gate 1 africa safari reviews

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We have just booked the SA trip with Victoria Falls with Gate 1. We are taking our 12 year old son wth us. Any suggestions on the itinerary or optional activities that may or may not be suitable for him?

This will be my third tour with Gate 1 and they have all been fantastic!

He will love this trip! Someone in our group was traveling with her 12 year old daughter.

One thing that I didn't know about in advance is that in Swaziland we visited a primary school that desperately needed supplies. The people in our group did go to a store and purchase some food items and school supplies such as pencils, crayons, and paper for them, but as a teacher I had a lot of things at home I could have brought for them if I knew we were going there.

Thank you for letting me know. I have lots of school supplies, pens and pencils I can bring from home. Did you do any of the optional tours? We are thinking of only doing the optional safari tours since we would like to have some down time to relax or site see on our own.

We did not do any optional tours through Gate 1. We booked our own tours apart from the group. It's cheaper (you cut out the middle man) and it was just the 2 of us.

You might want to check with Gate 1 to see whether your group will be visiting the school. We were there during the South African winter, and it might be different if you are traveling during their summer.

I see this is your first post which always makes me suspicious. How was the tour misrepresented? I had exactly the opposite experience with the excellent tour guide going above and beyond to make sure everyone was happy and we saw as much as possible by revising and reordering tour stops as needed due to rainy weather. The hotels were fine. If you wanted 5 star service, you should have booked a more expensive tour. This tour provided excellent value for the price.

This tour cost $7,000 for hotel and air for 13 days of which 2 days are for travel only. I do not consider this to be a cheap tour. I only wanted what I paid for. The tour is advertised as an "escorted tour" however, we were not escorted until we complained and we certainly never met Roger that you mention in other posts. I disagree with your comments and will never use Gate 1 again. I do not want anyone else to feel cheated like we did. We spent a lot of money and most traveled from the US and South America for a trip of a life time and Gate 1 did not meet our expectations nor provide the package that we all thought we purchased.

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Gate1 East Africa safari

Post by ikowik » Mon Jan 01, 2024 2:08 am

Re: Gate1 East Africa safari

Post by gypsylady » Mon Jan 01, 2024 3:37 pm

Post by runningshoes » Mon Jan 01, 2024 3:57 pm

Post by AS7911 » Mon Jan 01, 2024 4:55 pm

Post by niagara_guy » Mon Jan 01, 2024 5:40 pm

Post by epictetus » Mon Jan 01, 2024 6:26 pm

Post by halfnine » Mon Jan 01, 2024 6:57 pm

runningshoes wrote: ↑ Mon Jan 01, 2024 3:57 pm Safaris are a completely different trip and going with a 3rd party to organize all the logistics is a smart move. We've never used Gate 1 so I can't comment on them specifically, but having done a couple of safaris, the most recent one (this past summer) to exactly the same areas (Crater and Serengeti I'm assuming?) + Rwanda for the gorillas. We're pretty independent travelers so did all the flights ourselves and used a local Tanzania-based group for everything else including airport pickups, guide in the 2 parks + dedicated vehicle, etc. I can suggest the following; - There's a clear trade-off between time and money in safaris in general and the Serengeti area specifically given the large distances. For example, depending on your starting point, you could drive in, and fly out, saving a full day of driving at the end. If one tour operator is more expensive than another, there's usually a good reason - they're picking better accomodations, etc. It's your job to define those needs upfront. - To make it easier on yourself and your expectations - try to determine upfront how much you're willing to spend on the trip and then define what level of accomodations you're looking for. In Serengeti, they range from simple room to the 4 Seasons and the associated services match up accordingly. - Map out the areas you want to see and determine if you're going back to the same base every day or splitting your time in the park and staying at 2 different places. - Spend some time on www.flyertalk.com - there's a section devoted to Africa travel and people will be happy to provide additional guidance. If you have specific questions, please feel free to ask.

Post by ikowik » Mon Jan 01, 2024 7:15 pm

Post by ikowik » Mon Jan 01, 2024 7:19 pm

gypsylady wrote: ↑ Mon Jan 01, 2024 3:37 pm My husband and I have now done 7 trips with Gate 1. All to places we didn't feel comfortable navigating by ourselves. (Peru, Ecuador, South Africa) We have truly never had a bad trip! We are going with them on a hiking trip to Nepal in February (our first hiking trip with them)The price point for Gate 1 trips is awesome, especially for the value that you get. They seem to source out-of-the way, non-corporate hotels that blow away the 'normal' hotels that you might find in an area (we stayed in an 1800's Hacienda in Ecuador that was breathtaking) I never hesitate to recommend Gate 1 for any trip . I have traveled with my mother, on a Globus trip to Spain that was unbelievably 'meh' compared to any Gate 1 trip I've taken. Never again! That said, my husband and I still enjoy doing our own trips and the planning while we can (Spain, Italy, New Zealand, the Azores, etc) Hope this helps. Debbie

Post by ResearchMed » Mon Jan 01, 2024 7:37 pm

ikowik wrote: ↑ Mon Jan 01, 2024 7:15 pm My thanks to all who posted replies. Very helpful, especially the comments that all use the same spots for animal watching, but it is other parts such as accommodations that drive differences in price. We have traveled extensively as a couple and as family. If it is just the two of us, we are easygoing with demands on services and accommodations. Arranging tours with a local (Africa-based) company- yes, I realize this will be less expensive, and that US based companies likely sub-contract with the same firms. I did some searching, but find it hard to know how reliable they are, and how much I can trust the website descriptions. We do not want to be in a difficult situation in a strange country with language barriers.

Post by JDCarpenter » Mon Jan 01, 2024 7:42 pm

gypsylady wrote: ↑ Mon Jan 01, 2024 3:37 pm My husband and I have now done 7 trips with Gate 1. All to places we didn't feel comfortable navigating by ourselves. (Peru, Ecuador, South Africa) We have truly never had a bad trip! We are going with them on a hiking trip to Nepal in February (our first hiking trip with them)The price point for Gate 1 trips is awesome, especially for the value that you get. They seem to source out-of-the way, non-corporate hotels that blow away the 'normal' hotels that you might find in an area (we stayed in an 1800's Hacienda in Ecuador that was breathtaking) ...

Post by ikowik » Mon Jan 01, 2024 7:58 pm

ResearchMed wrote: ↑ Mon Jan 01, 2024 7:37 pm ikowik wrote: ↑ Mon Jan 01, 2024 7:15 pm My thanks to all who posted replies. Very helpful, especially the comments that all use the same spots for animal watching, but it is other parts such as accommodations that drive differences in price. We have traveled extensively as a couple and as family. If it is just the two of us, we are easygoing with demands on services and accommodations. Arranging tours with a local (Africa-based) company- yes, I realize this will be less expensive, and that US based companies likely sub-contract with the same firms. I did some searching, but find it hard to know how reliable they are, and how much I can trust the website descriptions. We do not want to be in a difficult situation in a strange country with language barriers.

Post by FoolMeOnce » Mon Jan 01, 2024 8:36 pm

Post by halfnine » Mon Jan 01, 2024 8:39 pm

JDCarpenter wrote: ↑ Mon Jan 01, 2024 7:42 pm ... because we are likely to use [an] agent{s} for Bhutan, Nepal, and India in 2025...

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Excellent trip tour of Douro River in…

Excellent trip tour of Douro River in Portugal. Patricia on our cruise was excellent as was Amir. They made our trip a great trip.

Date of experience : October 09, 2023

Reply from Gate 1 Travel

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!

So disappointed with my Gate One experience

I took a tour with Gate One in the spring of 2023 to Portugal and Spain. I will probably not book with this company again. I trusted Gate One to take us to the highlights of both countries. I was wrong to do so. The city I was looking forward to the most was Barcelona, Spain. The website for that trip featured Gaudi's wall that overlooks the city. Disappointingly, the Park Guell which is portrayed in every Barcelona image collection that I have ever seen was omitted from our tour. Worse, by the time I realized this, no tickets were available for me to purchase independently. So I missed out on seeing the place I had most wanted to enjoy. Also in Barcelona is the Sagrada Familia. It is the top-rated activity on many tours. It was not included in the Gate One tour, and tickets were unavailable. The Casa Batllo' was also on my wish list. Since it wasn't included and tickets were unavailable, I missed that bucket list sight as well. Instead of these prime areas, we endured a drive-by of the defunct Olympic Village. We did have free time, which we could have filled with tickets for the three sites previously listed if we had known weeks or months earlier that those highlights were not included in the tour. My comments to Gate One were dismissed with the rationale that we should have known from the itinerary that those activities were not included. Never before have I felt the need to preview the highlights of an area before embarking on a tour and then cross-checking that they were included. This would certainly be my recommendation for anyone using Gate One. I can't afford to go to Barcelona again so will have to live with disappointment. I do not recommend Gate One.

Date of experience : May 16, 2023

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

A changed in their itinerary due to…

A changed in their itinerary due to aiport closure made us traveled by bus for over 9 hours.

Date of experience : October 01, 2022

Grand theft under their watch

In reference to my previous review regarding the grand theft that happened under their watch because of their failure to keep our property safe, they have further failed to completely own responsibility to this incident. I have been following up with the Rapid city police regarding the crime and the individual responsible has been apprehended and some of the properties recovered but I have not heard if Gate1travel is filing a complaint to make this individual pay for his crime. Totally unacceptable.

Date of experience : July 08, 2022

Dear Alex, We regret your loss. As Gate 1 is not listed as the owner of the property that was stolen, we cannot speak to the police regarding the loss. The hotel notified the police and all contact information and reports have been shared. We encourage you to file a claim with your insurance for this loss and to continue to communicate with the police who are investigating the incident.

Update to my earlier review - Stay away from Gate1 until they change their ways

Our first trips with Gate 1 were great. The tour guides really took care of us and we didn't spend excessive time on the bus. Our latest tour to Greece was awful. The tour director did not communicate well. Telling us we would have a free lunch - when she meant to say we would be free for lunch on our own. We found out after we had to pay for the meal. Our hotel in Mykonos had a large pool of water in the bathroom. It was coming from the room above and there was black mold on the ceiling. It was reported (twice) and the solution was to give us more towels to place on the floor. Nobody seemed to care about the mold. One hotel didn't have hot water for the showers. This was reported to the front desk and the tour director. Writing to Gate 1 did no good. They send their generic "thank you for your input" email and nothing gets done - even when you ask them to call you. I assume they have changed management since our first trips and no longer care about the travelers as long as they get their money. Finally got a response from Gate1. The hotel with cold showers said it was never reported. The hotel with the mold and wet floor said they offered to move us to a different room. That never happened - they gave us lots of towels to soak up the water. Gate1 offered us $100 off of our next trip. Gate 1 replied with another "customer service will contact you" message. To date that has not happened. Horrible company and horrible customer service!!

Date of experience : October 14, 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.

I highly suggest that before booking a…

I highly suggest that before booking a trip with this company, think again! I was fully aware that traveling with covid would be a risk; however, did not expect the unprofessional negligence that occurred. Unfortunately, I returned from my trip with a bad case of covid which has caused my health to decline and have been unable to work. The tour guide inquired on a few occasions as to "why I was wearing a mask because covid is no longer a threat!" Other people on the tour also came down with the virus; however, it was brought to my attention from another person in the group, a health professional, that the tour guide was sick. I immediately sent him an email to inform him I was sick as I felt it my responsibility. He never had the courtesy to inquire how I was doing, which to me speaks volumes. I reported this to the company who took no responsibility and twisted my words regarding the situation and offered no retribution. Not believing a customer is not acceptable! The over all experience was dreadful from the moment I paid for the trip as I couldn't sign into their website, waited several days each time I needed assistance for a call back and when I got to the airport for my trip, it took a few hours to sort out my reservation and government documents as my information had not been properly transferred.

Date of experience : September 08, 2022

There were at least 5 on the trip that…

There were at least 5 on the trip that I knew of that had or got COVID People were not masking and when the bus guide asked everyone to mask not all did COVID was/is horrible Why can’t people obey the rules I don’t know who had COVID but 4 of us had our shots and 3 boosters It was a great trip and met some great friends Guides were wonderful But don’t know if I’ll ever go again

Date of experience : March 26, 2023

Bad experience turned good.

Had a bad experience with a cancellation but Gate 1 took care of everything. Looking forward to a future trips.

Date of experience : May 17, 2023

We were on a Gate 1 tour from June 26…

We were on a Gate 1 tour from June 26 thru July 3.. It was the Classic Tour of Ireland…Our tour director was Cristianne. Our driver was John….Unfortunately I did not get her last name… Please make sure this review goes to her management team and to her…. Our holiday would have been half as fun and interesting if we did not have Cristianne…she is absolutely indispensable because of her knowledge of Ireland..her presence made the already beautiful places many more times interesting..we have never come across such a beautiful, pleasant, and friendly guide in our entire life. She explained everything beautifully and we came to know about various interesting things as guest in beautiful Ireland…even after returning home we are still Talking about Cristianne’s wonderful story telling which made our bus trip so fun and festive…she made us feel Like we were one of the Irish..we have never experienced such love and affection in a different country…she was so much more than a tour director it was like we were all,a big family…Cristianne gave us delicious treats….many surprises….that were not included…she is one beautiful young lady inside and outside..I fell in love with Ireland…and I could listen to Cristianne talk forever,,she is an absolutely romantic soul.. John our driver…made us feel safe while driving….made sure we got our luggage…very personable, kind and a wonderful personality… This is was our first Gate 1 tour…but definitely not our last. What a fantastic 1st experience we had with Gate 1 With much love, Barbara & Michael Bartlett Oviedo, Florida Please make sure Cristianne and John know how happy And fun they made our holiday..

Date of experience : July 06, 2022

Dear Barbara, Thank you for the 5-star review of your recent tour. You can be certain that your positive comments have been shared with Cristianne and John, along with out thanks for a Job Well Done. Look forward to welcoming you back, soon.

A great day because of a Gate 1 representative

Hi fellow travelers, I normally do not write reviews unless something occurred that is of an extraordinary nature. This is one of those times I feel compelled to write about Gate 1 Travel, in particular one of its agents named Claudia Rodriguez who completely went out of her way to assist me with my upcoming Rhine River cruise. You see, at the time of booking, there was only one departure/arrival airport available (NYC) and since we live in Las Vegas, I spent much time trying to book/coordinate our flights to/from NYC so that we could connect with the international flights. Due to the international flights' early departure/late arrival times in NYC, we would need to spend a day (both ways) in a hotel in NYC as there was nothing early/late enough that would otherwise allow us to connect with the overseas flights. I called this morning and was connected to Ms. Rodriguez. This lady absolutely made our day by patiently going through her system and taking much more time than necessary but ultimately finding an option for us to fly from Las Vegas to/from Amsterdam and Basil. Moreover, she was able to find us a fare that upgraded us to premium economy which is cheaper than the cost of our round-trip flights to/from NYC. Additionally, we would not need to spend time and money for two extra days in a hotel in NYC!! Imagine this...more comfortable flying in premium economy, less hassle in checking in/out of hotels, saved two days and much more economical overall!! This does not happen often! Ms. Rodriguez helped us tirelessly, patiently, compassionately and with an upmost professional attitude! Because of her, Gate 1 absolutely and unequivocally earned my trust and continued business. This company is lucky to have someone like Ms. Rodriguez working for them. Cudos to Gate 1 and Ms. Rodriguez!! Thank you so much.

Date of experience : November 11, 2022

We truly appreciate your business and grateful for the trust you’ve placed in us. We certainly will pass along your kind word to Claudia along with our thanks for a job well done.

Traveled to Greece June 2023

Traveled to Greece June 2023. The 20+ page itinerary made no mention of the actual length of the bus tours and the actual set up of the tour days. The bus tour occupied about 8-11 hours of our day with 630am wake up calls to get the day started. They should really mention an estimated bus travel time because that may be a deal breaker for some people especially those with back ailments, tall people, or people with leg issues. This would not be conducive for anyone that has these problems sitting in confined spaces for long periods of time. My husband, who is 6’6, his legs were swollen everyday on the bus with the length of the rides and the cramped spaces. My back was on fire due to my back issues. There was assigned seating on these buses which constantly put us next to the same couple who were not at all fresh and it was nothing we could do about it because the seats were ASSIGNED! 8-11 hours daily stuck on and off a cramped musty bus is not my idea of a good time. I did ask if our seats could be moved but this request was not taken seriously until we decided to bail on the tour Friday June 16th after 3 days. We could not take two more days of that and from hearing the same complaints from some of the other travelers the feeling was mutual. When gate 1 rep was told of our plans to leave and called us to ask why we were leaving the tour and I told them there was no accommodations made and we were told that there would be no refund even though I hadn’t asked for any refund at the time. I paid out of pocket to book a shuttle to go back to Athens ahead of the tour then had to book an additional last minute hotel stay. On top of that the tours we experienced were very boring. It was Athens, Olympia, Kalambaka, Delphi. However, The tour guide, ViVi, was very knowledgeable and thorough in explaining the sites. This did not feel like a vacation and unless you’re into forced early wake ups, all day rides on cramped smelly buses, forced interactions (because you get the feeling you can’t even break off from the group if you want to) assigned seating like you’re at summer camp, and learning all about rocks, caves and olives..pick another trip! Gate 1 needs to be more thorough and up front with the explanation of the tours/trip!

Date of experience : June 12, 2023

France April 27- May 9

France April 27 - May 9. We have had several Gale One tours that were Great, but not this one. Basically the accommodations and land travel were not acceptable. Sights were wonderful. First, the Bus was too small for such a long trip. When sitting, my knees hit back of seat in front of me. No space for legs or anything else. Very cramped. Could not use pouch on back of seat in front of me. Overhead bin was very tiny. Secondly, Most Hotels, especially Mercure hotel chain were terrible. No air or windows in the rooms. Asked for fan but not always available. Hotel in Bordeaux was the worst. 1 of 2 elevators not working; very hot in room; no relief in sight; meals too sparse. The only decent hotel was in Lourdes where we could open the window. We understand that air-conditioning is infrequent in Europe, but for the price we pay, Gate One can find better places to stay and still be in center of cities. Tour guide was very nice but seemed uninformed. Gate One tour guides for Greece, Morocco and Sicily were tremendous comparably. Some of her facts about castles etc. differ from most tour books. She needs to use a script as her English is too halted for being a guide. She seemed to often pause mid-sentence thinking for the next word. She frequently asked tourists for the correct word to use. Poor idea to show two 50-year-old irrelevant movies in the bus. Could not see subtitles unless sitting in first 2-3 rows near the screens. We were looking for more history about the country, artists, music, Resistance movement during WWII, French influence around the world, why Paris selected for so many international treaties, etc. Several lunch rest stops were at gas stations. We were captive for expensive, lousy food. It would have been nice to know this a day or two in advance so that we could purchase food elsewhere & bring it with us on those days. In closing, we like Gate One generally and have several friends who used them per our recommendation. Not sure I would suggest it again. Thank you for your opportunity to reply here.

Date of experience : April 26, 2023

Excellent itinerary for reasonable price

Excellent itinerary for reasonable price. Good trip leaders. They give customers opportunity for independent experiences with guidence for good outcomes. They do not schedule every minute of every day. 16 time Gate 1 traveler

Date of experience : October 11, 2022

 Thank you for your kind feedback. We can’t wait to see you again!

Gate1 will not answer emails

Gate1 will not answer emails.  Reservation # 1998259  6/14 arrived Toronto on time. Plane to St John delayed several times for mechanical reasons then cancelled. Called local Gate 1 number - no answer Called emergency number - no answer - left voice mail message - never returned call 6/15 12:30 am arrived St John via Montreal. No Gate1 representative. No Luggage. Took taxi to hotel. Informed tour director of problem. She stated, we know that several people are going to have problems. Last tour had 8 people with missing bags and flight problems. It is happening on every tour. Started working on missing bag. Gate1 provided no help in locating bag. Bag never caught up with us. Made 27 calls to AC over the week. Spent over 11 hours on phone dealing with bag. Missed several activities. Week was very stressful. Enjoyment was greatly diminished. Issues: No Answer to help numbers No Gate 1 representative met a gate. Gate 1 should have dedicated help desk for flight and bag issues. No way the tour director can handle these issues. Gate1 has made the decision to continue tours knowing full well that an unacceptable number of customers will have problems. Tours should be suspended until airline issues are resolved or at least customers should be notified of the issues and be given the option to delay or get credit on future travel. I am sure your standard answer is to deny culpability and blame the airline. That may be true if it wasn’t for the fact that Gate1 knew, for certain, that an significant number of customers on every tour will have problems. On our return home we missed a connection due to Air Canada problems and we had to spend to night in the airport with no compensation from Air Canada. We got our bag 5 days after returning home. Air Canada has denied reimbursement for canceled flight and lost bag. They use Covid as excuse for all problems. We are out over $1000.00 because Gate1 knowingly put us in this situation. For the reasons above, I am asking for a $2000 credit toward future travel. Nothing can undo the extreme stress that we endured on this tour. We had another trip already booked but if Gate1 refuses to make this right it will be our last. Sent from my iPad

Date of experience : June 14, 2022

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 an understand they have been in touch.

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 13 Day Mexico Mayan and Aztec Illumination Tour two weeks after we did ours, and it was just confirmed based on the same Xochimilco tour that they took on their first day that alcoholic beverages and Mariachi Band was included in Gate 1 Budget during the boat tour but our tour manager and guide, MANUEL JURADO, decided it would be better for him to pocket the money that was supposed to be spent on our group to make our discovery tour with Gate 1 experience more enjoyable and memorable! This was based on the photographs provided by my aunt and uncle! Furthermore, I was just informed that water, coffee and tea were provided during lunch and dinner aside from one alcoholic beverages or juices. The very bad experience we had on our most recent trip to Mexico was because of the third party tour company and tour manager that Gate 1 employed—for a big company like Gate 1, offering travels all over the world, this Mexico trip being our 9th with them, I expected more! The tour manager’s actions is a reflection of how bad Gate 1 was with regards to their travel quality control. They should check each hotels, restaurants, foods, and activities before going to any third party tour companies!

Date of experience : November 03, 2023

My mom and I traveled to Italy this…

My mom and I traveled to Italy this past April. We had a great time although it was a bit too busy for us, but we did cover almost all of Italy you could possibly imagine. The breakfast was fair, not good but not bad. Dinners were good but not great and lots of fun. My biggest complaint is we were on a tour in Florence with Gate 1 travel and taken to a jewerly shop were we were than given a short talk regarding their products and than instructed we would receive a discount for being with Gate 1 travel. My mom and I both purchased 1 piece of jewelry each. When we went to purchase the products, we were told our discount was in the form of a tax credit and we had to turn the paperwork into customs to receive this discount. I was skeptical and questioned the process a few times but was reassured by the staff that it was very easy and if we had any problems to contact an email that was written on the instructions we were to follow. We followed the instructions as written and verbalized to us by the jewelry shop staff but were unable to complete due to our flight being delayed from Naples into Munich and we had to literally run to our next flight. I contacted the email 3 times with no response and I double check both my spam and the address given. I than contacted Gate 1 and were told in simple terms, there is nothing they can do. I believe this is a scam!!! I believe this is a way for them to make more money off of you. My mom and I are out 300 dollars. Which isn't a ton of money but I am sure we are not the first ones this has happened too! The Jewery shop is called "The Gold Market" and address is 50122 Firenze. I have also submitted this review to the BBB to further investigate this.

Date of experience : April 18, 2023

change to 5 star review

Change this to 5 star. Booked a trip 6 months in advance. Three months later they changed our flights and added $2,296. They did the right thing and gave us our deposit back. They really did try. Impressed after all.

Date of experience : March 18, 2023

Fiji Australian not happening

My wife and I are supposed to leave to Fiji in Australia on Thanksgiving 2023 but the Australian government has not granted my visa yet. And gate one will not give me a credit they just keep telling me to get a hold of the Australian home affairs which I have and they just said I have to wait even if it takes longer than when I have to go on my trip. And gate one just told me since the trip's already paid for there's nothing they can do. So basically since they already have my money I'm screwed! And I did not buy their insurance because I've never had to buy insurance before. That's my fault but for them not to even to offer me a credit that I can prove that I do not have a Visa is ridiculous and they also said since I don't got a visa for Australia and Fiji is part of the trip that I cannot even go to Fiji which is BS. I paid for fiji and it doesn't require a visa I think this is totally wrong just giving you fair warning right now gate one's customer service sucks. Well as of 11/14 this is an update about my review with gate 1 .I was working with a customer service supervisor named Dennis and we've been waiting and waiting to see if Australia would get back to me and my visa they haven't My wife is in healthcare so she just can't leave her patients, so we officially had to cancel today and that's what he helped me do he helped me cancel he said the internet division will reach out to me and my response to get a credit if they do anything at all, But yet no one has reached out to me to offer me a credit I will keep everybody updated on gate 1's customer service and what you can expect. And mind you my wife has gone to Africa we've gone to Costa Rica she's gone to Ecuador and she has gone to Vietnam and not sure quite how many other places. So it isn't like we're not repeat customers but are we going to continue to be a repeat customer I guess it will all depend on how they treat us when we actually need them?

Date of experience : November 07, 2023

Pop-up Purgatory

Had to log out of Gate 1 twice because of pop-up ads. Very unprofessional.

Date of experience : June 06, 2023

Beware traveling with Gate1, My first and last time

I took a Gate1 tour, represented as a 15-day tour with a Friday departure, which was January 27, 2023. I also paid for two additional nights at the Frangipani Royal Palace Hotel & Spa for which I was charged $159.00. Because the tour was advertised as beginning on January 27, 2023, it was my expectation that the two additional nights I paid for provided accommodations for January 25 and 26. Even though I requested this in approximately July 2022, I was not told until weeks before the trip (after I made flight reservations) that Gate1 used my money to pay for January 26 and January 27, because Gate1 had not reserved accommodations for the beginning of its own advertised tour. The Frangipani was run down and did not have a spa, as advertised and was extremely overpriced. Because I found out at the last minute that I had no place to stay upon my arrival on January 25 (because Gate1 used my money to pay for January 27 without my consent), I was required to make separate reservations; Frangipani charged me $100. Not only did Gate1 fail to provide accommodations for January 27 (Day 1), there were no activities for January 27, the day the tour was supposed to begin. Additionally, there were no activities scheduled for January 28 (Day 2), the second day of the alleged 15-day tour. There were additional days "at leisure" or pay an additional charge for activities. The alleged 15-day tour was, in fact, only 9 days of scheduled activities. Gate 1 admits that “[f]or any escorted tour, Day One is the date of departure from your gateway city; in this case it would have been January 27[,]” but then makes the incredible claim that I opted to arrive early for two pre-tour nights at the hotel, as if this changed Gate 1’s advertised start date of its tour. Gate1 admits that “[a]t no time, did we book or charge you for the night of January 25," the night for which I paid. EXACTLY! At best this is deceptive advertising. This was my first and last tour with Gate1. Travel with them at your peril. You’ve been warned. If there were minus numbers to rate Gate1, I would give them no less than a -5. I’ve also filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission so, hopefully, if there are enough complaints, it will investigate Gate1.

Date of experience : January 27, 2023

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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.

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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.

undefined. Are flights included?

undefined. Do I need Travel Insurance?

It is HIGHLY recommended that you purchase Travel Insurance. You will be provided with insurance options during the booking process.

Note: Travel insurance through Gate 1 cannot be purchased after the final payment has been made. 

undefined. Can I extend my trip?

undefined. What is the Average Group Size?

undefined. Pre or post trip accommodation available?

undefined. Are kids welcome?

About Travelstride

Find your perfect trip, travel confidently.

Founded in 1981, Gate 1 is known for its highly competitive prices. The company covers the most popular destinations in Africa with programs that provide terrific value and also deliver a wonderful experience.

Accommodations in safari lodges and hotels, transportation between cities, game drives and some meals are included in the upfront price. You’re able to relax and appreciate your surroundings as the details are handled for you.

• Save $700 per couple off tours. Prices shown reflect discount. Expires May 31. Click here .

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Anyone used Gate1 travel for safari? - Tanzania Forum

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Anyone used Gate1 travel for safari?

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Gate 1 is reputable, but their itineraries aren't really the best. They're "set" with where you visit, places you stay, and rarely take into consideration where best game viewing is during particular time of year. Often with long periods on roads for transfers from place to place.

And, private itineraries without having to deal with other participants is rather nice, and no "personalities" to deal with.

Many reputable in-country outfitters can be found here on the Tanzania and Kenya forums who can do so for you.

As others have stated, you would have much more control over your itinerary if you booked with a Tanzanian/Kenyan based tour operator rather than a foreign agent.

This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.

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