Gate1Travel

I will never travel with them again. As an avid traveler I have never experience such horrible treatment by their staff members and corporate customer service. They lie to sell a trip then you can end up losing your money like I did. They have lost my business forever.

We've traveled to Europe, Asia, and Africa with Gate 1 and have enjoyed each journey. Travel is our passion and we take independent trips as well, but a group tour with Gate 1 is very easy, affordable, and you see so much. Their guides are outstanding. Their hotels vary depending on the level of travel (Affordable, Classic, Luxury) but they are always clean and safe. Breakfasts are always included on the tours and they are quite good. Dinners vary from place to place. They usually don't include too many dinners on each tour and that's fine with me since I'd rather dine independently. Very trustworthy company and easy to do business with.

First know that I have waited close to a year before writing this review to make sure it is written with a clear mind and not just out of emotion.

We had only travelled outside the country one other time to adopt and everything was handled by the agency so we did not know what it entailed and I relied on Gate One Travel for assistance. BIG MISTAKE!

It was early June when I first contacted them to make arrangements potentially for a trip later in August. My major concern was getting things prepared and getting visas on time. The lady I first spoke to put me on hold to check if this was possible. She came back on the phone and informed me it only takes a few weeks for a visa, recommended they like to use Gen Visa, and we would be fine. She then asked If I would like to purchase additional insurance just in case something happened and we were notable to make the flight. I agreed to the insurance, paid the $600 cost to start and informed I could pay the rest to help keep things moving along.

I paid the additional money and then everything fell apart. When months later I spoke with another person I was told that they don't have anyone at the company they could checks visa times with so the first lady flat out put me on hold and then lied to me.

I also later found out after losing over $4000 that the insurance I was given was a third party insurance that covers illness. Believe me, the day the plane left without us I was very sick to my stomach and dealing with dangerously high blood pressure from being out all that money. I later found out that they have a different insurance through their company which they quote as a Travel Protection Plan-Cancel For any Reason for only $69.00.

Also found out too late that you get a discount if you take the time to mail them a check rather than paying immediately by credit card. Once you pay in full you are locked in and CANNOT cancel or make any changes.

I do not know why the visa place they recommended (Gen Visa) as having no problems with the timeframe took nine weeks to process visas when I hear it is usually significantly shorter. We were notified the day after the flight departed that the visas were ready.

My complaint with Gate One Travel is 1) Why did a service representative put me on hold then lie to me when they have no way to check on visa times. I could have easily scheduled the trip at any time later as necessary if not lied to. 2) Why knowing my only concern, was I offered a worthless more expensive third party insurance when their Travel Protection Plan-Cancel For Any Reason was cheaper and covers what was my original main concern? 3) Why was I not informed that since I have such concerns I should NOT pay in full thus locking out any potential ability to change?

I could better handle having to absorbed a $600 starting cost, changed dates and still letting my adopted daughter see where she came from and learn about her culture. On advice from a Gate One representative I am now out over $4000 and it will probably be another decade before saving enough money to attempt this trip again for my daughter.

All this because Gate One seems to only be concerned about getting the money, lying and not actually caring for the customers. I also did not appreciate when they contacted me to say since I missed the flight they were giving up the rest of the trip reservations and was their anything else they could help me book for any other travel destinations. Talk about adding insult to injury.

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 country is in a 60 day state of emergency with the escape of 2 infamous gang members. Tourists are advised to stay indoors and there is a daily curfew from 11pm-5am. (our flight was to land at 11:15pm). Our trip included stays in 2 of the main cities of unrest. There have been shootings, car bombings, hostage taking, closing of embassies, and other countries issuing do not travel warnings. Other tour companies have cancelled tours or offered refunds or rescheduling. Travel insurance does not cover wars or civil unrest, but we are clearly afraid to go there. Both we and our travel agent have reached out multiple times with our concerns and asked if we could reschedule or get some sort of credit. We continue to get the same reply either in person or via email...Gate 1 has your safety as our highest priority and we feel you are safe ("they are not targeting tourists") and your itinerary should not be impacted. What? Their highest priority is $ and not our safety. There is no way that's the tour we anticipated. We cancelled the trip and took a 90% penalty, loss of deposit, and $276 airline penalty. It's a LOT of money, but we would have been terrified, and it's not worth getting hurt or worse. Sorry, but it's not the company I want to do business with in the future.

What a complete and total scam this company is. First and foremost, they tried to say that by us OPENING AN EMAIL, it counted as us SINGING A DOCUMENT. In what world does opening an email equate to signing a legal document? We paid for a 'cancel for any reason' insurance and they still refuse to refund more than 75% or even let us reschedule our trip. Every single person we have tried to talk to has been BEYOND rude and unhelpful. I have never dealt with a sketchier travel agency in my life. Kicking myself for not listening to all other reviews, as no one in the last year has seemed to have a good experience. Please save yourself the time and hassle and headache and cost and go LITERALLY ANYWHERE ELSE.

Thanks Edward for all your help in making the arrangements for our first trip to Europe. Looking forward to it and many more.

Gate 1 tour company was my go choice in the past for internal tours. But, this has changed after my most recent trip. The size of the group has tripled. To accommodate the large group, they use assistant (inexperience young teenager) to help the tour guide and charge you additional tips for the assistant. And, use local guide for the visit of local sites and you have to pay additional to the local guide on top of the tips for the regular tour guide. So at the end of the trip you are paying for the bus drivers, assistant, tour guide and multiple local guides for the tips. Rest for sure, they will remind you how much your should pay many times so you don't forget. In addition, you are cramp in a crowded tour bus taking you everywhere. If you think you are paying for a reasonable tours with their published price, think twice! So if this is how you like to enjoy your dream trip after the long covid, go with Gate 1 tour and keep no expectation! I have to say I have met many very good tour guide with Gate 1 it is just how the company is running now really change my view of Gate 1.

A week before our trip, we found out you need to be fully vaccinated. It's 2023 people and Covid is over. So if you got the shot two years ago your considered fully vaccinated. With! Because we were not vaccinated we were unable to go on our trip that we had booked 7 months ago. They told us a week before our trip that they sent us an email the same day we booked the trip stating their agreement and since we open it is considered a signed document. We never received it and they tell us that they can't resend that email showing date and time. That's BS too. How can they call that a legal document. A legal document is a two way agreement. If we would of saw that 7 months ago we would of cancelled right away and went through another company. Now we are out a lot of money.

Gate 1 would be the last tour agency I would recommend. I have been planning a bucket list trip for over two years to Isreal. Due to the pandemic it had to be postponed and when I tried to rebook it the borders were still closed in Isreal. We decided to change and wait to go this March 2022, there is now this Russia crisis going on and we do not feel comfortable to go in 3 weeks.
You have to wait for hours to get a live person and when you finally do they can't do or tell you anything only wrong information. They told me to call Arch because I took out insurance.
I waited on hold with Arch for an hour only to tell me I have double protection cancel for any reason that I paid for through gate 1.
GATE I WANTS TO PENALIZE ME FOR FUTURE CREDIT AND TAKE over 2,000 out of my money balance.
What in Gods name do I have double protection paid for.
This is big companies at work taking advantage of consumers during health and war crisis.
It is disgusting and needs to be stopped.
Please buyer beware, do not book with Gate 1.
Read every tiny detail, they never look to protect the consumer.

In March of 2023, we signed on for a trip to Ecuador with Gate1 Travel but cancelled after earthquake 2 days before we were to depart. We had both Gate 1 travel insurance and Arch Right Insurance. We were told that neither insurance covered our situation. We spent over $4,000.00 for this trip.

After many emails to Gate1 Travel, pleading our case, Gate1 Travel offered as a goodwill gesture, to provide airline credit of $972 with American Airlines and a travel credit of about $1300.00.

In June 2023 I called to reschedule the trip to Ecuador, using the airline and travel credits. I was told by the agent that I could use the airline credit, BUT I had to pay a SURCHARGE of $376. For what, I asked. Well, he said, you are getting a direct flight so you have to pay extra if the flight is nonstop. I was baffled. I never heard of such a thing. There is only 1 American Airline flight from MIA (Miami) to Quito each day and it is a direct flight and the price of the ticket should reflect the total cost without adding a surcharge. Has anyone out there ever heard of being charged a surcharge for a direct flight above and beyond what the ticket cost.

The agent said he could not provide any information about the airline credit until, I committed to book a reservation for the trip and paid a NON-REFUNDABLE FEE of $600. The point of this was to lock me into a reservation in which I would lose $600 if the air faire credit turned out to be bogus, which it did. This is about as predatory as you can get.

THEN the agent told me the cost of the ticket from MIA to Quito would be $1800.00, twice the original amount of the ticket. What appeared to be a credit suddenly turned into a debit before my eyes. A $972 ticket faire credit turned into a $1800 debit and a $376 surcharge to boot. While pretending to give me a credit, Gate1 clawed back the credit and required me to pay the actual faire that I originally paid. I then called to see if I could use the credit for domestic flights. NOPE. You can only use the credit for a scheduled tour with Gate1. I am betting that the faire will be double what is advertised on the airline website and I will end up owing Gate1 money for the ticket if I attempt to use it. Offer an air faire credit and construct barriers to prevent the customer from using it.

I was incredulous at how fast it happened as the ticket agent, was talking a mile a minute, but I was in such disbelief, I went to American Airlines website, keyed in the air-faire on my computer while talking to him, and saw on my computer screen the actual price of the ticket on American Airlines listed at $432, per person not including tax from MIA to Quito. It was the exact same flight that the Gate1 Travel agent was booking me on from MIA to Quito, for $1800 + $376 surcharge, leaving and returning at the exact same time as the flight the agent was booking me on. WTF!

Gate one did allow me to use the $1300 travel credit. Since we have not gone on the trip yet, scheduled for September, I am holding my breath that no surprises arise. Based on other reviews I expect to have to cough up tips, fees for everybody I encounter on this trip. They lure you in with low prices and then nickle and dime you after you arrive at your destination.

I am astonished at the used car lot sales tactics used by Gate1Travel. Sleazy, deceitful, manipulative. After this trip to Ecuador is finished, I will never do business with Gate1 Travel again. Has anyone out there had a similar experience with Gate1travel deceptive air faire credit.

I am done with these travel discount companies. My business will be with Triple AAA from now on.

This travel company is so frustrating to deal with. They seem easy to negotiate with at first, as they listen to you and cater to all your travel needs, request and what not. But after you book your travel with them, then wanted to make some travel changes, It would be impossible to do so even if your travel dates are still some time away. They are not flexible with changes, and other requests can't be altered.

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 Gate 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! She 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 had issues with my reservation and I contacted their customer service. I had already had a frustrating experience and the customer service ended up making things harder for me. How is she in the service industry when she cannot serve your clients well?

This company's customer service is the worst after the sale is made. They are very responsive when you aren't customer, but when you are one, you have to wait a lot. I had to wait for my airline tax refund for months!

We recently traveled to Israel and Turkey with Gate 1 Travel. We had an amazing experience. We were well cared for by two excellent tour guides, one in Israel and the other in Turkey. The hotels were all high end, and our meals were excellent. The guides were well informed in all areas; history, archeology, sociology. Our days were filled with incredible experiences. We would recommend Gate 1, and we are currently planning our next adventure with this company.

We have been to Spain/Portugal, Peru, Uganda, Morocco with Gate 1. Although there are some annoying issues with Gate 1, they provide a good tour at a reasonable price. You get to eat at local restaurants and they don't waste too much money on high end hotels. Hotels are clean. Restaurants are great. We have gotten to see a lot of amazing things with Gate 1. We also did a Dublin trip that was independent (just hotel and flights). That was our last trip before Covid. We have had two cancellations due to Covid in 2020 and 2021 and Gate 1 handled both of them appropriately. Next trip with them is Easter Island!

After multiple events, and call backs, I was able to speak to a manager regarding my reservation and have them resolve my issue. I am looking forward to my trip hopefully with no more pain or frustrations.
Have had 5 good experiences with them and hoping this one will be too.
Thanks

WE WERE VERY PLEASE WITH THE ENTIRE TRIP TO ISRAEL BETHLEHEMJERUSALEM. THIS WAS OUR FIRST TIME IN THE HOLY LAND. I WAS SORRY THAT WE DID NOT GET TO SEE JORDAN BUT MAYBE ONOUR SECOND TRIP BACK FOR A LONGER STAY,MY HUSBAND HAD ONLY ONE WEEK VACATION. I ENJOYED THE DEAD SEA AND GALLELY, THE VISIT TO THE KABUTS AND SPENT LOUNCH WITH THE LOCAL PEOPLE HIDING OUT FROM SEREA, I CANT WAIT FOR OUR NEXT VACATION WHITH GATE 1 TRAVEL.
WE HAD ONE GLICH I MARY WISNIEWSKI DID NOT CHECK OUR ITINNERY UNDER RESERVATION
*******/ BOOKING REF.35X8PB THAT WE HAD PURCHASED THE ILLUMINATED JERUSALEM, DINNER AND THE SOUND SHOW WHICH WE ENJOYED BECAUSE IT WAS DIFFERENT AND I LOVED THH CALEMARIE DINNER I HAD THREE PLATS OF IT INSTED THE CHICKEN,
SINCE WE PURCHASED WHEN MAKING OUR RESERVATION I BOOKED WITH THE TOUR GUDE NOT REMEMBERING THAT WE ALREADY BOOKED IT SO WE PAYED THE TOUR GUIDE AGAIN WITH THE SAME CREDIT CARD THAT I CHARGED THE ENTIRE TOUR MY CHECHING BANKING SHOWED A CHARGE OF $356.00 PLEASE REVERSE BACK TO THAT SAME ACCOUT I'M SORRY FOR MY MISTAKE AND ANY INCONVINIENCE. THANK YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TRAVELING WITH GATE 1 VERY SOON SINCE MY HUBBY IS RETIRING AND WILL GO FOR A LONGER TOURS,.
HAD A BLAST WITH THE BUSE DRIVER!

Very professional & organizes. I & my family had such a great trip with them last year.