Gate 1 Travel is a travel service provider that specializes in offering affordable escorted tours, river cruises, and vacation packages to a diverse range of destinations worldwide. With over 40 years of experience in the travel industry, the company aims to provide quality travel experiences that cater to various traveler preferences, including escorted tours, small group tours, walking tours, and independent travel options. The company's target market includes budget-conscious travelers seeking enriching travel experiences without compromising on quality. Gate 1 Travel focuses on delivering value through carefully curated itineraries and competitive pricing, making it an appealing choice for individuals and groups looking to explore new destinations. Customers can find a variety of travel packages that suit different interests and budgets on their website, gate1travel.com.
Gate 1 Travel receives a mixed reception from customers, with many expressing disappointment in their recent experiences. While some reviewers praise specific tours, such as the "14 Day Classic Greece with Crete & Santorini" and the "Essential South Africa Tour," highlighting exceptional guides and memorable itineraries, a significant number of people report serious issues.
Common complaints include poor customer service, difficulties with booking and refunds, and a perceived decline in quality compared to previous trips. Customers mention frustration over canceled flights and inadequate responses from the company when seeking assistance. Despite a few positive experiences, the overall sentiment leans negative, reflecting a growing dissatisfaction with Gate 1 Travel's service and reliability.
Summary generated with AI from recent reviews
Each source counts by its number of reviews. Only reviews written by people are scored.
| Source | Rating | Reviews | Weight | 6-mo | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trustpilot Imported Trustpilot reviews | 2.7 | 378 | 100% | -1.1 | ● Low |
Monthly average rating from reviews written by people · latest review Jul 2025.
| Month | Average | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 24 | 4.0 | 1 |
| Sep 24 | 2.7 | 3 |
| Oct 24 | 1.3 | 3 |
| Nov 24 | 3.0 | 3 |
| Dec 24 | 3.3 | 3 |
| Jan 25 | 1.5 | 2 |
| Feb 25 | 2.7 | 3 |
| Mar 25 | 5.0 | 1 |
| Apr 25 | 3.8 | 6 |
| May 25 | 3.0 | 4 |
| Jun 25 | 2.3 | 6 |
| Jul 25 | 2.3 | 3 |
Share of positive (4–5★) and negative (1–2★) reviews mentioning each topic · based on the 378 most recent reviews.
“A little late on writing this review”
“I have taken many big trips with Gate 1, I e”
Same method for every company: overall rating, legitimacy checks, the average rating of reviews mentioning each area and the 6-month trend · Travel Agencies.
| Company | Overall | Legit | Booking | Service | Value | Trend | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 2.7 out of 5 (poor) | 100 out of 100 | 2.3 out of 5 (poor) | 2.4 out of 5 (poor) | 2.6 out of 5 (poor) | +18% | 378 |
| 4.9 out of 5 (good) | 100 out of 100 | — | 5.0 out of 5 (good) | — | — | 1,109 | |
| 4.6 out of 5 (good) | 100 out of 100 | 4.5 out of 5 (good) | 4.5 out of 5 (good) | 4.6 out of 5 (good) | — | 1,069 | |
| 4.8 out of 5 (good) | 100 out of 100 | 4.9 out of 5 (good) | 4.9 out of 5 (good) | 4.6 out of 5 (good) | — | 1,050 | |
| 4.8 out of 5 (good) | 100 out of 100 | 4.1 out of 5 (good) | 4.8 out of 5 (good) | 3.4 out of 5 (fair) | −1% | 1,014 |
Bottom line: Gate 1 Travel is #5 of 5 on overall rating in this group. On booking, Audley Travel scores higher (4.9 vs 2.3).
378 reviews of Gate 1 Travel. Filter by what matters to you.
We've done four trips with Gate 1, to far-flung destinations. They've all been great. There are always a few irresponsible, immature whiners who blame any bad experience on somebody else's incompetence instead of their own.
Gate 1 has treated us great. Two years ago, I had to change flights two or three times, and although on the last time they warned me there would be a change fee and I agreed, they didn’t charge me. Also, when I found they had a better deal on a trip we had booked, they switched it easily, and we got a slightly longer trip at a lower price. We also find that their trip insurance cost is very good – only company in which I’ll take THEIRS rather than getting my own elsewhere. Finally, when I had a trip insurance claim, they were very helpful. They have high integrity, and their prices are very reasonable.
Anyone can write a CrowdTrust review. People who write reviews have ownership to edit or delete them at any time, and they'll be displayed as long as an account is active.
Polarized pattern: few middle ratings. 38% of recent reviews are 4–5★ and 53% are 1–2★.
Travel agencies should be accommodating and understanding with their customers. Apparently, that is not the case with Gate 1 travel. Once you book with them, don't expect them to make any changes for you. Their reservation changes policies in a nutshell, means you can't ever change your flight details for whatever reason you have. Even life or death situation, they won't allow you to change. Their customer service reps are rude when it comes to negotiation some changes. They are firm and don't care much about their customers reasons for asking for some changes.
If you want to get violently punched and kicked by the Captain Ambrose Manolache, fracturing your ribs, injuring your lung, Gate1 Travel is the river cruise line for you! Enjoy!!!
We have taken at least 10 trip with Gate ! and have 3 more planned. Meticulous with planning, incredible guides, 4-5 star hotels. Who could ask for more?
I, too, was scammed by Gate One's suggestion of travel protection that not only protected me from nothing (I was told it was for "any kind of cancellation") and lost $1,618.00 to their lie. I could find no one to discuss it or help me at Gate One or the insurance company. I am positive I requested insurance that would cover me for any reason and am horrified they remain in business while pulling stunts like this.
Had a great time two weeks and a great European tour! Nice people to deal with . They were so obliging with us a group of 7. We had plane problems but they waited for us. Thank you Gate 1!
This was our first trip booked through Gate1 Travel although a friend has used them before with the same excellent results. We originally booked a trip to China but due to political tensions between the Chinese government and Canada we decided to switch our destination. Gate1 easily accommodated our request for a nominal fee. We chose their 8 Day Essential Greece tour for this October. Gate1 had a representative to meet our plane as we landed in Athens and escorted us to our hotel answering questions and providing commentary along the way making the ride through rush hour traffic quite pleasant. Our guide for the tour was Constantinous Sfikas and I doubt if there is a better guide to Grecian culture and history. His knowledge is deep, expansive and always at the ready. No question is too obscure and all are answered with a smile and a friendly attitude. He knew all the tricks, best places and interesting stories that make ancient Greece live again for our group. His knowledge and skill maneuvered us through the ancient sites in a way that we avoided the crowds and always obtained the best possible experiences. I highly recommend Constantinous and any trip he guides as well as Gate1 for their excellent service.
There is some discrimination in the workplace. I don't know why but it seems that some people here do not treat others with the same level of respect, and this is very discouraging. The work environment is lackluster due to lack of cooperation among employees. It's not that employees hate each other, it's just that there is no synergy among them, and the company does not do anything to foster relationships among employees and management. There are a lot of other better companies out there.
I have booked 6 times with Gate1...all have been professionally handled. All travel plans went well and when I needed assistance. I got it!
Gate 1 Travel is absolutely, positively the worst travel company for customer service. I booked an independent tour to Paris earlier this summer for my 70th Birthday. When we arrived at our hotel, the room was extremely warm. After dinner, upon returning to the room, the inside temperature was over 90 degrees. The Front Desk told me the air conditioning was not working. I asked for a fan and they gave me a space heater. I then decided to cancel the hotel reservation and leave the hotel prior to staying the first night. The hotel told me to contact Gate 1 for a refund and was fully aware we did not stay one night at the property because of the extreme heat with no air conditioning. We booked and paid for another hotel for our entire stay in Paris. Upon our return I contacted Gate 1 and requested a refund. I got no response. I contacted the Better Business Bureau for help. I then contacted the Gat 1 Service Vice President. She refused to discuss my issue because I had contacted the Better Business Bureau. She was rude, insulting and refused to discuss the issue. I wrote a certified letter to the Gate 1 Senior Vice President who refused to issue a refund as she claimed the hotel denied we left the property! Sh reported the hotel claimed we stayed the entire time!.She requested “Documentation to prove I did not stay at the hotel”. I sent her a copy of the bill from my alternative hotel. Upon receipt she refused the refund, again asking for “Documentation” before she would consider anything. Gate 1 Travel failed to meet their fiduciary responsibility as agent for this hotel. Traveling to a foreign country one expects some level of support from the travel agency that booked your complete trip. Gate 1 does not.
I have used Gate1 Travel on 4 different travel trips. I am very pleased with their customer service. They have been very helpful when travel plans change due to unexpected events. Hotels are satisfactory and typically near buses or metro. Very budget friendly travel
Check carefully before booking any tour as many of them are non - refundable. If you cancel due to any reason, they won't give you your money back. I will never trust them again because I had to cancel a trip once and ended up spending a lot of money for NOT taking the trip due to personal reasons.
Decent company - tours are middle of the road - restaurants that they take you to are not great- cheap on the food. When they changed our dinner itinerary from the hotel to an outside restaurant- we wrote to the agency - they said they had a right to change - when we wrote back again - they basically blew us off by not answering us again. I highly doubt we will travel with them again. You get what you pay for . .
I made a reservation for a trip for my wife and I which was recommended by Travel Zoo. We paid $1764 including $316 for two cancellation coverage plans. The company provided a "cancel for any reason" plan which they now call a waiver. They made it sound like insurance but now claim it is not. After almost a month I found that the United States State Department had a warning about travel to the location we had chosen so I cancelled the trip. I then received an emailed cancellation invoice indicating that the trip was not refundable. The cancellation was still 5 months before the trip was scheduled (Sept. 20, 2018) . Gate1 then referred me to the company providing travel insurance Arch Insurance Solutions($178). I asked about our "cancel for any reason" coverage ($138) but got no answer on that issue. Gate1 said I had to apply to the other insurer for trip cancellation first. This took about a month and was declined. So I again asked about our "cancel for any reason" coverage. The company put me through a number of hoops only to conclude with the statement that I would be given a credit for slightly over $1070 after a deduction of around $400 for making reservations. That means over $716 had been paid for nothing. They sold a plan which provided no protection for me with only a partial credit to be offered. When I asked how they would have handled the credit if I had not purchased the coverage they did not respond. The assumption is that the entire payment would be lost. What protection was provided by the coverage? Gate1 Travel offers what looks like a scam and provide no refunds for cancellation. I paid for this trip (online) immediately upon making the reservation I had no contact with Gate1. They have indicated that their many web pages provide specific information on the various aspects of making a reservation with them but I merely followed the directions provided while making the reservation. There was no indication that "cancel for any reason" meant other than cancel for any reason but we will only credit you for a partial amount. Gate1 has indicated in contact with the BBB of Metropolitan D.C. and Eastern Pennsylvania that I have $1700 (where that amount came from I do not know) on account with them. I have checked my account page which Gate1 had previously referred me to and the balance is $0. So I have paid over $1700 and have nothing to show for the expenditure. They will not refund and have indicated that I will need to book another trip to use any balance or forfeit it all. Since the balance indicates $0 it appears I have already lost it all. I have filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau, the Pennsylvania and Missouri Attorneys General and every other consumer protection agency I can find. If you choose to travel using Gate 1 I would be sure to read all the many pages of fine print. Do not assume anything they will take you payment and refund nothing. Do not buy the "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage as it provides no coverage other than a credit which should be offered at a minimum without the coverage. Refunds do not exist. -------------------------------------------- As you can see from the response by Gate 1 Travel they did not answer any of the questions raised and decided to further obfuscate the issues. Their responses to each complaint filed have been misleading, confusing and in some cases simply not true. Who would want to do business with a company which will simply not refund monies paid? I am expected to book another trip with them to get use of my money paid in good faith. With a booking fee of $400 resulting in a total of approximately $1100 paid for nothing. I would never do business with such a company. If I had only known. Now you do.
Gate 1 Travel is a travel service provider that specializes in offering affordable escorted tours, river cruises, and vacation packages to a diverse range of destinations worldwide. With over 40 years of experience in the travel industry, the company aims to provide quality travel experiences that cater to various traveler preferences, including escorted tours, small group tours, walking tours, and independent travel options. The company's target market includes budget-conscious travelers seeking enriching travel experiences without compromising on quality. Gate 1 Travel focuses on delivering value through carefully curated itineraries and competitive pricing, making it an appealing choice for individuals and groups looking to explore new destinations. Customers can find a variety of travel packages that suit different interests and budgets on their website, gate1travel.com.
This profile hasn't been claimed by the business owner.
