Both Amaia (Bilbao) and Carmen (Puerto Banus) were very friendly, organized, helpful, and had excellent knowledge of the region. They made the tours entertaining and enlightening. I would gladly travel with either of them again. Local guides were uniformly excellent. Augun and Marina; Andres and Lourdes provided much useful and interesting information. They were also entertaining and kept everyone engaged. Our drivers, Vicente and Juan, were friendly, skilled, and safe. They were eager to help out whenever needed. Overall it was an excellent experience. I love the Stay-and-Explore format.

I was very impressed by our tour director Eva. She was always, energetic, helpful, kind and had a great sense of humor. She made the trip special and would definitely take another gate 1 cruise with her as tour director. I would like to give special compliment to Manuel who always made sure we had what we needed in the dining room and always had almond milk for me during breakfast. I would like to give special mention for Bruno our local tour guide that made the excursions more interesting and fun. We took his tour bus most of the time.

I recently returned from the trip which included the El Camino Walk in Spain, ending in Portugal. The trip was absolutely wonderful and I would highly recommend it for those who like to be active. Our Tour Managers, Gonzolo and Ruben were fantastic. They were able to make our group cohesive and even with the miles of walking, still laugh and learn at the same time. I really can't speak highly enough of them. Although I've been on probably 6 or so trips with Gate 1, this has to be at the top of the list. The group of people were lovely, the food and drink was amazing and the side tours were perfect. Thank you for a wonderful 10 days!

It was an amazing trip to a country so rich in history, culture, and beautiful architecture. We were amazed by the magnificent and intricately designed palaces, as well as the breathtaking cathedrals that are almost impossible to describe in words. The roadsides were beautifully clean and well maintained, and endless rows of olive trees stretched across the countryside. Our local guides were also very knowledgeable and professional, which made the trip even more enjoyable and meaningful. It was truly an unforgettable and amazing trip!

My trip to Spain and Portugal was awesome! Luis, our tour guide, made sure every experience we had in each city visited and on the extra tours was memorable. He was knowledgeable, had a kind heart and assisted not only my traveling companion and me but everyone on the trip if anything happened that needed extra attention. He was the best tour guide ever!! The tour bus was comfortable, clean, nice and new! How wonderful to ride on a Tour bus touting the Gate 1 name! Our driver, Ximo, was skilled at driving and made sure we were safe and on time every time. He was also very polite and friendly with each of us and made sure we stayed hydrated during the trip by keeping the built-in bus cooler stocked with water.

Raquel is an awesome tour guide! She represented Gate 1 with such professionalism and was extremely friendly and welcoming. Our group of six had nothing but wonderful things to say about Raquel. I've traveled with different tour companies throughout my life, and I can honestly say that she is the best tour guide I've ever had. She made the experience truly special. I wish her many blessings and continued success with Gate 1!

My friend and I had a wonderful time on this trip! Our tour guide Roberto did a fantastic job. He was very organized , thoughtful, made everyone feel welcome and went out of his way to give us all kinds of information on Basque history and culture, restaurants and places to go in our free time. Also our driver Valentina did an excellent job. I don't know how she was able to navigate some of the narrow roads and turns so well. This was one of my favorite Gate 1 trips.

I just completed the 15-day Spain, Portugal, France Tour. I just wanted to commend the tour guide... Daniel. He had a way of making us feel like family and we could relax and be comfortable with each other. But even more impressive was how he maintained this relaxed atmosphere while still being hyper-vigilant of our safety and our needs. He consistently checked in with us individually and he was always on the fringe of our local tour groups... making sure none of us got detoured or left behind. He shared his 'street smarts' with us and truly gave us a feel of the local mannerisms and culture that we would not get from a 'textbook'. Even when we were in the hands of another tour guide or serviced at a restaurant, Daniel was always on duty making sure we were all taken care of. Looking back a week later, I forget a lot of the facts and details shared by the experts, but I remember most of the personal stories and anecdotes Daniel shared with us. He kept us entertained and laughing. He deserves to be recognized. Thank you for another great Gate 1 Trip.

I just returned from a river cruise on the Douro River. While the entire crew was very attentive, always polite and a joy to be with, there was definitely one crew member that made the trip as special as it was. Our activity host, Nick, from Bulgaria was exceptional! His enthusiasm was catching! He led us in exercises every morning, accompanied us on our included tours, and hosted such fun activities in the lounge every evening. His energy was never ending and it carried over to the entire group of guests. I would definitely book another river cruise if I knew Nick was going to be the Activity Host on it. I travel often, with many different companies, and I have only felt compelled to comment on the excellence of two guides/employees - both with Gate1. Whatever the company is doing to hire the right people, train them, and retain them is working. Thank you for making travel so pleasant!

This was our 4th Gate 1 trip and our second river cruise. Lucky us - we had Nick both times, as our entertainment director. Nick was warm, fun, funny, and clearly made a point of getting to know each one of us. Eva, our cruise director was exceptional. She was fun, funny, clear, responsive, caring, and professional. The vibe of the trip was perfect in every way! The food was delicious and beautifully presented. The crew was attentive, professional, warm, and friendly. The sights were varied, beautiful, and very enjoyable. And the people on board were the best! I credit Nick and Eva for bringing us all together and creating one big happy family. I loved every minute of the experience and will tell all my friends to take a Douro River cruise with Gate 1. Thank you!!

I just wanted to add how much I loved our tour guides, Irene and Carlota. They were so knowledgeable and so fun and took such good care of us. I really felt like a valued friend, not just a customer. Also should mention our driver Mario who was always smiling and made me feel very safe on the road trips. This was my first experience with a guided tour group, and with an amazing team like that, I would definitely book another vacation with Gate 1.

The Douro River trip was excellent. I can't say enough about Marissa and the crew. We travel a lot and just wanted to say thank you for this special experience

It was a wonderful experience. I especially liked walking through the woods. Enjoyed all the charming little villages we visited, Santiago de Compostela, and Porto. Good meals and wine, and we had Roi as our great Trip Leader.

I just wanted to express how pleased my husband and I were with our trip to Spain. Jorge, our tour manager, was AMAZING! He was so organized, always willing to help, and went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed ourselves. He always had our safety in mind and helped us navigate city life. He gave us a page of suggestions for each city and answered any questions that we had along the way. Also, Raul, our main driver, was fantastic! He was very friendly and skilled in driving the very narrow streets. I felt spoiled by my first Gate 1 trip and can only hope that in the future I have just as good as an experience. Also, Isabel (Córdoba guide) and Fátima (Sevilla guide) were both very knowledgeable and hilarious. They were our favorite city guides on the tour. Tino for Madrid and Toledo would be our next favorite. Again, we cannot express enough at how amazing the trip was and how professional/organized Gate 1 is.

Carmen our Spain tour guide was exceptional, and definitely a reason I will book another Gate1 tour. She was knowledgeable, friendly, and so very hospitable! Thank you Carmen. You're the BEST!!!!!!

We had a wonderful 16-day tour of Spain and Portugal with Gate 1 Travel, and our tour director, Diego, made the entire experience truly memorable! Throughout the trip, Diego demonstrated outstanding professionalism, patience, and dedication. He always took the time to listen carefully to our group members' requests and concerns and did his very best to resolve any issues and help everyone whenever needed. He was attentive, thoughtful, and always willing to go the extra mile to ensure that everyone felt comfortable and well taken care of. Diego consistently provided excellent service and showed genuine care for every member of the group. His kindness and generosity were also reflected in his thoughtful gestures, including treating us to snacks and drinks along the way, which made the journey even more enjoyable. We truly appreciated all his hard work, patience, and attention to detail throughout our 16 days together. Diego went above and beyond our expectations, and his dedication contributed greatly to making this trip such a wonderful and unforgettable experience. Thank you, Diego, for your exceptional service and for making our Spain and Portugal tour so special! We would highly recommend Gate 1 Travel, and we hope to travel with Diego again in the future.

Just returned from the wonderful cruise on the Duro river. I wanted to share that the entire trip was spectacular. The food on board ship was 5 stars. The tours were well organized, our guides were very knowledgeable, the crew and service personnel were very professional and helpful. Most of all I want to recognize our cruise director, Eva. Eva made the trip so fun. Her personality and enthusiasm were contagious. She kept the group organized and informed. You could tell she loves what she does. That positive attitude made all of us anxious to be involved and enjoy the trip so much more. I will be booking another Gate 1 vacation and recommend the company to family and friends.

Wow!! I couldn't possibly begin express what a wonderful experience this Portugal/Spain Walking Tour was for us. We have taken several Classic Tours with Gate 1 Travel since 2023, but this trip elevated our immersion into the cultural experience to another level. Our tour managers, Gonzalo and Irene, were so adept at sharing the historical relevance of the places we traveled.

Wow!! I couldn't possibly begin express what a wonderful experience this Portugal/Spain Walking Tour was for us. We have taken several Classic Tours with Gate 1 Travel since 2023, but this trip elevated our immersion into the cultural experience to another level. Our tour managers, Gonzalo and Irene, were so adept at sharing the historical relevance of the places we traveled.

I wanted to add a little more about my recent Douro River cruise. Our tour manager, Ricardo, and Activity director, Nick, were both excellent!!! They both did their jobs very well. Ricardo is very intelligent, giving us a lot of info and answering questions. He is also very friendly. Nick was the best Activity director we've ever had! He keeps everyone having fun, whether through trivia, dance classes, exercise classes, bingo, karaoke and a whole lot more. He's very personable too. Both Ricardo and Nick are true assets to the Gate 1 travel company.

Thank you for the warm welcome home. I had a fantastic trip, and Gate 1 Travel did an excellent job. In particular, your tour director, Diego, was outstanding. I also really enjoyed the format of the trip, specifically staying at one hotel combined with the variety of interesting optional tours.

The trip was fantastic! Maricela and I had a fabulous time! Alex is an exceptional tour guide, very knowledgeable and extremely organized. He made the trip interesting and fun. We continue to be very pleased with the caliber of your tour guides and the variety of destinations and itineraries that are available. We have been continuously sharing with others (friends and family) as to Gate 1 and encouraging them to travel with you.

The absolute highlight of our recent Portugal-Spain travel with Gate 1 was our tour guide, Marcel. He was so well organized, always eager to answer questions and provide tremendous suggestions and we know that he was really interested in providing our group with the best vacation trip that he possibly could. He was extremely knowledgeable about all the locations that we visited, and he worked so well with ALL our local tour guides. Hopefully we will be able to return to Spain one day and enjoy another tour with Marcel as our guide and Mario as our tremendously talented bus driver.

It was fab from start to finish and so lovely to be on the water watching the world go by. We saw things we would never have seen if we were travelling on our own. Crew on board were marvelous, food was exquisite. Carmen the Cruise Director was amazing and is a total rockstar; handled all the logistics without so much as a ripple and shared her love of Spain and Portugal like a true ambassador.

I wanted to let you know that our Tour Manager, Rui, was extraordinary! It was an incredible success, and much of that was due to Rui's commitment, kindness, patience, and deep knowledge about all aspects of Portuguese life. He is amazing, and my wife and I want you to know that. I my earlier working life, I lead high school students in 15 trips to Germany/Austria over 30 years. I know the work it takes to make a trip successful. Rui did just that and more! His granular knowledge of Portuguese culture and history was astounding. Additionally, his fun disposition made our trip completely enjoyable. Thank you for letting us travel with Rui!

I have nothing but high praise for our excursion guide, Hugo. He was friendly, entertaining and knew his stuff. Even though we had multiple stops, I never felt rushed to move onto the next stop. When told one of our group was nearly deaf, he took great care to speak so she could hear him. I also appreciated the fact that he did not feel the need to talk nonstop, he allowed us to be in awe of the beautiful scenery. One of our excursions we had Max, also a very good guide. Both Hugo and Max made our trip so enjoyable!

This was possibly the best tour we have had with Gate 1. Our Travel Manager, Miguel, deserves a 10++++ in every way. Also, Carlos, guide, would rate a 10!!

My trip to Southern Spain was excellent. The hotel was fantastic in every way; food - the breakfasts were great, location, rooms, cleanliness, helpful staff and anything else one can think of. I am a foodie and the restaurant (Trattoria) in the hotel was excellent. Food quality was great as was the service, the atmosphere and the reasonable pricing. The tour guide Joaquin was superb. He went above and beyond his duties. He was very knowledgeable, friendly, helpful and any other good attribute a tour guide can have. It was my impression that he was loved by all on the tour. I believe a wonderful time on this tour was had by all.

Andres was a fabulous tour director. He communicated clearly, gave us good general expectations, and diplomatically handled any rough spots. Really appreciated his directions. Tanya was a very good driver. We had good, knowledgeable tour guides- Jose in Madrid was a standout. Very good tour!

Portugal is unarguably beautiful---and Tour Manager Catia took it over the top! Her vast and enthusiastic knowledge of history and culture filled in all the missing pieces of the tapestry that was quintessentially Portugal. We lucked out with ideal weather, and our congenial group simply enhanced the already perfect adventure. Catia exuded total confidence regarding our safety and well-being and ensured that we experienced the best that Portugal has to offer---which is more---and then some! The cork demonstration; the library at Coimbra University; the port wine tour, Fatima, and simply driving by the white-washed-red-tiled-roofs of the villages; rolling hills dotted with vineyards, pear trees and olive groves-- was much needed respite from the turmoil in which our world currently finds itself. Thank you, Gate One, for again batting 1000!

Our 15 day Northern Spain, France and Portugal tour was a very enlightening, historical and religious tour that encompassed a lot in a relatively short amount of time. Following part of the pilgrimage route was very spiritual, and would definitely change a non-believer. I appreciate the time that went into researching and organizing this route, the wonderful hotels and meals that were included, and the excellent bus driver that was put into some precarious situations driving up and down narrow and windy roads. Thank you for this adventure!

We have just completed the "15 Day Classic Spain & Portugal" Gate 1 trip. We very much enjoyed it! Mr. Luis was our very professional, friendly and knowledgeable trip manager. The tour drivers and local guides were excellent as well! In addition to be shocked by the outstanding Iberian sceneries, we learnt a lot of the history and culture of the area with the help from the tour guides, particularly from Luis. The accommodations and the food were also excellent at the trip! We would definitely mark it as a five-star tour!

This tour was one of the best that I've been on, and it was largely due to the fantastic tour director, Catia. She was incredibly prepared, organized, thoughtful, and anticipated what the travelers needed before any problem could potentially arise. Other tour directors do are usually organized and friendly, but not always to the level of Catia. One example is that when we arrived the first day with many hours to spare before the group orientation dinner, Catia was in the hotel lobby with maps of Porto already marked up with popular things to do (things that she knew we were not going to see on the tour) and a typed out list of things to do in our free time. She saved me from having to show her my guidebook and ask her the questions she basically already answered with her prepared materials. No other tour director has done this before on any tour I've been on, so I give her very high marks for doing this. Another example is that she had the seat rotation chart written out for all the days of the tour (including the first day we all had to be on the bus) and taped on the bus doors so that there would be issues with seating during the tour. This saved everyone from any potential awkward confrontation or conflict. She was also a fountain of knowledge about the country being the local that she is, and we really couldn't have had a better experience on this trip. Wonderful trip!

It was a great trip. Odete is a gem and takes wonderful care of us. She's friendly, warm, full of knowledge, and truly treated us like family. The hotels and food were very good; the bus and driver were top notch. Gate 1 has two new fans

I cannot say enough good things about our excellent trip leader Filipa. I have taken maybe 6 Gate 1 trips and 18 Road Scholar trips. All had excellent leaders, but I must say that Filipa elevated excellence to a new level. Starting on day 1 she exhibited and encouraged camaraderie, provided so much very helpful written and verbal information, and showed true concern and care for the group. Everyone in the group felt the same way. I think Filipa gave more of her time to us than other leaders might. When I became motion sick on the bus due to the windy roads to our hotel, she took it in stride providing me with plastic bags to vomit in, accompanying me to my room, bringing me fresh apples to settle my stomach, and remaining with me until I felt recovered. I celebrated my birthday during the trip and Filipa, after asking if it was ok to share my birthday with the group, had two very thoughtful celebrations for me, one on the bus where everyone sang in English and one in our dinner restaurant where diners sang in Portuguese. This was so kind, thoughtful, and reflected so well on Filipa's character. Gate 1 is fortunate to have Filipa as a leader.

Just want to add that our Tour Manager Aline was truly exceptional. She guided us from the moment we met at the hotel and throughout the 12 days with care, compassion, enthusiasm and did everything in her power to insure we enjoyed the entire trip. Aline also had the group naturally bond together and created a friendly fun environment. We totally enjoyed the entire trip and Aline saw to it that everyone had the best time possible.

The trip was great, thanks for asking. Our tour guide, Josep from Catalan, was excellent. We want Gate1 Travel to know this. He was kind, considerate, organized and caring. He was one of the best tours guides we ever had. We enjoyed the group dinners and surprises (religious medals and gelato). Josep had a good sense of humor and we enjoyed his jokes. Now we must recuperate from the trip. We walked a lot during the trip.

Miguel was a terrific tour guide - his knowledge of history and details was amazing. He added to the value of the tour and conversation with his input on music and culture as well as our group discussions on current world economic and social topics. This was my first Gate 1 tour and feel I was incredibly lucky to have him as our tour manager. He always looked out for everyone's interests and concerns. Our whole group photo at the thank you dinner captured the bond our group had during our tour! Tome' was a great driver, not only his driving ability but his positive spirit and enthusiasm were a joy each time we joined him on the bus or at meals. Both provided great perspectives and were key to a wonderful trip!

Our Discovery Tour of the Culture & History of Portugal was a success. Excellent guide, Miguel (he gets an A+). Excellent driver, Tume (skilled driving that big bus, friendly). We saw & learned a lot about Portugal. We had a great visit!

Our Tour Manager Alex was fantastic. If I have a choice, I will happily have him for all my future tours (I have a few upcoming). His communication ability, knowledge and problem solving were beyond words. He went far and beyond to take care of all the guests.

For me, it was a great introduction to Spain. I want to go to Spain again and see it in more depth. Roberto was an excellent tour manager. He created an atmosphere where all 38 of us felt so comfortable and friendly to each other. I gave a grade of A+ to him and to the local tour guides at Toledo, Cordoba, and Valencia. They were so interesting, informative and funny. One of my highlights of the trip was visiting the Picasso Museum in Barcelona. Thank you for designing such an enjoyable trip.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our tour manager Ana. She has created a very special atmosphere in our group which makes our trip very interesting and comfortable. We have learned a lot about Spain from Ana. We learned a lot of facts from Ana about history, religion, economics, art, architecture, education, climate, social life of Spain. It was truly discovery trip. Ana is very professional, friendly, organized and thoughtful. Our group developed a habit at the end of each day to say thanks to Ana for another beautiful day.

We took the "12 day Northern Spain Discovery" from March 28 , 2026 to April 8, 2026. Our guide, Hugo, was incredible! Best tour guide ever! Knowledgeable, fun, impeccable time management, and so accommodating. We felt like we were exploring with a local friend rather than a guide. He brought the history of the Spain to life with such passion and humor. He was attentive to everyone's questions and went out of his way to make sure our family had the best experience. Highly recommended!

John, our tour manager, made our trip unforgettable, comfortable, and seamless. His exceptional group management and organizational skills ensured that each day went off without a hitch. He communicates clearly and timely, providing instructions that are always effective. John consistently shows genuine care for the group's well-being, paying close attention to everyone's needs. He offers assistance and advice even when it's not asked for, demonstrating his proactive approach. His warm and friendly personality makes his company enjoyable, and his in-depth knowledge of the places we visited-down to the smallest details-was truly impressive. This not only made the trip more enjoyable, but also highly educational. Overall, John is a well-rounded, top-tier tour manager, and definitely one of the best I've had with Gate1.

The trip was fantastic. Our guide Antonio was beyond great and all the other guides through the cities were amazing, and the other people in the group were so nice. I am definitely hooked on you guys and looking forward to my next vacation in 6 weeks to Poland.