gate one travel reviews

Gate 1 Travel

Global operator

Service level

Travelers age

Trip prices

$589 — 12,199

Tour languages

Quick Links:

Trips other travelers liked

Family Fun In Cambodia

4-Days Cuyabeno

Iceland Discovery

Ice to Sun 2023: Argentina & Brazil

Highlights of Turkey 10 Day - Istanbul - Cappadocia - Ephesus and Pamukkale

“Where the mountains meet the sea”- Kotor Bay, Lovcen & Skadar Lake National Park

Brazil (North): See & Experience it ALL in 13 Days, 1st Class Custom Tours

Discover Albania

Member savings.

Sign in  to see which companies give additional savings to Travelstride Members (it’s free)

• Group Tours
• River Cruises
• North America
• South America
• Rivers & Seas
• Australia & Pacific

Compare with Gate 1 Travel

View all tour company comparisons

How well do you know the world?

Gate 1 travel reviews & ratings, gate 1 cares about money and not customer satisfaction or safety.

We have loved Gate 1 and always sing their praises. We've been on 7 tours with another one booked for fall. We were supposed to leave for Ecuador this week, however ...

THE ABSOLUTE WORST

THE ABSOLUTE WORST. Dishonest, incompetent, fraudulent. We booked a trip to Europe with them, and it was a mess from start to finish. The flight that we paid extra...

Joyce Toler

Poor customer service

It has been about 7.5 years since I traveled with Gate 1 Travel. In the past, customer service was exceptionally great! Now I am appauded with the unprofessional and...

One star is way too many

One star is way too many. I got a return ticket and wanted to change outbound one. Gate1 was nowhere to be found and there was no way of changing the flight. So I bo...

Shelley Anne Talla

I already wrote a couple of bad reviews…

I already wrote a couple of bad reviews during my last trip to Mexico with Gate 1 Discovery Tours—my aunt and her husband from Texas is currently doing the very same...

See all Gate 1 Travel reviews

Editoral Review of Gate 1 Travel

Founded in 1981 with three employees and based in suburban Philadelphia, Gate 1 now employs more than 200 people worldwide with offices in 20 countries, ranging from Hungary to Cambodia, Argentina to Israel.

What Makes Gate 1 Stand Out?

• Escorted tours & river cruises
• Good value 
• High quality guides

Gate 1 offers a variety of tour packages and river cruises around the world, promising to provide exceptional value for the price. They focus on North American travelers who seek “high quality, yet affordable” guided trips, with accommodations ranging from superior tourist to moderate deluxe class.

They have a lot of different choices when it comes to destinations, durations, and inclusions. Most tours have additional offerings for meals, activities, and excursions available for additional fees.

Traveler reviews for Gate 1 oscillate between 5 star and 1 star experiences. Those that have had an excellent time cite the tour pacing, guides, and extensive sightseeing opportunities as positives.

Those for whom these same factors contributed to a negative experience may have had higher expectations than is available or offered for the competitive budget prices that Gate 1 is known for.

Who Will Enjoy Traveling With Gate 1?

• Low to mid budget travelers
• Those open to simple accommodation and meal plans

Gate 1 is the perfect travel choice for families, couples, and friend groups seeking a cost efficient journey. As Gate 1 is a strictly budget minded brand, it’s important to be fully aware of the trade-off when you choose to travel with them.

You will see a lot, and be out and about visiting several sites - however keeping costs low is one of their main priorities. This means hotels will be basic, meals won’t be 5 star, and your coach will have fewer amenities. In addition tours with Gate 1 feature several optional add ons and sightseeing tours, not included in the base price. Average tour price is around $2,000, often less.

If you’re flexible, open minded, and are interested in maximizing your sightseeing above all else, Gate 1 could be for you. Knowing what to expect is key for enjoying the trip to the fullest.

Top Destinations

Gate 1 trips cover much of the world, including destinations in North, Central, and South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Itineraries focus on the top sights, historical attractions, and national parks.

Gate 1 Travel Style

In a nutshell, the Gate 1 travel style is “see a lot for a little”. Hotels and accommodations are usually 3 star hotels. Expect basic comforts, with fewer amenities available. However if you’re the kind of traveler for whom a bed and some coffee in the morning is a fine trade-off for busy days outside and tons of sightseeing, the trade-off will be worth it.  

You will be met on the ground with a dedicated tour leader, available to assist throughout your travel experience.

Escorted group bus tours are a big part of their business - between 24-42 people. These coaches are again, more utility focused than amenity focused, but you will be comfortable. And in general bus tours take frequent stops to allow for stretching legs and using of facilities.  

Gate 1 also offers small group tours (with a maximum of 22 people), river cruises on two continents, independent city stays and fly and drive packages, rail packages, customized vacations, and combination bus/cruise tours -- something for almost everyone interested in a budget vacation.

Why Choose a Tour With Gate 1?

For the budget traveler, Gate 1 is a fantastic choice. They offer several types of trip package to choose from, including rail, river cruise, and small group tours, at competitive rates. Their escorted tours are extremely popular, and customers repeat trips with them regularly.

While Gate 1 is the primary brand, and they are all about giving a positive and packed international travel experience on a budget, other brands associated with Gate 1 are more premium focused. These include the Signature collection, offering luxury tour options and smaller groups.

Unlock Community Benefits

Travel better together.

• Save favorite trips and itineraries
• Get insider insights
• Receive personalized recommendations
• ... and much more

More Details

Solo friendly.

• No single supplement

Travelstride featured in

About the company.

Gate 1 Travel offers escorted tours, European river cruises, independent vacations and customized international vacation packages for less. Our discount travel packages and tour packages to destinations worldwide provide exceptional value, saving our customers time and money. We have taken care of all the details so you don't have to. Find your dream vacation today.

Company Background & Highlights

Mission: To deliver More of the World for Less by developing quality, affordable vacations for North Americans. To provide exemplary service to our customers and to earn their loyalty. To respect our partners. To invest in our employees, providing a safe and comfortable work environment. To know and understand our products and destinations. To constantly innovate and be a leader in technology.

Founded in 1981 with 3 employees; now with over 200 employees worldwide

Headquarters: Fort Washington, PA (Suburban Philadelphia)

Overseas Offices: Hungary, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Morocco, Argentina, Indonesia, Great Britain, Greece, India, Israel, Italy, Peru, Ecuador, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

30+ years of providing travel services to clientèle

Product Types

Escorted Tours - Group Tours

Small Group Tours

European River Cruises

Escorted Bus Tour/Sea Cruise Combinations

Independent City Stays

Independent Fly & Drive Packages

Multi-Destination Rail Packages

Customized Vacations (Vacation Builder)

Custom Groups and Individuals

Target Consumer Market

Gate 1 Travel's target market is a traveler seeking high quality, affordable travel ranging from a superior tourist class to moderate deluxe class level of accommodations with the highest level of service.

Financial Security

Gate 1 Travel is backed by the largest, most well-respected financial institutions and insurance providers, guaranteeing the greatest level of financial security to every passenger. Gate 1 welcomes your inquiries of any of those independent offices.

Gate 1 Travel's active membership in USTOA (United States Tour Operators Association), a professional organization representing the world's leading tour operators, requires that Gate 1 meet a minimum requirement of $1 million professional liability insurance (Gate 1 maintains a $5 million policy).

Additionally , Gate 1 is required to participate in the USTOA $1 Million Travelers Assistance Program, requiring them to post $1 million in security, held by USTOA, in the unlikely event of bankruptcy or insolvency.

Gate 1 Travel Trips & Specials

9 Day Golden Triangle of India

9 Day Eastern USA Heritage, Philadelphia to Washington D.C.

16 Day Scotland & Ireland

12 Day Affordable Central Europe with Warsaw & Krakow

10 Day Classic Amsterdam, Bruges, Paris & London

11 Day Affordable Croatia & Slovenia

15 Day The Serengeti & Beyond: A Tanzania Safari with Zanzibar

12 Day Golden Triangle of India with Varanasi

Want a tailor-made trip instead, your trip, your way, planned by an expert:.

• You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
• Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics

Top Gate 1 Travel Trip Categories

Gate 1 travel company ranking by category, similar companies, associations, united states tour operators association.

USTOA is a nonprofit professional association representing the tour operator industry.Its members are made up of companies who provide services worldwide but who conduct business in the U.S.

About Travelstride

Find your perfect trip, travel confidently.

Gate 1 Travel Review: Are Their Organized Tours Worth It?

Have you ever wanted to take a trip where everything is planned for you? I was in the same boat when I found Gate 1 Travel, which offers escorted coach tours all over the world. If you're wondering whether this is the route for you, I did all the work to give you the inside scoop!

One of the best parts of traveling is getting to decide where you want to go and what you want to see. However, it can also be the most stressful part of traveling.

How do you make sure you see everything you want to see, get the right hotels, and eat at the right restaurants, all while staying on budget? One option I often think about to help alleviate that stress is to book a tour that covers all the nitty-gritty details!

When you're thinking about organized travel, you'll come across so many tours and guides that'll it'll hurt your brain.

One of those is Gate 1 Travel. So, the real question is does it beat out other options when booking tours?

I wanted to find out so that you'll have the essential info on its tours, prices, destinations, and more! This way you'll be making a decision with lots of valuable knowledge.

What Is Gate 1 Travel?

If you're not a fan of traveling with strangers, my advice is to go with a travel agency or plan your own trip. Don't go with Gate 1 Travel or other travel groups. Plan and go discover on your own instead with Pilot!

That's because you will definitely be exploring with a group if you book with with Gate 1 Travel.

Numbers fluctuate, but if you're keen on staying in a smaller group, be sure to check out Gate 1's Small Group tours . Also known as Discovery Tours, there are no more than 22 travelers on these trips, so you won't have to worry about there being too many people with you.

‍ Discovery Tours also allow you to get up close and personal with the country you're visiting in a way that often isn't possible in larger, escorted tours.

How Large Are Gate 1 Travel Groups?

If you're not a fan of traveling with strangers, my advice is to go with a travel agency or plan your own trip. Don't go with Gate 1 Travel.

Numbers fluctuate, but if you're keen on staying in a smaller group, be sure to check out Gate 1's  Small Group tours . Also known as Discovery Tours, there are no more than 22 travelers on these trips, so you won't have to worry about there being too many people with you. 

‍ Discovery Tours  also allow you to get up close and personal with the country you're visiting in a way that often isn't possible in larger, escorted tours. 

How Do I Book a Tour?

If you're interested in booking a tour with Gate 1 Travel, you'll first need to make an account.

You can head to the login page to do this. Once you've done that, you can start booking!

You'll select your tour region, followed by the country you want to visit and the tour that appeals most to you.

Choose your departure date, and decide whether you want flights included. You can then select those flights and any optional tours you may want to do during your trip.

What's Included in Gate 1 Travel Tours?

When booking a tour with Gate 1, you want to know what's included.

Something I liked to see is that every trip offers a "land only" and "air & land" price, so you can decide whether to have your flights included. Flights do only go to and from select cities, depending on your tour dates.

Escorted tours will include the following:

• Accommodation for the nights of the tour
• Hotel taxes and service charges 
• Transport between cities
• Certain meals (what's included will be outlined in the tour details)
• Sightseeing per the itinerary in an air-conditioned coach with a guide!

Not included is airfare for land-only trips, any visa-related fees, and optional extras you may decide to add to your tour.

Gate 1 Deals

Every traveler loves a good deal, and Gate 1 offers some great affordable vacations. It's actually one of the best bundle travel deal sites out there!

By heading to the company's Featured Specials page, you'll get to see Gate 1's flash deals, as well as any last-minute deals for upcoming departure dates. They also have a featured destination sale which will change from time to time.

To access the deals, you'll need to use the promo code listed on these pages, and then you're on your way to saving on your next trip!

From its website, you can also sign up to receive weekly deals via email. You never know what you'll get in your inbox!

How Do I Contact Gate 1 Travel Customer Service?

Whether you have a question or a complaint, it's never a bad idea to know how to contact customer service.

Gate 1 Travel is currently experiencing a high volume of inquiries, but you can still fill out a  form  via the website to send an online inquiry. 

If you're traveling soon, you can get ahold of the team by phone. The company has 24-hour assistance line can be reached in the US by calling 215-572-7676. 

Cancellation Policy

If you find you can no longer join your Gate 1 Travel tour, how can you cancel your trip?

Once you've made at least a partial payment on your trip, you have to submit a cancellation request in writing via the contact us page.

Cancellation fees will then be applied based on how much time remains before your trip and will be applied as a percentage of what has already been paid. 

Customer Reviews

Overall, travelers seem to be satisfied with Gate 1's services and its tours.

Many of the complaints speak to packages booked with flights and how flight cancellations or changes have upheaved entire trips. Others have also mentioned the mismatch of travel credits promised versus ones they actually offer.

Other travelers have complained about Gate 1's customer service as being difficult to reach and not entirely helpful. It sounds like quite a few individuals had a tough time getting a full refund for their trip, even with travel insurance, when booking with them.

Whether it's that explanations can't be given, refunds are not fully issued, or travelers are sent in circles, it sounds like customer service is a hit or miss.

Other complaints have also touched on the itineraries being too packed to truly enjoy what you're seeing or to feel rested enough for them. 

Is Gate 1 Travel Worth It?

After all my reading, my advice is to proceed with caution. Here's why.

My first impression when I got onto the website is that this is mainly targeting an older audience, with their branding outdated to the 2000s. That's not a judging criteria, but just a red flag in my opinion.

While Gate 1 Travel offers a lot of packaged tours, the volume of travelers who have had their trips impacted by flights booked through Gate 1 is concerning.

Instead, I would avoid the flight risks by opting for land-only tours. If you go this route, Gate 1 does offer tours all over the world, so it's a good place to at least browse through when you're trying to make a decision.

They also offer other kind of tours like independent vacations, European river cruises, and customized international vacation packages, but it's honestly not for me. The price is way too expensive and I can frankly plan it myself.

They also seem to charge a bit more than the actual ticket for many attractions, which to me seems like a dealbreaker unless it is actually hard for me to get the travel reservations myself.

In Gate 1 Travel's benefit, they sure do have tons of locations. From Paris to Peru, From Ecuador to Budapest, their tour packages extend to many destinations around the world. They also offer discount travel packages there and here, so that's something to consider for all you deal-seekers.

Keep in mind that some comments were made about the itineraries being a bit packed. So, if you're more of a relaxed traveler, I would be very careful going with Gate 1 Travel.

That being said, if you want to do and see as much as humanly possibly, Gate 1 could be the tour company for you!

If you like the idea of booking a tour but still aren't convinced that Gate 1 Travel is right for you, make sure to also check out companies like EF and Intrepid !

Our Rating: 3.1/5 

• Tours all over the world
• Small group options for more immersive experiences
• Includes accommodation, and guided coach tours
• Options for smaller group tours
• Flight cancellations can result in trip cancellation
• Poor customer service
• Some feedback of packed schedules

Gate 1 Travel FAQs:

Is gate 1 travel still in business.

Yes, very much so. They've been operating for over 40 years and continue to maintain its operations despite its outdated website design.

Is Gate 1 Travel better than Trafalgar Tours?

They both offer the same comparable luxury comfort tours, so it's hard to say. I'd give Trafalgar the edge since they have more experience under their belt, but individual experiences will vary. Read our Trafalgar Tours Review for more detail!

Is Gate 1 Travel an American Company?

Yes, they're an American owned and run company based in Fort Washington, PA!

Who is the founder of Gate 1?

Dani Pipano is Gate 1 Travel's founder.

Ready to Get Traveling?

Whether you opt for a Gate 1 Travel tour, use another company, or decide to freestyle your next adventure, we want to make sure that you have the best time.

Use Pilot so you can keep all the different elements of your travels in one place and easily access them all. Plan your dream vacation today with Pilot!

Disclosure : Pilot is supported by our community. We may earn a small commission fee with affiliate links on our website. All reviews and recommendations are independent and do not reflect the official view of Pilot.

Satisfy your wanderlust

Get Pilot. The travel planner that takes fun and convenience to a whole other level. Try it out yourself.

Trending Travel Stories

Discover new places and be inspired by stories from our traveller community.

Related Travel Guides

EF Go Ahead Tours Review 2024: Are their guided tours worth it?

Intrepid Travel In-depth Review: Are their tours any good? [2024]

Contiki Tours Europe: No regrets... except? [Latest Review]

ToursByLocals Review: Can You Trust Their Tour guides? [2024]

Haggis Adventures review: Are they the tour you're looking for?

Trafalgar Tours Review [2024]: Are they worth it?

Make the most of every trip

You won’t want to plan trips any other way!

The trip planner that puts everything in one place, making planning your trip easier, quicker, and more fun.

• Washington DC
• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Vacation Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travelers' Choice
• Help Center

A very disappointing and demeaning tour - GATE 1 TRAVEL

• United States    
• District of Columbia (DC)    
• Washington DC    
• Washington DC - Things to Do    
• GATE 1 TRAVEL

Gate 1 offers the best hotels to stay in, unfortunately some of the guides they use are rude and... read more

I will give the travel part of the tour a 4 star and the shopping and meal a 1 star. We go with... read more

A very disappointing and demeaning tour

My husband and I took two recent trips with Gate 1 Travel, one to Iceland in January and one to Spain and Portugal from March 15 to 25,2023. The first one, to Iceland, was a wonderful experience in every way. The second, to Spain and Portugal, was an awful experience filled with anxiety and needless difficulties. What was the difference between the two trips? It was the tour managers. Our experience with Nico in Spain and Portugal has convinced us that we cannot count on Gate 1 for any future travel. Here’s an outline of why. —I have a condition in which I experience extreme nausea sitting in the middle or back of buses. I actually throw up in such situations. This condition is verified by doctors. —When traveling to Iceland, our tour manager there accommodated my request to sit at the front of the bus throughout the tour. Another member of our group had similar needs and was also accommodated. This accommodation caused no trouble among the rest of the members of our group. —Because I could see that Gate 1’s written policy states that tour members must rotate in their seats and there are no exceptions to this policy, before our next trip (to Spain and Portugal) I contacted Gate 1 multiple times to check whether accommodations could be made for me to sit in front of the bus. I was told that such decisions are at the discretion of the tour manager, and I understood this to mean that accommodations are possible even if not guaranteed. My further inquiries about this were unanswered. —At the beginning of our tour in Spain and Portugal, I told Nico of my needs and offered to show him a medical certificate I brought with me. He did not want to see the certificate, and he told me that he was instructed by the home office that he could not make exceptions to the seat rotation rule and that his directive was to maintain harmony among the members of the group. If he was indeed told this by the home office, it indicates a contradictory policy in the company because the directive doesn’t match what I was told earlier that tour managers have discretion. —In any case, Nico did exercise discretion and did make an exception for me (apparently contradicting the directive he said he was given) and allowed me to sit in the front seat next to him during much of the tour. But he made sure to tell me that he reported the fact that the tour manager in Iceland had made an accommodation for me. Nico told me that that tour manager would be fired for doing so. This caused me great distress and set the tone for the remainder of the tour. —During the tour, Nico told a tour guide not to answer my questions, saying that I ask too many questions. He told the guide this in Spanish. My husband speaks Spanish and overheard it. On another occasion, Nico told another tour guide, also in Spanish, to be careful what he said because my husband could understand Spanish. The fact that such conversations occurred further damaged our trust. —In Barcelona, Nico said I would not be able to sit in the front seat with him during the trip to the Gaudi Monuments — the most highlighted and popular attraction in the city — because he would need the space so he could do paperwork during the journey. As a result, I could not ride on the bus for that trip and missed out. —At another point, we wanted to take a train to a destination but did not want to do so if it would mean taking all of our luggage. Nico told us that he would be able to keep our large luggage on the bus. Because he told us this, we were willing to book the train, and Nico helped us book it. But just before the train trip, Nico told us that he would not be able to keep our luggage for us after all. Later, we met another group that was also on a Gate 1 tour. The members of that group had taken the train to their destination and all of them were able to leave their luggage on a bus. So there was a contradiction between how Nico handled us and how another tour manager handled a separate group. These are just a few points among several that could be made. I have tried to be brief in my description of what happened, and as a result, the full sense of how unpleasant our experience was may not be completely apparent. But it indeed was. The way Nico dealt with us left us feeling demeaned and relegated to nuisance status.

I would give Gate 1 an excellent rating because of the superior service I received on my recent trip to Thailand. I love that they take care of every detail - all I need to do is relax and enjoy my trip. My tour guide Kit was everything you would want in a guide - funny, informative, thoughtful. She was constantly bringing local treats on to the bus to share with us. The hotels we stayed in were top notch. The cities were visited were all really interesting and showed us different aspects of Thailand. I can't say enough about how great this trip was!

We loved Italy with our tour guide Patricia! However, several weeks before our trip we received a call from Gate1 stating that Delta had cancelled our Jacksonville to Boston leg ( which we had paid more for) and they needed to rebook all of the flights to and from Italy as they cancelled the entire flights. They found us new tickets for an extra 2200 plus we would need to pay an extra 220 dollars for a hotel as we would need to arrive a day early. The Affordable Trip to Italy is no longer affordable. I asked for my money back and was told I could only get 50 percent back. My husband found a flight out of Miami for an extra 450 dollars. We had to drive 6 hours to get there but it was more affordable. We have asked to speak to a supervisor several times but have yet to speak to someone. The agent gave us 50 a piece (credit) because someone closed our request to speak to a supervisor. Just know, you do not own the tickets(even though you paid for trips months before) .

Gate 1 has left me stranded in foreign countries 2 times now without any support or assistance getting a new flight home. This happened in Equador and Africa. I had to find my own new flight snd ride to airport, even though everything was originally booked thru and by Gate 1. You cannot rely on this agency to get you home. Horrible service.

Loved Sri Lanka. The tour was very nice and the staff was some of the best I have experienced. Our guide, Shyam was awesome, very considerate and worked very hard to accommodate so many weird request.. always with a smile. His verbal history of Sri Lanka really helped us understand the nature of their country. I will for sure return for the Northern tour. Great choice of hotels, staff and points of interest. Thank you so much for this experience. Judy

I have been on two Gate1 tours, to Mexico in Aug 2022 and to Egypt in Feb 2023. I thought the Mexico trip was a great value for money, the Egypt trip of average value for money. For both tours, I was very pleased with the destination tour manager and local tour companies. The hotels and motor coaches at least met my expectation for quality and sometimes exceeded expectations. Included meals were okay, neither bad nor in any way exceptional. The biggest disappointment is Gate1's US staff's below average customer service. The US office is consistently bad. They are VERY hard to reach by phone and provide no email address. Their website looks to be 15 years out of date and is useless for resolving issues. If you can reach them by phone, maybe they can help, but it's far from assured. For one of the trips, the one to Egypt, the tour price included R/T flights--both JFK to/from Cairo and two flights internal to Egypt. Gate1 bought group tickets on EgyptAir but failed to enter travelers' frequent flier numbers or arrange for specialty meals, despite having the information on hand. EgyptAir, which also has pretty poor customer service, said all this had to be arranged by Gate1, since these were group ticket and, of course, Gate1 doesn't answer the phone. Had to walk to ticket counter in Cairo and walk in to a ticket office in Aswan to get frequent flier numbers entered and meal choices.

• North America
• South America
• Restaurants
• Privacy Policy

Gate 1 Travel Review

Gate1Travel.com is a travel booking website that offers a variety of travel packages and services. It is a one-stop shop for all your travel needs, offering flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages. In this article, we will explore the different ways to use Gate1Travel.com and make the most of its services.

It offers many options for travelers, and as such, its one of the most versatile travel booking websites available to travelers across the world. Some of the many options on Gate1Travel include:

• Book a Vacation Package One of the best ways to use Gate1Travel.com is to book a vacation package. The website offers a wide range of vacation packages that cater to different budgets and preferences. You can choose from pre-designed packages that include flights, hotels, and tours, or you can customize your own package by selecting the components you want. Gate1Travel.com also offers a “Build Your Own Trip” feature that allows you to choose your own flights, hotels, and tours, and customize your itinerary according to your preferences.
• Book a Flight Gate1Travel.com offers flights to destinations all over the world. You can search for flights by destination, date, and time, and filter the results by airline, price, and duration. The website also offers a “Flexible Dates” feature that allows you to search for flights within a range of dates, giving you more options and flexibility. Once you find the flight you want, you can book it directly on the website.
• Book a Hotel Gate1Travel.com offers a wide range of hotels in different destinations around the world. You can search for hotels by destination, date, and price, and filter the results by star rating, amenities, and location. The website also offers a “Best Value” feature that highlights hotels that offer the best value for your money. Once you find the hotel you want, you can book it directly on the website.
• Book a Car Rental If you need a car rental for your trip, Gate1Travel.com can help you with that too. The website offers car rentals in different destinations around the world. You can search for car rentals by destination, date, and price, and filter the results by car type, rental company, and location. Once you find the car rental you want, you can book it directly on the website.
• Book a Cruise If you want to go on a cruise, Gate1Travel.com can help you find the perfect one. The website offers a wide range of cruises in different destinations around the world. You can search for cruises by destination, date, and price, and filter the results by cruise line, ship, and itinerary. Once you find the cruise you want, you can book it directly on the website.
• Get Travel Insurance Gate1Travel.com offers travel insurance to protect you against unexpected events such as trip cancellations, medical emergencies, and lost luggage. The website offers different types of travel insurance plans, including basic, comprehensive, and cancel for any reason. You can choose the plan that best suits your needs and book it directly on the website.
• Join the Gate1Travel Loyalty Program If you are a frequent traveler, you can join the Gate1Travel Loyalty Program and earn rewards points for every booking you make on the website. The rewards points can be redeemed for discounts on future bookings, free upgrades, and other perks.
• Use the Gate1Travel Mobile App Gate1Travel.com has a mobile app that you can download for free on your smartphone or tablet. The app allows you to search for flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages, and book them directly from your mobile device. You can also access your itinerary, check-in for flights, and receive real-time travel alerts.
• Get Travel Inspiration If you are not sure where to go or what to do on your next trip, Gate1Travel has numerous attractive ideas that can help you trim your decisions, and even inspire you to book ideas you’ve never previously considered!

Gate 1 Travel is a broad, do-it-all travel booking website with some of the broadest options for travel of all types, all around the world, of any websites who meet the criteria of truly being a fully-online travel booking company. Unlike most booking companies other than Tripmasters, Gate 1 Travel is fully customizable and offers even a broader scope of travel options from our favorite provider – Tripmasters .

However, there are options on Gate 1 Travel that Tripmasters doesn’t offer, and as a result we’ve used Gate 1 for special deals and scenarios where we wanted to travel somewhere that Tripmasters really didn’t cater to. If you want to find a trip, almost no matter where it is, whether it’s a budget adventure, a luxury river cruise, USA travel, or even an elaborate safari – Gate 1 Travel offers a host of great options to satisfy what you’re looking for.

Table of Contents

How Gate 1 Travel .com Got Started

Gate 1 Travel has an interesting story, and as they say on their website, they were founded in 1981 with the dream to bring the best travel experiences to those who love to see the world, namely by providing escorted tours throughout Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Greece and Turkey. Since that time, they’ve expanded globally, but still offer some of the best value escorted tours not only in these specific regions, but throughout Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, and even Oceania.

Gate 1 is the primary brand, but also includes the label  Discovery Tours – a group touring experience that offers you a chance to immerse yourself in culture with a smaller group size of up to 22 people.

Today, Gate 1 Travel  offers trips to 6 of the world’s 7 continents, and remains a completely customizable platform for people trying to book trips. We’ve used the platform to book myriad trips to Colombia, the Yucatan Peninsula, and even Germany. This is a recap of our experiences in an honest review style.

As a disclaimer, we are in no way being compensated for this review of Gate 1 Travel.

Is Gate 1 Travel Trustworthy?

We’ve had nothing but good experiences with Gate 1 Travel, which is why we’ve used the service on more than one occasion. Having originally found Gate 1 through the advice of a friend who loved their affordable booking options and flexible pricing plans, we’ve only been dealt with fairly and honestly with Gate 1.

The prices of trips are accurately represented, as well as the services and all aspects of trips provided. At no point have we seen a compromise of planned itineraries, and any unforeseen changes were taken care of with minimal effort on our part – Gate 1 took care of everything.

One of the most striking things about Gate1Travel is its impressive range of travel packages. They offer tours to every continent, and their trips cater to different types of travelers, including families, solo travelers, and seniors. Their packages include everything from adventure tours to luxury cruises, and they offer packages for every budget.

One of the things that customers appreciate about Gate1Travel is their excellent customer service. They have a knowledgeable and responsive customer service team that is available 24/7 to answer any questions or concerns that customers may have. This level of customer service is rare in the travel industry, and it’s one of the things that sets Gate1Travel apart from its competitors.

Another aspect of Gate1Travel that customers appreciate is the level of flexibility they offer. Customers can customize their travel packages to fit their needs and preferences, which means that they can create the perfect trip for themselves. This level of flexibility is particularly useful for families or groups of travelers who have specific needs or requirements.

Gate1Travel’s prices are also very competitive, and customers appreciate the affordability of their packages. They offer a Best Price Guarantee, which means that if customers find a lower price on the same package elsewhere, Gate1Travel will match it. This level of transparency and fairness is another reason why customers trust Gate1Travel.

Gate1Travel’s website is easy to use and navigate, and customers appreciate the level of detail and information provided about each package. The website includes detailed itineraries, photos, and customer reviews, which help customers make informed decisions about their travel plans.

However, like any travel company, Gate1Travel has received some negative reviews from customers. Some customers have complained about the quality of accommodations or the lack of free time during tours. Others have had issues with cancellations or changes to their travel plans.

Overall, Gate1Travel has received positive reviews from the majority of its customers. The company’s excellent customer service, competitive prices, and flexibility have made it a popular choice among travelers. However, as with any travel company, it’s important to do your research and read reviews before booking a trip with Gate1Travel.

What Options Do You Have With Gate 1 Travel ?

With Gate 1 Travel, like Tripmasters, you essentially have two different ways to book trips. First, you can select one of their pre-organized, recommended itineraries, or  you can build your own from scratch by using their “Build a Vacation” option, which is about halfway down on the first page.

You can find this option, but it’s one of the things we would like to see more of on Gate 1 Travel – the marketing of the fact that you  can build your own trip from scratch.

What they’re better known for are their pre-selected plans and itineraries, which are actually really great and varied, find an area where you can select specific locations. The top of the homepage gives the broad categories of different trips offered by Gate 1, which goes beyond simply locational options. You’ll see options for travel by region of course, but also by type – including Holiday Travel, special travel deals, and even River Cruise options that go beyond Europe.

You can hover over any of these areas to see sub-classifications, which will help you go immediately to a specific region, country or topic.

Once you select one of these areas and find the prompts to go to the location-specific on the Gate 1 Travel  interface where you want to book, you’ll see all of the suggested itineraries laid out. Sometimes these vacation blocks are aligned with a certain week, or even a specific day, but you can always change the suggested hotels, flight plans, and even days spent per location.

This is the method we’ve used every time we’ve booked a trip through Gate 1 Travel , and the one where we’ve saved the most money in the past. Gate 1 does, however, let you book trips for an unusual amount of money down in some cases, and gives you a tremendous amount of flexibility in their bookings.

Some trips, especially ones with a pre-established itinerary, can be booked for as little as $500 down, as long as the full itinerary is paid off prior to the day the trip commences!

An Example of Gate 1 Travel Value

Since it’s the example that requires a bit more of an example, we’ll discuss for a moment how to actually book a trip from scratch. In this example, we’ll book a trip leaving from Miami, Florida to visit London and Paris over 7 nights during the American Thanksgiving holiday, similar to our example on our review of Tripmasters (just to make sure things are apples to apples).

Using the “Build a Vacation” portal , which we discussed and which is pictured below, we’ve laid out our itinerary by the following terms.

The issue with Gate 1 is that sometimes the options that you want on a Build a Vacation aren’t available, such as this instance where hotels in London aren’t available but hotels in Paris are available, as well as the flights.

However, look at the price of the overall trip…. minus the London hotels.

Do you think you would be willing to find your own hotel for 4 nights if the entire trip was this cheap? Yeah, so would we. $1,500 is an amazing value for international travel round-trip, plus connections between cities and 3 nights of hotel for  two adults . 

Customer Service at Gate 1 Travel

The customer service at Gate 1 Travel is really solid. On some of our previous trips, there were times were flights got moved, or hotel dates become unavailable – sometimes overbookings happen.

Gate 1 Travel notifies you of all these changes, then makes sure you have additional options to choose from without being left without these important aspects of traveling.

The company has been in business for over 40 years and has built a reputation for providing exceptional customer service to its clients.

One of the standout features of Gate1Travel.com is its commitment to providing personalized customer service to each and every client. From the moment a customer contacts the company, they are greeted by a friendly and knowledgeable representative who is dedicated to helping them plan the perfect trip.

Whether a customer needs assistance with booking flights, arranging accommodations, or planning activities, the team at Gate1Travel.com is always ready to assist. They work closely with customers to understand their individual needs and preferences, and then tailor travel packages that meet those specific requirements.

One of the key ways in which Gate1Travel.com delivers exceptional customer service is by providing customers with a range of support options. Customers can reach out to the company via phone, email, or live chat, and can expect a prompt and helpful response to any queries or concerns they may have.

In addition, Gate1Travel.com provides a wealth of information and resources to help customers plan their trips with ease. The company’s website is user-friendly and informative, with detailed descriptions of each travel package and destination, as well as helpful tips and advice on everything from packing to local customs and culture.

Another hallmark of Gate1Travel.com’s customer service is its focus on transparency and honesty. The company is upfront about all costs and fees associated with its travel packages, ensuring that customers are never hit with any unexpected charges or fees. In addition, the company offers a Best Price Guarantee, promising to match any lower price found elsewhere for the same travel package.

Beyond these core principles, Gate1Travel.com also offers a range of additional services and amenities to enhance the customer experience. These include personalized travel documents and itineraries, as well as travel insurance options and 24/7 emergency assistance to ensure that customers feel secure and supported throughout their journeys.

Overall, Gate1Travel.com is a standout example of how to deliver exceptional customer service in the travel industry. By focusing on personalized support, transparent pricing, and a commitment to delivering the best possible travel experience for every customer, the company has built a loyal customer base and established itself as a leader in the online travel industry. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or embarking on your first trip, Gate1Travel.com is a company that you can trust to provide the support and assistance you need to plan the perfect trip.

We’ll continue to use Gate 1 Travel , and believe you should do the same. Stay tuned for specific reviews on our ongoing trips using Gate 1 Travel  and their amazing platform!

You Might Also Like

How to Plan a Trip to Masasa Beach, Philippines

Things to Do in Athens, Greece in Winter  

How to Spend the Perfect 2 Days in Milan

Once the world gets to a more normal place, we want to do all the traveling we can. Thank you for this review, we will be giving it a try! Finding a good travel website is hard with all the competition out there, so I always appreciate it when people talk about the ones they’ve used and whether they recommend it.

Justin & Tracy

It’s a great site – I’m sure you will enjoy it!

Privacy Overview

Suggested companies

Trafalgar travel.

Gate 1 Travel   Reviews

In the Tour Operator category

Visit this website

Company activity See all

Write a review

Reviews 2.8.

Most relevant

Uncaring and Greedy Company

I'm very disappointed in Gate 1's lack of empathy and flexibility in allowing rescheduling of a trip to a Muslim country the week after the recent attacks in Israel. There have been many active protests and government support of Hamas at the destination. Visits to mosques and Jewish religious sites were included in the tour and no additional security was being offered by Gate 1. I was more than willing to postpone my trip or apply my total payment to another future trip. Instead, I lost over $4000 for the trip, airfare, excursions and transfers and was not given any other option but to forfeit more than 90% of my payment. I was also misled (by two separate agents) to believe that I would be refunded my airfare minus a $250 penalty. Instead, I now have a credit for a sum uncertain with no way to access it with an airline that only goes to one destination. The tragic events in recent days should warrant the ability to make changes in travel plans without excessive penalties. Gate 1's policies are unreasonable given the unprecedented times we are living in.

Date of experience : October 10, 2023

Reply from Gate 1 Travel

Thank you for sharing your comments. We regret that your experience did not meet your expectations. So that one of our representatives can provide additional assistance and try to make this right for you, please submit an inquiry here: https://www.gate1travel.com/contactus

Stay away from Gate One travel and Jet Blue.

They canceled our trip to Peru. We bought insurance and didn't get our flight money or insurance back. Kept getting the run around from Gate one and jet blue. They kept blaming each other. Stay away from these companies they will stick it to you. Our group lost alot of money.

Date of experience : March 23, 2023

Thank you for sharing this feedback. Your comments are very important to us. We regret that your experience did not meet your expectations. We have provided your contact information to our customer service team who will reach out so that we can try to make this right for you.

This service is entirely unacceptable.

This service is entirely unacceptable. I noticed that my name has an error and have been going back and forth calling every single day to speak with someone in regards to correcting this egregious mistake. Each day i speak with a new person and they inform me that they have corrected the issue and that it takes about 24 hours for the change to be reflected. Each 24 hours that pass, there is no change. It is exhausting having to jump through hoops for a simple mistake that 1- should never have happened and 2 should have been corrected after the initial phone conversation. Yesterday, was the 5th time i spoke with someone, Clinton Foley, at which point i required that i receive a confirmation email proving that amendments were being processed. Today was the last time i spoke with someone and again the name is an error. My trip is 2 weeks away and instead of preparing and getting excited for this experience i am left with a sour taste in my mouth and dont even want to continue my business further with gate 1 if simple issues like this cannot be resolved with me calling DAILY. Escalate this to the highest personnel and fix this mistake immediately.

Date of experience : August 18, 2023

I’ve taken many trips over the years…

I’ve taken many trips over the years with Gate 1 prior to Covid. All were exquisitely memorable and wonderful experiences! However I booked one trip where they paid for my travel because it was included. I learned from that one experience to always book my own travel. Fortunately I chose to book different return flights from China. My travel partner was stuck 3 days in the airport while I had the best experiences getting to my destination even though my flight cancelled due to a flat tire, the airline placed us in two hotels with meals and arrived in less than two days. I also learned never book travel insurance through Gate1 the hard way. Note that even if you use outside insurance they give you a hard time providing documentation. Post Covid our flights cancelled to Fiji due to a cyclone. Our travel insurance company paid us in full after 30 days. Do your homework. Protect yourself while traveling.

Date of experience : October 23, 2022

Thank you for your kind feedback. We can’t wait to see you again! If you require additional assistance, please submit an inquiry here: https://www.gate1travel.com/contactus

OUR TRAVEL MANAGER WAS THE GREATEST

OUR TRAVEL MANAGER WAS THE GREATEST. HE WAS SO INTERESTING AND PAID SUCH CLOSE ATTENTION TO OUR COMFORT AND SAFETY. ALL OF OUR ACCOMMIDATIONS WERE FANTASTIC. THE BUS DRIVER WAS AMAZING AND THE PORTER SO HELPFUL. I AM DISABLED AND HE WAS SO GOOD TO ME. THE STAFF AT THE HOTELS WERE SO FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL. TRUE HOSPITALITY!!

Date of experience : October 18, 2022

Thank you for taking the time to share your comments. We truly appreciate the feedback and look forward to welcoming you on your next Gate 1 trip!

Just completed the 11 day Essential…

Just completed the 11 day Essential South Africa tour. I had decided that I would never book with Gate 1 again before I left for the trip. This was due to the number of times that I and the others in my group made phone calls regarding our reservation. We got agents who didn’t follow through, did not return calls, provided incorrect information and a manager who told me we should have gone through a travel agent. The agent was very accommodating when we booked. Having questions and looking for answers, feeling you were a problem was awful. Colleen our tour guide was excellent. She took excellent care of us and only because of her, I would give Gate 1 another chance. Patience is a virtue, and it doesn’t stop when you get a customer’s money. Sandra Green

Date of experience : May 16, 2023

Thank you for sharing this feedback. Your comments are very important to us. We regret that your experience did not meet your expectations. So that one of our representatives can provide additional assistance and try to make this right for you, please submit an inquiry here: https://www.gate1travel.com/contactus

Gate one did not plan for bad weather…

Gate one did not plan for bad weather even after knowing three days in advance. We were stuck in an old hotel - worst ever - in Hofn. Gate one was protecting their profit at rye expense of their customers. Would not travel with them again

Date of experience : September 25, 2022

Updated review due to superior customer service

** I did speak with Gate 1 representative and all of my issues have been resolved. Therefore, I am pleased to update my rating from 3 to 5 star due to the excellent service that I have received. There was an issue with phone calls not being received on my end. So I was able to respond to my email and call the representive directly. We are looking forward to our travels with Gate1 in January 2023

Date of experience : September 07, 2022

Successful Fall 2022 trip, concerns alleviated

I, too, have had excellent travel experiences with Gate1 several times over the years. HOWEVER, in a review early this Fall, I expressed concerns about upcoming October travel, with no success contacting Gate 1 in response to their emails over the past 2+ weeks that my flights have changed, and a hotel change. I am happy to report that all issues were stated to be resolved before I left the US, and that the trip was an unqualified Gate 1 success. As a result, I will continue to recommend Gate1.

Do not have very high expectations about certain experiences.

In general, we liked our "9 Days Classic Alaska" tour, but going to Alaska we, I'm sure like many others, were expecting to see the major attraction, a glacier. And it was planned but didn't happen due to the weather. Yes, the captain was right to turn the ship because of the storm, but Gate One should have planned it better and made another attempt to show a glacier on the next day if the first one fails, instead, we had a half-day bus ride to the next city and half day was just waisted. Our Tour Director, accommodations, and pretty much everything else was great, but not seeing one of the miracles of the world, which pretty much was the purpose of our trip to Alaska was a HUGE disappointment.

Date of experience : May 15, 2023

We are booked on a tour for Norway in…

We are booked on a tour for Norway in February. I was trying to prepare for it. Tried to call gate1 several times, one time they said someone would call back in 3 hours. no one did. I sent an email. no response. I only put a deposit on the trip and am getting concerned about paying the balance. If I cancel, I will probably lose $400. After reading the rest of the reviews, I am really worried. This is supposed to be a fun vacation. someone needs to call back.

Date of experience : August 28, 2022

Gate 1 had worse customer service team…

Gate 1 had worse customer service team I ever experienced!! Hired incompetent people, rude, can not do their job, and can not reach manager after numerous emails and phone calls. Threatening me to pay additional charges after I paid all balance before the due day due to "airline schedule change", otherwise will cancel my trip. I booked whole package, airline changed schedule after confirmation is not my problem, but gate 1 service people told me "schedule change, you have to pay the difference". The worst part is: can not reach people in charge, all answers were "we left massage for manager to call back". I was carrying my phone 24/7 , no manager called back instead another incompetent person called back threatening me to cancer my trip!! Update: Thanks for gate 1's reply. A manager called back ( 9 days later after several requests) and removed the additional charge post in my account after I paid all balance. It was a very stressful experience! I do agree gate 1 has great service with tours and tour managers, that's why I booked 5 trips in one year, but not customer service.

Date of experience : July 28, 2022

Dear Lisa, We are concerned to read these comments and would like to work on resolving this. Please share your reservation number or additional details so we can assist. We do return supervisor/escalated calls within 24-48 hours from the time requested. Our supervisors will try their best to resolve your concerns.

We booked out travel for alaska last…

We booked our travel for Alaska last year, when I booked the trip the agent I booked it with did not say a word that you have to be vaccinated to go. If they had we would not have booked it at all. We postponed our trip because of all the crap with masks and vaccination's hoping that it would change, but still need to be vaccinated to go with their company. When yet proven the vaccine is not working since even fully vaccinated people are still getting sick. This is still a free country we live in and it should not be mandatory that we need to get vaccinated. When I call and talked to them about it they were the most rude people ever. We should be able to get our deposit back since it was their agent that did not tell the truth about things, but yet we are being penalized for wanting to cancel out trip. I would not at all recommend traveling with this company.

Date of experience : July 27, 2022

Dear Cindy, Our primary focus will always be the safety and health of our passengers, staff and the communities we visit. With this in mind, we require all travelers to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 prior to starting their trip. This requirement will remain in place until guidance changes from health organizations and governments. Additional requirements may exist based on your itinerary and enforced by airlines, government agencies, and local businesses. We regret you may have been unaware of this at the time of your booking. We will be reaching out to discuss with you further.

Gate 1 Experience was Superior!

Just now finishing a Gate 1 tour with a group of 24. They have been great all along the way from the booking agent to the travel director. Our Bulgarian guide (Violeta) was the best. She was both funny and knowledgeable. She had an uncanny ability to herd us along without being pushy. The hotels we had were a step up from other tour companies I’ve used. And the price was very affordable. All my travelers were very happy, as well.

Date of experience : March 17, 2023

Don’t bother getting trip insurance

Don’t bother getting trip insurance, they don’t help. We used to love Gate One and took many trips with friends, neighbors and relatives. I will not use them again.

Date of experience : June 09, 2023

Gate1tour manager unprofessional

Gate1 booked our travel reservations to the Canadian Maritime Provinces, June 24-July 1, 2023. The original booking got us in to Halifax in the middle of the night and the return flight had us leaving Saint John at 5:30am. I called to complain at least 3 times with no luck. Gate 1 wouldn’t even set up transit from the airport to the hotel! Then as we were ready to drive to the airport, the leg of the flight from Montreal to Halifax was canceled by Air Canada. Called Gate1, and the first flight they could find for us was the next day. That meant we lost the first full day of the tour and welcome dinner. The agent assured me that there would a welcome package at the hotel lobby or our room. However, there was only a brief note in the room from the tour manager with no useful information regarding bag pickup or bus departure . I called and asked her to come to our room, At this point, I was extremely stressed and therefore a bit short with the tour manager. Instead of smoothing things out, she took umbrage and flounced out of the room without giving any further information. My observation of her leadership style during the remainder of the trip is that she is hubristic. She has an inflated sense of self without any exceptional credentials and is insensitive to understanding travelers needs. During the rest of the trip, she was rude to me anytime she could do that without others noticing. I’ve been on other tours, and this tour manager was totally unprofessional.

Date of experience : June 25, 2023

Booked via phone (and had a super experience)

My parents have been on previous Gate 1 trips and really enjoyed their experience — so, for their Christmas present this year, my husband and I will be taking them on a Christmas markets tour of Budapest, Ljubljana, and Vienna. I was going to book it online as the online process looks pretty straightforward, but my father INSISTED that I call and book with Javier because he was so impressed with him. And he was right: Javier definitely is an expert! He made the booking process exceptionally easy and clear and answered our dozen+ questions with confidence. Excited about our trip!!

Date of experience : July 13, 2022

Dear Mrs. Wong, Thank you for the 5-star review. It means a lot. Loyal customers such as your parents has been the cornerstone of our company for over 40 years. We can't wait to welcome you to the Gate 1 family.

We have been on 14 Gate1 tours to…

We have been on 14 Gate1 tours to date…with 3 more booked. They are an excellent tour company and their itineraries are interesting and well organized and the tour directors excellent. We only had one complaint about a tour director…after Covid. We would recommend them highly.

Date of experience : December 05, 2022

Thank you for taking the time to share your comments. We truly appreciate the feedback and look forward to welcoming you on your next Gate 1 trip! If you would like to provide more details about your concerns with the tour director, please submit an inquiry here: https://www.gate1travel.com/contactus

We loved it

We loved it! We did a tour of Thailand and had a wonderful time. The hotels for first class our guide was wonderful and we had a great experience. We are taking our second tour with them next month to Morocco. I noticed a lot of negative reviews, but I have to say we had a wonderful time and had no issues. Somebody was there to meet us at the airport on arrival and everything went very smoothly.

Date of experience : December 01, 2022

Just A Disappointing Experience with Gate 1, But the Canadians Were Great!!I think the experience you have with…

I think the experience you have with Gate 1 Travel depends on what type of tour you are taking. We did a "Small Group Discovery" Tour three years ago and it was very good. However, we just returned from a Gate 1 Tour to Montreal, Quebec, Toronto and Ottawa and it was really disappointing and it was expensive. Our hotels were at best not very impressive. Our room, at the Delta Marriott, had torn and stained carpets...yuck. Most of the tour seemed to focused on the tour participants being dropped off at shopping areas and encouraged to buy something, anything. We did not visit a single museum, other than the lobby of one museum, but since we did not have tickets, it was back on the bus for us. We did drive around a lot, but we thought we might see some culture; but culture was not on the agenda. Our breakfast, included on the Tour, was very mediocre and it seemed that Gate 1 worked to maximize their return on investment on absolutely everything we did by cutting corners and delivering a very mediocre experience. Honestly, by Day 9, we were hearing about better tour operators from the guests that we were traveling with. Just really disappointing...sorry to say. We were going to book another tour with Gate 1, but after our experience in Canada, we have held off.

Date of experience : August 24, 2022

Dear Mark, Thank you for sharing this feedback. Your comments are very important to us. We regret that your experience did not meet your expectations. We have provided your contact information to our customer service team who will reach out so that we can try to make this right for you.