Spain & Portugal

Reviews
Thank you for another fantastic trip. This was my 6th trip with Gate 1. Miguel was an amazing guide and the even with a large group it felt like he took care of everyone. Portugal was beautiful and the itinerary was a good blend of scheduled activities, free time and optional excursions. I signed up for all three of the optional excursions, they were all great additions to the trip. The Fado dinner was my favorite. The hotel in Lisbon was in such a great location making it easy to walk around the center of town to restaurants and shops.
Amanda J.We cannot express our appreciation for the wonderful time we had on our 10 Day classic Portugal trip with our guide Rui Miguel and driver Pedro. The amount of knowledge Rui shared with us was outstanding. Both Rui and Pedro were very friendly, kind, always willing to answer any questions we had. They made our trip so enjoyable. It was the best trip we have ever had. We hope if we book another tour that Rui will be our guide. With 41 people by the end of the tour it felt like it was like one big family. Thank you again for the excellent service and the attention to detail at all the hotels, all the cities we toured, and all the history and knowledge that was shared in each of these areas.
Michael C.This was my 1st Gate1 trip and I was extremely skeptical about it at the beginning. Worried the price for the package was too good to be true. We couldn't possibly stay in all those places, get so much included (tours, food, transport) for the price quoted. The entire group consisted of 42 persons. Mostly couples and mini groups of 4. By the 2nd hotel we were all one family moving through Portugal and Spain together. Our tour manager Lorena exceeded my expectations taking care of us. She made the trip. Giving us details of everything to see around us. Making sure we kept hydrated and ate at the best places in the towns we visited. She is an beautiful person who genuinely wanted each of us to have a great time and see as much as we could. Every city we got a itinerary so we knew exactly what we were doing each day and the times we were doing it. It was a couple persons birthday on the trip and she ensured we all acknowledged them and made them feel special for their day. I definitely want to book her for a trip with a different group. I have already broadcasted to my friends and family the next trip has to be through gate 1. It was MORE than worth the price. It's NOT some cheap budget travel group but luxury and comfort at a affordable price. LOVED it. Thanks for making it available and for exposing me to New people, cultures and opportunities.
Shona S.The trip was fantastic. Gate 1 made sure we stayed in some of the best hotels; stopped in some of the most historical sites; received information from very knowledgeable and informative guides; and if that was not enough, they also threw in perfect weather for good measures. I did not know much about the history of Spain, so for this trip, it was like going back to school. After the tours, I was busy on the internet each night learning more - my knowledge thirst was at an all-time high. To top it off, when I returned, The New York Times had an article, In search of the Lost Spain, that not only had in it many of the pictures I had taken, but also an expansive article on what I took away from Spain as my biggest surprise - religions and Spain architecture.
Marva C.Portugal was wonderful! Now if only Gate 1 could control the weather. I always am amazed and impressed by the quality and quantity of the tours that you provide. At 20+ trips with you I am your best advertisement. Each trip has something unique so each one is the best in its own way. Hoping that I will be on my way to Japan in April. Thank you for giving me the world at a price I can afford.
Nancy G.Our trip was amazing in all cities. The guides for 8 Day Art Cities of Spain (Sep 26 - Oct 3, 2022) were all excellent. In particular Andrea, our main guide was wonderful, knowledgeable, courteous and so helpful while always wearing a smile and keeping us on time. One of the best I ever experienced and this was my fourth Gate 1 trip. I must also mention, in particular, our local guide Jose. He was THE BEST local guide I have ever had. All have been exceptional, but he was above and beyond THE BEST. Jose's demeanor, articulation, voice level...all so warm and kind. My daughters (their first Gate 1 trip) were amazed and particularly with Jose also. How can Jose know he made our trip more special, if that is even possible? I/we thank Andrea; he knows we truly appreciated his expertise and warmth, but I've never mentioned a "local guide" and Jose was EXCEPTIONAL. Thank you so much.
Christine I.We had a great trip. We found our tour guide Javier to be excellent. He was professional, kind, caring, helpful, knowledgeable with a great sense of humor. We enjoyed him a lot. We also found our local guides to be great with a good sense of our language. We couldn't have been happier with the whole experience. Even our fellow travelers were a great group. We definitely will travel with Gate 1 again. Thank you.
Tena H.It was wonderful, Spain and Portugal are 2 beautiful countries with a lot of history , diverse in their cultures between them. There is so much to see and delicious cuisines to try. It was made special because our Tour Manager Alex. Alex was very friendly and comfortable speaking to our group and even in storytelling. He was very knowledgeable to relay everything from historical facts to cultural etiquette and safety measures. He takes personal interest in each of the tour members endearing himself to all of us by having small chit-chat with as many as possible. His organization skills is superb with an eye for detail, made the tour very interesting and able to multitask and very punctual. We have been traveling with Gate 1 for almost 10x and he is the best, he raised the bar of how a tour manager should be. We love you Alex wishing you all the best.
Dina L.Trip was great! We had an awesome tour manager Vera who was on point. Friendly, helpful, highly organized, professional, and on time. We couldn't ask for more. Everything ran like clockwork and each guest got individual attention when needed. Local guides were knowledgeable, engaging and personable. All in all we had a great time.
Roysce R.We had a fantastic time on our trip. The cruise director Carmen was great and a great source of information. Amir, the activities director was so much fun and super friendly. We enjoyed all the excursions. The Altis Grand Hotel in Lisbon was superior. We had a great time! We would definitely use Gate 1 in the future.
Lynda L.Kaleidoscope of Spain was an excellent tour, allowing us to see a great deal of Spain in a short period of time. We came home with far more photos than we intended and wonderful memories of all we saw and experienced. I really don't think any other company includes so much for the cost. Looking forward to the next one.
Shirley D.We enjoyed our trip to Spain very much. The group was congenial, the guide Lisa was excellent - very knowledgeable, & took very good care of us all. She was generous with her suggestions for using our free time, considering the interests of the different people. The local guides added a great deal of interesting information to our tours. Staying in hotels in the center of the cities made it easy for us to shop, explore & eat during our free time.
Margot T.This was our first Gate 1 tour, recommended by our friends, who have made 4 or 5 Gate 1 trips. They had praised the tour company, and encouraged us to travel with them to Portugal. Our trip did not disappoint! Starting with our wonderful and knowledgeable tour guide, Adriana, she amazed us with thorough and interesting insights to the cities we visited. Our tours of historic churches and museums were fascinating, and we marveled at the beauty and magnificence of the centuries old structures. We dined on some delicious seafood choices, and enjoyed many of the local wines and ports. One of our favorite optional tours was the Fado music at a local restaurant. We delighted in this traditional Portuguese songs by several singers, and the wonderful guitar accompaniment by a couple of musicians. Thanks to Adriana, our trip ran smoothly, we were quite satisfied with our tours, the friendly Portuguese citizens, the relaxed pace of life....we will definitely make other trips with Gate 1 Travel.
Katherine B.We just came back from the 11 day Crown of Spain. We had the greatest time. It would not have been as great without our tour director Pablo. This was our third G1 tour and we thought we had the best tour directors. Then we met Pablo. He made our trip! He was caring, extremely knowledgeable, and made everyone feel special. My wife and I have made a new friend. We thank Pablo from the bottom of our hearts for such a wonderful vacation. We look forward to our next two Gate 1 trips. Also want to thank Pedro our great driver, and all the tour guide specialists in all the cities we visited. They were great. Bravo Gate 1.
Paul C.I just returned from the 15 Day Kaleidoscope of Spain. WOW, what an amazing experience. This trip was to celebrate both my recent retirement and birthday and (as in the past) Gate 1 did not disappoint. The entire process from pick up to drop off was seamless. What an amazing itinerary and the optional excursions complimented the overall experience of the trip. Our guide Javier was exceptional. He was patient, funny, knowledgeable, courteous, etc., He answered all questions and concerns for the group and kept everything running smoothly. Our driver Jose was also just as great, greeted each of us with a smile every day, assisted those in the group with boarding / disembarking as needed and kept us safe while driving us to our destinations. I've traveled with Gate 1 in the past and I continue to be very happy with my Gate 1 travel adventures. I look forward to traveling with you again in the future. Thank you.
Jose V.Joaquin and "Chimo" (driver) went above and beyond to make sure we had a fabulous, stress-free trip. In addition to their ability to anticipate and take care of all our needs, I was especially impressed that they treated us to special experiences that weren't part of the packaged trip (local delicacies like Pastéis de Belém and Piononos, visit to Reservatauro Ronda, scenic photo stops, birthday and anniversary celebrations, etc.). Both of these gentlemen are exemplars for their roles and should be well-rewarded for their talents and dedication to customers. I hope I'm lucky enough to have them for my next trip!
Emily H.The trip was wonderful!! We saw so much. Vera the guide was the best guide that I have ever had on a land trip. She was perky, energetic, gracious, open, kind, knowledgeable and just the best. The dinners and breakfasts and hotels were wonderful and centrally located. The day guides were brilliant. The driver, Francisco was kind, helpful, a great driver and suited to the job. What a pleasant staff that was on the trip! Unforgettable experiences.
Carole H.This tour was excellent and well exceeded my expectations. Our tour guide Rui was outstanding and I received information and insight that I would not have on my own. As I was traveling alone, I was concerned that I would not be integrated into the group. This was not the case and I made many friends along the way. I was impressed hearing all the previous Gare 1 tours the others had attended in the past. It was a wonderful experience and I will definitely consider Gate 1 in my future travel plans.
Scott S.Our trip was awesome. It was our first on Gate 1. The hotels were great. Meals were delicious. Everything was very well organized. Our tour guide Rui was beyond awesome. He made the trip one of our best. We will travel again on Gate 1 in the future I am sure.
Nancy D.It was fabulous, thank you! We learned so much and had a wonderful time. Our tour manager, José, was excellent, very meticulous with the details, very knowledgeable and friendly.
Susan F.I have completed the survey for a great tour I had with Gate 1 but I would love to add more about the tour guide we had. We were blessed with Ms. Vera for the 11 days Lisbon to Madrid. I had 5 trips with Gate 1 by now and all the guides were nice and professional but Vera is another level. She is Intelligent, warm, caring, fun, funny, professional, sensitive, and emotionally mature beyond words. She navigated constantly between all the travelers and made everyone feel special and cared for! I never saw her eat or take a break. She was constantly giving 101% to everyone and everything.
Amira M.This trip (3rd time with Gate 1, and a 4th will be planned) was fabulous!! Portugal is a beautiful country on every level. Just now trying to process all that we experienced. Got a true feeling and love for the country and the culture.....thanks to the itinerary and our tour manager. Our tour manager, Ercilia, is extraordinary. She has an incredible base of knowledge, fantastic attention to detail, so organized and thorough, and achieved a personal bond with every traveler in our group. She gets a major endorsement from me. Issues that arose with other travelers or things out of anyone's control (a closed site, Covid), she handled so professionally and calmly, always with a positive attitude and outcome. I had an issue with an ill family member at home and her compassion and manner calmed me down - she really cared - and helped me relax so I could focus on the trip and have fun. Thumbs up to Ercilia. Our driver, Roberto, is truly amazing too! How he was able to navigate some of those tiny, twisty roads, with his passengers' safety number 1 at all times, was remarkable. He should be commended for his professionalism. Loved that Gate 1 handled every detail of this trip perfectly and flawlessly. Would I change anything, no! Keep doing what you are doing, and do so well. My traveling pal and I had a blast. I will happily recommend Gate 1 to my friends.
Caryl F.I would like to express my gratitude and acknowledge Javier for being an excellent tour manager. At each optional tour we enjoyed a special treat (local pastries), on arrival he made suggestions how to explore Madrid and as a solo traveler I appreciated his guidance even on the event not included on the tour. I went to see a bullfight in Madrid and lastly the highlight of my trip paella cooking class... memories I will never forget.
Esperanza C.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.I just finished my Spain tour with Joaquin was our tour guide. I just wanted you to know what a great job Joaquin did as our tour guide and leader. He worked endless hours assisting travel mates, dealing with issues, helping us with our Covid tests, handling dinner events, etc. He is an outstanding representative for your organization. I just wanted to share our positive experience with you. This is our third Gate 1 tour, and we will be returning with you again next year.
Nora H.Thank you for arranging the wonderful trip which we are very grateful. Our tour manager Roberta has fulfilled her duties and took care of us very well from the beginning to the end. The local tour guides at every spot also showed their best knowledge to introduce us, especially the Madrid tour guide Amor. The arrangement of the hotel is also good, of course, the best is Spanish food, thank you again!
Cathy C.Our 16 day Iberia Trip w/ tour was amazing despite being tiring. Our tour manager, Isabelle was knowledgeable, resourceful, flexible, fun, decisive & the driver, Fernando sure was an able team player... blessed to have joined a cohesive tour group from manager, tour participants to driver. Special mention to the individual tour guides who were also very knowledgeable.
Anabelle M.My husband and I have just completed your Crown Jewels of Spain Tour and were thoroughly both pleased and impressed with Gate1. Our tour manager, Ivan, was absolutely astounding in caring for us as a group. His knowledge and passion for his native Spain created a great atmosphere for learning and appreciating all that this part of Spain has to offer. Our group quickly blended into an extended family and we had a grand time sharing the sites and many happy and delicious meals. This was our first Gate1 tour and will certainly not be our last!
Teresa O.Hello Just wanted to let you know that our tour manager Ivan Madrigal was Amazing! Very knowledgeable, sensitive to everyone's needs, always looking out for everybody, we felt very safe It was a great pleasure having this tour with him! We will use Gate1 again because of the impression he had in us. We came home wanting to spend more time with him! Enhorabuena Iván!
Roxana B.Dear GATE 1....Just came from our Portugal escorted tour April5-12. I want to give you some feedback and let you know that we had a great time and Kudos to our tour manager Rui who made our trip really enjoyable and unforgettable one He was so friendly and always there to attend to our needs making it comfortable at all times. He was really so nice with a great sense of humor. Very organized and so knowledgeable. We look forward to our next tour with Gate 1.
Leni L.It was my fourth Gate 1 trip, and my girlfriend and I had a marvelous time throughout! We booked our next Gate 1 trip as soon as we came back from our recent trip to Portugal and Spain with Gate 1. That speaks volumes of the remarkable job Gate 1 does. Our tour manager, Ercilia was absolutely wonderful. She was always so thoughtful, knowledgeable, thorough, fun and delightful to perfection. We enjoyed each and every city and location, rich with history and culture, and learned so much about them, thanks to the great local guides. Gate 1 makes logistics so easy for us, as well. We could not have possibly seen as much as we did, had we traveled on our own. Gate 1 just keeps impressing me! Thank you!
Tomoko W.We want to comment on the wonderful and knowledgeable staff who served us during our trip. Carlos, the tour director was exceptionally knowledgeable about our trip and was dedicated to both Gate 1 and his home country of Portugal. Carlos truly made our trip into the wonderful experience we have grown to accept from our numerous Gate 1 vacations. We also want to comment on George, the driver, who was a skilled and professional driver and who was always willing to provide us with any additional assistance which we required.
William R.I just returned from the 10 Day Affordable Spain tour and just wanted to say how incredible it was. I originally booked the trip to go in 2020, but due to Covid, it was delayed. First of all, Gate 1 handled everything with the delay with total professionalism. Everyone was considerate and made sure to communicate all information. The trip itself was fantastic. A perfect balance of scheduled tours and free time. The accommodations were top notch and the bus looked to be brand new. But what really made the trip special was Victor , our tour guide. He was knowledgeable, personable, entertaining and funny. Even more than that - he was caring. He truly cared that all of his guest where enjoying the tour. He went above and beyond. I will definitely be taking more tours with Gate 1 and hope to have Victor as a tour guide again. Thank you for a perfect vacation.
Michelle M.What a fantastic first experience with Gate 1. Spain is a beautiful country and the introduction to it through our wonderful guide, Ivan, made it even more spectacular. His knowledge about every aspect of Spain, the culture, history, art, architecture, music was truly remarkable. He had everyone's best interest at heart and he was a pleasure to be around. All the guides were great and knowledgeable and just added so much to the experience. The itinerary was packed with all important sites of the area and the optional tours were a must see!! The meals provided were wonderful and the group dinners were really a nice time to get to know your fellow travelers. We are ready to book another trip through Gate 1, Ivan and Spain set a very high standard and we really appreciate both!
Carolyn S.We began our Portugal tour by booking two pre nights in Lisbon. Upon check-in we received a cordial, informative letter from our tour guide/manager Carla. That graciousness was a portent of the tone for the tour. Such management, problem solving skills, and depth of knowledge make for a rare find in a guide. With well over 20 fabulous tours with Gate1, Carla has set an even higher standard. The group became a family, and it's a result of this skilled professional.
Susan G.Rui was a breath of fresh air. Very knowledgeable and always willing to answer our questions. Very impressed with how he made sure we had all our information for the tour and organizing our covid testing before heading back home. Our local guides on the tour was absolutely the best. Very uplifting about their city, bought humor and a willingness to make you want to visit again. Rui was kind, always wanting to know how we were and treated everyone with dignity and respect. His smile was a joy daily. Thank you Rui for a job well done!!!
Melisa F.I wish to extend my complements on having the perfect travel guide for our diverse group. Roberto had the right demeanor and personality that fit this group. I have been on many tours with Gate1 and each group is different. It take the right tour leader that can accommodate everyone. This is not an easy task. Gate1 is very lucky to have Roberto to lead tours in Spain. I have spoken with many majority of the individuals on this tour. We all agree that Roberto did a wonderful job and will be taking more tours on Gate1. The hotel, food and staff met and or exceeded our expectations. Thumbs up. I score this tour with Roberto a "10".
Edmund J.Just wanted you to know that our trip to Portugal with Rui was OUTSTANDING! I am so glad we decided to go on and just wanted you to know that this tour manager was world class, the itinerary was perfect, and the the driver was excellent! I know that I will be receiving a survey... just wanted you to know that we are happy campers and can't wait for our next Gate 1 adventure!
Jane C.Our Tour Director, Lisa, was the best we've had on any trip - with Gate1 or other travel companies we've used. She stood out in many ways. Just a few examples: In Grenada one evening she took us on a walk that provided a stunning view of the Alhambra. She said when she was a student (30 years ago) someone had shown her this path. (I doubt most tour guides would know of it.) She gave us her own personal WOW moment - that surpassed any we've had and one that couldn't be duplicated. The last night of our trip my main suitcase was brought in but I didn't see my carry-on (which did not have a Gate1 tag or my name tag). I saw Lisa and told her about it. She had already resolved it. Seamlessly, without invading our privacy, she was aware of all of the significant little details and quietly took care of them. Lisa didn't try to be a crowd-pleaser at the cost of Gate1. Example: at the end of our farewell dinner, some folks were asking waiters for additional bottles of wine. (Even though we'd had a goodly amount.) Lisa returned from the front desk and told everyone she'd paid the tab but we should feel comfortable staying as long as we liked. That was that - no more wine was brought and no one thought a thing about it. She knows how to make her group happy without breaking Gate1. We enjoyed her so much we agreed we'd go on another of her trips. We learned she was leading the Small Group 13-day trip "France and Spain: History, Culture and Wine". Even though we already had 3 Gate1 trips (35 days total!) scheduled for 2022, we squeezed this trip into our schedule. It very well could have fallen through the cracks because we have other trips on our radar for 2023. Our decision was purely because of Lisa. She truly is a treasure - I hope you appreciate her as much as we do!
Jeanne M.Such a fantastic Classic 12 days Spain and Portugal trip! We are so impressed with both countries rich history and the tremendous contribution to the human history! We can't say enough praise about our tour guide Rui, he's very knowledgeable and professional. He has taken very good care of us, answering our questions patiently and taking all the details about our needs, he's fantastic! Also our bus driver Simon is also very nice, he has done a fantastic job driving us around, cautiously and safety. Rui and Simon works well with each other.
Baining L.Just wanted to give a shout out to our tour manager, Cesar. He was the best tour manager we have ever had. He went over and above to make sure we were taken care of. He was very accommodating, and knowledgeable of the area we were visiting. He was like a walking encyclopedia with a great sense of humor. We really enjoyed our trip to Spain and look forward to traveling again in the future with Gate 1.
Stephanie M.What an absolutely wonderful trip. Extremely well organized all local guides were extremely knowledgeable. Have traveled a number of times with Gate 1 and have never been disappointed. Special thanks to Ivan who was a most excellent manager. All i's dotted and all t's crossed. Every detail attended to. A real problem solver for sure. And knows his country!
Thomas P.Our experience on the 10 Day Classic Portugal tour was nothing short of fantastic! Our tour guide, Rui, was exceptional with his in-depth knowledge of the history and culture of Portugal, as well as being helpful and friendly and always there for us when needed. We had a great time and everything went smoothly and efficiently. Portugal is an amazing country, with a fascinating history, beautiful scenery, and wonderful architecture at every turn. Thank you Rui and Gate 1!! We will definitely come back again sometime soon.
Peter N.Our trip to Portugal was fabulous! Our tour guide, Adriana, was a pleasure to be with and our group was a lot of fun. Portugal is a beautiful country and we are so happy we chose this trip. We look forward to our 6th Gate 1 trip coming up in April.
Debbie & Jim T. Plano, TXWe had a lovely time. Everything went like clockwork. Transfers to and from the airport were on time and had friendly drivers. Our guide Jaime was very good. We felt well looked after. We enjoyed the itinerary and were very pleased with the optional tours we took. I have already recommended Gate 1 to a family friend and would consider travelling with them again when the next opportunity arises.
Barbara T. Lowood, AustraliaOur trip was fantastic!! Made memories for a lifetime!! This was our second Gate 1 trip and it did not disappoint. One of our fellow travelers said "Thank goodness, now we are in Gate 1's hands" once we were in the bus after meeting the arrival rep at the airport. I felt the same way. We knew everything would be taken care of. Niko, our tour guide was fantastic!!! He was so engaging, knowledgeable and excited to share his country with us. It was well thought out and organized. He encouraged us to explore and even some provided some special treats from the local regions. It was the perfect touch. Our bus drivers, we also amazing. We will definitely be going on another Gate 1 adventure!!! Thank you so much for the memories... and keeping us safe and sound.
Kim H. Crystal Lake, ILThe trip was fabulous Vanessa. The tour guide Lisa was exceptional and I would highly recommend Gate 1 to anyone who is interested.
Kay D. Merewether, AustraliaWe had a wonderful trip which far exceeded our expectations. Special thanks to our Tour Guide, Lisa, whose organizational skills made everything run perfectly, her knowledge of the areas we passed though added immensely to the highly knowledgeable guided tours of the different cities we visited, and whose warmth and sense of humor made us feel welcome and comfortable. We will be looking for future travel opportunities with Gate 1.
Alan and Rina K. Rockville, MDSuperb!! This was by far the best guided tour vacation, well planned & educational. Our tour director Rui was extremely knowledgeable, thoughtful, personable and brought Portugal's cities, historical sites to life for us. Everything was expertly planned. The tour buses were modern, clean & comfortable as well as our hotel accommodations! The breakfast & dinner menus were absolutely delicious (wine w/dinner)!! Our diverse group of 40 were a joy to be with --- interesting people from all walks of life---many were Gate 1 alumnis. My daughter, Angela, and I look forward to touring with Gate 1 again. Greece, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Thailand. Who knows?? Actually, we're going to Dubai w/Gate 1 in March 2020! Thank you Gate 1 for making this vacation one of our most memorable!
Carolyn W. Temple Hills, MD