This was our sixteenth trip with Gate 1, and I would like you to know that we rank our guide, Michael, in the top two guides on all our trips. We had an incredible experience with Mike. He brought a blend of efficiency and warmth as he kept the group moving on schedule and fostered an atmosphere of harmony. Mike had outstanding knowledge of the areas we visited, and his presentation was professional and easily understood.

Jakov was fantastic! He was knowledgeable, friendly, funny, and caring. He made the trip exponentially better. His knowledge and love of the country was wonderful and endearing. He was an excellent communicator and made us feel informed and safe. He was always on time and was happy to interact and answer questions at any time during the trip. I would love to have him as my guide again! Our driver - Silvie - was also fantastic. He was very helpful and made us feel safe. And that was not easy on some of those narrow, windy roads! He always made a point to stop or slow down for us to take photos or see something special. He was also super helpful with the luggage and was very friendly. I could not ask for a better guide or driver than we had with Jakov and Silvie.

Our tour manager for the Swiss Alpine Jewels trip, Dennis, was outstanding and went above and beyond in all respects. His knowledge, passion, enthusiasm and organization are top notch. He made the trip fun and rewarding for the whole group. Also, our driver, Pieter, was fantastic and super competent handling very difficult roads.

We just wanted to say that our tour manager/guide throughout our recent 15 Day Discover Poland vacation, Agnes, was fantastic. We have been on other companies' tours and Agnes, on our Poland tour, was the best manager we have ever had by far. Not only was she professional, proficient, informed and dedicated, but she was so much fun to be with. And she seemed to enjoy being with us as much as we enjoyed being with her. Thank you Agnes for making our trip so pleasant and memorable!

Thank you Ana and Daniel for keeping us safe in our travels . Ana is caring knowledgeable , organize had safety awareness . She's on top of everything .Daniel is a very safe driver and very efficient . Thank you for the memories and the history of Balkans that I have to take home . They can be my tour manager and driver again . I feel safe and had fun .

Mimi was a star from the very beginning of our tour. During orientation, she warmly welcomed our group, making sure that everyone had arrived. Once the tour began, at each location, she pointed out and explained tourist attractions. Then, she would answer questions and give advice on language and currency. Even during our free time, she made sure our independent adventures ran smoothly. When needed, she would change routes or arrangements as necessary, especially emergency bathroom breaks. Bottomline, she was always kind, efficient and willing to help. We felt like VIP at every turn and her efforts should be recognized.

I just want to say that the itinerary that Ignazio managed was one of the best overall we have had in all our trips with Gate1 (over 20). Most Tour Managers are very good, but the trip does not flow very well. This Discovery trip to Sicily and Malta was seamless, we went from one event or place with ease. I will recommend this trip highly to anyone wishing to see a small, fascinating part of Europe without spending time waiting in lines at venues.

The beauty of Switzerland can only be really seen by visiting there. Our Crown Jewels of Switzerland tour of 12 days was amazing. Andrea, our tour leader, was so knowledgeable and took such good care of us that I can only give her a 10+. She was kind, caring and went overboard to make everyone comfortable. We saw more in 12 days than I ever imagined. I especially enjoyed staying in Zermatt and taking the cog train up to the Matterhorn. Our hotel's balcony looked up at the magnificent mountain one morning. The sky was perfectly clear, and the sun was shining on the north face. It was a memory I'll never forget. Our bus driver was amazing. He maneuvered the twists and turns of our route in an unbelievable way. I would recommend this 12-day Crown Jewels of Switzerland to anyone who really wants to see Switzerland in an up-close way.

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.

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!!!

The trip was wonderful. Busy everyday. Lorena, our tour manager has a great personality. She attended to everyone's need and made certain we were all enjoying the trip.

Our trip was fabulous! We wined and dined our way through Portugal with a wonderful guide, Aldo. The history and culture of the country was well represented in the tour. We will be looking for more Gate 1 trips in the future. Everything was top notch.

Just back from the Discovery Tour of Slovenia, Croatia and the Dalmatian Islands. Nikoletta was our tour guide, and she was fantastic. She was knowledgeable, kind, informative and she made the trip stress free from start to finish. Every tour we took was wonderful, the scenery was breathtaking, and we had some free time to explore what interested us. I highly recommend this tour.

Nida was a superb guide in every way-the most outstanding tour guide I have ever had with Gate 1. She was enthusiastic, energetic, knowledgeable, friendly, caring, organized, and engaging. She exuded confidence and joy in her role as tour guide, and she clearly shared this passion with our group members. She was always patient and watched out for each group member, creating a cohesive group (including our 2 drivers). Thanks to Nida, we had a fabulous trip. Nida is a true gem and deserves management recognition.

Our Driver Graham was an excellent driver, and was so helpful and personable, throughout. He was great fun to eat dinner with and never complained if we had to check our baggage underneath for something. A great guy! I cannot say enough good things about our tour manager, David. He is a good and kind man, very thoughtful , very generous, very well prepared, and he made sure we saw videos on the bus to help us learn about upcoming stops (such as Leicester), recommended good places to eat, many times invited any in the group to accompany him when he was going to eat on free time (and insured we found tables to eat at), helped people with connections, and was really everything you would want in an ideal tour manager. This tour exceeded our expectations, and made us want to travel on Gate1/Discovery tours in the future.

I don't usually give extra comments but felt I needed to for this trip. It was the best trip I have taken with gate 1 and other tours with other tour groups. Part of this is because of the mix of culture, history and beauty of the tour and the way Gate 1 presented it. It was magnificent. More importantly for me it was our tour guide Stephanie who presented a very high level of engagement, enthusiasm and curiosity every day which elevated the emotional part of the trip. You couldn't help but be engaged during the entire trip and wonder about a whole bunch of stuff you never thought you could wonder about. She was so knowledgeable, fun and approachable. A fabulous memory.

Gate 1 has never disappointed us. The attractions, the scheduling, the food, the museums ,the hotels ,the local guides, the comfortable bus and driver, always reliable! but we need to give a special thank you to Marc our tour guide. He was fantastic!! I needed to find a few special things to help me through the trip and he made them happen! He was very kind and patient.

The trip to Sweden and Norway with your Discovery Tours was the first trip we have taken with a tour group. We were so impressed with the entire trip. It was informative, well planned and had the best tour guide, MaLou, and bus driver, Finn, that I could imagine. The tour gave us a great overview of both countries. We plan to go back and see even more of Sweden and Norway one day. The guides for individual sites were great. We learned so much and have fallen in love with the people. MaLou and Finn took everything in stride. They were both so calm. Itinerary was changed due to the weather seamlessly. Everything just flowed so well. Our luggage was taken care of by Finn, which was so appreciated. I cannot say enough about MaLou. Her enthusiasm for these countries was wonderful. I felt that I learned so much about the land, the culture and the people from her. She was always willing to talk about any questions we had about these. She encouraged getting to know the people on our tour even though we were with another couple. We all ate and spent time with everyone. I really appreciate this. It is easy to do what is comfortable, but she made everything comfortable. She was always available. One couple lost their phone, and she was able to get it back to them very quickly. I love her easy-going demeanor. Nothing seemed to upset her, even when people were late in the morning. The itinerary always worked out. Thank you for putting together this trip and especially thank you for MaLou being our guide. I am not sure you can top this trip, but we will most definitely try some of your other trips.

I would like to express my gratitude to the tour's manager Jelena. She is an incredible talented person. She made our trip unforgettable, maybe the best we had in organized tour. She has a knowledge of history and a passionate love for her country. She is funny, very well-articulated, always on time and very efficient. There were absolutely no delays, unpleasant moments during our tour. To manage a group of more than 20 people with a lot of travel between the places is a pretty challenging task. But Jelena did it so effortlessly that it seemed that it cost her nothing. She provided a lot of suggestions on where to eat, what to see in free time, which facilities to use in hotels. Our driver was also incredible - very skillful on narrow roads, maintained the bus in excellent condition, was efficient with luggage. My husband's and mine appreciation and gratitude to both of them.

This trip was our sixth Gate One tour. We were impressed with all our guides, but Jelena was far above and beyond. She did an excellent job with the organizational part of her duties as did all the other guides on our previous trips. What set her apart was her ability to bring the group together and create as atmosphere where we were not just a group of random people on a tour but friends who enjoyed each other's company. Her sense of humor and her ability to make everything so much fun was a true asset. She gave us information about the places we visited and the history in ways that were not only informative and interesting but entertaining. She gave us insight into what life was like during these times in history. We not only saw the sites, but we felt the vibe of each area. She was always ready with suggestions and information. She is a true asset to Gate One. We would love to travel with her again!

The Balkans trip was one of our favorites. The cities were clean, pretty, and weren't overcrowded with tourists. Lake Ohrid was an especially beautiful area. Sherban was an outstanding tour manager. His knowledge of the area and sense of humor made the trip entertaining and fun. We've been on 17 Gate 1 trips and Gabi was our best bus driver. His skill and expertise in maneuvering the bus was impressive. He kept the bus spotless inside and out- even washing the windows daily. He said he wanted to make sure the windows were clean in case we wanted to take pictures from the bus. At stops he was always willing to take pictures of us and help out. He went above and beyond in all situations. The hotels we stayed at were very nice with great locations. The included meals were delicious. We enjoyed learning about the history of this part of Europe- interesting and turbulent. We will recommend this trip to others.

Eva, our tour host was the best guide I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I cried when we said goodbye on our last day. Her communication skills, sense of humor, warmth, and knowledge are outstanding!! I hope to find her on a future booking

Our tour guide, Robby, was simply outstanding. We watched him handle each challenging situation we encountered expertly. His desire for the best outcomes for our tour group was obvious, and his interpersonal skill in making each individual feel cared for, and cared about, did not go unrecognized. The behind-the-scenes work he performed in making our tour smooth did not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Gate1 would do well to ensure tour guides like Robby receive proper recognition and compensation. Robby represents Gate1 well, and although all the guides on our Gate1 tours have been outstanding, we feel Robby just may be the best tour guide we had to date. Well done, Robby! Well done.

We loved our trip to Sicily and Malta. Maria was a wonderful tour manager. She took care of everything for us. She was so full of information. Can't wait for the next trip.

Our trip to the Majestic Balkans was delightful! Jelena is all-around wonderful! Mihai is a patient & terrific driver! The itinerary is perfect. Well-paced days, excellent hotels, every activity is so informative about the history of each of these beleaguered countries. The local guides were terrific. They are all very educated & articulate with honest points of view. There was just enough free time. Food was very; very good & mealtime entertainment was so much fun from Slavic dancers to table side musicians at many restaurants. Also, restaurant choices were perfect & well-located. We were very moved by the speaker on the Romanian uprising against their dictator & enjoyed the orthodox choir. I loved the 2 delightful boat rides in N. Macedonia!! Happily, our group of 15 travelers got along so well. A lovely group of accomplished, smart & kind people. I may be leaving something out, but I would recommend this trip very highly! Although I've totally enjoyed all of your trips!

Our Tour Manager for the Gate 1 Discovery 12 Day Swiss Alpine Jewels was Monique. Our Tour Manager was exceptional-knowledgeable, warm, and wonderfully organized. From the very first evening orientation in Lausanne, she set the tone with a welcoming presence, making sure everyone felt comfortable and informed. Throughout the journey, her deep understanding of Swiss culture, history, and geography enriched each stop, whether we were tasting chocolate in Broc, admiring the medieval streets of Gruyere, or standing before the breathtaking Matterhorn. What stood out most was her attentiveness: always approachable, quick with helpful suggestions, and equally skilled at handling logistics so the group could simply relax and enjoy. She struck the perfect balance between professionalism and friendliness-sharing fascinating stories and insights, but also giving us space to explore on our own. Her genuine enthusiasm made each day more memorable, whether guiding us through the dramatic Aare Gorge, pointing out hidden gems in Lucerne's Old City, or making sure everyone had the best vantage point for the views from Jungfraujoch. By the farewell dinner in Lucerne, it truly felt like we were saying goodbye to a friend who had expertly led us through Switzerland's most beautiful landscapes.

I want to say that Mel and our driver Michael should be considered the pinnacle of a professional tour team. Every aspect far exceeded my expectations and my wife and I will cherish the time we spent in Ireland always.

Maurizio was a pleasure. He handled everything, was organized and personable. Would travel with him again. The bus driver Enso was the best. Took good care of us. We enjoyed this trip and the variety of local tours provided as well as free time. Gate 1 Discovery is the only way we travel. Have several more booked for 2026 and one in 2027. Keep the options coming.

Our guide, Americo, was amazing. He was very knowledgeable and extremely kind and caring. He made sure each person on the tour was safe, happy, satisfied, and well taken care. of. He helped with transfers, food, buying souvenirs, etc. Besides being very experienced, he was genuinely a wonderful person.

I simply cannot say enough good things about our Gate 1 trip - Swiss Alpine Jewels! I felt like I was living in a photograph the entire time! It was surreal! All of the highlights were chosen well. They were varied and each surpassed my expectations! I have had Switzerland on my bucket list for 55 years, since reading Heidi as a child, and it did not disappoint! Britta, our tour manager, was unbelievably beyond wonderful! She is a treasure and such a valuable asset to your organization! She is caring, considerate, fun, professional, and extremely knowledgeable. I adore her! Beat was our driver, and he did an excellent job taking care of all of us on the road. We were treated extremely well everywhere we went and thoroughly enjoyed all of the meals included. All of the guides on our individual tours were excellent, and we especially enjoyed Patricia and Denis at the winery in Cully. What a lovely experience! Because we enjoyed ourselves so completely on this first Gate 1 tour.

The professionalism, knowledge, and ability to connect with people were truly outstanding. From the moment I arrived, I was greeted by an enthusiastic and vibrant guide whose love for her work shone through in every interaction. Her passion brought Portugal's history and culture to life, turning each stop on the itinerary into a rich and memorable experience. Every part of the journey was enlivened with fascinating historical context and engaging storytelling that made the cities and landscapes even more meaningful. Exploring Porto, the Algarve, and Lisbon was not just sightseeing--it was an immersion into Portugal's rich tapestry of medieval architecture, vibrant traditions, warm people, and unforgettable cuisine. This was more than a trip; it was a truly enriching experience that deepened my appreciation for Portugal and left me with lasting memories.

I would like to say what a wonderful small group tour Switzerland and France was. I can't say enough how great Nadine the tour director was. She was always upbeat, and helpful with any questions; she totally made this tour complete. All the hotels were wonderful and situated in ideal locations. I enjoyed all the food that was included and also the itinerary was excellent. There was also free time to enjoy other activities or just relaxing. I would highly recommend this tour.

This was the best escorted tour I have ever been on. Tour manager Isabelle was phenomenal. As well as full of knowledge about where we were going, and what we were seeing, she was highly personable and interested in getting to know the members of her group. Leandro, the driver was more friendly and engaging than any driver I have ridden with. And skilled! Lunch with the owners of the chateau was simply amazing. Thank you for including that in the itinerary. The only thing I wish were different about this trip would be just one more champagne tasting during our visit to champagne country. I would surely select this tour all over again, and would love to have Isabelle and Leandro accompany me on any other tour in the future!

I have been on at least 14 Gate 1 excursions. All tour guides were wonderful. However, I must mention a phenomenal guide, Mihaela. She was a cut above all the rest!!! With her positive spirit, daily greetings, special local gifts, and all above care for our safety, Mihaela was outstanding. She definitely added the diamond quality sparkle to our Gem of Switzerland trip. Her knowledge of the area was unsurpassed, and she has my highest praises. I even miss her now!

Our holiday was amazing. I can't imagine how it could have been any better. Our tour manager Khristiene was the best and we would love to be notified of her tours so we might join her again in the future. Thank you and you will hear from us when we plan our next adventure.

Agnes, our tour guide, and Chris, our driver, were both outstanding. They were friendly, professional, knowledgeable, and helpful. Our guide for Auschwitz-Birkenau was absolutely phenomenal! She really knew her subject matter and presented it well. All of the food was fantastic and my only comment is that the meals were too large! (I can't believe I'm complaining about this!) Perhaps smaller portions? This was our first "Discovery" tour and we loved the smaller group size and all the little "extras" we received. Discovery is the way to go! Thank you for a great vacation.

I wanted to pass along what a terrific Guide and Program Director that Julie was on our Switzerland 12 day trip. This is our 3rd Gate 1 tour and without a doubt the most enjoyable beyond all expectation. The trip was well planned and the activities and events were exceptional in the variety and scope. Julie has such a great love for her job which translates into a wonderful time for all of us who are with her. Great tour- I would recommend it for all those who want to see and enjoy beautiful Switzerland.

Another successful Gate1 tour is in the books! As always, it was the tour manager who made the trip so memorable and special- our manager was Nikola, who is truly remarkable! His dedication to the profession and continuous positive and friendly attitude are unparalleled. Despite such a large group, Nikola has an ability to care for everyone's individual needs and interests, making each of us feel special. On the other hand, his generosity and humor quickly made the group feel connected like a family. Additionally, I appreciated Nikola's and the local guides' wealth of knowledge to help me better understand the history and present culture in each Balkan country we visited. The trip was an eye-opening and educational experience for me. I would be remiss not to compliment our wonderful driver Lonel, who demonstrated skill and safety in making our tour possible. Will most definitely be returning to Gate1 for my next adventure!!

The trip was absolutely terrific. We both enjoyed it very much! We have been to Provence a few times but learned a lot on this trip, especially with Ana, our tour manager. Ana was exceptionally helpful, always willing to go the extra mile to accommodate everyone on the tour. Our sincere appreciation for her attention to details and her friendliness. Thank you Gate 1 for organizing such a memorable trip.

Iceland tour was spectacular! Ingibjorg was fun, informative, presented herself with such love for her culture/country. Always felt safe with our bus driver ...our fellow travelers were a great, fun group that made this trip extremely special

I want to give a special "shout out" to our tour manager for the 12 Days Northern France Discovery tour my wife and I recently completed. Arthur was simply amazing! He was able to resolve several challenging issues for us and others during the tour efficiently and cheerfully. He has outstanding interpersonal skills and always conducts himself in a friendly and stress-free manner no matter the circumstances. Additionally he is very knowledgeable of the itinerary and was able to provide us with several great suggestions for things to do on our free time. I very much liked Arthur and was quite comfortable in his presence from the first moment we met. Gate 1 is very fortunate to have Arthur's services as a tour manager. He's the best of 9 tour managers I have encountered up to this point and I truly hope our paths will cross again.

The tour guide Radu and driver Daniel were outstanding. Both were extremely attentive to individual needs as well as to the tour group. Radu was extremely knowledgeable, personable, very well organized and went out of his way to very appropriately adjust the itinerary because of the extremely hot weather (which everyone appreciated). Our driver, Daniel, was the best driver we've had on our 21 trips. It was a pleasure that he spoke fluent English and thus was more interactive with the tour group. He always ensured there were plenty of cold-water bottles in the bus -- especially important as the outdoor temperature on some days was more than 100 degrees. Both are keepers and should be especially praised.

The discovery trip to Ireland was absolutely amazing. From pristine natural beauty that covered landscape in all shades of green, the cliffs and ocean, to animal diversity that included birds, horses and sheep as well as cultural immersion to Irish food and liquor (Irish Coffee, Whisky and Beer tasting) and exposure to how these are made, there is nothing that was short of excellence that Gate 1 did not cover. Many thanks to Gate 1 for such a wonderful and detailed itinerary. Last but definitely not the least, our tour manager Geraldine was wonderful, and came with immense knowledge in history, politics, geography and any other topic related to Ireland. She provided lots of interesting information and was very helpful and caring to everyone in the group.

This is a fantastic trip. Our guide, Elsa was THE BEST. She is very knowledgeable, personable and just a great person. I would highly recommend this trip to everyone. The places we visited were all beautiful and interesting. As a big art lover and huge Vincent van Gogh admirer and a fan of Cezanne as well, it was so special to visit places where they lived and painted. I was even able to purchase some of the pigments Cezanne used. So exciting to visit Vincent's actual room, despite the circumstances of him being there. Such a great trip.

Peter did an excellent job guiding us and is very responsive to any request. Tim, the bus driver was absolutely excellent. Because of them, we are looking at more Gate 1 tours as this was our first. The hotels and itinerary were fantastic. The variety within each location was excellent. This trip exceeded our expectations.