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.

The trip was great. Our best one yet! I think this was our 9th tour with Gate 1 and we loved it. Our tour manager, Francisco was the best-so knowledgeable, caring and interesting. He went out of his way to make it a great time for everyone.

Very nice, very good itinerary, very good food, our tour manager Francesco is excellent, he's the best, I've been traveling since 1987, to many travel companies, he's the best, I recommend promotion and salary raise for him. He took care of us from the very first day to our last day! He did an exceptional job.

This response is regarding our tour manager, Wesley. Wesley was unfailingly kind, considerate, and professional. He engaged with everyone and made sure that we were having a great experience. He provided so much useful information that I can't remember it all, but every big piece of knowledge he shared enhanced the trip. His stories and obvious love and appreciation of his native country made such a difference in how I saw the country. The fact that we were a small group (only 21 travelers) made it so much better and easier to get into venues that a larger group might not get to experience. The highlight for me was the Irish National Stud, although visiting the women-owned brewery and the Burren Smokehouse were also great experiences. I'd take another Gate 1 Discovery tour in a heartbeat and if Wesley were the tour manager, I'd be even happier to sign on.

Our Tour Manager, Krzysztof, on our 12 Day Benelux Tour is an excellent Tour Manager and represents Gate1 very well. His knowledge of the destinations is unmatched, and his communication skills enable smooth sailing for a diverse group of travelers. The trip was fabulous! Well done! Thank you.

We enjoyed everything about our recent food and wine tour of the piedmont in Italy, but especially the pesto making event in Rapallo! The shop owners were very generous with their time and expertise! The prosecco tasting and lunch at Merotto was out of this world! The food and wine were great, and the dining room and tour guide were top notch! Thank you!

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!

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.

Another amazing tour! The 13 Day Albania & Montenegro Discovery Tour, our 12th Discovery Tour, was absolutely fantastic. Our tour manager, Dusan ensured everything ran smoothly while presenting an in-depth perspective that only a local with years of experience and knowledge can provide. Mihai, our bus driver, demonstrated total professionalism and amazing skills in maneuvering our bus safely in even the most challenging situations. And our local guides were among the best with an astonishing command of history and culture. The small group experience brought a personal cohesiveness to the group that made it a truly rewarding experience. Albania and Montenegro with breath taking views and wonderful hotels are absolute gems that should not be missed. Thank you, Gate 1!

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!

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!

I wanted to comment about our tour manager (Adrianna) and driver (Antonio). They are both top notch! Everyone on the trip thoroughly enjoyed the tour and Adrianna really added a special touch. She and Antonio were always in synch on the plans and kept us on schedule 100% of the time. Very impressed with both of them, especially Adrianna as she had a lot on her plate. Thanks!

I can't say enough about our trip guide, Pedro He was incredible, and kept all travelers punctual. His information he shared was so detailed and so real. This made the trip one of the best we had on Gate 1 tours. You should highly value his worth to the entire team at Gate 1. Another person worth noting was our initial driver, Pedro. He took great care of all of us.

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.

This was our sixteenth trip with Gate 1, and I would like you to know that we rank our guide, Michael, in the top two guides on all our trips. We had an incredible experience with Mike. He brought a blend of efficiency and warmth as he kept the group moving on schedule and fostered an atmosphere of harmony. Mike had outstanding knowledge of the areas we visited, and his presentation was professional and easily understood.

Jakov was fantastic! He was knowledgeable, friendly, funny, and caring. He made the trip exponentially better. His knowledge and love of the country was wonderful and endearing. He was an excellent communicator and made us feel informed and safe. He was always on time and was happy to interact and answer questions at any time during the trip. I would love to have him as my guide again! Our driver - Silvie - was also fantastic. He was very helpful and made us feel safe. And that was not easy on some of those narrow, windy roads! He always made a point to stop or slow down for us to take photos or see something special. He was also super helpful with the luggage and was very friendly. I could not ask for a better guide or driver than we had with Jakov and Silvie.

Our tour manager for the Swiss Alpine Jewels trip, Dennis, was outstanding and went above and beyond in all respects. His knowledge, passion, enthusiasm and organization are top notch. He made the trip fun and rewarding for the whole group. Also, our driver, Pieter, was fantastic and super competent handling very difficult roads.

We just wanted to say that our tour manager/guide throughout our recent 15 Day Discover Poland vacation, Agnes, was fantastic. We have been on other companies' tours and Agnes, on our Poland tour, was the best manager we have ever had by far. Not only was she professional, proficient, informed and dedicated, but she was so much fun to be with. And she seemed to enjoy being with us as much as we enjoyed being with her. Thank you Agnes for making our trip so pleasant and memorable!

Thank you Ana and Daniel for keeping us safe in our travels . Ana is caring knowledgeable , organize had safety awareness . She's on top of everything .Daniel is a very safe driver and very efficient . Thank you for the memories and the history of Balkans that I have to take home . They can be my tour manager and driver again . I feel safe and had fun .

Mimi was a star from the very beginning of our tour. During orientation, she warmly welcomed our group, making sure that everyone had arrived. Once the tour began, at each location, she pointed out and explained tourist attractions. Then, she would answer questions and give advice on language and currency. Even during our free time, she made sure our independent adventures ran smoothly. When needed, she would change routes or arrangements as necessary, especially emergency bathroom breaks. Bottomline, she was always kind, efficient and willing to help. We felt like VIP at every turn and her efforts should be recognized.

I just want to say that the itinerary that Ignazio managed was one of the best overall we have had in all our trips with Gate1 (over 20). Most Tour Managers are very good, but the trip does not flow very well. This Discovery trip to Sicily and Malta was seamless, we went from one event or place with ease. I will recommend this trip highly to anyone wishing to see a small, fascinating part of Europe without spending time waiting in lines at venues.

The beauty of Switzerland can only be really seen by visiting there. Our Crown Jewels of Switzerland tour of 12 days was amazing. Andrea, our tour leader, was so knowledgeable and took such good care of us that I can only give her a 10+. She was kind, caring and went overboard to make everyone comfortable. We saw more in 12 days than I ever imagined. I especially enjoyed staying in Zermatt and taking the cog train up to the Matterhorn. Our hotel's balcony looked up at the magnificent mountain one morning. The sky was perfectly clear, and the sun was shining on the north face. It was a memory I'll never forget. Our bus driver was amazing. He maneuvered the twists and turns of our route in an unbelievable way. I would recommend this 12-day Crown Jewels of Switzerland to anyone who really wants to see Switzerland in an up-close way.

Our cultural tour to Ireland was exceptional. We especially enjoyed the quality of the wide-ranging events showcasing Ireland. Our tour manager, Mel was instrumental in making our trip a memorable one - a gem for Gate1. Our coach driver, Michael was the best at navigating us throughout our trip. This was our first trip with Gate1 and will not be our last.

This was our first Discovery Tour. The size of the group was perfect. Our tour manager Derek, was very outgoing, engaged so many of those of us on the tour, and his knowledge of Ireland's history ...both past and present events, was beyond what we expected. He arranged timing of events seamlessly and was very organized! We felt very lucky to have him as our guide on or first trip to Ireland. Damian was our coach driver. Damian was able to quickly reroute us, to stay on schedule, when unexpected events like accidents ahead of us occurred on the highway. He negotiated the routes and busy streets smoothly. He and Derek communicated very well!!!

The trip was wonderful. Busy everyday. Lorena, our tour manager has a great personality. She attended to everyone's need and made certain we were all enjoying the trip.

Our trip was fabulous! We wined and dined our way through Portugal with a wonderful guide, Aldo. The history and culture of the country was well represented in the tour. We will be looking for more Gate 1 trips in the future. Everything was top notch.

Just back from the Discovery Tour of Slovenia, Croatia and the Dalmatian Islands. Nikoletta was our tour guide, and she was fantastic. She was knowledgeable, kind, informative and she made the trip stress free from start to finish. Every tour we took was wonderful, the scenery was breathtaking, and we had some free time to explore what interested us. I highly recommend this tour.

Nida was a superb guide in every way-the most outstanding tour guide I have ever had with Gate 1. She was enthusiastic, energetic, knowledgeable, friendly, caring, organized, and engaging. She exuded confidence and joy in her role as tour guide, and she clearly shared this passion with our group members. She was always patient and watched out for each group member, creating a cohesive group (including our 2 drivers). Thanks to Nida, we had a fabulous trip. Nida is a true gem and deserves management recognition.

Our Driver Graham was an excellent driver, and was so helpful and personable, throughout. He was great fun to eat dinner with and never complained if we had to check our baggage underneath for something. A great guy! I cannot say enough good things about our tour manager, David. He is a good and kind man, very thoughtful , very generous, very well prepared, and he made sure we saw videos on the bus to help us learn about upcoming stops (such as Leicester), recommended good places to eat, many times invited any in the group to accompany him when he was going to eat on free time (and insured we found tables to eat at), helped people with connections, and was really everything you would want in an ideal tour manager. This tour exceeded our expectations, and made us want to travel on Gate1/Discovery tours in the future.

I don't usually give extra comments but felt I needed to for this trip. It was the best trip I have taken with gate 1 and other tours with other tour groups. Part of this is because of the mix of culture, history and beauty of the tour and the way Gate 1 presented it. It was magnificent. More importantly for me it was our tour guide Stephanie who presented a very high level of engagement, enthusiasm and curiosity every day which elevated the emotional part of the trip. You couldn't help but be engaged during the entire trip and wonder about a whole bunch of stuff you never thought you could wonder about. She was so knowledgeable, fun and approachable. A fabulous memory.

Gate 1 has never disappointed us. The attractions, the scheduling, the food, the museums ,the hotels ,the local guides, the comfortable bus and driver, always reliable! but we need to give a special thank you to Marc our tour guide. He was fantastic!! I needed to find a few special things to help me through the trip and he made them happen! He was very kind and patient.

The trip to Sweden and Norway with your Discovery Tours was the first trip we have taken with a tour group. We were so impressed with the entire trip. It was informative, well planned and had the best tour guide, MaLou, and bus driver, Finn, that I could imagine. The tour gave us a great overview of both countries. We plan to go back and see even more of Sweden and Norway one day. The guides for individual sites were great. We learned so much and have fallen in love with the people. MaLou and Finn took everything in stride. They were both so calm. Itinerary was changed due to the weather seamlessly. Everything just flowed so well. Our luggage was taken care of by Finn, which was so appreciated. I cannot say enough about MaLou. Her enthusiasm for these countries was wonderful. I felt that I learned so much about the land, the culture and the people from her. She was always willing to talk about any questions we had about these. She encouraged getting to know the people on our tour even though we were with another couple. We all ate and spent time with everyone. I really appreciate this. It is easy to do what is comfortable, but she made everything comfortable. She was always available. One couple lost their phone, and she was able to get it back to them very quickly. I love her easy-going demeanor. Nothing seemed to upset her, even when people were late in the morning. The itinerary always worked out. Thank you for putting together this trip and especially thank you for MaLou being our guide. I am not sure you can top this trip, but we will most definitely try some of your other trips.

I would like to express my gratitude to the tour's manager Jelena. She is an incredible talented person. She made our trip unforgettable, maybe the best we had in organized tour. She has a knowledge of history and a passionate love for her country. She is funny, very well-articulated, always on time and very efficient. There were absolutely no delays, unpleasant moments during our tour. To manage a group of more than 20 people with a lot of travel between the places is a pretty challenging task. But Jelena did it so effortlessly that it seemed that it cost her nothing. She provided a lot of suggestions on where to eat, what to see in free time, which facilities to use in hotels. Our driver was also incredible - very skillful on narrow roads, maintained the bus in excellent condition, was efficient with luggage. My husband's and mine appreciation and gratitude to both of them.

This trip was our sixth Gate One tour. We were impressed with all our guides, but Jelena was far above and beyond. She did an excellent job with the organizational part of her duties as did all the other guides on our previous trips. What set her apart was her ability to bring the group together and create as atmosphere where we were not just a group of random people on a tour but friends who enjoyed each other's company. Her sense of humor and her ability to make everything so much fun was a true asset. She gave us information about the places we visited and the history in ways that were not only informative and interesting but entertaining. She gave us insight into what life was like during these times in history. We not only saw the sites, but we felt the vibe of each area. She was always ready with suggestions and information. She is a true asset to Gate One. We would love to travel with her again!

The Balkans trip was one of our favorites. The cities were clean, pretty, and weren't overcrowded with tourists. Lake Ohrid was an especially beautiful area. Sherban was an outstanding tour manager. His knowledge of the area and sense of humor made the trip entertaining and fun. We've been on 17 Gate 1 trips and Gabi was our best bus driver. His skill and expertise in maneuvering the bus was impressive. He kept the bus spotless inside and out- even washing the windows daily. He said he wanted to make sure the windows were clean in case we wanted to take pictures from the bus. At stops he was always willing to take pictures of us and help out. He went above and beyond in all situations. The hotels we stayed at were very nice with great locations. The included meals were delicious. We enjoyed learning about the history of this part of Europe- interesting and turbulent. We will recommend this trip to others.

Eva, our tour host was the best guide I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I cried when we said goodbye on our last day. Her communication skills, sense of humor, warmth, and knowledge are outstanding!! I hope to find her on a future booking

Our tour guide, Robby, was simply outstanding. We watched him handle each challenging situation we encountered expertly. His desire for the best outcomes for our tour group was obvious, and his interpersonal skill in making each individual feel cared for, and cared about, did not go unrecognized. The behind-the-scenes work he performed in making our tour smooth did not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Gate1 would do well to ensure tour guides like Robby receive proper recognition and compensation. Robby represents Gate1 well, and although all the guides on our Gate1 tours have been outstanding, we feel Robby just may be the best tour guide we had to date. Well done, Robby! Well done.

We loved our trip to Sicily and Malta. Maria was a wonderful tour manager. She took care of everything for us. She was so full of information. Can't wait for the next trip.

Our trip to the Majestic Balkans was delightful! Jelena is all-around wonderful! Mihai is a patient & terrific driver! The itinerary is perfect. Well-paced days, excellent hotels, every activity is so informative about the history of each of these beleaguered countries. The local guides were terrific. They are all very educated & articulate with honest points of view. There was just enough free time. Food was very; very good & mealtime entertainment was so much fun from Slavic dancers to table side musicians at many restaurants. Also, restaurant choices were perfect & well-located. We were very moved by the speaker on the Romanian uprising against their dictator & enjoyed the orthodox choir. I loved the 2 delightful boat rides in N. Macedonia!! Happily, our group of 15 travelers got along so well. A lovely group of accomplished, smart & kind people. I may be leaving something out, but I would recommend this trip very highly! Although I've totally enjoyed all of your trips!

Our Tour Manager for the Gate 1 Discovery 12 Day Swiss Alpine Jewels was Monique. Our Tour Manager was exceptional-knowledgeable, warm, and wonderfully organized. From the very first evening orientation in Lausanne, she set the tone with a welcoming presence, making sure everyone felt comfortable and informed. Throughout the journey, her deep understanding of Swiss culture, history, and geography enriched each stop, whether we were tasting chocolate in Broc, admiring the medieval streets of Gruyere, or standing before the breathtaking Matterhorn. What stood out most was her attentiveness: always approachable, quick with helpful suggestions, and equally skilled at handling logistics so the group could simply relax and enjoy. She struck the perfect balance between professionalism and friendliness-sharing fascinating stories and insights, but also giving us space to explore on our own. Her genuine enthusiasm made each day more memorable, whether guiding us through the dramatic Aare Gorge, pointing out hidden gems in Lucerne's Old City, or making sure everyone had the best vantage point for the views from Jungfraujoch. By the farewell dinner in Lucerne, it truly felt like we were saying goodbye to a friend who had expertly led us through Switzerland's most beautiful landscapes.

I want to say that Mel and our driver Michael should be considered the pinnacle of a professional tour team. Every aspect far exceeded my expectations and my wife and I will cherish the time we spent in Ireland always.

Maurizio was a pleasure. He handled everything, was organized and personable. Would travel with him again. The bus driver Enso was the best. Took good care of us. We enjoyed this trip and the variety of local tours provided as well as free time. Gate 1 Discovery is the only way we travel. Have several more booked for 2026 and one in 2027. Keep the options coming.

I simply cannot say enough good things about our Gate 1 trip - Swiss Alpine Jewels! I felt like I was living in a photograph the entire time! It was surreal! All of the highlights were chosen well. They were varied and each surpassed my expectations! I have had Switzerland on my bucket list for 55 years, since reading Heidi as a child, and it did not disappoint! Britta, our tour manager, was unbelievably beyond wonderful! She is a treasure and such a valuable asset to your organization! She is caring, considerate, fun, professional, and extremely knowledgeable. I adore her! Beat was our driver, and he did an excellent job taking care of all of us on the road. We were treated extremely well everywhere we went and thoroughly enjoyed all of the meals included. All of the guides on our individual tours were excellent, and we especially enjoyed Patricia and Denis at the winery in Cully. What a lovely experience! Because we enjoyed ourselves so completely on this first Gate 1 tour.

The professionalism, knowledge, and ability to connect with people were truly outstanding. From the moment I arrived, I was greeted by an enthusiastic and vibrant guide whose love for her work shone through in every interaction. Her passion brought Portugal's history and culture to life, turning each stop on the itinerary into a rich and memorable experience. Every part of the journey was enlivened with fascinating historical context and engaging storytelling that made the cities and landscapes even more meaningful. Exploring Porto, the Algarve, and Lisbon was not just sightseeing--it was an immersion into Portugal's rich tapestry of medieval architecture, vibrant traditions, warm people, and unforgettable cuisine. This was more than a trip; it was a truly enriching experience that deepened my appreciation for Portugal and left me with lasting memories.