Reviews
This was our first travel with Gate 1 and my husband and I were very happy with our trip. Our reservation was quick, it was easy to speak with Mario when one of our itinerary was cancelled by Turkish Airline and he was so responsive and courteous. The communication from Gate 1 pre-travel was great. Our tour expert in Israel, Ilan was tremendous. He was knowledgeable, fun and very professional. He was very approachable and loved by our tour group. We found a friend in him! Our tour guide in Jordan, Omar was also knowledgeable, fun and professional. He had his own method of organizing the group. He was approachable and had the interest of his traveler as well. Both tour guides were excellent. We recommend them highly. They really take interest in their travelers . They live what they do. They have the personal touch. Gate 1 is lucky to have Ilan and Omar. The drivers, Reuben and Mazen were amazing , approachable, friendly, caring and were very skilled drivers. We have confidence in their safe driving. The hotel accommodations were great. Wish we could stay longer in each destination. The actual tour schedule was hectic but worth it. We certainly could have lessened the optional tours but we would have never known what we have missed out on. The selections were great from the many sites to visit. The Gate 1 representatives were very helpful. We were assisted at the Amman airport until we were all checked in. This is traveling with confidence that there is someone there when we need help. Truly, truly, satisfied with Gate 1 services from day 1. The only negative is that we traveled from Seattle to JFK , to Istanbul then Tel Aviv. On our return, Amman to Istanbul then finally Seattle. Why the need to go to JFK? Thank you Gate 1. Looking forward to our second travel experience with you.
Josefina G.My husband and I had an amazing trip in Israel. Our trip was well organized and we were very satisfied by the services provided by gate1. Our tour guide Zach was absolutely phenomenal. His knowledge of modern and ancient history, Jewish and Christian religions was very impressive. He was very sensitive to the needs of everyone. We have been traveling a lot in the past. However, this trip is by far one of the best we have ever had.
Irina K.Our Israel tour was the journey of a lifetime - on so many levels. And our brilliant guide, Gai, made all the difference. As always, the Gate 1 Discovery Tour itinerary was outstanding, as were all the hotels and restaurants. But this trip exceeded all our expectations. My husband and I learned more in 12 days about Biblical history and Israeli history, religion, heritage, and culture than we could have if we'd taken a masters course. Not a single day went by that I didn't find myself in tears - be it for sadness, joy, hope, enlightenment, or inspiration. Israel moved us in ways we never could have imagined and that was, in large part, a credit to Gai and his expert knowledge, engaging wit, and heartwarming passion for his country. THANK YOU, Gate 1 and Gai for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Lucille D.We recently returned from your 12-day Israel, Ancient and Modern Culture tour. It truly was the trip of a lifetime! Every bit of it was enjoyable and educational. Our guide, Gai, was exceptional. His friendly personality and wealth of knowledge were much appreciated. He paid attention to detail and was always prepared for the itinerary of the day. Our accommodations were great, and the food was outstanding! We appreciated the variety of sites and the information and historical details from Gai regarding each site. We also appreciate the size of the group for this type of trip. We will cherish our memories of this trip forever, and we have already recommended it and passed along information for booking to several friends. Thanks, Gate 1, for this wonderful experience!
Ronald S.Our trip to Israel was magnificent! Everything was wonderful, our guide Dan was the best, so very interesting and knowledgeable. Dan kept us well informed on the history, facts and traditions of every place we visited throughout our ten day journey. Our bus driver Zahi was very conscientious with expert driving skills. Everyone felt safe with him behind the wheel transporting us from one town to another. This tour was so amazing, we visited so many amazing sites and covered so much territory in just ten days. The hotels, the food and the people were the best. Our group of twenty one people became friends on our first day and had a fabulous time together. Just love our group and will remain in touch. The flights to and from Israel with United Airlines flew seamlessly, on time with no delays. Great job Gate1, I couldn't be more pleased with this fantastic trip! Looking forward to my next trip with Gate1.
Marie C.Although I never received a request from you for a personal review for a recent trip ( 16 Day Deluxe Israel and Jordan), I feel compelled to write regarding the superb guides and bus drivers in both countries as well as the outstanding Gate 1 service and planning, beginning with pick up at the Tel Aviv airport and ending with Gate 1 support at the Amman airport. The hotels were superb, the meals delicious, and the travel arrangements between hotels, between tourist sites and between countries, were seamless. Kudos to the Gate 1 planning team, from initial reservation in 2019 and due to Covid, rescheduled twice! In Israel, Gabriella (Gabi) , our tour manager and guide, was a font of information regarding history- both historical/archaeological and the history of the state of Israel. She is extremely knowledgeable regarding the culture, religion and food ways of her country. Gabi is a master planner and facilitator, shepherding us daily through a rich itinerary, coordinating departures, entry times, lunch and dinner reservations, leaving us each day with rich memories of Roman cities, natural wonders, Christian holy sites and Jewish religious/cultural experiences. Gabi's ability to communicate her love and passion for Israel coupled with her empathy, understanding, concern, and care for the 20 tourists under her care made for wonderful traveling. Our Israeli bus driver, Aman, was outstanding, maneuvering a large bus in crowded cities with skill and humor. And across the border we were met by our Jordanian driver Mohammed, equally skillful and engaging. In Jordan, we were welcomed at the Israeli border by Ali , our charming and exceptional tour manager and guide. Ali's extensive knowledge of history, archaeology, Islam, and Jordanian culture, coupled with his engaging manner, ability to communicate and involve his audience, made our experience especially memorable and enjoyable. Our itinerary was was filled from sunrise until nighttime. Ali delivered wonderful lectures on the tour bus as we traveled from site to site and seamlessly planned and timed our visits and meals. Ali's concern for us, his wealth of information, ability to engage his audience, and the spectacular sites in Jordan all contributed to an exciting week of travel.
Deborah S.Our family just got back from the 9 Day Journey for the Believer tour, and I truly can't thank Gate 1 enough for the most amazing vacation we have ever been on. Our tour manager, Ofer, absolutely brought Israel to life with his stories and experiences and his pure love of his country! Ofer has a vast knowledge of the history, and his personal touch giving us details of his life growing up in Israel and his love of family. We knew that this would be an amazing journey through Biblical history, but we had no idea that a tour manager, such as Ofer could make such an impact on the overall experience. Ofer even looked over his flock by directing traffic when our tour bus got stuck in traffic and we were trying to get back to our hotel in time for dinner. The other great things with the tour were the food and the accommodations which were excellent. I would highly recommend this tour and Ofer as your tour manager if you are planning a trip to Israel in the future.
Jeff P.This trip to Israel has been the best I have ever enjoyed for the following reasons: 1) Mr. Heiko did an impeccable job as a tour manager. He was able to achieve one of a kind inter-relationship with the 25 tourists. There was not a single discrepancy with anybody. Respect, cooperation, admiration, support, were everyday components. I am using a cane because of small problems of balance, and Heiko self assigned the task of helping me avoiding any fall despite the difficult conditions of the long walks, including Jesus Christ's via dolorosa, warning us about narrow and inclined passages. His careful and efficient attitude towards all passengers made it possible that there was not a single accident. I could walk fast, breaking my own personal records. Heiko is an empathetic guide able to be in his tourists' shoes! Congratulations to him as a legitimate representative of Gate1! His work was also aided by an extraordinary driver, extremely careful going through narrow and crowded streets, showing an impeccable driving experience and good human relations. He was always smiling, helping the passengers entering and getting out of the bus. Heiko and the driver (whose name I forgot. I am sorry) made a formidable pair of human beings. Both of them were responsible for the unforgettable experience we all lived in Israel. Congratulations to both, and to Gate1 for this formidable experience, including their participation in the battle against Covid. I am happy for my intense and systematic traveling experience with Gate1. Outstanding traveling results, including reasonable prices. SEEING THE WORLD FOR LESS.
Antonio M.Our tour guide Boaz was outstanding. a walking encyclopedia of Israel and religions... Boaz went out of his way to enlighten us about everywhere we went with humor and great insight. Our hotel sites were wonderful and the dinners were always fun. We wish we had even more time at every stop. Jerusalem is now our favorite city and Boaz is our favorite tour guide. Thanks again for a wonderful trip.
Wayne M.The tour of Israel was a dream come true. It was because of your prices that I was able to go on this trip at all. But I must use this opportunity to rave about our tour guide and bus driver. Roman, the tour guide, was truly amazing in every aspect. He was smart and always on target. He was friendly and so courteous, even when some of the same guests were always late back to the bus, he handled it with such an ease. He never got annoyed. He has a very even keeled personality. I think ultimately, he wanted to make sure, for each one of us, that our time in Israel was most memorable. He was considerate, organized, funny, kind, caring generous and precise. He was very unusual in that he cared about us getting the most out of our journey. He was always ready to listen to whatever story anyone had to say. He always asked opinions of everyone if we were comfortable and enjoying ourselves. He was kind and he gave all of himself. He had a mission (not a job) and he went above and beyond. He made this trip most amazing. It was and great trip but what contributed in making it amazing was Roman. And our bus driver was excellent. I sat in the front and never worried, he drove that bus and maneuvered it like it was a nothing special. He handled all the situations with such ease. He was always ready for us, we never waited for him. Even when we couldn't park, he found a place safe for us to exit. He was so calm and good at what he does. He was eager to add any information he might have had, when Roman was talking to us about something specific. He was great. I couldn't have asked for two better people. I truly believe they are the reason this trip was so special. What a pair. I couldn't have been happier.
Carol C.My husband Mike and I just returned from an extraordinary tour of Israel, Jordan and Petra. We completed the online survey, and we also wanted to express how much our amazing guides made our trip better than we could have expected. Both were able to look at current conditions of weather, or traffic, or other factors, and adjust the schedule and timing so that we could have the richest use of time, and the best conditions for our destinations. We realize that required extra effort on their part, and we really appreciate it. Especially when Omar worked to switch reservations so we could be at Petra before severe weather hit, that made a highlight of the trip something that we could enjoy completely, instead of rush through while trying not to be frozen in a snow storm. We noticed and appreciated so much extra effort from Simon and Omar. It has made us want to return to Israel and Jordan, as well as look forward to our other trips.
Josephine H.Our trip was wonderful, everything went very smooth! Well-oiled machine! Our guide Micha was wonderful and made it very fun and informative, with her humor and knowledge of the area, she made the trip unforgettable. She guided us thru so much in a very timely manner, keeping track of the whole group at the same time. We had some older folks that were not up to the pace we needed, but she accommodated them very well and was very considerate of their limits. My wife and I would have her as a guide anytime!! Coby our drive was amazing as well, very skilled driver and always has a great attitude, always smiling and happy no matter the traffic. Great team you gave us! We will use gate 1 again for sure!!
Patrick M. Hudsonville, MIThe 13 Day Essential Israel and Jordan trip was amazing! The itinerary was well paced and the optional tours were value for the money. I was never disappointed! I am so impressed with Gate 1 service - in particular the transfers beginning and ending the trip including the support through customs leaving Jordan. Beyond the booking process I found the communication from Gate 1 exceptional from what to do to prepare for your trip to the processing of a refund for a cancelled optional tour. During the trip the Voxboxes made the guided tours so much more enjoyable! I was free to wander and look as I listened and learned! I completed the customer survey feedback but I really want to ‘gush’ about our Israeli guide Ilan. He is a gifted speaker/teacher and a wonderful ambassador for both Israel and Gate 1! I have already recommended your company to friends who have asked how my trip was!
Cherie R. Toronto, OntarioWe had a great trip to Israel. Our guide, Anat was absolutely amazing. She is the main reason why we enjoyed our 10 day trip. Her knowledge, enthusiasm, patience and, above all, kindness, allowed us to make numerous connections to the sites of Israel. During our visit we were aware of hostilities in and around the Gaza Strip. Because of Anat's professionalism and confidence, we never felt scared or unsure of our surroundings. Thank you Gate 1 for another great trip! Until next time.
Roger L. Ottawa, CanadaWe had a wonderful trip with Gate 1. I don't know how he got so much in, in such a short time.The Hotels were wonderful, the food was great, and we had a great group of people on this tour. We will book again with Gate 1!
Bob and Sharon V. Okatie, SCThe trip and Gate 1 were amazing. The hotels, food, guide, transfers, bus driver, just everything couldn’t have been better.
Laurence F. Richmond, VAMy wife and I had a safe, wonderful and enjoyable trip to Israel. Our Tour Manager Mati did a great job guiding and directing us. He was very knowledgeable and gave us clear, concise information every stop on our tour. We felt safe in our travels. Our driver Kobi worked in harmony with Mati. We had enough time in every stop to enjoy the significance of each location.The hotels were top notch in Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, the Golan Heights/Galilee and Tel Aviv. Thanks Mati! Thank you Gate 1 Travel!
Charles L. Brooklyn, NYThis was the best tour I have taken. I have done about 50 tours with many touring companies over the years. The most important thing was the tour director. Mr. Mati, our tour director, is the very best. He not only is very knowledgeable, but he has a rare gift of being able to read the group. He senses when to speed up and when the participants are not fully understanding, to slow up and use examples. The hotels were all centrally located and good. The food was good. The optional trips were priced fairly. The group of 19 people were friendly, intelligent and everyone had a good time. This was my second tour with Gate 1. You are now my number one tour company for my future trips. Keep up the good work!
Donald G. San Diego, CAThere truly aren't enough words to express how wonderful our trip was to Israel!!! It's like a beautiful dream that has finally come to an end. Being home is so bittersweet!!! I have to say that Gabi, our incredible tour guide helped make the trip so spectacular because of all her knowledge. She was SO FANTASTIC and will never forget her!!! She deserves 5 stars for being THE BEST tour guide ever!!! I have traveled all over the world, and can honestly say that I have never had a tour guide as good as her. She never cut us short, and shared all her wonderful knowledge with us, besides having such a lovely demeanor. I already miss her!!! I have recommended Gate 1 to several people and plan to use them again for future trips. I was totally satisfied with the beautiful hotels we stayed in, places we visited, as well as the food. I must say that the breakfasts in Israel were amazing!!! Gate 1 gets 5 stars for excellence!!!
Elissa T. Boca Raton, FLIt was AMAZING!! We participated in all of the tours, including the optional tours. Every tour was filled with an incredible amount of information as well as beautiful and historical sites. The hotels offered a huge, tasty variety of food for every meal. The best aspect of our tour was our tour guide Henry. His extensive knowledge of history, politics, economics, agriculture, religion and geography kept everyone on our tour captive during his discussions. He also incorporated his personal experiences into everything he talked about which made it even more interesting. He always called us to attention by saying, "My dear friends." We truly felt like his friends. Henry is by far the best tour guide I have ever had in all of my travels.
Pamela F. Valparaiso, INWe had a great time in Jordan and Israel. Both guides were fabulous! The tours ran like clockwork and were so professional. We are very impressed with Gate 1!
Julie P. Littleton, COOur 15 Affordable Israel and Jordan was excellent and fantastic- no words to describe. Our kudos and a salute to our tour guide in Israel Simon and driver Bozz did a good job and also to our guide in Jordan, Omar and driver Sasa. They all did there job. I would like to recommend Gate One Travel to all my friends and see you again Gate One in our future travels!
George D. Staten Island, NYOur trip was phenomenal! Our guide, Tal, really made the trip special as he was a local, friendly, personable, and knowledgeable guide. The pace was perfect; the sites were amazing, and the best part was floating in the Dead Sea. We could not have seen so much without such an organized trip. We feel this was an excellent value for our money, and I look forward to future trips with Gate 1!
Kimberly B. Sun City, AZWe had a truly wonderful trip to Israel and Jordan. I especially wish to commend our tour guides Henry in Israel and Hazim in Jordan. They were efficient, knowledgeable, and extremely helpful to all in our party. We normally travel independently, planning our own itinerary, but in this case we were reluctant to travel to these two countries without experienced guides. We are very happy we traveled with Gate 1.
Theresa B. Saint Louis, MOOnce again, Gate 1 does an outstanding job. The trip to Jerusalem (Journey for the Believer) was outstanding. Our guide Sid was great, the information that he was able to present no matter what religion was amazing. The hotels, food, and comfort; everything about it was outstanding. Thank you so much Gate 1, we look forward to our next adventure with you guys.
Donald S. McFarland, WIBest trip ever! This trip exceeded my expectations. Our tour guide, Mika, was a wealth of information ... I would encourage anyone who has ever had a desire to go to Israel, GO! It is very safe to travel there and an experience of a lifetime.
Maria F. Loveland, OHFabulous. We couldn’t ask for anything better!! The tour guide Simon was the best and made us all feel welcome and special. Our bus driver Mottie was great and we felt very safe when he drove. He was very skilled. Simon’s knowledge was over the top. He explained so much to help us understand everything we saw and shared many personal stories with us. We were sorry to end our tour. This was truly a once in a lifetime adventure. Would recommend Gate 1 and Simon in a heartbeat.
Sheila S. Brooklyn, NYFabulous!!! Enjoyed it a lot. Ofer, our tour guide/manager was very knowledgeable, fun and very helpful. Learned so many things about Israel. Everything about the trip was wonderful. The smaller Discovery group is so much better and more comfortable. Our driver, Shlomo, was also very good. Another great trip for me!!!
Lourdes K. Encino, CAOur trip was fantastic..every detail of it! The guides were informative, the hotels superb and the food was marvelous. The extras made the trip more interesting. Overall...we give Gate 1 top ratings!
Diane Z. Lincolnshire, ILOur trip and tours of Israel was amazing. We were very pleased with the experience through Gate 1. Our tour guide Mika was awesome. She was knowledgeable, personable, friendly and patient. She did a great job explaining history and current facts about each location. She was sensitive to the needs of the individuals in the group. We feel we were blessed to have her leading our group. Because of our wonderful experience, we will look to book through Gate 1 again when traveling abroad. We also may check for Mika’s schedule in the future! Thank you!
Frederick M. Indianapolis, INIt was absolutely fantastic! More than I could dream of it being. Our guide was so knowledgeable, he really made the trip! Hotels were great and the food was plentiful.
Sandra C. Charlotte, FL.We loved every minute. Our tour guide, Rotem Litov was excellent! He has the historical knowledge and communicated on all levels very well. If we wanted to venture out on our own, he was more than happy to provide suggestions and directions. Our bus driver took great care of us too. The accommodation picks were excellent! I especially loved Mount Zion with the views of the city. I will recommend to all my friends and will also take this tour again.
Marcella W. Chillicothe, OHThe trip was AMAZING!!!! Our tour manager in Israel, Simon, and Omar in Jordan, were extremely knowledgeable. They both really enhanced our Israel and Jordan experience!!!
Ivonne B. Boyton Beach, FLWe really enjoyed our trip to Israel. Everything was perfect. We have the best tour guide Gai Perez. Thank you Gate 1.
Maria T. Mundelein, ILIt was one of the best I ever had. Everything was so wonderful. The guide tour guy was exceptional as well as the driver. They were beyond expectation. Every day was so nice that I do not have any particular best day. All days were wonderful. Congratulations Gate 1 I am going to recommended this trip to my friends. Thank you so much Gate 1 for this beautiful trip.
Edwin C. Bellflower, CAWonderful! Our guide Leor Ilan and our driver Kobi were great! The hotels, food, and excursions were top notch. Thanks for the adventure. It was memorable!
Rhonda G. O Fallon, MOIt was terrific! Gabi was a wonderful guide and managed some quite unpleasant people brilliantly. The tour was excellent and accomodation and food very good throughout. We are looking forward to Russia in October!
Judy H. Millers Point, AUMy trip was amazing! I loved my trip to Israel and Jordan... it has become my FAVORITE vacation. Our tour guides were excellent and shared a huge amount of history and information with us. I found everything interesting!
Janice D. Uniontown, PAThis is my third trip with your company... first: Morocco, Greece/ Turkey.... and of coarse Isreal. Wonderful experience traveling through all the sites, great hotels, great food, and bus driver & wonderful tour guide, Goti.. made it all worth while. Enjoyed the trip very much. Looking forward to trip # four.
Sheila S. Levittown, PAWe have just returned home, the trip was very good. We both enjoyed the trip, it was very well run and the accommodation was excellent. The extra tours were will worth doing. Our guide was very professional and well organised. Our group was 90% from USA and we enjoyed there company and stories. We will definitely look at travel with Gate 1 again.
William H. Mount Gambier, SA, AUWonderful trip. Our guide Henry was absolutely excellent, hotels, transportation and tours were interesting and educational. We are recommending the trip to our friends.
David P. Deland, FLFabulous trip. Short but jam packed. Our tour guide Adina was wonderful and presented information from all perspectives: religious, historical and political. Already booked another trip in Sept. to Greece.
Nancy G. Scarborough, MEFantastic trip, Excellent guide, unbelievable sites, great food and a terrific value. Looking forward to more travel. Thanks for an experience we will never forget.
Dennis J. South Jordan, UTIt was fantastic! The tour was more than I expected, and our guide Uri Mor was super knowledgable, interesting and personable. One of the best trips ever.
Susan P. Escondido, CAIt was GREAT! The guides were very good. The hotels and food were good. Our group was small and everyone got along great. We would highly recommend this trip!
Lee O. Fort Dodge, IAOur Gate 1 trip to Israel was very good. Ophir, Kobi and Ramsi were excellent guides. They were all knowledgeable, personable and professional. My grandparents are both 80 and they had a blast. This meant a lot to our family and we appreciate all that Gate 1 has done for us.
Matthew B. Midland, TXThe trip was wonderful! Gate 1 did a wonderful job organizing the trip so my husband and I could relax and enjoy it. Our guide, Rotem, was knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful with planning things during our free time. Rotem always made sure we were taken care of. We look forward to more trips with Gate 1!
Moylan F. Atlanta, GAAwesome. Thank y’all so much for a dream come true trip. Been sharing with many who are so excited to find out more about y’all.
Cindy R. Arlington, TXIt was a great trip and provided me with a profound better understanding of the land and history of the holy land as well as of surrounding countries, and our guide was excellent.
Sookie Y. Upper Saddle River, NJThe trip to Israel was way beyond expectations. The flights, accommodations, food, and the Tour Guide, Elon, was phenomenal! His knowledge, professionalism and personality added to an already special time in The Holy Land. This trip has been on my bucket list for some time, and it was well worth the wait.
Gloria E. Menlo, GA