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.

Tour manager Siobhan was amazing. She personalized everyone's trip by connecting with each individual and making comments/recommendations relevant to their situations. Her knowledge and local insight were so appreciated by everyone in the group. Her special added touches each day were such treats each day! Her preparation and up-front communication left no guessing for the group. She was able to pivot seamlessly if required and always made sure everyone was comfortable and satisfied. We would recommend Siobhan to anyone who has an opportunity to cross her path in the future.

I wanted to drop a quick comment about Alina, our restaurant manager on our river boat cruise. She worked so hard to make sure I got an allergy free meal at every meal! She also made sure that there was a variety of meals. I was so impressed with what an excellent job she did. I wanted to let you know ow so other passengers with severe food allergies and celiac don't have to worry about it. The rest of the cruise staff was wonderful! I can't wait to go on another Gate1 River cruise.

My husband and I recently returned from one of your tours, and we wanted to express our sincere gratitude for the wonderful experience. Our guide, Dennis, distinguished himself as one of the finest we have ever encountered during our many years of international travel. Dennis was warm, welcoming, and consistently professional. His deep knowledge, punctuality, and attentive accommodations elevated the trip to a truly memorable level. We appreciated his friendly manner, his ability to share rich cultural and historical context, and his flexibility with the group's needs. As business owners ourselves, we recognize and value what it takes to maintain a high standard of service. Dennis is clearly a standout asset to your team - someone who reflects the very best of Gate 1. Thanks to Dennis's exemplary guidance, we will absolutely be choosing Gate 1 for our future travels. Please pass along our sincere thanks and commendation to him.

Thank you very much. We enjoyed the vacation tremendously. The Cruise Director Melissa was very professional, caring, gracious and fun, I loved the daily treats she provided to the whole group. Laura, in charge for guests activities, was also so humorous and pleasant! All the staff on board were super accurate and polite. We found the quality of the meals on board above our expectations, also there was a lot of variety and everything was nicely presented, with a prompt, attentive service. The cabin suite we booked was spacious, very clean, very comfortable. I loved looking at the banks of the Seine passing before my eyes, while I was comfortably laying on my bed. The activities were perfectly organized, the pace was smooth, relaxed, and yet rich and diverse: just what I needed. It's been a wonderful trip, I already suggested it to friends and colleagues.

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!

We had a fabulous time on our trip through Gate1 Travel to Germany & Austria for the Christmas Markets. It is hard to say what part of the trip was our favorite as each destination was great and had such unique and special things! Our tour Manager Michael was phenomenal - so knowledgeable and kind and funny as well. He made us feel so comfortable and was always willing to help in any way. He was natural at making us feel like our group of 41 people was family and friends! He is such an asset to your organization! All our hotels were nice and clean and comfortable! I would not change a thing about our trip. We will be repeat customers

I wanted to express our sincere appreciation for the work of our guide, Carina. She was absolutely wonderful in every way. Her friendliness, enthusiasm, knowledge, preparation, and ability to adjust to different circumstances helped my wife and I (and all in our tour group) maximize our understanding and insight to sites we visited. We were very, very fortunate to have her as our guide and I hope she is recognized for her efforts. Thank you for your time and consideration.

It was a great experience! Ana our tour coordinator was fantastic, took really good care of each member of our group! Antonio our bus driver was an expert driver able to weave through narrow streets and ensured our safety on the road as well. Local tour guides were outstanding too!

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.

From the moment we arrived at the hotel (a day early), Maevon was there to greet us, make us feel welcome, and provided us with an information packet on the local area as well as a few immediate restaurant recommendations, which we gratefully used. Maevon went 'above and beyond' from that first meeting to make sure we all were well-informed, comfortable and happy with each day events, meals and lodging. He even included extra information and some of his hand-drawn maps which I will keep as special mementoes of our trip and for future reference. We have never had a tour guide who continually checked with each group member on how things were each day, and sincerely cared about our enjoyment, learning and comfort on the trip. We know that wherever in the world it is, if Maevon is guiding, it will be a stellar and fun travel experience!

Our trip was fantastic! Our first discovery tour and we will do it again. Our tour manager, Gilles, was great! He was very knowledgeable, gave us directions for getting the most out of each location, taught us French, sang for us. We were a very friendly group of really nice people, and I had the feeling he enjoyed us as much as we enjoyed him! We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves every day! Our driver, Antonio, was terrific too. Thank you for leaving us with many nice memories of our trip.

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.

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!

I just returned from a Seine River cruise with Paris and London extensions . Kate was the tour director and she was amazing! She's a true professional, but does it all with a fantastic sense of humor. She really maximized my enjoyment of this fantastic trip. Well done !

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.