I want to tell you that Rui was one OUTSTANDING guide. He was friendly, knowledgeable, funny, passionate about his country and very professional. Communication was efficient & reinforced verbally & written with daily schedules. I just can't say enough about him! He made me love Portugal & want to return!

Our trip to Portugal and Spain was beyond expectations. The architecture, history and scenery were spectacular. I am a Gaudi fan and was in awe of Sagrada Familia while in Barcelona. Our tour manager, Victor kept everything running smoothly and on time. He went out of his way to accommodate everyone and kept us laughing.

I want to say that the walking tour in Portugal/Spain was INCREDIBLE. It exceeded my expectations in every way, and was one of the most unique agency-run trips I've ever taken. The guides were so knowledgeable and full of positive energy. The activities were also unique -- tour of artist's studio, boat tour of the Camino de Santiago, etc. It rained the entire time and even that didn't detract from this amazing experience. I can see how this trip might not be right for a lot of the, say, typical Gate 1 consumers; I do hope that Gate 1 continues to offer more active/adventurous trips in the future, despite it not being the right fit for some of your clientele. I think this type of tour can attract a younger, more adventure-seeking crowd and I know? my same-age friends (40-somethings) will be interested in these types of trips.

I wanted to acknowledge our tour manager Caetano. He went above and beyond, always went the extra step and gestures. He was the best at providing assistance, suggestions, solving challenges, finding answers and was truly interested in his passengers and their wellbeing. His English was superb and he was so funny!!! Coach driver Paulo was also outstanding, polite, funny and very professional. They made us all feel comfortable, safe and that we got our money's worth. Actually I feel I more than did. I would so recommend this tour, although it should be mentioned that walking, hills and steps can be an issue for some. This was probably my favorite tour so far.

I want to express my sincere gratitude for the best experience of my life! Carmen our tour guide was a wealth of knowledge and made our trip an absolute joy. She has the charisma and detail oriented attitude that made our trip so enjoyable the time flew and we were sad to part ways!! Jose our driver was also a wonderful host and we appreciate so much his patience and willingness to accommodate our every whim! We will be looking to book another trip soon with carmen as our guide! We made wonderful friendships you can't find a better tour guide in the world. Thank you!

Our trip thru Spain and Portugal was outstanding. We started in Madrid, traveled west to Portugal. Visited Porto then headed south to see the Miracle of Fatima and continued to Lisbon while stopping to see other places as we traveled. We traveled back to Spain and visited Granada, Seville, Valencia, and Barcelona among other places. Both countries were filled with interesting places and the city guides did a great job. Our primary tour manager Cesar was excellent and it was obvious he was an experienced travel guide as he handled any concerns or issues with professional courtesy while offering a reasonable resolution to the situation. During the bus rides the information he offered on each country and places we visited was comprehensive. His command of the English language allowed him to make nuance and colloquial references that resonated very well with the group. Many of the members of our group were bi-lingual and he was able to converse with them in Spanish if necessary. His humor was the highlight of his way of managing the group and presenting information. Hats off to Cesar he is a wonderful ambassador for Gate 1 and for the countries of Spain and Portugal.

The itinerary of 8 Day Affordable Portugal is well designed. It covers the essential cities and places in a short time. I have done the 10 day Classic Portugal before and it is also a gem. Our tour manager Francisco was outstanding in managing the trip and providing in depth analysis. His passion for Portugal was very evident. He planned a surprised side trip for us which made the trip even more memorable. We came away with an appreciation of all things: the history, the beauty, the culture, the language, and most of all, the wine and the food. I would recommend this trip to anyone who is interested seeing Portugal. I could not accomplish seeing all these if I was doing on my own in 8 or 10 days.

Let me start with the forecast of rain all week. Thought I could stay home as I had insurance. What a silly thought! Sonia, the cruise director, made sure we all had a good time. Loved that she announced "dear passengers of the Douro Cruiser;" made me feel special and part of the family. Her chant of We Choose to be Happy, helped get that positive spirit going. And then, she was excellent in all she did! She loved her boat and the crew. The river was high and Captain Jesus made sure we were all safe. All the other crew members did their jobs and made us welcome. The passengers on the boat banded together with the positive spirit to ensure a good time. Best trip!

The most amazing of ALL my 30+ Gate One trips! Guide was very informative and itinerary was well designed to see Portugal! Hotels were excellent and location perfect!

THIS TRIP WAS FANTASTIC! I LOVED ALL THE HOTELS! THE MEALS WERE GREAT ALFONSO WAS BY FAR A GREAT GUIDE! THE WALKING THRU THE COUNTRYSIDE AND THRU THE VINEYARDS WAS WONDERFUL. MY TRANSFERS WERE RIGHT ON TIME!! IT WAS MY BIRTHDAY SO I WAS SERENADED IN SPANISH AND PORTUGEESE TO 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' OUR PLAN B ON THE ONE DAY IT RAINED VERY HARD..CLARA ARRANGED FOR US A TRAIN RIDE AROUND THE ISLAND! THAT WAS FUN! THIS WAS MY '47' TRIP WITH GATE 1 AND THEY JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER!! AND I HAVE 9 MORE BOOKED!!!!

I am a travel agent and have traveled to over 40+ countries and have had many tour guides throughout my years. But I was VERY IMPRESSED with Jaoquin! He is one of the best I have ever had! I want to let Gate 1 know that he is top notch and I hope he is being well taken care of. Not only is he personal, and knows English very well, but was so willing to help everyone in our group with anything they needed. He would even go above and beyond the normal protocol to help us! He is super impressive! I am excited to bring more groups to Gate 1! Thanks!

I have the most amazing trip. Portugal was a beautiful country. It was very interesting. I've learned so much about their culture and all those gorgeous churches that we visited. The walking was so good. I've never done a vacation like that before. I'll put it this way I had a trip of a lifetime specially, being with my sister,Brother in law And my husband of course. The group that we were in with the most amazing group we got along so well, and makes the trip so much smoother. We have the most amazing nicest. Patient kind wonderful Tour guide her name was a Odeth, she took us to the most wonderful places. Recommended a lot of beautiful restaurants and she spoil us. I'm planning for my next trip with Gate 1 Again, thank you for the wonderful experience. I couldn't tell you enough how wonderful it was.

We had a fantastic trip and I must say that our tour leader, Aline, was a delight. I call her "the Amazing Aline"! She gave us so much history and shared all her knowledge of the area and the beautiful buildings, architecture, culture, agriculture while also managing all 38 of us which was no easy task, especially with all of the other crowds of tourists. I likened it to "herding cats". We had marvelous experiences with her. Our group was especially cohesive and we have kept in touch after the tour ended. I don't know how she had the time to keep us so organized, but she did, and with great humor and patience. She even provided us with a lovely snack when she was aware that we would have little time for an actual lunch stop, and even after reminding us that we should pick up our own snacks for this portion of the trip. It was a tasty treat of local foods. On those occasions when we were on our own for lunch or dinner, Aline gave us very good suggestions of where to find good restaurants - there were so many good establishments close to our hotels. Our bus driver, Jose, was an excellent driver. Between Jose and Aline they must have been in very close communications because he was always exactly where he needed to be to pick us up. Thank you, Gate 1, for one more excellent and memorable vacation!

Our tour was tremendously perfect!! Couldn't have made things any better! Special thanks to our tour guide Antonio; for his expertise regarding his country, Spain; and for the extreme care he demonstrated to his visitors!!! In the entire 15 days, not one single incident occurred which could have put a damper on the tour! He was the perfect tour guide!! Also worthy of mention are the skilled bus drivers with their comfortable buses, the on-site guides with their expertise of individual tour site-seeing; and finally...thanks for the excellent route and planning set up by Gate 1!! Oh, I almost forgot...hotels and food was the greatest!!

I have only great words to share about our Kaleidoscope trip of Spain, with Antonio as our trusty Tour Manager. I laid awake last night, trying to put all the cities that we saw in order in my mind. I am still stunned that we covered so much ground and saw so many incredible sights. The local guides made the history come to life, the food was astonishingly good, the Spanish people were happy and helpful, our very nice hotels were expertly located, and we had a congenial group to share everything with. Even the rest stops on our long road trip days were memorable. What more could you ask for? Gate 1 does a fabulous job of organizing these trips, starting with the itinerary, then planning even down to the small details, saving us the hassle and worry of doing it ourselves. I so appreciate the careful thought that makes these travel experiences so satisfying and memorable. Thank YOU, Gate 1!!

I want to let you know what a fabulous tour trip which my wife and I had in Portugal with Gate 1. I believe that this was our fifth tour with Gate 1 and it did not disappoint. The tour gave us a comprehensive view of this beautiful country, both cities and regional towns. Our trips through the countryside also provided us with a closeup look at the geography of Portugal. Our fellow travelers began as strangers and emerged as friends -in-travel. This entire experience did not happen by accident. Our tour guide, Rui, was the magician who transformed us into La Familia, as he called us. Besides having an encyclopedic knowledge of his country, its history and its people, Rui was a master of human relations who seemed to meet the needs of all of us. We truly admired his seamless skills. Thank you for a wonderful life- experience and thank you for letting us travel with Rui. We (and you) are lucky to have met him!

I was on the 8 days cities of art tour in Spain. Diego was our guide. The Hotels and transportation that Gate1 had set up for us was great. The first and last were the best. In Madrid the Riu was iconic with the roof top views. Our Bus was a top of the line tour bus and very comfortable. Primarily I want to comment on how Diego took care of us. We were quite a big group - 39 I think, But he had everything organized. He was on top of every situation that came up. Myself and my traveling partner ( my friend of 30 years who had never. been on a Gate 1 tour ) really didn't have to worry about "the next step". My friend was impressed how everything from bus pickups and dinner was set up and timely. Not only was he organized he was also caring. I had a medical situation while we were in Valencia and he was quick to give me advice and guidance- I appreciate that greatly. I plan to return to Spain and hope to have Diego as my guide again.

I just want to say that our Hospitality/Activity Director onboard the Douro Cruiser, Eva, was fabulous. She really motivated and encouraged participation in activities and we all had a lot of fun joining in. She has a sparkling personality and was friendly, professional, and sincere. All the staff were amazing, but she really stood out.

I just wanted to say that our Tour Manager, Ercilia, is an absolutely amazing person. She is a true asset and honestly I do not know how a tour manager/guide could be any better. From organizing the tour, to her knowledge of English, to her unbelievable knowledge of her country's history, to suggesting places to recommend and explore in every location, and even her sense of humor. It was an absolute treat to have her on our vacation.

Porto River Cruise was fantastic. Gate 1 did a great job. The river was spectacular, the stops very historical and informative, the ricver boat was comfortable, food was outstanding, and activities on board fun. Optional tours were outstanding.

What a wonderful trip! Everything was just perfect. Our guide Philippe was amazing. Portugal is such a beautiful country and I feel like we hit all of the highlights. I am very impressed with Gate one and how every detail was taken care of. Will be traveling with you guys again hopefully soon! Thank you.

The trip from Portugal to Spain was terrific from start to finish. The hotels were great, the locales were amazing and the local guides were very knowledgeable. Most importantly, our tour manager, Carla, was professional, incredibly knowledgeable, empathetic, and a perfect addition to our trip. Thank you. We are looking forward to our next great adventure!

This was our second Gate 1 trip, but our first ever walking tour. We absolutely loved it! Our tour guides, Alphonso & Beatriz were outstanding and worked so well together. Along with the scheduled walks each day, we visited many interesting sites and learned a lot about the regions we traveled through. Our group of 22 was the perfect size to get to know one another while visiting some beautiful trails in Portugal & Spain. That said, we are definitely looking forward to booking another Gate 1 walking tour soon!

Incredible experience, it was fantastic, something inexplicable. The truth is that the experience of that country and of you as an agency was a dream come true, your agents there are very efficient, the service and quality of your vehicles is something on another level. Many Thank you and we will see you again very soon, you made me fall in love, with you forever. Thank you so much

Our trip was wonderful. We had a great guide-Elio-who was friendly, knowledgeable, etc. We had a great group of fellow travelers. Spain and Portugal were both beautiful and rich with history, beautiful architecture and landscape. We will be doing another GATE 1 trip in the future for sure.

We would just like to express our extreme satisfaction with our Spain vacation. Rolando was the true gentleman, knowledgeable, and a person whom you can truly appreciate as he had a large group and the logistics of handling us to all our satisfaction was amazing. He truly exceeded all expectations and a true asset to Gate 1. We will continue to book our future vacations with gate 1. Friends and family will join us !! Please acknowledged our appreciation to Rolando as he truly was a huge factor in our satisfaction.

Trip was wonderful. Rolando our tour guide was outstanding. He is a concerned and knowledgeable person, whom I believe to be a huge asset to Gate 1. He really works hard to assure we the customers enjoy ourselves to the fullest. Our trip was an enjoyable experience. We will always use Gate 1 for our future journeys.

I really want you to know how utterly spectacular our tour guide, Miguel was, just the best ever! So incredibly knowledgeable, great story teller, great personality and sense of humor and at the end of the tour I told him he was the single best part of the trip. He so obviously loves his career and you couldn't find anyone better for the job. So I wanted you to know how much everyone one the trip appreciated him.

My husband and I had a truly over-the-top amazing time on your 16 Day Iberia Spain/Portugal Trip! Your itinerary of Spain was incredibly packed with rich and varied landscapes. Celia was our tour guide and of all the Gate 1 Tours we've taken, she is THE BEST! Instead of the usual comfort stops along the way, she surprised us with more places to see than the itinerary stated. She maximized our time at each location by sending those not participating on optional excursions back to the hotel via taxis or teaching us how to get back to the hotel on our own via metro or bus or walking. The tour bus did not backtrack to return passengers back to the hotel, but went on to the optional excursions. In other words, she did not waste a minute of our time. I believe we saw the maximum we could of Spain. Celia has the heart for her home country of Portugal and also Spain and she does a compare and contrast of the two countries for us. She is not afraid to speak openly giving her opinions of various topics involving the people, culture, government, economics, etc. She has also a love for the history of these countries so we are the beneficiaries hearing these stories well told. At every included meal, she checked in with us to ensure that our dietary restrictions were met. As we approached the final departure day, she checked in with EVERYONE to ensure that each person had a way to get to the airport safely and on time. WOW! You cannot ask for a better tour guide than Celia. At the end of the tour, I could not help but reflect on your motto, "More of the World For Less" because Celia ensures that this motto is true.

I simply had to write and tell you what an extraordinary adventure we had with Gate 1's tour of Madrid and southern Spain. It was no exaggeration to say that our every need was not only taken care of but anticipated, at a times, even before we recognized the need. Joseph, our fantastic guide, was one of the most personable, kind, funny and knowledgeable individuals that we have known, showing interest in all of our fellow travelers while providing us with a welcoming, loving experience as he shared his love of his country. The hotels we stayed at were modern, accommodating and beautiful and the breakfasts that fueled our day were delicious , varied and filled with every possible food that we could desire. Our bus driver, Oscar, kept us safe and well cared for at all times, serving us with a smile and interest while in his capable hands. Joseph's knowledge of his country was exemplary and his addition of wonderful background and historical stories and anecdotes kept us laughing and mesmerized at the same time. The local guides that we met at each of the cities provided amazing historical background and the most interesting tidbits of information including the origins of many of the words that we use even today as they related to the history we were learning about. We were so incredibly fortunate to have selected this trip with Gate One. It is easy to understand how successful your company is because of the incredible staff that organize and conduct your tours, the outstanding attention to every detail, the amazing value that you provide for your travelers and the highest professional standards of delivery and care. Well done everyone and endless thanks for this amazing experience. Joseph and Oscar, we are indebted to you for your amazing guidance and care of all of us!!! We are ready to rejoin you as soon as we can pack our bags!! Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!

We have traveled with Gate 1 all over the world and your guides are always the best. Our guide on this trip was Rui and he was amazing. Very knowledgeable, kind and had a great sense of humor. He handled our group of 37 perfectly. The hotels were all in good locations and they were always clean.

It was a memorable trip and we enjoyed having Lisa as our Tour Coordinator/Manager, she has extensive knowledge of Spain and know how to make happy her guests. A great asset for Gate1 and what a charming personality. I will definitely join next holiday with your travel company for my next adventure trip.

My husband and I just wanted to share our appreciation of our recent trip 15 day classic Spain and Portugal. Gate 1 is the best, everything was wonderfully prepared for us. Your consideration and thoughtfulness in preparing and executing all travel was outstanding. Our tour guide, Daniel, was exceptional! We look forward to our next adventure with Gate 1.

The trip was really sensational. Our Tour Manager, Lisa, was outstanding. I have had many TMs and they are all good, but she was unusually helpful and was always willing to go the extra mile to help us. And the Gate 1 staff on the phone lines were also extremely helpful. Also, Gate 1 met all our transfers all the time, including the bus (!) to take my friend Eric Pollyea and myself to the Barcelona airport at the end of the trip (after most people had departed). And I found on the return flight that vegetarian meals had also been ordered, that was amazing. Thanks for all your help in organizing the trip, which was so helpful. I have been and will continue to recommend Gate 1 highly.

I just completed my tenth Gate 1 tour, 10 day Classic Portugal. Portugal was beautiful, and the weather was fabulous, but Rui Barreiro, our tour manager and guide, was the major reason for the success of the trip. Rui was, "Simply the best; better than all the rest." His knowledge of the historical sites as well as his ability to detail the history of Portugal and the history of several cities and towns, was beyond comprehension. By offering detailed accounts of legends, of Portugal's history, of significant events that shaped Portugal, Rui made Portugal come alive. His English was better than many Americans. He could, without hesitation, answer every question posed by any member of a group of 41. He was serious, funny, patriotic, energetic, patient, proud of his country, extremely well organized, attentive to detail, and most importantly a great storyteller. He was truly exceptional in every facet of his role as tour manager and guide. Rui went beyond all expectations. When the porters were slow in delivering or retrieving luggage, he was beside them offering assistance. Regardless of the time of departure for travelers, he was there to offer assistance and to bid a farewell. Gate 1 has so many proficient managers, but Rui surpasses all. Because of guides like him, Gate 1 will forever be my go-to vacation tour company. I have loved every trip I have taken with them; I look forward to many more.

Javier was by far the best guide that I have had in all of my years of traveling. We arrived early and he took the time to get our luggage checked in and gave us lunch recommendations. He was very knowledgeable and punctuality should be his middle name. He even spent his free time hanging out with us. His primary concern was always the safety of the group. When my daughter and niece had issues with their room, he handled it right away. I was sorry when our trip had to end. This was my first trip to Spain and Javier made it even more memorable.

My husband and I recently had the pleasure of embarking on our first escorted tour with Gate 1 Travel, "11 Day Crown of Spain", and I can confidently say that it was an experience that exceeded all our expectations, thanks to our incredible tour manager, Alex. His exceptional skills, knowledge, and unwavering enthusiasm truly made the trip unforgettable. From the moment our adventure began, Alex set the tone for an amazing journey. He possessed a remarkable ability to engage with each traveler, making us feel like a close-knit community from day one. His warm and welcoming demeanor created an inclusive atmosphere, where everyone felt comfortable and excited to explore together.

Our lasting memory of this cruise will be the quality and approachability of all the crew / staff on board. The Captain, the soon- to- be- appointed captain Louis and the other crew always greeted us like friends. The Bar staff brought great pleasure, especially Amalia, who perpetually radiated happiness and a welcoming attitude. A picture of her is attached that epitomizes her personality. The restaurant and cabin staff were also friendly and happy to interact. I think that the attitude of all the crew/staff created a happy atmosphere on board that led to general content among all passengers. I was also very impressed with Sonia, who demonstrated a great love and knowledge of her country, that resonated with me (born in England), as Portugal and England form the longest lasting alliance in history.

It was amazing! We absolutely loved the tranquil pace of the river cruise and the Douro Valley is stunning. I loved the vineyards, olive trees and ramshackle old houses along with the beautiful estates dotting the river. The food on the boat was wonderful and I miss the Portuguese bread! The wait staff was so kind and helpful. Sonia did such a great job keeping us organized and knowing what to expect - and I appreciated her in-depth knowledge of the Portuguese culture and people. Jorge also was a welcome member of the team. The crew who got us through the locks and docked did it in a way that made it look easy - although it is not! We were in very capable hands throughout! And the trip to Salamanca was also exceptional! What a beautiful city. The other excursions we took were also very valuable experiences: Guimareis, Castelo Rodrigo and Obidos. And in Lisbon, the tour of Belém - the tower and Pasteis de Belem were great! This was our first Gate 1 trip and first river cruise - and it absolutely exceeded our expectations! I think a part of that was how beautiful and fascinating we found Portugal. What an amazing country! We will have to go back! We filled out the survey before leaving the boat, and I just want to add that the entire team works extremely hard! I think the wait staff and kitchen crew worked the hardest - we descended upon that dining room as if we had never eaten before! And the food was always plentiful, varied and delicious. Thanks to you all!!!

How does one begin to describe the trip of a lifetime. Our tour director, Maevon was amazing. He was knowledgeable, humorous, helpful, looking to all details. Maevon even drew and and distributed several maps of Spain and Portugal, describing the history, the regions, and other important information. I have been on several tours with Gate 1 and other companies and no other tour director took the time and interest as Maevon did. As to the itinerary, it too was fabulous. I was worried a 16 day tour was too long. Not at all. Lots of stops along the way. Lots to see and experience. Truly, this has been the trip of a lifetime!

I wanted to thank you for an amazing trip. Your team member Daniel was absolutely the best. He was well versed about the places we travelled to and the information he gave us made the trip interesting. I know he has worked for your organization awhile now and I have to say he represented your organization very well. If I was still running a company, I would have tried to buy him away from you. Very professional. This is my second trip through Gate 1 Travel and I can't say enough good things about your company. I always tell people that if they are going somewhere they should check your website. Thank you for making my trip so memorable and exciting.

All compliments The travel group was wonderful...folks participated and shared life's adventures, stories and journeys with one another. The hotels were well-placed in their communities, immaculately kept common and private spaces. Felt safe on these properties and staffs were efficient and friendly. Breakfasts were very good and I single out Porto location for excellent breakfast and service. Dinners and add-on features were more than worth the price paid. Bus was kept clean and the driver was absolutely practiced safe, defensive driving skills. He was friendly and efficient. The sites were well-selected, and interesting commentary was presented by local guides. Saving the best for last: from the moment we met Adriana, our Gate One guide, to when we departed, she never failed to impress with her patience, good humor, willingness to share her story and the stories, history, culture (many facets, for that matter) of Portuguese people and nation. All together a marvelous experience.

The Portugal tour I just finished is the first time I am with Gate One. My husband and I are very happy with the hotels, meals, tour guides, drivers and the itinerary. Thank you and I'm glad I've booked Iceland tour in Feb 2024. We will definitely travel with Gate One again and recommend to our friends.

This was our first trip with Gate 1. We want to give a shout out to our tour manager Ercilia . She was fantastic. Our group of 42 people was very diverse, and in our opinion not easy to manage, but Ericilia did an excellent job. She showed an incredible amount of patience. It is because of her that this will not be our only trip with Gate 1.

It was wonderful!! Our tour manager Francisco was great and the local guide Martha in Porto was very good as well. We were very happy with all of the Hotel choices. Portugal is an amazing country with incredible history , Fado music , delicious cod fish dishes, custard tarts and Port Wines. Thank you Gate 1 for this memorable trip!