Our group on the 9 day tour of the French Riviera was very fortunate to have Sondrive as our Tour Director and Guide. Sondrine is outgoing, intelligent, competent, friendly, resourceful, sympathetic and very well organized. Her sparking personality exhibits her concern for EVERY person in her group and she wants all to be happy and enjoying the trip. She goes out of her make to ensure satisfaction for everyone. Her knowledge of the history of the Cote D'Azur was quite extensive and her stories quite amusing. She even sang French songs for us. Sondrine was a totally delightful person to lead our French Riviera trip. My wife and I would be very pleased if she could lead us on a Gate One Tour of Provence (Please let us know if that situation occurs). We found Sondrine to be the Tour Director Extraordinaire! We would also like you to know about our extreme satisfaction with Gate One Travel. We had been set to travel on Tuesday, July 21. On Monday, July 20, we received a text from United Airlines, telling us that, because of severe expected weather, we should try to travel a day earlier. We called Gate One, were asked to hold on, and within 10 minutes we were give our new ticket numbers and seats. When we arrived in Nice the following morning, we received a phone call from Gate One, telling us that they would secure a room for us for the extra night and that they would call us back. They did call us back, gave us the name and address of the hotel (West End) and tiold us that a room had been secured for us in spite of the crowded conditions in the city due to Jazz Concert. We are very impressed with the superior service provided to us by Gate One Travel. Thank you for your efforts over the years.

The driver Vasco is an extremely talented professional who kept us safe and rolling smoothly in a timely manner. The bus was in an immaculate condition each day. Our tour manager, Craig, is the best of the best! He is an organized, generous and knowledgeable host and I can't say enough good things about him! He made our trip so special, providing tremendous insights into the history and modern life of the towns we visited. He provided useful maps and information about each town, so our leisure time never felt like a wasted opportunity. Craig provided gifts, numerous bites (candy, baked goods) and tastings (wines, fruits and experiences (extra stops not on the itinerary, a party filled with champagne and charcuterie tastings), as well as entertainment (jokes, games, music, contests), that added to the harmony of the group and made for fun, authentic experiences. Having been on 7 other Gate 1 tours, I can honestly say he was the best tour manager I've ever encountered. I truly appreciate how hard he worked to provide clear communication and resolve problems. He went far above and beyond to provide extra experiences and treats that made our trip so unique and so much more enjoyable. Out of a scale of 5, he truly is 10!

Both our bus drive (David) and tour guide (Arthur) were excellent. David is an extremely skillful driver, navigating the bus through narrow roads and sometimes tough driving conditions. He was very helpful and always thought ahead of our needs such as delivering our luggage to the hotel while we were on a local tour which shortened the time to check in. Arthur was extremely knowledgeable about each town and its history. He answered every question with enthusiasm and with pertinent background information. He kept us on schedule and accommodated our individual needs and special requests. He was very friendly and well organized. He and David even devoted their off-hours one evening to playing tennis with some members of the tour group. They were the best driver/tour guide combination that we have ever experienced on our travels.

It was wonderful and Julien was the perfect tour host! He was kind, knowledgeable, funny and told interesting stories. We all loved him! He gets 5 out of 5 stars in my book!!!

My first Stay & Explore tour was fantastic. I loved having the freedom to do whatever I wanted in the evenings/dinners and staying put in one wonderful hotel in the center of everything in Nice was a dream come true.

This was such an excellent trip I now call it the Trip of a Lifetime! All my scores of Excellent were so entirely correct. Whoever hired Nad, Brad, Rudi in the dining area, and Ivan in housekeeping also gets a score of excellent. I have made several other cruises from other companies, but this 9 Day Seine River cruise with Gate 1 Travel was absolutely the best cruise I have ever experienced. Strange to say, but when I hugged Bart goodbye I felt love. Every meal with Rudi was also served by love. We were a party of 9 and all of us treasured experience!

My husband and I recently had the pleasure of embarking on the 12 Day Lyon & Paris journey with a 6 Day Burgundy Barge Cruise on MS Daniele. It was truly a journey to remember. From the moment we stepped on board, we were warmly welcomed by the exceptional crew who went above and beyond to ensure our comfort and joy throughout the trip. Vincent, Christopher, An, Alexis, Margo, and Lazslo created a warm and inviting atmosphere. They made us feel like part of their family. The tour manager, Patrisia, was exceptional, demonstrating professionalism and genuine concern for our group. Always ready to assist with questions, provide valuable insights into the destinations we visited, and ensure that everything ran seamlessly, her dedication truly enhanced our experience. Our dining experience on the MS Daniele during the 6 Day Burgundy Barge Cruise was simply magnificent! Each meal was a masterpiece of flavors, expertly prepared and beautifully presented Overall, the combination of outstanding cuisine, a cozy ambiance, and exceptional service enhanced our Burgundy Barge Cruise experience to new levels. A heartfelt thank you to the dedicated crew for making each day memorable.

I just want to praise our tour manager Ragia. She was very knowledgeable about everywhere we visited. She had answers for every question we had. Gate 1 has a gem in Ragia please do not let her go, she is a keeper!! We would not hesitate to travel with Gate 1 again.

I wanted to say that our Guide Craig exceeded my expectations. He was personable and answered any questions we might have. He was very organized from the time we met in our hotel in Paris until we left Nice. His knowledge of the culture and history of France and the towns we visited was excellent. Craig kept us informed on where we were going and times to meet and depart our various locations. Craig surprised us several times with small gifts like buying everyone gelato at one location. We could not have asked for better guide. I would be surprised if anyone in our travel group did not give him an outstanding review. Would love to have as a guide in a future Gate 1 travel!!

Our Tour Manger, Gwen, was absolutely fantastic! She went above and beyond to ensure we got the most out of our trip. I can't say enough good about her. Our bus driver, Yannick, was also excellent. He ensured our safety and was very familiar with everywhere we went. He is super friendly and enjoys his job. In addition, at First Name Hotel, Alexis was outstanding!

This was our first time traveling with Gate 1. We completely enjoyed our trip! Evan was a welcoming, informative, attentive, responsive, and fun tour guide! We are already looking at destinations for another trip. Thank you for everything.

My family of five joined the 14-day Classic France tour at the end of May, and it was truly the best tour we have ever had with Gate 1. In just 12 days, we traveled more than 3,000 km, visited 18 cities across two countries, and enjoyed five wonderful wine, champagne, and cognac tastings. The itinerary was fantastic and allowed us to experience many of the most beautiful and diverse regions of France in a relatively short time. Julian, our tour manager, was outstanding. He kept the trip running smoothly and at a very comfortable pace each day. Along the journey, he introduced us to delicious local dishes and desserts and shared fascinating insights about both the history and modern life of France. He even kindly provided me with a list of additional cities in France to consider for future visits, which we really appreciated. We were equally impressed by Rui, our driver. His driving skills on the narrow roads were remarkable, and we always felt safe and well taken care of. This tour exceeded our expectations and gave our family unforgettable memories. We highly recommend it to anyone who wants to experience the highlights of France in a well-organized and enjoyable way.

What a fantastic trip we had. Adoram was professional, witty, intelligent, super helpful, respectful, and fun! He made everyone in our group feel comfortable. When there were problems, he was right there to help resolve them. He was patient with the group, was observant to our needs and likes, and he was overall the best tour guide I've ever encountered. His enthusiasm for "A Tale of Two Cities' was contagious, he entertained and educated us with historical references and art history. His love for what he does shone through all his presentations. Thank you Adoram!!

Ana is a superb tour manager. While we have had several wonderful tour managers in the past, Ana was one of the best. We highly recommend her! She was always very positive, helpful, and professional ..

Our trip on the Monarch Countess was incredible. We did not feel like we were on a commercial vessel. We felt like we were valued guests in someone's home. The crew was like a family that embraced us a member. We felt more like family than customers. This attitude spread to the passengers that embraced each other in the same way. Many thanks to our dining room servers Zhvigo and Marieta that memorized our preferences and made sure we always had what we needed. It was easy to talk to them as friends. Ciccio was the perfect person for his position. His boyish enthusiasm was very infectious and made us want to participate in all the fun. Bart was very organized and kept us worry free during our time with him. It felt good to know that he was in charge and so dependable that we didn't have to worry about anything. The Captain Pasqual was amazing. He projected security in his control of the ship and crew, but could also be approachable to the guests. We loved that he was willing to join in the fun by playing the harmonica, singing and dancing with us. So much fun! One of the highlights of the cruise for sure. We really appreciated Carmen coming and silently cleaning our cabin whenever we were gone. She kept things well stocked and we never ran out of anything. I really liked the presentation of the crew at the farewell dinner. It gave us the opportunity to actually see all those behind the scenes workers that made our vacation such a joy. I think that this recognition also helped them to feel valued by Gate 1 contributed to the feeling of family that they passed on to us.

My mom and I enjoyed our first ever cruise. The Monarch Countess truly felt like home for a week (and had one of the comfiest beds/pillows I've ever had!). The crew and staff were so friendly and efficient, and cruise director Kate and activity director Nad were absolute gems. The variety and quality of food was wonderful. Our highlights of the itinerary were the Van Gogh sites in Auvers and Monet's garden in Giverny. We enjoyed our cruise along the Seine with Gate 1!

Anne was an exceptional tour manager. She provided written information with maps on the places we would visit. I took notes on them, which helps me remember my trip even more. We squeezed a lot of towns into our tour. Anne went the extra mile always with her suggestions, printed info, and her general friendly and helpful demeanor. Our group was a great group and many of us exchanged information and photos because of the great time we had together. Anne was a large part of the success of our cohesiveness. I would recommend that people ask for her as their tour manager.

We had a great time on this, our 18th Gate 1 tour. Everything went according to plan. The days were packed with activity and things to see. Our Tour Manager, Liz, was exceptional. She kept our group of 22 moving and created harmony among us. We all got along fine and this contributed to the enjoyment. Looking forward to our next trip with Gate 1 in August.

I just wanted to comment on our tour manager, Robby. He is truly one of your jewels! He knows the region so well and it was evident in all of our touring days how much he cares that we have a good time, get to know the area, and also tells us where the rest rooms are! He made everything so easy for all of us, was friendly, and made suggestions for our leisure time and for restaurants in the area. This was truly a wonderful trip getting to meet some new people and traveling with this fun group. And he provided tips when entering each area so there were minimal surprises. Robby is a great problem solver, and really made it possible for all of us to see and experience all that northern France has to offer.

Unsure of what to expect, we were quickly put at ease by Armelle . I'm sure there is a limit to the number of characters in this reply - it could never be enough to say how wonderful she was as tour manager. First, her passion for us, her clients - wanting to ensure we had an exceptional experience (we did). Second her love of all things French came through with each opportunity to explore. For example, on our bus rides she made sure we had a comfort stop mid way and that we could check out the French truck stops. Great shopping for unique things. While on these rides she would prepare us for our destination and then would field questions from tour participants on virtually any French subject - bread, cheese, how France is divided into departments, regions, etc - and what was special about those areas. Empathetic, graceful - never one to play favorites. She made us all feel as if we were the only tour members. Would we recommend Armelle as Tour Manager - in a heartbeat. Not to forget Alexander our bus driver - dedicated, safety conscious, upbeat. He also wanted to ensure our comfort, safety and that we had an excellent experience. In summary - a most excellent experience.

Our Barge cruise in France was wonderful. TM Milissa was very good. The added side trip to Dijon was spectacular. Please add it to the itinerary as we thought it was one of the best parts of the trip. The whole barge cruise concept is wonderful and wish Gate 1 would add more barge itineraries. Thank you!

I would like to call to your attention the absolute wonderfulness of our tour leader, Michele. She enhanced every aspect of the tour and truly transformed it into a lifetime event: besides being incredibly knowledgeable and superbly organized, she exuded a warmth and friendliness, and sense of caring that elevated our group experience into almost feeling like family. Besides being extraordinarily knowledgeable, She was attentive to every group member and simply seem to generate a sense of warmth and caring that was noticed by every tour member. She should not only be highly commended, her skills would truly be a wonderful role model for other guides - I would highly recommend to you that you consider her not just as a role model, but as an instructor for other guides

I would like to call to your attention the absolute wonderfulness of our tour leader, Michele. She enhanced every aspect of the tour and truly transformed it into a lifetime event: besides being incredibly knowledgeable and superbly organized, she exuded a warmth and friendliness, and sense of caring that elevated our group experience into almost feeling like family. Besides being extraordinarily knowledgeable, She was attentive to every group member and simply seem to generate a sense of warmth and caring that was noticed by every tour member. She should not only be highly commended, her skills would truly be a wonderful role model for other guides - I would highly recommend to you that you consider her not just as a role model, but as an instructor for other guides

We had never heard of you until this trip when a group of friends invited us to join. My husband and I are very impressed with the quality of the tour. Craig, the tour manager, was excellent on every aspect of the trip. The tour bus driver, Ruiz, was attentive and friendly besides being a super skilled driver. We couldn't vouch for anyone, but the pace was perfect for us. We learned so much that could only be done by being there. This overview of France makes us want to explore some spots more in depth. Gate 1 will be on the top spot of our Rolodex when it comes to travel.

Totally unexpected luxury and pampering while floating past picturesque villages with occasional stops at stunning chateaux for wine tastings in antique wine cellars. I have taken many Discovery tours around the world, and this was cut above! Consider the barge cruise as close as one can have to a private boat with staff of six, including a private chef whose three meals a day, fine wines included, were maybe better than any you would find in the Burgundy area. The boat had an excellent cruise director who worked hand in hand with Ana, perhaps the best tour director I have ever had on dozens of guided trips. This is not a tour for one who wants to see a gloss of the main sites of France. It is for the discerning traveler who wants to wander into small towns, cities, and markets with knowledgeable local guides, drink fine wines, and let the gentle drift of the canal and surroundings wash away any stress.

It was wonderful! Arthur, our Travel Guide, did a fantastic job with the group. He was organized, enthusiastic, and knew so much about the history of France. The weather was great. Never rained. Hotel accommodations and food were excellent! Everyone in the group got along so well and helped each other all the time.

We are just back from our Nine Day Seine River Cruise on the Monarch Countess. In one word, phenomenal. Bartel, the cruise director, was great. Ciccio was the highlight of the whole cruise. Engaging, funny, entertaining and creative. Ciccio was the absolute best. Tony, the bar waiter, was super friendly and always smiling. Our servers in the dining room, Andrei and Zhivo, were first class. They treated us like royalty. Always having a great conversation with them. Mercedes, our housekeeper, was so, so friendly. Our room was immaculate every day. Nico, the Maître D was so helpful with our friends who always had special food requests.

Wanted to tell you of the exceptional service provided by our tour manager Ana in my recent tour of France. Beyond the usual greetings and information sharing, she was attentive to each member of the tour and asked on a regular basis what she could do to make our tour more successful. When a small issue was mentioned, she immediately worked to fix the problem. It was a lovely trip handled well by an informed and kind manager Good one Gate One!!

What a great and informative trip! Once again, you have exceeded our expectations!!!! Craig was very professional yet still fun! He was very knowledgeable about the places with visited - we all commented that we needed him as our history teacher!

My trip was wonderful! The staff on the ship was beyond exceptional. Carmen was a hoot, and Nod was such a positive energetic leader! We all had a great time!!

I couldn't let an opportunity pass without providing feedback about our Tour Director, Adoram. There were many seasoned travelers in our group, and we all agreed he was heads and shoulders above any tour director we've ever had. He was so personable, knowledgeable, caring and organized. It made this the best trip I've had in a very long time. He speaks so highly of Gate 1. He is a great representation of your company. He is someone who clearly loves what he does for a living and that shines through in everything he does. I feel spoiled for any future tours. This was my first trip with Gate 1. Thank you for a wonderful experience.

Our guide Craig was excellent. He was charming, funny, and was very concerned about our safety and that we had a good time. Our group was good overall, and we tried to meet everyone in the group either through an excursion or a meal. We had a blast on this trip- it was tiring as I signed up for every tour imaginable, but I wanted to see as much as we could in the little time, we were there. Mission accomplished! I am already looking at another trip for next year and will recommend Gate 1 Travel to everyone that I meet!

We had a wonderful trip. Hats off to Gate 1 Travel! I commend your office because everything is so organized, well planned and well-coordinated. Everything went smoothly from beginning till the end. I only have good words to say about our experience with Gate 1 Travel. Even the customer service is impressive... polite, knowledgeable and friendly. Thank you for the wonderful experience. Gate 1 Travel is highly recommendable.

Wanted to praise our tour guide Adoram. He was well informed, had a great demeanor and made sure all of us were aware of the daily plan and that he was there for us.

The Affordable France trip was excellent. Our tour manager, Craig, did a very good job "herding" our group to keep us on schedule and providing excellent background information for the sites we visited. There were too many highlights to discuss, but the emotions felt at the American Cemetery and Craig's planning so we might experience the lowering of our flag was certainly one. That and Mont St. Michel were the 2 must sees on my list. However, the walking tour in Bayeaux was an unexpected joy. The local guide was delightful. And the grandeur and complexity of the Apocalypse Tapestry was amazing. The opulence of the chateaus Chenonceau and d'Amboise contrasted with the simplicity of the unfurnished interior of Chambord. And how can I even begin to express the emotions experienced at the Notre Dame of Chartres. It is magnificent. While we were unable to visit the interior of Notre Dame Paris due to an unforeseen interpretation of Gate 1 policy, my memory of an earlier visit there says it would pale in comparison. Overall, the itinerary was very good. I would have liked more time in some locations, but the time we had was very well managed.

Ava, our trip to London and Paris was absolutely amazing! We had great weather while we were there, saw so many beautiful sights, and our guide, Corena, was just delightful! We did think that this trip had much more downtime than previous tours with Gare 1 that we had to search for local guides and tours. We love Gate 1 for that very reason that you usually offer so many side tours and options, but London and Paris especially just was teaming with historic places that we had to find our own way around. But we did manage. Both cities were gobsmacking beautiful!!

Best trip ever. Everything was flawless and our guide and driver were FANTASTIC. Huge shout-out to both. I want to also say that the hotels were also great. Especially St-Malo. We just loved everything and can't wait to book another soon.

managed; the accommodations were comfortable; the food excellent. We had already gone on Viking's comparable tour, and that paled in comparison. What also sets this tour apart was someone named Craig. If you check, you'll know this was not our first Gate 1 tour, and we have found all your tour guides terrific-but Craig is in a class by himself. He managed to make what would have been a delightful three-dimensional tour of Paris and the countryside into a multi-dimensional extravaganza. This speaks volumes about his intelligence, wealth of knowledge, creativity, patience, concern, and humor. But most of all, it speaks to his generosity, which was evident everywhere and in abundance

Our trip was fantastic. Our tour director Khristiene is the reason. She did everything and was always there for us. Being in an unfamiliar country can be stressful but Khristiene took the stress out of all of it. My husband and I will travel again with Gate 1 because of this unforgettable vacation. Please pass our satisfaction onto Gate 1 management because Khristiene deserves recognition for a job well done.

Elsa was magnificent....Very knowledgeable & caring. Her #1 priority was for us to have a great & safe trip. Went very far above her call of duty. Elsa made "special" arrangements for my Son & me to visit my Uncle's grave in Normandy. To deliver his purple heart to him. Elsa has a way of making a person feel sooo special & comfortable. Every time I would visit .....I would want Elsa to be on my team to be my guide.

This is our second tour with Gate 1, as expected, we were not disappointed, we had an amazing time. The itinerary was fabulous, fun excursions with enough free time on our own to enjoy the areas we were in. Unfortunately, the optional tour to Palace of Versailles was not available. We explored beautiful sites (Mont St Michel and Normandy just to name a few) and got to see all the beautiful Christmas decorations everywhere we go. The hotels we stayed in often feature exceptional staff, great amenities and perfect location. During our stayed at St Malo, we got a large room with beautiful, nice ocean view. We were thrilled. We will join Gate 1 again and would recommend Gate 1 to anyone interested.

I wanted to take moment to express how exceptionally pleased we all were with Adoram as our tour guide. Adoram was not only extremely knowledgeable of every destination, but he was also very much in touch with the diversity and inclusion of the group. He spoke & approached everyone with the level of consideration and respect that was appreciated & truly necessary. In my opinion, and others, it was Adoram that made this tour so exceptional! He is amazing.

What a great trip! Janine was one of the best tour managers I have ever had with Gate 1--knowledgeable, sincere, humorous, enthusiastic, organized--and the list goes on. Every day she would share a special drink or goodie that brought the region to life in a more personal way, making the trip truly special, as well as treating us to wine with our meals. She and our driver, Roman, were a great team, taking wonderful care of all of us. Clone that tour manager! :)

This is feedback about our recent 9-day trip to France. What really added to the total experience was the little things that occurred. Right after we got off the bus the first day in Paris to walk toward Norte Dame - the bells started ringing on the nine O'clock hour. At Monmarte a local choir group sang Christmas carols while marching through the area. On the way back to the hotel that night Edo had our bus driver stop across the river from the Eiffel Tower right before it started sparkling with lights at 9pm At the cemetery in Normandy we were there at 4pm when they played taps through their loudspeakers and lowered the American flags for the day. Perhaps one of these was just happenstance but the others were perfectly planned to enhance our enjoyment and experience. Thank you for these simple but special touches.

The travel through the Seine River was fantastic. Starting in Amsterdam with our travel guide Kristina we experienced a new part of Holland and Brussels going to Edam then on to Bruges. She was knowledgeable, adding her expertise to the beautiful area. After arriving in Paris to meet our ship Monarch Countess we visited Normandy then back to the ship to sail the Seine with travel manager Kate and our entertainment host Nad. What a duo!! The ship and crew were top notch. Overall, the 15-day excursion met all our expectations.