with Gate 1 in the future.
Daniel C.I just returned from one of your Enchanted Ireland tours and would like to commend our tour guide Eileen, her knowledge, kindness and patience were unparalleled, paired with our amazing driver Tony, they both made our journey easy and extremely enjoyable.
Monica L.Our tour director Debbie was absolutely fantastic! She is extremely knowledgeable and just an all-around great person. We feel fortunate that we got to spend 16 days with her. Our bus driver Robbie was also a gem. Obviously, he is a talented driver, but he is also a fun and courteous man to be with. This was our second Gate 1 tour and there will be more of them in our future.
Kenneth N.This tip exceeded our expectations. The guides were all great. Loved the sheep farm and turf cutting tour. David was the most excellent guide. No one could've topped him. He's so knowledgeable and took excellent care of us. Loved our bus driver, Joe, too. Hotels were top notch. I will recommend Gate 1 to everyone who asks.
Marsha M.Returned recently from the 12 Day Kaleidoscope of Ireland with Matthew as our Tour Guide and Michael as our Bus Driver. They were an excellent team. Matthew went above and beyond to make the trip enjoyable. He played Irish music on the bus, took us on several surprise stops, gave us several edible or drinkable gifts and had an inexpensive group gift exchange which helped the group to get to know each other better. I especially enjoyed the surprise trip to Atlantic Sheepdogs in Grange, Ireland and Martin's demonstration with his border collie Mist. I also enjoyed the lunch stop at the Ti Linn Cafe. We were served delicious soup and sandwiches while being entertained by Irish ballad singer and songwriter Eunan McIntyre. I would definitely recommend Matthew as an excellent, informed and knowledgeable tour guide and Michael as a driver.
Linda C.Just a note to let you know how great our Tour Manager Matthew was. He complemented our tour with surprises along the way not listed in the tour description. We got to experience a sheep farm and trained dogs.... enjoy samples of Irish chocolates in the market.... Irish cider .......his descriptions of Irish tales and history was fascinating. Our driver Michael was also a very professional person and friendly.... his driving was without a doubt the best I have ever experienced. Once again Gate 1 exceeds my expectations. Well done!
Maritza M.Our cultural tour to Ireland was exceptional. We especially enjoyed the quality of the wide-ranging events showcasing Ireland. Our tour manager, Mel was instrumental in making our trip a memorable one - a gem for Gate1. Our coach driver, Michael was the best at navigating us throughout our trip. This was our first trip with Gate1 and will not be our last.
Jean C.We had a wonderful time. I've been on 7 different Gate One tours and this one did not disappoint. Adam, our tour guide was spot on! He was witty and hilarious and kept a good vibe going even at our most tired stages of running from one town to the next. Thank you for letting me travel the world on a beer budget with champagne taste!
Kalisa B.This was our first Discovery Tour. The size of the group was perfect. Our tour manager Derek, was very outgoing, engaged so many of those of us on the tour, and his knowledge of Ireland's history ...both past and present events, was beyond what we expected. He arranged timing of events seamlessly and was very organized! We felt very lucky to have him as our guide on or first trip to Ireland. Damian was our coach driver. Damian was able to quickly reroute us, to stay on schedule, when unexpected events like accidents ahead of us occurred on the highway. He negotiated the routes and busy streets smoothly. He and Derek communicated very well!!!
Valerie C.I've been on several Gate One trips now. Every guide has been exceptional, but Linda and the combination of the driver Fergal, made just the perfect team/Both Providing the best travel experience I've ever had. The two of them made us feel so welcome and safe on those beautiful narrow roads in Ireland. Linda had a wonderful way about her telling us about the history of Ireland, it's culture and the people. I found myself Hanging on every word she had to say about the country she dearly loves. I told her she would make a great storyteller. She has a real gift. On the last weekend we were back in Dublin which was NFL weekend - the place was hopping! She was able to get us a reservation at the Jameson distillery which we could not obtain on our own because the reservations were sold out. Throughout the tour, she made an effort to get to know everyone, kept us all safe, helped us to find things to do in our leisure time and then checked in later to see what we had purchased, where we ate, and what we did! She is just an absolutely lovely person Who clearly loves what she does and cares deeply about introducing travelers to her beautiful country.
Dorothy P.I wanted to let Gate One know just how impressed I was with our tour guide Alaco. I just came home from the 9-day enchanting Ireland trip, and it was wonderful. Alaco was so organized, so clear in her communications, so friendly and open to all and so informative about a wide variety of topics as we toured. She had lots of interesting suggestions for things to do during our free time and arranged interesting special events. She was also very funny and had us laugh many times a day. I felt as though there was nothing to worry about while she was at the helm. She had all our safety in mind and was very good at reminding us about traffic awareness, and general safety awareness, particularly in Dublin. The partnership between Alaco and our driver Enda was also impressive. I never worried about the curvy narrow roads while Enda was driving. He was a true professional and friendly and personable to everyone. This was my first Gate one trip. The company came highly recommended by a few friends. I am looking forward to my next adventure with Gate One. I would also like to say I was very pleased with the transfer service to and from the airport. The drivers were on time friendly and informative. And once again Alaco made sure we all had the information we needed for our transfers well in advance.
Deborah L.I recently completed a tour of Ireland with Christiene as the tour manager. Justin was our bus driver. They both were exceptional. Christiene was extremely knowledgeable about everything Ireland. She not only gave us the history but also spoke of the traditions which I found interesting. Justin is quite a skilled driver on the narrow roads of the countryside. We all felt very safe. I definitely would book another trip through Gate 1 Travel.
Carol U.


