Stay & Explore Asia, Americas, Africa & Mediterranean
Introducing Stay & Explore packages, with all of the benefits of an escorted tour and the comfort of a central location without packing and unpacking. Stay in just one or two hotels to experience the best of the region. Enjoy the freedom to tailor your experience to your preferences, whether you seek leisurely exploration or immersive cultural enrichment.
Learn MoreReviews
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.Trip was wonderful.... Ljubljana is a mythical city. The country Slovenia is beautiful. The people are warm and friendly. It was a special trip and the guide BENA was fantastic not only was he very, very knowledgeable and kind and caring. It was also very funny. -Made the trip very special. This was a winner!!!!
Joan Y.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.This was an amazing trip but especially because the guide. Kaew made me feel very safe. She spoke well with the group and made interactions with the local people very easy. She showed us beautiful parts of Thailand that I could have never experienced on my own. She made sure we constantly had water and cooling pads as the weather was very hot. You could see the passion she has for Thailand, and this energy was contagious. She took her job very seriously and the years she has put into this company was reflected in her amazing quality of service. I would 100% do this tour again, especially with K.
Gabriella M.We just completed the stay and explorer in Bali... what an amazing trip! We LOVED our tour guides, Wina and Amara!! they were so welcoming and kind and made us feel safe the whole time we were there... I will highly recommend this to her two family and friends. Great job Gate 1!!
Neda E.KajaNe in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, along with the staff and accommodations, were excellent. I rarely rate anything 100%, but this experience came very close. Winna was amazing and genuinely cared about our well-being and happiness throughout the trip. Our driver did things with that bus I didn't know were possible. The value and itinerary will keep us coming back. You have a great recipe-don't change it.
Jeff M.We just returned this week from our 9 Day Taste of Bangkok Gate 1 tour and the four of us in our travel party thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would like to go on future Gate 1 trips. Our tour manager, Jack, was such a key part of our positive experience! He was so friendly, fun and considerate of our interests and needs. He set a friendly open tone for the entire group. He was always anticipating our needs and willing to go the extra mile, whether personally bringing us to where we could get local currency or making detailed helpful suggestions for our free time. We loved that he was able to share so much about his Thai culture, whether it was helping us to understand historical or cultural aspects of sites we saw or sharing samples of local treats as we toured. We have done many cruises with Viking, which we enjoy because of their emphasis on cultural learning but we feel there was so much more depth in our cultural engagement having Jack as our manager. He definitely was a central part of our very positive tour experience!!!! Looking back on our tour, we all feel like Jack was not only an excellent tour manager in all the aspects the survey asked, he became a sincere friend - exuding a genuine care and hospitality for his visiting guests!
Jason L.The tour managers on all our previous Gate 1 trips were very good, but we would like to specifically recognize this tour manager, Cesar. His knowledge of history, excellent presentation skills, and wonderful sense of humor were truly outstanding. He made the experience both educational and enjoyable, and we greatly appreciated his professionalism and enthusiasm throughout the tour.
Eugenia S.Jelena our tour guide made us fall in love with Croatia. She embraced us like family and fully immersed us in the Dalmatian culture. Due to highway construction traffic, Samir the bus driver, diverted us off the beaten path which allowed us to experience more charming Croatian towns. This bonus exceeded our expectations. I learned so much through all senses, loving every moment of it to point of thinking of migrating there. This unforgettable memory will forever remain in our hearts. Please mention this to Jelena and Samir.
Jude R.I especially liked staying in same hotel for entire trip. Malcolm was an excellent tour guide. He was very accommodating and always thinking of our safety. I can't say enough about our driver, Erik. Excellent. Was extremely talented in his driving skills. My first trip with Gate 1, and I will be using it again.
Paula C.My trip was fantastic! This was my first journey to Southern Spain, and I hope it won't be my last! Our Tour Manager, Antonio, was wonderful- patient, kind, organized, fun and very informative! We absolutely loved him and he did an outstanding job! The hotel was lovely with a big comfortable clean room, gorgeous breakfast each morning and wonderful dinner at the beginning and the end. Perfect spot! Really beautiful! Air transport, provided through Gate 1, was on time and very good! No bags lost! Transfers were great- on time with courteous drivers and comfortable vehicles! And the excursions were all just excellent! Marbella was charming and beautiful! Mijas was stunning. Our journey to Malaga and the Picasso Museum was fun and interesting! My absolute favorite was The Alhambra in Granada which I have wanted to see since my childhood. Majestic, beautiful, serene and geometrically perfect, this place dazzles. And Ronda was just exceptional! I loved it! Frigliana and Nerja were gorgeous and fascinating and magical. And Gibralter was so different and interesting. It was all absolutely wonderful from start to finish- a great hotel, fantastic TM, nice group of people, incredibly magnificent places, perfect organization and execution, great bus driver. I cannot offer a more positive review. This was, in every way, perfect! Thank you for offering me such an incredible experience! I shall remember this trip always!
Barbara S.Our 9-day Taste of Bangkok tour was nothing short of extraordinary! From the moment we arrived, we knew we were in excellent hands - and that's all thanks to our incredible tour manager, Dek. We had a one-on-one meeting with Dek the day after our arrival, where he provided us with a detailed booklet outlining each day's activities. Everything was organized to perfection, thoughtfully planned to ensure we experienced the very best of Bangkok - from iconic landmarks to meaningful cultural experiences. Dek truly made this trip exceptional. He called us "family," and we genuinely felt his warmth, passion, and dedication. His love for Thailand - past, present, and future - shined through in every story he shared. He answered every question with patience and insight and went above and beyond to make sure each of us had an unforgettable experience. This company, established over 45 years ago, clearly knows how to deliver excellence. This was our second tour with them - and certainly not our last! We stayed in top-rated hotels and traveled in upscale motor coach buses where drivers greeted us daily with a smile, a cold bottle of water, and individually wrapped cool towels. Every detail was thoughtfully handled. Not once did we have a complaint. Booking was seamless and stress-free. Our booking agent was knowledgeable, responsive, and just a phone call away whenever we had questions. The best part? This is truly a full-scale vacation. No stress, no searching endlessly for flights (unless you choose to) - just pure enjoyment from start to finish. If you want to save time, eliminate stress, and experience Bangkok with a first-class company that treats you like family - book this tour. We're already looking forward to next year's trip!
Alison G.My trip to Bangkok, Thailand was the best vacation I've ever had! I was with a great group of travelers and our tour manager, Nok was absolutely fabulous! Bangkok is an amazing place and I'm blessed to have had Gate I for my travel needs. I look forward to my next trip with Gate 1.
Tammy W.I just wanted to add a comment to my Bali vacation survey. The TM Rocky, Driver Rudi and local Guide Amy were fantastic!! They truly embodied the Bali spirit, and each did a terrific job of exposing us to Bali culture and beauty. They made a great trip even better and I truly appreciate their opening doors for us to experience Bali firsthand. Also, the staff at each hotel deserve extra thanks. Just great people.
Mark R.My trip was wonderful!! Thank you so much for arranging everything for my whole group. Our tour guide, Javier, was phenomenal. He went over and above to make sure we were taken care of, from beginning to end. I give him so much credit. Thank you to Gate 1Travel, you are awesome :)
Anna G.I cannot say enough good things about our group leader, Mira. She was organized, professional, knowledgeable, funny, friendly, and kind. She makes me want to travel again very soon! Thank you Mira!
Amy M.This was my first tour with Gate1 and my first tour since my honeymoon nearly 60 years ago. I was surprised by the diversity of the group, and they were younger than I had anticipated. There were 4 unaccompanied men, I had thought there would only be couples and single women. But what struck me most was how well they travelled. One lovely gentleman had visited an astounding 128 countries. The group was friendly and respectful, very caring, led by and encouraged by the Tour Manager. The tour manager was a delightful lady who loved her city and made much effort to make us feel the same way. She went above and beyond my expectation with her helpfulness, kindness, expertise and organizational ability. I am now booked for my 2nd Gate 1 tour.
Susan P.Thank you and loving the new Stay & Explore tours - deservedly very popular as such a treat to stay in one location for an extended time and take excursions from your base, both included and optional. This was a revisit to the French Riviera for me - have always loved Nice and was delighted that a few months before departure our hotel choice was changed to the fantastic Hotel Beau Rivage in Nice Old Town, steps from Cours Saleya market and one block from the seaside Promenade, and one block from Place Massena and its Christmas Markets which opened for the season during our trip - Restaurants, cafes and shopping all close-by and the hotel was just lovely, boutique in feel, great staff, comfortable rooms and a delicious buffet breakfast each day with served beverages. Location could not be beat! A lovely and charming tour manager, Raphaelle, who had great suggestions for leisure time and restaurants and a very competent driver Laure, always with a smile and keeping us safe with her great driving. Loved the revisits to Monaco, especially the Old Town, Villa Ephrussi in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, and the optional to the Citrus town of Menton near the Italian border. Exploring more of Nice is always rewarding too. This was trip #68 for me with G1 and as always, everything was flawless and enjoyed another excellent time!
Lorraine P.I just returned from Tastes of Bangkok - want to let you know that Kit is an incredible Tour Manager. Patient, informative, great sense of humor, incredibly knowledgeable. Very patient with herding cats!! Highly recommend this tour, it was amazing.
Margaret A.The trip to Bangkok, Thailand was fantastic. Our hotel was beautiful and so comfortable. The breakfast buffet was delicious. I have never been on a GateOne Tour before, but certainly will go on another. Our tour bus was so comfortable and the driver excellent. Our tour guide, Kit, was excellent. She had so much knowledge and made each day interesting and fun! Thank you Gate One!
Maria C.It was a very good trip. Our tour manager, Nicholas, was outstanding. The local guides were great. What a very nice hotel, Alvear Art. Overall, my first and explore trip with Gate1 deserves 10 stars.
Marvis O.Estefi was excellent!! She was knowledgeable, friendly, great energy, very caring and did a really great job keeping the group together, informed and on time. BRAVO!! Really enjoyed getting to know her and would definitely prioritize a tour with her again.
Jodi M.Edo was an exceptionally skilled guide. He chose excursions that featured fascinating historic sites, guiding us expertly via local guides through the key sites within a historical and cultural framework. His diverse choices included gorgeous medieval towns, a remote artist colony, a local Veterans Day celebration, a diverse communally-run town, a local wine-maker, and a family-owned cheese maker - all very eclectic and creative. Edo gave us a feel for the real France, and it was delightful. He's an interesting and generous man who made everyone feel included.
Ruth H.The trip was great!. Enjoyed the organization and surprisingly add on's. This trip was a bit warm, but seeing the sights help forget. Rocky, guide, Murjana, assist guide were both very attentive, full of fun and laughter. Anom the driver was fabulous, especially when it got to be our turn to sit up front of the bus. The group of travelers with us , also full of fun and adventurous. Another trip with Gate 1, that we enjoyed.
Emelda E.Our tour manager guide was outstanding phenomenal. I believe he's one of the top best managers that I have ever experience in all my travels. Highly recommend him. George was the best!
Candida L.Just wanted to write a brief note about our tour manager Nadine. We celebrated our 20th anniversary by taking this trip. Nadine went out of her way to recognize this and even got us gifts to celebrate the day. She also went out of her way to make sure our parents, who were on this trip, never felt like they were holding the group back and always making sure they were OK with the walking and hilly areas. Great job by Nadine. Also, it is a perfect location for the hotel in Ulm, close to shopping, grocery stores, banks, and places to eat. And our bus driver, very professional and safe driver.... always signaled when changing lanes and always maintained a safe speed. I loved the trip, looking forward to booking another one.
James J.We loved it! The weather was great; our tour leader Anne was very professional and knowledgeable. The hotel was in a scenic location across from the Promenade d'Anglais and the excursions were spot on. I would definitely consider another Stay and Explore Tour with Gate 1.
Ruth H.Our tour leader, Gwen, created a webpage for our trip, that included maps of the areas we were visiting, recipes for foods of the region, things to do in Toulouse, daily summaries, and more - it was really well done, very interesting, and such a useful addition for our tour experience! We really enjoyed seeing all of the places we went on this tour and found the most meaningful experiences to be in the small, inhabited towns (like Auvillar, Cordes-sur-Ciel, and Montbrun-Bocage) where we could talk with people about what their lives are like living there today. Our visit to Auvillar included being greeted by the Director of the Tourism Office - which was really an honor for us - and the Auvillar Museum was fascinating, hearing about how the town had come together to donate prized family possessions for the museum. Hearing about and seeing pottery was also interesting. We also really enjoyed meeting Irene at Le Clos du Marbier - she was so inspiring, warm, and welcoming (and her wine is excellent!) The farm visit was fun and interesting, and the cheese was fantastic! Opportunities to connect with local people really made the trip extraordinary and I hope Gate 1 will continue to include those. Dinner last night was at a local restaurant rather than at the hotel and that was a treat - the food was excellent, the location was perfect, and it felt like a celebratory sendoff. The hotel was perfect - central location, wonderful staff, comfortable rooms, excellent breakfast and bar. And lastly, we really appreciate and enjoy the Stay and Explore format - it is so nice to unpack once and be able to explore the town during free evenings - we hope that Gate 1 will expand their offerings on these trips!
Kathleen M.It was wonderful. So nice to stay in the same hotel for the entire time. Basque cooking is delicious and Santandar was beautiful beyond my wildest dreams. The Guggenheim is an experience unto itself.
Arlene R.Mira was the best Tour Manager ever, and this was the 12th Gate 1 tour I've taken. She went over and beyond what any tour manager has ever done on trips I've taken. She was so pleasant and ALWAYS willing to help with ANYTHING we needed and took genuine care and concern over any matter that was brought to her. I wish I knew of upcoming trips she was managing because I would definitely endeavor to make a reservation, just to have her manage us again. She is definitely an asset to Gate 1. Don't let her go!
Laura D.Our trip was wonderful! Macedonia is a truly beautiful country with a fascinating history and very friendly and welcoming people. Kudos to Gate 1 for the planning and staffing of this tour. This was our first Gate 1 trip, but I doubt it will be our last.
Steven R.My trip to Bali was excellent! Gusti is a wonderful guide. He is caring and full of knowledge. He answered all my questions. I learned so much about Indonesian culture. Both hotels were excellent and comfortable. The included meals were delicious. The final dinner was exceptional. Overall, the trip was great. I look forward to visiting Indonesia again in the future.
Kimberlee W.My trip to Prague was wonderful. I was able to learn more about my Prague heritage. Our tour guide Jana was very knowledgeable and I learned a lot about the history of Prague. She told us some very funny traditions they have in Prague which we would not have otherwise known. My favorite tours were to Cesky Krumlov and Dresden. I also need to give a shout out to our bus driver Dali. This was my 4th trip with Gate 1 and I have never been disappointed. I already have 2 more trips booked for 2026. Gate 1 just takes care of everything for you. I travel alone quite a bit and they make it seamless. Always looking forward to my next great trip with Gate 1
Cynthia F.The trip was amazing! I think it might be my best Gate 1 yet! Croatia is a beautiful country. I love the mix of history, current life and the blending of cultures. Nicolo, our guide, was AMAZING! So was Samir our bus driver. Their concerns for our safety, comfort, enjoyment and cohesiveness made every better better than the one before it!
Kathleen H.Our tour manager Nikoleta was a major contributing factor associated with our Slovenian trip. I consider this trip to be one of my favorite Gate1 adventures. Nikoleta is a gem!!
Deborah W.Our trip was absolutely wonderful, especially because of our tour guide, Abdu. His knowledge of the country and personalism in attending to our needs and desires went well beyond his normal duties. He was delightful to have at our side each day and we were amazed by the tours he arranged for us. We were thrilled to learn of the Moroccan culture and to witness the everyday life of the people of this region. The food, entertainment, and atmosphere were all exceptional. Every single detail will be remembered for a long time!
Janet P.This was our first trip with Gate1 Travel. Overall, our trip to Greece & Crete was wonderful. The 2 tour managers who were on our trip (Athina in Crete and Georgina in mainland Greece) were absolutely amazing. They were both very knowledgeable about the sites we saw. They provided content about the sites along with Greek mythology in a way that was fun and factual. They were both professional and personable. We very much enjoyed the various sites we visited and the hotels and food were excellent. We look forward to selecting our next overseas trip with Gate1.
Kenneth G.This was my first group tour. It was fun. I enjoyed all the different tours. The tour director, Ty, was extremely knowledgeable, incredibly helpful and just plain, who is great guy! The entire process, from start to finish, was easy and very well organized. I will definitely be looking for more opportunities to travel with Gate1.
Cassandra M.Decided to go to North Macedonia at the last minute and what a great decision. The people are so friendly and welcoming. The dollar is really strong there so everything seems a bargain. We always felt safe and Many thanks to our effervescent Tour Manager, Melania for making our trip special. It's very obvious she really enjoys her job and was so helpful. Highly recommended for a visit.
Donald M.This was our 8th Gate 1 trip, and we feel it was the best one ever. Our guides, Blaz in Slovenia, and Vivi in Padua were caring, kind, and made us all feel special, safe, and had such wonderful personalities. Everyone on both parts of our trip felt the same. Thank you for the gift of this trip. The tours were all interesting and lovely, and both of our tour guides went over and above with us each day.
Sandra M.Our Trip was Fabulous. !Our Leader Vera was the best ! She was well informed, kept the group together , and on time and kept us full of information. She also was very kind and personable. We hope are next trip will be with her!! She is the best , Aldo bus driver was great and local tour guide Andres.
Jeannie T.On all of our previous tours with Gate1, we have had excellent tour guides but on this tour, our guide Lucas was by far the best we ever had on Gate1 or any other tour we have been on. He is an exceptional employee and you are very fortunate to have him as an employee.
Jerry F.The trip was great. Perfect weather, great guide, wonderful food and the history is incredible. This was our first Tastes of... trip and the format worked out really well for Crete. The guide helped with arrangements for a car and driver for a group of us one of the free days. I would recommend switching Chania for Santorini.
Eileen W.The trip was wonderful! I really liked that I only had to unpack once. The tour was just the right mix of included and optional tours, so I felt like I had ample opportunity to venture out on my own. The hotel was fantastic. Perfect location next to the train station and a grocery store right behind it. The staff was friendly; the amenities were abundant (a candy bar!) and the accommodations top notch. Kurt, the tour guide, was knowledgeable and knew when to give information and when to be still to enjoy the journey. This was my first Gate 1 tour, but hopefully not my last!
Sandra L.Our trip was excellent. I think Gate1 has a winning formula with their "Stay and Explore" tours. Looking forward to seeing what other locations are offered.
Carol B.This trip was absolutely wonderful!!! Our Tour Manager, Elaine, was one of the best and just brought it all to life. She was intelligent, kind, patient, organized and so thoughtful. The small gestures and little displays of thoughtfulness added so much and her vast experience makes her an absolute gem! We all loved her! And our bus driver ( Kris from Poland) was just a delight and also terrific. The location of the hotel was perfect- close to the center of Oxford, comfortable with nice rooms and a good breakfast each morning, kind staff and it was clean. The itinerary was fantastic! We saw so much and truly enjoyed each and every visit! Bletchley Park was phenomenal and the stops in the Cotswolds were gorgeous. As well information provided by both our local Oxford Guide as well as Elaine on additional options for Oxford - things like arrival and departure times, restaurants, additional attractions to take advantage of in Oxford and free options like Evensong were invaluable to those of us who are planners and want to stuff as much as we can into our schedule. The variety of travel choices between included and optional excursions was just excellent and although we tend to prefer the Discovery tours due to small group size, it was a treat to stay in one hotel for the week.
Barbara S.I loved this trip. This trip was entertaining and informative. The Tour Manager, Nikola, was outstanding. I've had many very excellent Tour Managers in all the Gate 1 trips I've taken and Nikola ranks right up there with the best. This was my fifth Gate 1 trip to the Balkans but the first time to Serbia. I'm so glad to not have had to go on another multi country trip just to spend a night or two in Belgrade. I really got to learn about Serbia and I loved it. I'd like to see a similar trip to Sarajevo.
Eric F.


