"Average excursion at best ---- 14 Day Wonders of New Zealand"

This holiday started off on the wrong foot. Arrived @ Auckland Airport ... it was extremely busy @ 6:30am ... it took a very long time to get thru customs. Once we got to the ground transportation area ... there was supposed to be a Gate 1 person waiting to take us to our hotel. We hung around here about 2 hrs looking and inquiring about Gate 1 driver. My cell phone does not work in NZ. Was going to use the pay phone, as I had a loaded phone card, but it required credit card to be inserted. I declined as I had no clue what amount they were going to charge my credit card. Was about to purchase a temporary cell phone, when all of a sudden a person holding a Gate 1 sign appeared. We approached him and explained we had been waiting some 2 hours for him, only to find out he was there to pick up 2 different passengers. However, he did agreed to take us to our hotel. The Gate 1 drivers had NO LIST of names of the people they were to pick up and transport. If they did, they would have known we were MIA!
We had previously traveled with Gate 1 and it was a quite favorable and memorable trip!
I can't say the same for this trip. The country is very scenic and the people very nice and friendly. The tour manager Kevin, even with his bad jokes, was good. The numerous cities and towns were rather interesting.
However, I didn't realize that when we signed up for this trip ... it would be ONE long boring bus excursion. I'll say we spent an average of 3-4 hrs per day on the bus. Boring!!! Boring!!!
We would stop in small little towns for some hurried sightseeing, meals and bathroom breaks. Plus we were advised we COULD NOT use the onboard bus bathroom. Wazup with that???
There is NOTHING mentioned in the Gate 1 travel literature that says this was going to be a very long and boring bus trip. Granted we covered a lot of territory, but I DID NOT intend on a spending 3 to 4 hours per day on a bus!!! This should be pointed out in the Gate 1 Travel literature.

"Had to cancel trip to Italy because of…"

Had to cancel trip to Italy because of Coronavirus. Spoke with Shannon Smith about getting a refund and was told over the phone the trip would be fully refunded except for a total of $600 in cancel flight fees. Moments after phone call received an invoice stating 100% cancellation fee and an amount well over $600.

"Connecting flights when promised straight flights"

We had an excellent time on our trip to Portugal because of our trip manager Rui and a bus driver Pedro. Rui did go above and beyond. Local guides were excellent, especially Augusta in Lisbon. I am a travel lover and have traveled a lot. Gate 1 provides a very broad view of the cities. No museums or zoo or aquarium were covered on this trip. But the reason Gate 1 is getting 3 out of 5 stars is because of the flights. We were promised straight flights when we were booking the trip. Initial straight flight to Portugal was switched with connection. Then out return straight flight was switched with connection. Why do I want to fly 20 hours when its 8 hr flight to Europe from USA?
Unlikely the flights were booked right away when I payed for the trip.

Reply to Gate 1 reply:
We booked the deal with direct flights guaranteed as part of the deal, payed in full right away. Direct flights were changed to connecting. Gate 1 didn’t leave up to the promise.
Anyway, I do not want to argue. My rating will not change

"Fun People to work with"

I have always made friends on their tours. For some reason they get friendly travelers. Was single when I used them. Fun people.

"Our trip in January 2020 to Myanmar"

Our trip in January 2020 to Myanmar did have many issues and bad experiences. After return we did contact Gate1 multiple times on the phone and e mails.No solution and respond.Be avare that Gate1 will not help you with any issue or problems after they get your money.This was very disappointing experience on our bucket list trip.

"Very bad service"

Very bad service. Long wait time on urgent mails due to coronavirus. very big costs on wait time on phone support. And advisors dont know anything about their own job.

The customer service ended up costing us 100euro+ in fees. And their advice cost us 700 euro instead of helping us they made it worse. Plus our vacation is partly ruined.

Never again.

"Gate 1 Travel The Worst Tour Company"

We have traveled with Gate 1 travel on 5 exotic trips, India, Africa,Amazon, Peru, Croatia/ Europe and Costa Rica. We have spent tens of thousands of dollars with them. We were loyal customers, taking sometimes two tours a year with them. But when we booked our last trip to Greece in Jan 2018 for a travel date of Sept 2018 that is when the terrible service started. I booked the trip early Jan. We had a horrible family situation 2 weeks after booking. I told Gate 1 of this tragic event and was advised by them to cancel it. So I cancelled the trip with Gate 1 for Greece. I took out their travel insurance when I booked the trip. I paid over $3k for the trip up front and they told me to contact their insurance carrier. When I did and tried to make a claim with the insurance company, they said they had no record of reservation. I called Gate 1 and wrote them (Gate 1 )many times, that I couldn't put in a claim, because they told me I didn't have a reservation number. Gate 1 cancelled it, so therefore there was not a reservation. I went back and forth with Gate 1 to try to get my money back, and they kept telling me, contact the insurance company. After 4 weeks and 32 emails back and forth with Gate 1, I contacted my Credit card company and asked them to put it in dispute. When i told them I put the amount dispute they told me they couldn't help me. Well they weren't helping me before in the first place. My credit card company sided with me, and credited the full amount to my account. During this process, I got a call from Karen a manager of customer service at Gate 1 literally screaming at me that I had to pay for the $951 airfare or they would block my email address. It was insane. I have never been treated so badly by a company. Having to deal with Gate 1 travel after having the stress of my family emergency was over the top. They treat their loyal customer like dirt and are so unprofessional. It is really sad too, because my husband and I are retired and travel all the time, once again. I recently tried to book a trip with them, and they told me I was black listed. Black listed! Seriously? You are not a loyal customer to them, even if you spend thousands of dollars with them. Don't travel with Gate 1. Terrible Customer Service and once they have your money, they won't give it back.

"They Charge You for Everyhting"

They charge you for everything and everywhere they can charge you. From a simple name change even if the fault was from their end, they will still try to charge you. So you better be checking everything you're paying for and make sure all info you gave them are correct. Or better yet, find another travel company to assist you.

"Went to Israel on the 9 day Believers…"

Went to Israel on the 9 day Believers Tour over Christmas. My family and I had a wonderful time and saw so much! We followed all the sites Jesus went to during his birth, ministry, and resurrection. We were even in Bethlehem at the site of Jesus birth on Christmas day. The guide was very good at explaining all the history and keeping us on schedule. The bus was comfortable and the hotels were excellent. Plenty of food at the meals but my 16 yr old was unaccustomed to anything but American food. We however were able to get Domino's pizza delivered while in Jerusalem.

"Had a great time"

Hey everyone just a few comments on the great 15 day trip tp see Ecuador. The trip included the lowlands, the Amazon basin, Galapagos the highlands of the interior. The added feature was the great tour manager Eduardo Borja who made this trip even better. Now this trip is not for everyone if you are the couch monkey or the once around the block with your dog this trip is not for you. This trip is very active with a walking day averaging 7 to 10 miles a day mostly up hill it seems. Now you add the temps in the high 80s, the humidity in the high 80s and the thin air in the interior it this trip can wear you down. The upside is the variety of what you will see and the first rate hotels that have been picked for the tour. The staff, meals and rooms were great with some coming with pools at their location. The one problem is you are only in most of them for a night and if you stay longer your days are taken up with tours.
As already mentioned this is an active trip an example is going to the Galapagos, there are approx. 11 different transfers just getting there so be prepared. Now as mentioned this was a great trip but there are a couple of points.
1) Watch out for Altitude Sickness this is very real and I came down with it bad.
2) Drink lots of water
3) Sun Tan lotion and bug spray.
4) A Good Hat.
5) A small flash light to use on you Amazon night walk.
As mentioned this a very active tour and I can be the example of losing 15 lbs. on this trip due to the walking and heat. So have fun and enjoy see if you can pack a little less due to all the transfers. CWP