Central & Eastern Europe

Central & Eastern Europe and Baltics Escorted Travel
Package Name | Season | City/Cruise Nights | Travel Style | Land Only | Air & Land |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 Day Affordable Central Europe |
Oct '22 - Mar '23 | 2 Budapest, 2 Vienna, 2 Prague | Off Season | $999 | $1689* |
10 Day Affordable Central Europe with Berlin |
Oct '22 - Mar '23 | 2 Budapest, 2 Vienna, 2 Prague, 2 Berlin | Off Season | $1299 | $2009* |
12 Day Affordable Central Europe with Warsaw & Krakow |
Oct '22 - Mar '23 | 2 Warsaw, 2 Krakow, 2 Budapest, 2 Vienna, 2 Prague | Off Season | $1449 | $2219* |
14 Day Affordable Central Europe with Warsaw, Krakow & Berlin |
Oct '22 - Mar '23 | 2 Warsaw, 2 Krakow, 2 Budapest, 2 Vienna, 2 Prague, 2 Berlin | Off Season | $1749 | $2469* |
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8 Day Affordable Central Europe
Air & Land: $1689*
Land Only: $999
2 Budapest, 2 Vienna, 2 Prague
Tour Type: Off Season
Season: Oct '22 - Mar '23
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10 Day Affordable Central Europe with Berlin
Air & Land: $2009*
Land Only: $1299
2 Budapest, 2 Vienna, 2 Prague, 2 Berlin
Tour Type: Off Season
Season: Oct '22 - Mar '23
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12 Day Affordable Central Europe with Warsaw & Krakow
Air & Land: $2219*
Land Only: $1449
2 Warsaw, 2 Krakow, 2 Budapest, 2 Vienna, 2 Prague
Tour Type: Off Season
Season: Oct '22 - Mar '23
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14 Day Affordable Central Europe with Warsaw, Krakow & Berlin
Air & Land: $2469*
Land Only: $1749
2 Warsaw, 2 Krakow, 2 Budapest, 2 Vienna, 2 Prague, 2 Berlin
Tour Type: Off Season
Season: Oct '22 - Mar '23
Germany, Switzerland & Austria Escorted Travel
Package Name | Season | City/Cruise Nights | Travel Style | Land Only | Air & Land |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 Day Affordable Switzerland |
Nov '22 - Mar '23 | 2 Geneva, 2 Lucerne, 2 Lugano | Off Season | $1499 | $2259* |
8 Day Essential Germany |
Oct '22 - Mar '23 | 2 Berlin, 1 Dresden, 1 Nuremberg, 2 Munich | Value | $1049 | $1809* |
10 Day Affordable Germany, France, Switzerland & Austria |
Oct '22 - Mar '23 | 2 Mainz or Mannheim, 1 Strasbourg, 2 Lucerne, 1 Innsbruck, 2 Vienna | Off Season | $1699 | $2359* |
14 Day Affordable Central Europe with Warsaw, Krakow & Berlin |
Oct '22 - Mar '23 | 2 Warsaw, 2 Krakow, 2 Budapest, 2 Vienna, 2 Prague, 2 Berlin | Off Season | $1749 | $2469* |
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8 Day Affordable Switzerland
Air & Land: $2259*
Land Only: $1499
2 Geneva, 2 Lucerne, 2 Lugano
Tour Type: Off Season
Season: Nov '22 - Mar '23
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8 Day Essential Germany
Air & Land: $1809*
Land Only: $1049
2 Berlin, 1 Dresden, 1 Nuremberg, 2 Munich
Tour Type: Value
Season: Oct '22 - Mar '23
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10 Day Affordable Germany, France, Switzerland & Austria
Air & Land: $2359*
Land Only: $1699
2 Mainz or Mannheim, 1 Strasbourg, 2 Lucerne, 1 Innsbruck, 2 Vienna
Tour Type: Off Season
Season: Oct '22 - Mar '23
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14 Day Affordable Central Europe with Warsaw, Krakow & Berlin
Air & Land: $2469*
Land Only: $1749
2 Warsaw, 2 Krakow, 2 Budapest, 2 Vienna, 2 Prague, 2 Berlin
Tour Type: Off Season
Season: Oct '22 - Mar '23
Croatia & Slovenia Escorted Travel
Package Name | Season | City/Cruise Nights | Travel Style | Land Only | Air & Land |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
11 Day Affordable Croatia & Slovenia |
Sep '22 - May '23 | 2 Opatija, 1 Split, 3 Dubrovnik, 1 Vodice, 2 Bled | Off Season | $1499 | $2299* |
12 Day Affordable Croatia & Slovenia |
Sep '22 - May '23 | 2 Opatija, 1 Split, 3 Dubrovnik, 1 Vodice, 2 Bled, 1 Venice | Off Season | $1749 | $2499* |
13 Day Affordable Croatia & Slovenia with Venice |
Sep '22 - May '23 | 2 Opatija, 1 Split, 3 Dubrovnik, 1 Vodice, 2 Bled, 2 Venice | Off Season | $1899 | $2689* |
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11 Day Affordable Croatia & Slovenia
Air & Land: $2299*
Land Only: $1499
2 Opatija, 1 Split, 3 Dubrovnik, 1 Vodice, 2 Bled
Tour Type: Off Season
Season: Sep '22 - May '23
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12 Day Affordable Croatia & Slovenia
Air & Land: $2499*
Land Only: $1749
2 Opatija, 1 Split, 3 Dubrovnik, 1 Vodice, 2 Bled, 1 Venice
Tour Type: Off Season
Season: Sep '22 - May '23
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13 Day Affordable Croatia & Slovenia with Venice
Air & Land: $2689*
Land Only: $1899
2 Opatija, 1 Split, 3 Dubrovnik, 1 Vodice, 2 Bled, 2 Venice
Tour Type: Off Season
Season: Sep '22 - May '23
Independent Vacations
Package Name | Season | City/Cruise Nights | Travel Style | Land Only | Air & Land |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 Day Budapest & Prague (Chicago) |
Sep '22 - Apr '23 | 3 Budapest, 3 Prague | Independent | $1069* | |
8 Day Budapest & Prague (Los Angeles) |
Sep '22 - Apr '23 | 3 Budapest, 3 Prague | Independent | $1149* | |
8 Day Budapest & Prague (New York) |
Sep '22 - Apr '23 | 3 Budapest, 3 Prague | Independent | $1059* |
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8 Day Budapest & Prague (Chicago)
Air & Land: $1069*
Land Only:
3 Budapest, 3 Prague
Tour Type: Independent
Season: Sep '22 - Apr '23
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8 Day Budapest & Prague (Los Angeles)
Air & Land: $1149*
Land Only:
3 Budapest, 3 Prague
Tour Type: Independent
Season: Sep '22 - Apr '23
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8 Day Budapest & Prague (New York)
Air & Land: $1059*
Land Only:
3 Budapest, 3 Prague
Tour Type: Independent
Season: Sep '22 - Apr '23
Central & Eastern Europe Flight, Hotel & Car Rental Packages
Package Name | Season | City/Cruise Nights | Travel Style | Land Only | Air & Land |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 Day Germany Fly & Drive (New York) |
Oct '22 - Mar '23 | 5 Hirschberg an der Bergstraße | Independent | $1109* |
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7 Day Germany Fly & Drive (New York)
Air & Land: $1109*
Land Only:
5 Hirschberg an der Bergstraße
Tour Type: Independent
Season: Oct '22 - Mar '23
Reviews

Our trip was AMAZING! We cannot say enough good things about our Tour Manager, Dean and our Driver, Vlad. Dean kept everything running smoothly and on time. He also has a great sense of humor and we really enjoyed him! Vlad showed superior driving skills in Germany when we were faced with some pretty bad weather. Vlad also had a good sense of humor and we had a lot of fun with both of them! We really appreciated how great Gate 1 Travel was to work with. We ran into some bad weather from London to Munich and ended up being diverted to Frankfurt for several hours. I called Gate 1's emergency number, and while they couldn't do anything about our predicament, they made sure to keep in touch with Dean as well as the transportation company scheduled to meet us at the airport upon arrival. We were *very* delayed, but much to our surprise, someone was at the airport to meet us and arrange for our ride to the hotel. And Dean had very kindly left dinner in our room. The cities we visited were beautiful and amazing. We learned a lot from the local tour guides and felt it was the right mix of tours and free time. We were also very fortunate to be in a really fun group of fellow travelers. Everything was so wonderful - we can't wait to travel with Gate 1 again!
Karla D.
I would like to commend our tour director/manager Dean and our driver Anton. Dean was very knowledgeable about the itineraries and was awesome in making suggestions as how to spend our time at leisure as well as the best local restaurants to sample local cuisine. He was very organized and was very prompt as to departure times. His timing was perfect when interjecting key points as we travel on the motor coach. Our driver, Anton, drives very carefully and very alert. He knows the sites very well and is able to adapt to road conditions and road detours due to construction. This is our first Gate 1 tour and will certainly not be the last. We will definitely recommend Gate 1 to our friends and families.
Peter E.
Our recent Central Europe trip with Gate 1 was fantastic. Each trip gets better and better! Our tour guide Kayo (Karol) was punctual, caring, interesting...and very fashionable. It was so fun getting to know him and the other travelers in our group. Each city we visited had its own special highlights, and seeing them was a lifelong dream come true. Warsaw, Krakow, Budapest, Vienna, Bratislava, Prague...I tell people about this trip and they cannot believe what we did, for the price we paid. The hotels were beautiful, the included breakfasts were hearty and delicious, and the several optional excursions we chose helped make the trip even more special. The city guides at each stop were excellent, so knowledgeable and so proud of their countries. We cannot say enough about our driver Kristoff - there were some tight turns and roads, navigating all the border crossings, and he was great through it all. We have missed the Gate 1 trips, and we are so happy that we can resume traveling. We haven't been everywhere, but it's on our list!!
Maureen M.
Thank you for arranging such an awesome trip to Central Europe. I love the fact that we did not make stops as a group to purchase things. Sometimes 2 days is not enough to explore a city since half of the day is spent on transporting from one city to another. I will treasure the memories and friendships created on this trip. Kayo was an amazing guide. He was very professional, organized, and accommodating. He made many valuable suggestions about where to eat and what to do. He added experiences of using public transportation which was so appreciated especially in Prague. Thank you again for this trip. I always recommend your company to friends and family. I'm looking forward for more trips in the future!
Berlanti M.
The Baltic trip was great with Poland being the highlight. The tour manager Dalija was excellent. She was super organized, very patient dealing with all sorts of different people in the group, provided excellent information in details, friendly and professional. She always went the extra step and covered all details to make sure it was a smooth trip for us. She also offered extras like sharing candy that her family made, bought us a local cheese to try as a snack. She really made the trip memorable. Please keep her as a Gate 1 tour manager.
Sylvia M.
I want to express my sincere gratitude for the perfectly organized trip, for the professional choice of comfortable hotels, historical places to visit, and for the excellent selection of the curator and local guides. They shared knowledge and love for their native places. I especially want to mention Miroslava. An amazingly charming, highly educated, friendly, caring woman guide, assistant, adviser, and just a friend. The smile did not leave her face from the first to the last day of our arrival, which caused great sympathy. With her help, crossing many borders was painlessly fast, the food, in the small roadside coffees she chose, was exceptionally tasty and the service was prompt. This is a great merit and experience of the guide. The information she shared with us was competent, accessible, and highly professional. The solution to the problems of tourists was instant, competent for 24/7 hours, and all this in a great mood. The bus driver was just an ace and showed his skills on high mountain roads, as well as in cities crowded with vehicles and crazy drivers A trip to the Balkans will be remembered for a lifetime thanks to your excellent work and constant care for us
Natalia P.
The trip was fantastic!! You hire phenomenal people as your tour and city guides. As you know, Egis is the best. It's not an easy job but he shows such kindness and patience to everyone. I'm sure we all came away changed for the better from all that we learned about that part of the world. I brought a friend with me who had never done a Gate 1 trip. She was very hesitant to go on a "bus tour", but she really wanted to see Tallinn again after seeing it on a Baltic cruise. We hadn't even finished our trip and she was talking about the next Gate 1 trip we should take. And she wants to bring her sister and another friend along too. You ensure your success by the people you hire, and on this tour you hired wonderful people. Eric, in Tallinn was great. Leva, in Riga, was also wonderful, as was Maggie in Warsaw. I don't remember the name of the woman who gave our city tour of Vilnius, but she was very good too. I can't recommend this tour highly enough. I have 2 more Gate 1 trips planned in the next 5 months, but this one will be hard to beat!
Marita H.
Our trip was amazing. And Switzerland was beautiful. We appreciated the stays at Wengen and Zermatt areas. Loved small group of 18. Marija was an excellent tour manager with her local knowledge, her caring attitude, and her quick-to-resolve skill that brought happy results to a few of our adventurous "mission impossible" occasions. Along with our driver, Peter, they both went above and beyond expectations, to ensure we had wonderful experiences. Thank you.
Van T.
Of all my Gate 1 trips, this was the best, mainly due to the guidance of the incomparable Mira. Her cheer, knowledge, interest, compassion, and professionalism go far beyond merely "doing a job". I felt like a valued and beloved member of her family. Our driver, Voy, is also the best I have ever seen. I can't maneuver my Mazda the way he controlled that immaculate 40-foot coach. I wish I could give them both ratings higher than "Excellent". I have scheduled a trip to Croatia in the spring. Also, as a huge fan of Bulgaria, I would ask that you include Varna and Nessebar on this itinerary, perhaps replacing Veliko Turnovo. The Black Sea coast is gorgeous, and these 2 cities offer venues (sea garden, archaeology museum with lots of GOLD, excellent restaurants, many churches and historic buildings, terrific shopping for local arts and crafts in Nessebar) that would add tremendous interest and value to the trip. I have been to both places several times and would happily go back as there is so much to see and experience.
Amanda W.
The trip was fantastic! Thanks to Katie for making the arrangements. Thanks to escort Jolanta and all the local tour guides who brought the cities alive for us. The hotel accommodations were first rate. This was our first experience with Gate1 and we look forward to traveling with Gate1 in the future.
Susan B.
I want to write a special commendation for Ana - She was beyond excellent as a tour manager and guide. My wife and I have traveled in over 60 countries as independent travelers and this Gate 1 tour was our first group tour experience. We have frequently hired our own city or regional tour guides and we consider Ana to be in the top 2 or 3 three guides we have used in the world. Her knowledge and ability to answer questions, energy, management skills, ability to anticipate our needs and pleasant light hearted demeanor made our trip a highly satisfactory experience. If this is the caliber of tour guides supplied by Gate 1, SHE is the reason we will choose to travel again with Gate 1 if we want to travel with a prearranged group tour in the future. We wish her all the best in her career.
William R.
It was GREAT! Egis, the tour guide, was exceptional, interesting, informative, knowledgeable, genuinely interested in insuring we enjoyed ourselves, the places we visited and that we left knowing more about the Baltic countries and the people than when we arrived! He was also generous with treats on the bus!! I run out of adjectives when I talk about Gate 1 and the tours I have taken. Each area of the world is different but the tours are always wonderful. I can't think of a thing that has ever disappointed me. Except, of course, that the tours end and I say "goodbye" to all my new friends until we meet on the next tour.
Paula E.
Thanks for your email. My trip was wonderful! I would recommend Gate1 to anyone and looking forward to travel with Gate1 again soon. Our driver (Ergo) is really good. Our tour manager Brigitte is exceptional She was knowledgeable, friendly, fun and kind. The hotels were ok, I don't expect that much. Overall it was a really good trip.
Chanida R.
Our trip was absolutely amazing!! My husband and I enjoyed every moment. We traveled through Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Lichtenstein and Germany. Nicoletta, our tour guide, and Claudio, our coach driver, were excellent! They made the trip so enjoyable. Nicoletta has incredible knowledge of the countries and went out of her way to make it fun. Very efficiently run tour, and we left with postcard like pictures and memories that will last a lifetime! We will definitely book with Gate 1 again!
Linda V.
My trip was great!. Our guide Marta, is probably the sweetest, most caring guide I've had on a Gate 1 trip. Poland was very interesting, hotels were fine and the food was good. She and the driver went out of their way one afternoon to take us to the Baltic Sea to the beach. One of the best parts of the trip. She always made the bus trips fun with movies, food, local liquor and stories. Would highly recommend this trip.
Deborah H.
As always did not disappoint! G1 trip #44 for me and had already visited Romania, Bulgaria and Albania before, but on Majestic Balkans welcomed the chance to revisit them again, experience some new cities and also get to go to North Macedonia which I was very excited about as was my 100th country! Loved the trip - it was very active but we saw so much, some great cities and incredible sights, experienced good food and some excellent hotels - the Grand Hotel in Sofia and the Marriott in Skopje especially wonderful! Our tour manager Patty from Croatia took great care of us and was funny, engaging and very kind with some lovely gifts for the whole group to remember each country. The driver was doing this tour for the first time, but he kept us safe and grew into the role as we progressed on the journey. North Macedonia was fabulous - loved Skopje and Ohrid - absolutely beautiful and completely surprising in a great way! These countries have come a long way since the last time I visited - they are all vibrant, affordable and offer a great travel experience. Our group of 20 was fun and cohesive. Love seeing more of the world for less with G1! Thank you as always!
Lorraine P.
Our recent trip to Scandinavia exceeded all our expectations from the Tour Manager to having a really good fun loving group of fellow travelers. The Tour Manager, Wesley was a true gentlemen and a scholar bringing his great Irish humor and conscientiousness to make sure our Tour a great success. He was always available for recommendations and to address the needs and concerns a couple may have. The bus driver, Meiko was both very professional and personable. We enjoyed the itinerary for our trip, the hotels, the optional tours and provided meals, with the journey on the Glacier Express a true highlight of our trip. We truly missed traveling with Gate 1 during the pandemic and are already looking into trips for 2023 with Gate 1.
Thomas O.
More than perfect! This trip was very organized and our tour manager Neira is one of the best Gate1travel staff we had! She went beyond her ability to make this vacation an awesome trip experience! This is our 3rd trip through Gate 1 Travel. You guys rock!!! Once again, thank you for your great affordable vacation trip. We're already looking forward to our next trip!
Leonardo L.
Our trip was awesome. Our guide and driver were incredible. She was extremely caring and knowledgeable of the history and significance of each city and site visited. This was our third trip and best with Gate 1. Not only was our trip great, but we bonded with our fellow travelers.We are in process of selecting another vacation with Gate 1.
Louis B.
My wife and I just came back from the 12 Day Classic Baltics with Krakow tour. It was our first tour with Gate 1. It was absolutely a great trip and more than what we had expected. The Tour Manager, Dalija was truly a professional in all aspects of her duties and responsibilities throughout the tour. Several group members and I had to leave for the airport on the departure day at 3 AM and yet she got up and bid farewell to us. That's clearly above and beyond her normal duties. All the local guides that Gate 1 utilized were highly knowledgeable and competent. I am not sure if any tour guides in other regions could be any better than they were. Gate 1 should be commended in hiring such outstanding local guides. Our driver, "Super" Mario, was a highly skilled driver with a very friendly personality who did a great job from the first day to the last, transporting us through 4 countries and five cities. We truly enjoyed our experiences with Gate 1 and looking forward to our next tour with Gate 1! Our thanks to Gate1 for such amazing experiences.
Brian E.
Returned home from Switzerland on July 20. The trip was fabulous owing primarily to the tour director Dennis. He was extremely organized. Have over 2000 pictures of a beautiful country. Hats off to Gate 1!
James L.
Our trip to Germany, Switzerland and Austria was truly a dream come true! It was so incredibly well orchestrated and provided a beautiful balance of tours and free time. Our Tour Guide, Noel, was phenomenal! He made sure everyone felt included, provided relevant history and detail, and customized recommendations for the person. Conrad, our driver, was so skilled driving the large coach! We were impressed time and again! I would highly recommend this trip!
Melissa F.
This was our first Gate 1 trip for my husband Frank and me. We had always heard from my sister how fabulous Gate 1 has been on their trips, but we can't say enough about how great our experience was for our tour through Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. From the moment we met our wonderful tour guide Monique, we knew we were in good hands. Being fluent in six languages, she gave us several common tourist phrases before entering each country. She also gave some great facts about each one, both educational and entertaining! She kept everybody informed about our schedule several times, and she had a printed schedule in the lobby of each hotel to keep us on track. It was like having our mom taking care of all our needs, and always with a sense of fun. We laughed a lot! I had tentatively requested vegan meals, and she personally made sure that happened. She even told me when I should start taking my altitude sickness meds! She was born to do that job, and we would definitely choose our next trip to be on her schedule if possible. Our driver Waldi was also wonderful. We never felt unsafe or not confident in his driving skills. I also have to give a special shout out to Lucia, who was my personal Gate 1 liaison when I became ill two days before we were scheduled to fly home. She made sure our change of transportation took place, and the limo was even paid for by Gate 1. She also made sure I did everything required for our travel insurance claim. Amazingly, I also got a get well fruit plate compliments of Gate 1 sent to our room! Many thanks to all for a much better trip than we even expected, and for making an otherwise difficult situation into a pleasant one! We are sold on Gate 1 and have already told many people about your exceptional service!
Barbara L.
My Classic Switzerland trip was awesome. This was my first Gate 1 trip and I was a solo traveler. The itinerary was terrific. Had something for everyone. Sabine our tour guide was great. Very knowledgeable. Of course the weather played a big part in this trip. Having investigated the weather for each stop beforehand indicated we would have rain, rain, and more rain. We had spectacular weather. Hardly any rain at all. The other travelers were terrific too. If I needed help everyone was more than happy to assist. Always had someone to eat with. Hats off to George and Ginger. They took me under their wings and it was appreciated. This will not be my last Gate 1 trip. Loved everything about your group.
Sandra P.
The trip was great- Justin was the ultimate tour manager- weather was wonderful- and the sites were incomparable. I will most definitely travel with Gate 1 again and I would highly recommend to anyone. This was my first Gate 1 experience and I was extremely impressed.
Maryanne Q.
Amazing trip, went with our friends on our first Gate 1 adventure. Your tour guide Mario is the best guide I could ever have imagined. Knowledgeable about the Baltics and it's rich, rich history culture and sites. Mario had thoughtful treats for us that represents the country we were in (a 'yum' box). We know a lot goes I behind the scenes, ie driver, baggage, comfort stops, local guides and much more. Gate 1 went beyond our expectations!
Michael D.
It was a wonderful tour! Just what I always expect from Gate 1, and why you have all my business. Christina was an exceptional tour manager, and even though Simon (the bus driver) couldn't speak English, I loved his smiles that welcomed us back onto the bus each time. Looking forward to my next tour with Gate 1 - Kenya in October
Kathy A.
My husband and I completed the 12 Day Classic Baltics with Krakow tour. It was a wonderful trip with an excellent tour manager, Leva. She was organized, efficient, educational and fun. She made us feel very welcome and safe. Everywhere we went, the people thanked us for coming and supporting their countries. Our favorites were the stop at the Hill of Crosses in Lithuania, visiting the pilgrimage site in Czestochowa in Poland, the somber visit to Auschwitz and the Wieliczka salt mines in Krakow. A great trip!
Jane D.
This is our first time going on a Gate 1 tour. It exceeded our expectations. The tour was very well organized, from the flights into and out of Europe, the excellent hotels and their location, the local tour guides and the pace of the various sites we visited. Special mention must be made about the tour manager, Dean and Peter, the bus driver from Warsaw, Poland. Dean was excellent and extremely knowledgeable about every place we visited, going out of his way and guiding us on possible activities to do on our free time. He made sure the whole group was comfortable. Peter, whose driving skills were phenomenal, was a true gentleman, taking care of our luggage and distributing water bottles to all the tour members. My wife and I look forward to travelling with Gate 1 tours in the future.
Antonio P.
We had a "fantastic" time!!! Our tour director gave 200% to make our 2 weeks in the Balkans, one to remember!! Sherban is definitely a prime asset for Gate 1! The driver Drakov was fantastic!!! And even though all sites and restaurants were great ...the wine tasting at Stobi and our dinner Artigiano in Tirana were by far the best I've ever had!!! Thank you for giving me the opportunity for this wonderful vacation!!
Jean S.
As a person that has done 27 Gate 1 tours, I just returned from the 14 Day Majestic Balkans tour. I had already been to Romania and Bulgaria on a previous Gate 1 trip, but I still wanted to see Albania and N. Macedonia. The Majestic Balkans tour was fantastic in every way!! We had 15 amazing people in the group, along with our AWESOME tour guide, Serban. Serban was so knowledgeable about the history of each country, and he even spoke several different languages. He had a great sense of humor, a real LOVE for his job, a sincere concern that we were all safe and having fun, tons of energy, a connection with every personality in the group, and so much more!! The tour was full of historical facts and ruins, along with the modern day versions of each country. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone that would like to learn about, and experience, Romania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Albania. I truly hope that you get Serban as your tour guide too. :)
Joan M.
What a great adventure. This was our first Gate 1 trip due to COVID cancelling 2 Christmas Market tours and i can say it was the best trip i have taken. Gate 1 took care of everything. Great dinners and hotels. Our guide Claire was so knowledgeable and had a vast knowledge of all areas and had lived in many countries. Our trips and guides provided an excellent over view and we had just enough time to venture out on our own. You cannot beat the ease of these trips or the cost. This is an extreme value that most people cannot understand unless they try a trip with you guys. So happy we have a trip already books for 2 weeks in 3 months. Cant wait see you then Gate 1. Salute to all of you there from the booking agents to the flight folks and the actual boots on the ground the guides and coach drivers you all are top notch.
Vincent R.
I have traveled quite a bit, but I have to say, this was by far the best trip I've been on. Our Director Julian was outstanding. He made us comfortable, made sure we were always together and safe. He deserves a medal and a raise. He is one of the nicest persons ever. We all loved Julian and Conrad our bus driver. Kudos to them, our trip will definitely be one of the most memorable for years to come. Thank you. I will be traveling more with gate1.
Odein S.
WOW !! What a fantastic trip. Even with , or maybe because of Covid restrictions Gate 1 pulled off the Best Christmas Market tour EVER ! Our tour manager Thomas from initial greeting at the hotel till the final night was the picture of friendliness, punctuality, working with each and every obstacle as nothing more than a ripple in the Rhine. For having to adjust to new places , new driver and 13 new friends we had a Great time! Thank you so much for your knowledge, the sincerity, your stories AND all those bus goodies !! If we could pick the pair to travel with again it would be Thomas and Pavlo!
Kent W.
Our tour guide for the Alpine Christmas Markets was Thomas and I cannot say enough good things about him. It was extremely challenging with the Covid requirements changing daily and sometimes twice within the same day. He was constantly on top of this, checking what was required of us. He was able to get all of our U.S. CDC Covid vaccination cards converted to a European printout with a QR code which was required for every place that we entered. We were later led to believe that only EU people were supposed to have this. Having it, though, made our travels and entry to events so much easier. He also made sure that everyone had the required tests. I had to take three but there were others who had to take five and he stayed on top of every bit of this. I had to have a 24-hour negative test that was later than the others in the group and he personally walked me to the facility that evening and then helped when I was having trouble registering due to my phone. He was also intelligent, fun, and very well organized. Thomas is definitely a "keeper."
Ellen M.
I would like to extend my graciously thank you to Kayo, our tour manager for a wonderful Christmas market trip in Berlin, Prague and Krakow during this difficult pandemic time. Kayo is thoughtful and a good planner to attend the minute details of the needs for all our group members so that we are worry free and just to enjoy our long waited vacation. Our diver, Cashmir, kudos to his absolutely superb driving skills who brings us swirling through the narrow streets in Prague square. Unbelievable! Hat tip to Cashmir. I seriously couldn't think of anything that Kayo could do better than what he already did for us under the current circumstances and limitations. Thanks for giving us such a memorable Christmas market trip and we made some new friends too.
Hayley L.
Our trip really could not have been any better. Any superlatives are inadequate to describe how good the trip was. All of the sights, hotels and restaurants were terrific. Our tour guide Nikola was absolutely the best we have ever encountered, and any tour guide in the future will have to go a long way to measure up to Nikola. His knowledge of all of the countries along with his energy, enthusiasm and sense of humor made the trip very pleasant for all of the group. He is a real asset to the Gate 1 organization. Also kudos to our driver Michael; he maneuvered our bus with professional expertise throughout the small serpentine roads of the 4 countries. This was our first Discovery tour, and in one word it was fabulous.
John C.
Our tour leader, Jolanta P., was truly wonderful ! She was very helpful, caring, informative, and kept our group on track. She went above and beyond by providing us with maps, things to do, and local history, as well as providing treats to sample. This was a good tour, but Jolanta made it great ! Our bus driver, Andrej, was very skilled at operating the coach, and saved our group time by taking alternate routes when we encountered delays.
Mark R.
We were seriously hyped to make a trip during Covid-times. We specifically selected Switzerland to visit as a single, safe, superior, expensive country. Also, that major attractions are outdoors, free from Covid risk. Still, we were again seriously concerned about getting there dodging a phalanx of regulatory travel obstacles, and once there, how we would manage the bureaucracy of national medical rules. But, after the initial indoctrination of procedures by our trusted travel guide, Fred and seeing how easily we guests adapted, t'was smooth sailing on placid Swiss lakes and down-skiing on incredible snow-capped Alps. What makes a tour of like this successful? For us: Obtaining a memorable impression of places during the limited time available. This tour succeeded excellently, a quick and spare overview of Switzerland. Our most wonderful surprises: the beauty of mountains and valleys, the power of money and industrialization. Our companions were uniformly a very experienced group which made our travels all the more stimulating. The tour guide is key to obtaining a rapid cultural impression. Our very experienced guide was Fred (from neighboring Austria), an exceedingly personable retired-CEO who was a fountain of understandable history and geography enroute. For the safety and security of guests, he conscientiously repeated instructions and directions to shepherd us during peregrinations. Regarding planning, we luckily benefited from rare perfect weather, especially in the mountains, and from strategically located, superior hotels selected for us by Gate1. The number and quality of included meals were just right. I missed museums we normally visit. But wake-me-up! In Switzerland it's the mountains and nature that are de-rigeur! Riding the bus was a minor disadvantage, required to transport us from place to place, but was such delight to enjoy the beauty of the passing valleys, mountains, sky, lakes and scenery. A surprising aspect of this swift journey is how small Switzerland really is... we covered a mere 1100km or 680 miles during our sighting of 9 locales. Perfect tours are those you perfect yourself. For us this 10-day excursion succeeded as a gem of an overview of Switzerland. We will travel with Gate1 again.
Tibor K.
I had a marvelous time on the 12 Day Classic Romania tour 9/16-9/27. Both our guide Iuliana and our driver Radu were amazing. Iuliana was upbeat, knowledgeable and caring; I enjoyed her sense of humor and the stories she shared with us. I am very glad Radu was driving and not me on those curvy mountain roads! He also had an excellent command of the English language and was very friendly and willing to engage with all of the tourists. You have wonderful ambassadors for Gate1 in these two, and I hope you appreciate them as they deserve to be.
Regina S.
It was amazing voyage. As always Gate 1 provided excellent service. Monique, our tour guide made sure we were all safe. She and our bus driver Irene provided outstanding service. As always, I'd like to say thank you to Gate 1. You guys are amazing. We are looking forward to traveling with you, as long as we are going to travel. That was our 25th trip, looking for at least 25 more.
Regina R
We had a great trip to Prague. Beautiful city and great beer. Our hotel through Gate 1 was nice and located next to the oldest brew pub in the city that was established in 1499. We got lucky with the weather, it was in the 40s-50s. Great trip at a very good price.
Steve P. Lansing, MI
Dan and I really enjoyed the trip. The cruise boat was clean and inviting. Loren was always informative and helpful to all of the group on the tours in each city stop. The crew on the boat was wonderful made sure all passengers were comfortable. The chef and kitchen staff were great serving the perfect portion of tasty food. We had a great and relaxing time. Would recommend this to friends and family.
Regina M. Lillian, AL
We loved the experience, and Julian, our tour manager, was AMAZING! Cannot say enough great things about him and how organized and knowledgeable he was throughout the entire trip! This is my third time with Gate 1 and was yet again, a successful trip! It was our honeymoon and the way this was organized was perfect for us and still allowed for plenty of free time. My husband was very impressed and we are already starting to plan our next Gate 1 getaway!!
Abby L. Gilbert, AZ
It was awesome and totally exceeded our expectations. Noel is a real asset to your company always congenial, patient and full of knowledge. Have been recommending Gate 1 to all of my friends and several are looking to plan trips with you! Thanks again for this most wonderful experience.
Katherine D. Miami, FL
We had a great time! Loved Budapest and Prague. Hotels were great. Good that it’s close to bus and trains. We took advantage of them. My phone calls with your staff were always pleasant conversations and they always took care of my needs in a timely manner. I’m very impressed and would definitely use Gate 1 again. We got you through Groupon. Keep the prices affordable! Thank You Gate 1!
Jean D. Gainesville, FL
The Swiss Alpine Jewels trip was wonderful and so scenic. We really enjoyed ourselves and pleased with what we saw, stayed, and the schedule. This tour exceeded our expectations in general, but even more so because of our Tour Director, Dennis, who was above & beyond his expected or required duties.
Bill B. Burlington, NC
The trip was wonderful. Noel was amazing and took such good care of all of us. The rooms, the tours, the knowledge Noel had for his country and for Europe. The local tour guides and the introduction to their towns and the history lessons were fantastic. The bus driver was patient and kind. He kept that bus so clean and kept us all safe. Good job Gate 1!!
Linda J. Lakeside, CA
The Germany, Switzerland and Austria trip was our 15th trip with Gate 1 Travel. Our tour manager Noel was by far one of the best. He was friendly and professional. He commanded control of the group from day one. He stressed safety repeatedly throughout the trip. He gave us plenty of information for each country without overwhelming us. He was able to create harmony among the group, which allowed the tour to be very enjoyable.
John W. Rancho Cucamonga, CA
We had a wonderful trip and enjoyed the experience. Our tour manager, Lidia, was wonderful. Her easy manner and smiling face made the hassle of early mornings and busy schedules worth the effort. This was our first Gate One tour, but, because of Lidia, probably not our last. Additionally, our bus driver, Andrew, was friendly, helpful and an expert in his field.
Steve H. Athens, TN