Ireland
Ireland Tours - Escorted Travel
Package Name | Season | City/Cruise Nights | Travel Style | Land Only | Air & Land |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 Day Best of Ireland Walking Tour |
May - Oct '24 | 3 Killarney, 3 Co. Clare | Walking/Hiking | $2999 | $3879* |
8 Day Essential Ireland Book By Jun 6, 2024 & Save! |
Oct '24 - Mar '25 | 3 Dublin, 1 Cork, 2 Killarney | Value | $1169 | $1909* |
9 Day Affordable Ireland Book By Jun 6, 2024 & Save! |
Oct '24 - Apr '25 | 3 Dublin, 1 Kilkenny, 2 Killarney, 1 Galway | Off Season | $1449 | $2189* |
9 Day Affordable Irish Highlights Book By Jun 6, 2024 & Save! |
Oct '24 - Mar '25 | 3 Dublin, 1 Galway, 1 Derry, 2 Belfast | Off Season | $1449 | $2189* |
9 Day Classic Ireland |
Mar - Oct '24 | 2 Dublin, 2 Galway, 2 Killarney, 1 Waterford | Classic | $1799 | $2849* |
9 Day Enchanting Ireland |
Mar - Nov '24 | 3 Dublin, 1 Kilkenny, 2 Killarney, 1 Ennis or Limerick | Classic | $1699 | $2629* |
10 Day Classic Ireland |
Mar - Oct '24 | 3 Dublin, 2 Galway, 2 Killarney, 1 Waterford | Classic | $1999 | $2949* |
10 Day Ireland & Belfast |
Apr - Oct '24 | 3 Dublin, 1 Belfast, 2 Donegal, 2 Westport | Classic | $2199 | $3089* |
11 Day Irish Culture |
Mar - Oct '24 | 3 Dublin, 2 Waterford, 2 Adare, 2 Westport | Small Group | $3349 | $4229* |
12 Day Kaleidoscope of Ireland |
Mar - Nov '24 | 2 Dublin, 1 Kilkenny, 2 Cork, 1 Limerick, 2 Sligo, 2 Belfast | Classic | $2349 | $3369* |
14 Day England, Scotland & Ireland |
Mar - Oct '24 | 2 London, 1 York, 2 Edinburgh, 2 Belfast, 1 Derry, 2 Westport, 2 Dublin | Classic | $3299 | $4049* |
16 Day Scotland & Ireland |
Mar - Oct '24 | 2 Edinburgh, 2 Aviemore, 2 Glasgow, 1 Belfast, 1 Derry, 2 Galway, 2 Killarney, 2 Dublin | Classic | $3499 | $4409* |
18 Day England, Scotland & Ireland |
Mar - Oct '24 | 3 London, 1 Bath, 1 Liverpool, 2 Edinburgh, 1 Leeds, 3 Dublin or Dublin Area, 2 Galway, 2 Killarney, 1 Waterford | Classic | $4199 | $4869* |
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8 Day Best of Ireland Walking Tour
Air & Land: $3879*
Land Only: $2999
3 Killarney, 3 Co. Clare
Tour Type: Walking/Hiking
Season: May - Oct '24
-
8 Day Essential Ireland Book By Jun 6, 2024 & Save!
Air & Land: $1909*
Land Only: $1169
3 Dublin, 1 Cork, 2 Killarney
Tour Type: Value
Season: Oct '24 - Mar '25
-
9 Day Affordable Ireland Book By Jun 6, 2024 & Save!
Air & Land: $2189*
Land Only: $1449
3 Dublin, 1 Kilkenny, 2 Killarney, 1 Galway
Tour Type: Off Season
Season: Oct '24 - Apr '25
-
9 Day Affordable Irish Highlights Book By Jun 6, 2024 & Save!
Air & Land: $2189*
Land Only: $1449
3 Dublin, 1 Galway, 1 Derry, 2 Belfast
Tour Type: Off Season
Season: Oct '24 - Mar '25
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9 Day Classic Ireland
Air & Land: $2849*
Land Only: $1799
2 Dublin, 2 Galway, 2 Killarney, 1 Waterford
Tour Type: Classic
Season: Mar - Oct '24
-
9 Day Enchanting Ireland
Air & Land: $2629*
Land Only: $1699
3 Dublin, 1 Kilkenny, 2 Killarney, 1 Ennis or Limerick
Tour Type: Classic
Season: Mar - Nov '24
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10 Day Classic Ireland
Air & Land: $2949*
Land Only: $1999
3 Dublin, 2 Galway, 2 Killarney, 1 Waterford
Tour Type: Classic
Season: Mar - Oct '24
-
10 Day Ireland & Belfast
Air & Land: $3089*
Land Only: $2199
3 Dublin, 1 Belfast, 2 Donegal, 2 Westport
Tour Type: Classic
Season: Apr - Oct '24
-
11 Day Irish Culture
Air & Land: $4229*
Land Only: $3349
3 Dublin, 2 Waterford, 2 Adare, 2 Westport
Tour Type: Small Group
Season: Mar - Oct '24
-
12 Day Kaleidoscope of Ireland
Air & Land: $3369*
Land Only: $2349
2 Dublin, 1 Kilkenny, 2 Cork, 1 Limerick, 2 Sligo, 2 Belfast
Tour Type: Classic
Season: Mar - Nov '24
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14 Day England, Scotland & Ireland
Air & Land: $4049*
Land Only: $3299
2 London, 1 York, 2 Edinburgh, 2 Belfast, 1 Derry, 2 Westport, 2 Dublin
Tour Type: Classic
Season: Mar - Oct '24
-
16 Day Scotland & Ireland
Air & Land: $4409*
Land Only: $3499
2 Edinburgh, 2 Aviemore, 2 Glasgow, 1 Belfast, 1 Derry, 2 Galway, 2 Killarney, 2 Dublin
Tour Type: Classic
Season: Mar - Oct '24
-
18 Day England, Scotland & Ireland
Air & Land: $4869*
Land Only: $4199
3 London, 1 Bath, 1 Liverpool, 2 Edinburgh, 1 Leeds, 3 Dublin or Dublin Area, 2 Galway, 2 Killarney, 1 Waterford
Tour Type: Classic
Season: Mar - Oct '24
Independent Vacations
Package Name | Season | City/Cruise Nights | Travel Style | Land Only | Air & Land |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 Day Dublin Vacation (New York) |
Nov '24 - Mar '25 | 4 Dublin | Independent | $1009* | |
8 Day London & Dublin (New York) |
Apr - Oct '24 | 3 London, 3 Dublin | Independent | $1429* | |
8 Day London & Dublin (New York) |
Apr - Oct '24 | 3 London, 3 Dublin | Independent | $1459* |
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6 Day Dublin Vacation (New York)
Air & Land: $1009*
Land Only:
4 Dublin
Tour Type: Independent
Season: Nov '24 - Mar '25
-
8 Day London & Dublin (New York)
Air & Land: $1429*
Land Only:
3 London, 3 Dublin
Tour Type: Independent
Season: Apr - Oct '24
-
8 Day London & Dublin (New York)
Air & Land: $1459*
Land Only:
3 London, 3 Dublin
Tour Type: Independent
Season: Apr - Oct '24
Ireland Flight, Hotel & Car Rental Packages
Package Name | Season | City/Cruise Nights | Travel Style | Land Only | Air & Land |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 Day Irish Castle Fly & Drive (New York) |
Apr - Oct '24 | 4 Dublin Area, County Meath or County Cavan | Independent | $1459* | |
6 Day Irish Castle Fly & Drive (New York) |
Nov '24 - Mar '25 | 4 Dublin Area, County Meath or County Cavan | Independent | $1319* | |
8 Day Ireland Fly & Drive (New York) |
June - Oct '24 | 2 Dublin, 2 Killarney, 2 Galway | Independent | $1469* | |
8 Day Ireland Fly & Drive (New York) |
Nov '24 - Mar '25 | 2 Dublin, 2 Killarney, 2 Galway | Independent | $1439* |
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6 Day Irish Castle Fly & Drive (New York)
Air & Land: $1459*
Land Only:
4 Dublin Area, County Meath or County Cavan
Tour Type: Independent
Season: Apr - Oct '24
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6 Day Irish Castle Fly & Drive (New York)
Air & Land: $1319*
Land Only:
4 Dublin Area, County Meath or County Cavan
Tour Type: Independent
Season: Nov '24 - Mar '25
-
8 Day Ireland Fly & Drive (New York)
Air & Land: $1469*
Land Only:
2 Dublin, 2 Killarney, 2 Galway
Tour Type: Independent
Season: June - Oct '24
-
8 Day Ireland Fly & Drive (New York)
Air & Land: $1439*
Land Only:
2 Dublin, 2 Killarney, 2 Galway
Tour Type: Independent
Season: Nov '24 - Mar '25
Reviews
Our trip was absolutely delightful, and I have every intention of returning back to Ireland again one day. As usual, Gate 1 did not disappoint. The attention to detail is top notch with wonderful accommodations. Our guide, Patrick, was very thorough and an excellent storyteller. Karl, our bus driver, did a splendid job on the windy narrow roads keeping us all safe. Thank you Gate 1 ~ we will be back!
Sandra R.Our trip to Ireland was absolutely amazing! Our guide, Sheila, was so personable and helpful. She took care of everyone and everything! She really enhanced our tour by sharing her love for the Irish community and extensive knowledge of Ireland's history. We saw everything we had on our bucket list and more! She even went out of her way to arrange a trip to a farm so we could see and hold a baby lamb. We would highly recommend this trip to friends. We look forward to another adventure with Gate 1 in the near future!
Carol W.Our experience with Gate-1 has been consistently outstanding in all respects. We routinely recommend Gate-1 to all our friends. Also, we attempt to provide useful feedback after each trip, including the online survey. But this most recent trip was so far above our past experience that it requires special mention. The online survey was legitimately marked 'Excellent' for nearly every line item because every line item was, in fact, excellent including the hotel rooms and staff, meals, bus driver, optional activities. Except for the more-frequent-than-we-would-have-liked rain - we were in Ireland, after all - we experienced nothing whatsoever to complain about. The friendly people of Ireland only added to our enjoyment. That said, we want to take a moment to single out our Tour Manager, Khristiene, for special mention. The Tour Managers we have encountered over the years have been routinely excellent. It's one of the things we have come to like most about Gate-1. But Khristiene was, without a doubt, the best we've ever encountered. She went out of her way daily to make our experience enjoyable, planning special and unexpected activities for the group as well as assisting all of us with ideas for independent time on our own. She filled literally every minute of the tour with information about Ireland, its people, places, culture, and history far beyond anything we've experienced before to the extent that, with only a little sarcasm, we now worry that our next Gate-1 tour - and there WILL be a next tour - will struggle to live up to the standard she has set. Keep up the good work allowing us to see 'More of the world for less.'
Charles W.I cannot say enough good things about our tour manager Khristienne. She is very knowledgeable about each of our stops and Ireland in general. I learned so much about life in Ireland. She is such a great storyteller about the people, events and places in Ireland which kept us all entertained during our long bus rides. She addressed all our questions and concerns. She accompanied us to our optional events and was there waiting for us when we were done. She was in the hotel lobby to make sure each of us made our connections to the airport at the end of the tour, which meant she was there from 0200 to the afternoon when the last of us left. I have been on other guided tours with Gate 1 as well as other travel companies and I can say without a doubt that Khristienne is the best tour manager that I've encountered. I would not hesitate to take another tour with Khristienne wherever that may be, especially Italy.
Marianne W.The trip to Ireland was wonderful. It was my 3rd trip with Gate 1 and all the tour guides were good. However, Christienne was the best ever. She was very knowledgeable and funny, friendly, and told some amazing stories. She answered everyone's questions about Ireland and its history. We were all Americans on the trip, and we had questions about government, schooling, and the day-to-day life. She really cared about us all, we went to a Celtic show, and it was about 10:30 or 11 when it was done, and she met us and made sure we all got back to the hotel. Same when we were leaving the hotel, she was up for the 2 AM departure of one of the visitors. I would love to travel with her again on a future trip. She's an amazing tour guide.
Diane R.We just got back from the 14-day England, Scotland, and Ireland trip with Leonard and Joe and just wanted Gate1 to know how much we enjoyed the trip!! We were particularly impressed with how wonderful Lenny and Joe were. This was my 4th Gate1 trip and Lenny and Joe were the best Tour Guide and Driver I've ever had! They were both very knowledgeable about all the areas we travelled to and both of them went above and beyond to ensure that everyone in our group enjoyed themselves. It was great to see how Lenny handled the various people and their intentions for their trip. Lenny made sure to offer suggestions that would help each person achieve their individual goals for their trip while continuously bringing the group together by helping us see our similarities. Lenny is friendly, kind, funny, organized, and just one of the best humans I've ever met! Joe was absolutely amazing! He drove the bus as an expert, and it was impressive! He is also an amazing human! I loved that both Lenny and Joe are from the Republic of Ireland. As much as I think it would be cool to work for Gate1 and live somewhere amazing, I'm really glad that everyone that guided our tours were locals to the countries we visited. This added to the charm of our vacation. We will continue to use Gate1 for our bookings and will definitely want to book another trip to Scotland and Ireland, specifically with Lenny (and hopefully with Joe too)!! Thank you for employing such incredible people!!
Shawna M.Overall, this was a wonderful journey to a beautiful land. The visit was made magical by the outstanding tour Host, Liz. She was kind, patient and extremely knowledgeable of her country, its people and history. Her skill set was subtle yet exacting. Her people skills were impeccable. It will be difficult to visit Ireland again without the use of her direction and leadership. She is a credit to your team, and I hope she is compensated in a way that reflects her value to Gate1 Travel. Can't wait until we travel with Gate1 travel again.
Robert C.Really, really enjoyed Ireland! Our guide, Garrie, was AWESOME and our driver, Tony, was the best! This was my first-time touring with Gate1 and I'm very impressed with how informative and well organized the trip was. I'll definitely continue with Gate1 and may even plan another jaunt back to Ireland soon!!
Dayna B.We'd like to acknowledge the outstanding job of Alacoque (as our tour guide) and Dennis (as our driver). Their professionalism and their genuine personalities were so kind and caring, bringing our group of 35+ together for a wonderful, escorted tour vacation. We fell in love with Ireland and our guide and driver were key to making this all possible. We enjoyed our Irish coffee at the Red Fox Inn along the Ring of Kerry, and our chocolate treats as we ventured on the Jaunting cars in Killarney which was super fun!! We will never forget this memorable trip thanks to Alacoque & Dennis, they were simply the best!!
Diane F.We had a fantastic trip. The tour manager, Khristiene, is a well-organized, knowledgeable, and humorous person who always has a smile on her face. She is the best tour manager that we have ever had for our 7 tours with Gate 1. She deserves a high remark!
Benjamin C.My husband and I loved our trip! Our Tour Manager, Clodagh went above and beyond. She was exceptional in all regards. She was knowledgeable, considerate, friendly, incredibly organized, generous, fun, and more. We were extremely fortunate to have her as our guide. I feel like we found a new, cool Irish friend! Our driver, Kevin, was incredibly kind and extraordinarily skilled! He is a wonderful man, and we felt very safe while traveling along narrow and traffic filled roads. He's a gem! Our local tour guides were amazing, as well. Mairi, Jim, Peter and our lovely guide in Glasgow (I'm ashamed I can't remember her name) were all excellent. Rain or shine, they contributed to our experience in extraordinary ways, and we will never forget them. Our relief drivers, Ian and John (Tubby) were also very skilled, polite and helpful. They made an effort to get to know all of us on the tours, and we appreciated their careful transport. Overall, I was extremely pleased with the tour, and Clodagh and Kevin made it all amazing. I have an appreciation for the land, history and people of Scotland and Ireland that I didn't expect to gain. I can't wait to go back to both countries!
Sally B.I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed our trip. Our tour manager John and driver Jim were amazing. I have always done independent travel because I heard groups trips were rushed and always go, go, go. My experience was the exact opposite. We had an amazing time. John never rushed us and gave us plenty of time to do everything we wanted to and the perfect amount of downtime. He always watched out for us, always gave group and individual suggestions, always made sure everyone was ok and having fun, always made accommodations for special request and even went to the airport to track down our lost luggage. Jim, our driver, was the second part of the amazing duo. He was such an outstanding driver. Our bus quote was "In Jim we trust.' He did not just react to oncoming traffic; he would watch what was going up or down the entire mountain. Beyond his driving skills, he was such a nice person. Getting to know Jim was a highlight of my trip and our talks are something I will always remember. I just wanted Gate 1 to know how amazing John and Jim are. How easy, fun, and memorable they made our trip. John planned and took care of every single detail, Jim got us through the craziest roads I have ever seen, all while creating an atmosphere that allowed our entire group to bond. One week after arriving home, I still miss everyone and would not have changed one minute of our time together. Overall, I want your company to know that while the trip itinerary you created was great, it was Jim and John that made it unforgettable. They are both irreplaceable assets to your company and should be rewarded and treated as such.
Jaime E.This was an extraordinary tour. John was fantastic, and our driver Pat were a very fun team. They both made this tour one of our favorites.
Joseph M.The trip was fabulous!! Our tour manager Edwina and bus driver Mick were simply outstanding!! We felt as though we were among friends from the moment we met! Edwina was so helpful with recommendations of things to do and see and place to eat and catch some live music in each city we stayed in. And we felt so safe on the roads of Ireland - as Mick handled that large coach better than most drive a small car!! Kudos to both of them!! We look forward to the next adventure!
Laura R.It was fantastic! I loved it. Our terrific tour guide, Patrick, was amazing! I learned so much more about beautiful Ireland and he was so well organized and so kind and helpful. He made us laugh a lot too. Best tour guide I've ever had with Gate 1, or any other tour companies. Also, Damian, our driver is an incredible driver and a very nice fellow! I don't know how he does it with such a large bus and such small roads. We were very much impressed!
Roylee Y.Our trip was fantastic! I cannot not say enough about our amazing tour guide Khristiene..she brought the history and beauty of Ireland to life. I give five stars to Gate1...and will definitely book a future trip with Gate 1.
Julie T.I cannot say enough about the 8 day essential Ireland tour, the guide Kristiene, and the driver Lawrence. Kristiene said this was the fast and furious tour of Ireland and she was correct. We hit the ground running and saw so much of the beautiful country. Kristiene's extensive knowledge and wonderful storytelling made the trip all the more wonderful. Lawrence was an excellent driver and always up for taking the "long way" so Kristiene could show us one more thing or tell us one more story. I left Ireland with a special place in my heart reserved for its people, history, and landscapes.
Logan M.This was my first experience with Gate 1 travel, and I LOVED IT. My husband and I were already searching for our next trip while still on this one. Everything was perfect. I'd love to give more positive feedback for our guide, Khristiane. She was magnificent: extremely knowledgeable, funny, caring, helpful, and simply delightful. Her commentary everywhere (on the bus, on the street, in the museums) made the trip so much richer and our experience deeper. I learned so much from her. I cannot believe how much she knows about Ireland!! I want to go on a trip to Northern Ireland, but only if you promise me Khristiane will be my guide again (just kidding, but I'd love it and so would my husband). We also enjoyed our driver, Laurence, and the report the two of them had was delightful as well. The trip was PERFECT, and much due to Khristiane's expertise and attention. Thank you. We will tell all of our friends about Gate 1 and are definitely coming back.
Ann S.This was our fourth tour with Gate1travel, and we have no complaints at all. As usual, everything was on time with the excellence that Gate 1 delivers. We are very lucky that we found Gate1, and we are recommending it to everyone we know. We want to especially highlight our tour manager David; this gentleman is one of the best tour manager we have ever met. He was extremely attentive, and all the time concerned about our safety and comfort. Somebody who also we could have a great conversation with about the countries we were visiting, and also a happy companion, like another guest. We want to also thank Tommy, our driver, who was a heck of a great one through the narrow roads in Scotland and Ireland. Thus far, this was the best of the fourth tours, and we are already thinking about our next adventure with Gate1. Thank you all for a magnificent time!
Leopoldo S.Our trip was wonderful although the (weather in Ireland was not the best!) Our tour director David was very good. He had the perfect blend of organization, information, tips on navigating each stop and a bit of humor!!. The breakfasts and dinners were delicious. Tommy was an unbelievably experienced driver. He received many rounds of applause from the passengers as he maneuvered through some tight spots. We were very pleased with Gate 1. I will definitely consider another trip with your company in the future.
Kathleen A.I wanted to send more feedback about our tour guide David. Without him, the trip would not have been the same. He was charming, informative, caring, funny, knowledgeable and was just the right mix of fatherly vs tour leader. What I mean is, he kept the group on schedule without treating us like young school children or being too harsh about it. I work in the tourism industry and wish every group leader I interact with was like David. He was just an absolute joy to spend the two weeks with. Most of the guests on this trip were 55+ however, I traveled with my kids (in their late 20's early 30's). They absolutely LOVED David and we are still telling "David" stories. I think we have all made a lifelong friend. My family has taken several Gate 1 tours and have always found the accommodations, travel documents, attractions, transportation etc. top tier. Having David as our guide really make this particular tour special. Give the man a raise!!
Carrie S.As beautiful as the countryside and cities of Ireland are, our guide, Lenny, made our tour a truly magical experience. Lenny is a walking encyclopedia and because he also does tours of England and Scotland is able to give a broad, interrelated history of the places we visited on our 8 Day Essential Ireland tour. He is obviously a detail-oriented person who has done his homework and his love for his home country shines through everything he does. From the detailed daily itineraries that included optional things to do in our free time, to suggestions for places to eat, or pubs to drink, Lenny took care of everyone's varying interests. He seemed to remember and seek out, or make suggestions personalized to group members - in my case he called out places and authors that as a retired librarian I might find interesting (I did!). Lenny was engaging and funny and constantly "teaching" us about the amazing things we were seeing, places we were visiting. He even walked the bus isles asking if we had questions for him in between stops! You have a gem here and I hope to have the opportunity to travel again with this wonderful guide! Not to be remiss, our driver, Dermot, did a fantastic job getting us from place to place safely and on time - pretty amazing considering the jam-packed streets we encountered on St. Patrick's Day. He was welcoming, the coach was always clean and stocked with water - he even decorated the bus for St. Patrick's Day! Another gem that made our tour so very enjoyable.
Leesa W.Guides like Edwina are certainly a part of Gate 1's secret sauce. She was personable, passionate/knowledgeable about her country and highly organized. I plan to book another Ireland tour with Gate 1 and will, undoubtedly. request her as my tour manager. As the face Gate 1 customers see, you truly can't get any better.
Nicole M.The trip was excellent. Edwina is a gracious, accommodating and lovely travel guide whose knowledge of her country was amazing. The journey included visits to charming towns and educational opportunities. My thanks to Gate 1!
Dawn R.I just wanted to rave about Patrick, our tour guide. He was knowledgeable, thoughtful, and so funny! My sister and I are still laughing about some of his stories and jokes. He pointed out a great many interesting things along the way, and he knew the history of EVERYTHING. While we traveled, he talked to us for exactly the right amount of time -- not too much, not too little -- perfect! This was my first trip to Ireland, and I don't believe we could have had a better guide. He's really wonderful. Our driver, Damian, was great, too. I couldn't believe how well he maneuvered that bus through some of those narrow streets. Amazing! Thank you, Patrick, Damian, and Gate 1. This trip was one for the books
Kelly C.My trip to Ireland with Matthew as our tour guide and Micheal as our driver!! They both were so very great !!!! Micheal was an excellent driver and I felt so very safe!! And Matthew was so kind, knowledgeable, and caring to us all. Matthew made the trip feel like we were family!!! A wonderful experience and beautiful country.
Janet B.This was my first Gate One vacation and I didn't know what to expect. Our tour manager Matthew was excellent. He was knowledgeable about the history of each location and talked about pop culture or local lore as well. He was always professional, courteous, timely and approachable, welcoming questions if we had any. He added so much to our tour of Ireland and I have high expectations should I take another Gate One vacation.
Janet. SI wanted to take a few minutes to express our gratitude for creating a wonderful travel experience on our 8 Day Ireland Trip. I have always wanted to go to Ireland, and I have wanted my husband to check all the great trips Gate 1 has to offer firsthand. I had just taken a trip to Italy with my sister in-law in January and was extremely impressed by the trip and your company. The package your company provided to Ireland was top notch in every aspect, tours, excursions, meals, hotels, and bus service were nothing short of exceptional. Our Tour Guide, Aoife, went above and beyond each day. Her historical knowledge of the area as well as local interest, and novelty stories made each day we were together fly by. I would request her and share her name with anyone I know going to take that trip! Our Driver Dennis was the best driver I have ever had, both professional, patient, and personable. Your local guide in Cork was not just a guide he was a local expert, and he ensured our experience was so much more than a local walking tour. I know that creating the best travel experiences for your clients is probably not always an easy job, although you make every step in our process seem so easy and effortless. So, thank you so much for making my Irish experience magical.
Kimberly W.First and foremost, I must say that this vacation was by far the most fabulous trip abroad and we definitely will be booking more trips based on this experience. My family travels internationally 1-2 times per year usually in first class accommodations. What made this vacation so over-the-top fantastic was the very enthusiastic and dedicated performance of our tour guide Kristiene, from the minute we arrived in Dublin Airport to up until we flew home, she personally took charge of coordinating a flawless Irish Culture experience. She is a walking encyclopedia of Irish history including folklore and has an amazing gift for storytelling which passed the time on long coach trips splendidly. The depth and breadth of her knowledge and the talented skill with which she conveys the history of the people and places keep you hanging on her every word. Anyone who visits Ireland for the first time and does not book with Kristiene has missed out on a truly wonderful and enlightening journey. The weather was perfect, the food was the best in Europe, the historical and cultural experience was FIVE STAR! Kristienne is a extraordinary tour guide and I could fill a book with all the wonderful things she did to make this trip special, from sharing local snacks that she bought for us to ensuring we were dressed appropriately for each days adventure. Thank you Kristienne and thank you Gate1Travel for a phenomenal vacation in Ireland.
Richard S.Our tour manager Lenny did such an exceptional job with the group that we had. There was a large number of folks on their very first tour, which I can only imagine presents a lot of work. I have been on a few Gate 1 tours and I have had good tour managers and exceptional ones, and Lenny was by far one of the very best I have ever had. He managed to get everyone involved and engaged right away. I usually find that people tend to relax and unwind by day four but by day two everyone was getting to know everyone. There was also a large number of folks from the same area and that can be a challenge getting people to interact with others, but Lenny managed to bridge that gap right away. Because of him, I have decided to take more tours of Ireland and have told many of my friends the great time I had and now they are interested in taking some tours with Gate 1.I just wanted to express my satisfaction and basic gratitude for such a good tour and a huge part of that rested on our tour manager.
Jacqueline B.Our trip was fantastic. We saw so much of Ireland and learned a great deal all the while having fun. We gained true insight into the history, enjoyed the culture, saw the beautiful countryside and churches, and listened to poetry. Our tour manager/guide, Khristiene, provided wonderful readings, poems, music and stories while on the bus, handed out treats, and despite long days maintained a high level of enthusiasm and playfulness. She had us laughing and crying with her tales, and stories. Khristiene is an extremely competent tour manager and an expert on all things Ireland. I don't know if I am to share this part, but will risk it. Khristiene knew a sheep farmer and took us to his farm as it was near one of our destinations. We saw a dog working the sheep and each held a day old lamb! It should be added to every tour-quite a trip highlight. Khristiene should get a travel manager Oscar, win a Mrs. Congeniality contest and get kudos from Gate 1. It was my husband's and my second time on Gate 1 and the trip was again over the top. My cruise-traveler daughter is saying that she wants to travel again with Gate 1. This is partly because of the wonderful itinerary, accommodations and food but most especially because of our guide-Khristiene. I cannot say enough, so I will not say more. It was fantastic. Woohoo!
Eleanor E.It was great! Thats why we travel with Gate1. We know everything is taken care of. We have someone there to greet us at the airport, luggage is handled for us, hotel reservations are made (great accommodations), tour guides are very accommodating and knowledgeable. Add to that the cost is very reasonable.
Kenneth C.Our trip to Ireland was fantastic. Lenny, our tour manager was so kind and knowledgeable. He worked to not only provide us with wonderful history of Ireland but he also ensured our safety at every step of the trip. Damien, our bus driver went out of his way to make sure we were able to adhere to the schedule provided. He was an excellent driver that went out of his way to to enable the group to view spectacular sites.
Jacqueline B.I've completed the survey, but I didn't want you to skip over all of the EXCELLENT ratings. I don't give EXCELLENT ratings often but you didn't have anything higher for this tour. Patrick was amazing, a walking/talking encyclopedia of anything Ireland related. Relaxed, entertaining, efficient - I cannot say enough. Our driver, Tony, was professional and confident, letting me relax about his ability to navigate the crazy roads we traveled. Our driver from the airport to the hotel WAITED OVER AN HOUR for us at 4:00 a.m. The cargo door froze with our luggage inside so baggage claim was over an hour. We were very nervous that we would miss our ride, but we came out to his smiling/calm face. The driver back to the airport was efficient and personable. I cannot say enough about this tour. Everyone made Ireland such a special place for us and we will certainly be back with Gate 1 (this is my third tour and hands down the best so far).
Mary H.Although I've completed the post trip questionnaire, I wanted to go on the record to say that Martina was an outstanding Tour Leader. She was knowledgeable without being overwhelming, she paced our activities and added lots of little extras, and she was very available to everyone on the trip. It was large group, but congenial and we were very well-served by the wonderful Martina. She seemed to anticipate everything and we had the greatest time! Our driver, Fergal, was a joy. And I've never seen anyone more attentive to the cleanliness and condition of the bus. It was a pleasure to ride with him. He was such an expert driver that he appeared to get us down streets that were too tight and places that were impossible to get into! A gem. Thank you.
Deborah K.We just came back from Ireland and wanted to point out that we had an absolutely fantastic trip and it's our 3rd trip with Gate1. The strength of Gate1 is logistics and the great guides. Lenny did an outstanding job, he showed his commitment and joy in bringing Ireland to life for us.
Edinson D.Everything about our experience was superb. From our online booking, to our call to customer service and all through our actual trip, Gate1 did an amazing job. Not a single blemish. Booking online was easy and fun. Calling customer service and speaking to an agent to adjust a few things was effortless and the agents were extremely friendly, knowledgeable and a delight to talk with. Our trip was amazing. It's difficult not to be in awe of all the things that Ireland has to offer to tourist, so suffice it to say that we love waking up every single day and just enjoy the beautiful country around us. Our bus driver, Matko, was very professional (always wore a suit, which I really admire and appreciate) and he was very good at navigating the challenging roads and narrow streets. He was always available to assist us when needed. Our tour director, John, was excellent. His knowledge of the area coupled with his attention to safety and were matched by his willingness to help, inform and make the trip a great experience for all. This was our third trip with Gate1, and I have to say that John has definitely been the best tour director we have had. My wife and I are both vegan, and John always made sure we were well taken care of at each meal and always provided great tips on where to dine at every stop we made. He made the trip more amazing than it already was. I have traveled with three other companies to Europe before, and John has definitely convinced me that Gate1 is second to none. We have already booked our 2024 trip. Looking forward to it. Every staff agent I have always talked to or emailed has been wonderful. Thank you Gate1.
Marco C.Khrisitene was an absolute gem. She gave us so much history and facts about Ireland. This made my trip more exciting and informational. She really went far and beyond on all of the things she did for us and her planning was impeccable. She made sure we were on the correct bus for events and we felt like she was family. Thank you for having Khrisitene as part of Gate1 tour guides. This was a most special trip and she made it better than I ever thought it would be.
Susan B.This was a great trip! Well planned out and we saw a lot of the country. The tour guide ,Miranda, was very knowledgeable and provided great insights into the history of Ireland. Miranda and the bus driver Damian, made a great team! They represented Gate1 well. This was our first Gate1 tour and now we are considering Gate1 for our next tour of Italy. This was a very enjoyable trip ! Many thanks to Miranda and Damian for a safe and enjoyable experience touring Ireland. Nice job Gate1!
John P.This is my fourth Gate1 trip and it was amazing from the moment we arrived in Dublin. Booking the trip was easy at an excellent price. Flights to Ireland and the return trip home to Phoenix went smoothly (not booked through Gate1). This was my second trip to Ireland. The first time was approximately 12 years ago and the itinerary was booked by myself. Ireland is so beautiful and the people were exceptionally inviting and friendly. I was sad to leave, but know I will return one day. The other travelers were incredibly friendly and marvelous to be around. That makes all the difference in how the bus ride, dinners, and excursions will be. Plus, they liked to pub-it and have fun! Tommy, our driver, has mad driving skills!! I always felt safe and the coach was impeccably clean. He is sweet and always helped me with my bags and handled them with care. John, our Tour Manager, is wickedly smart and engaging. I loved his stories and extensive knowledge of Ireland. He has deep affection for his country and homeland, which in turn made me feel honored that he shared it with me, my travel buddy, and fellow travelers. He was punctual, extremely organized, professional, friendly, and attentive to our needs. He has a unique spirit about him and is simply brilliant! Thank you Gate1!!! I am looking forward to the Tulip Time River Cruise in April, 2024!!! John and Tommy have set the bar high, but I know you won't disappoint :-)
Christina H.We just returned from our 12 Day Kaleidoscope of Ireland. We loved it! Our tour guide, Edwina, was excellent. She was knowledgeable, professional, helpful, cheerful, and gracious. Her former profession as a teacher was evident - Gate 1's advantage, but a loss to the teaching profession. We came away with an appreciation of all things Irish - the history, the beauty, the culture, the language, the food, and, of course, the drink. While we had a day of difficult weather, she and our driver were calm and problem-solving. Speaking of our driver, Peter, we felt very safe in his capable hands. He handled that bus like it was a car. Our accommodations were very good and we felt welcomed everywhere. I would not hesitate to recommend this trip to friends and family.
Mary B.Our trip was wonderful! Our tour guide, David, was outstanding. He provided us with all the history, folklore and high points of all 3 countries while constantly keeping us entertained with music, trivia and jokes. He went above and beyond. Gerard, our driver, is the most skilled driver I've ever met. Always pleasant, happy and helpful, too. No disappointments, other than the fog at the cliffs of Moher , but that couldn't be helped. Highlights for us were the countryside and castles, our shortbread and tea stop in Scotland, the Titanic museum in Belfast, and the pubs and sheepdog demonstrations in Ireland. I was happy to meet PJ of Sweney's pharmacy fame at Kennedy's pub in Dublin. Gate 1 certainly finds the best people to make our vacations memorable.
Elizabeth F.Please convey to David Seagraves our thank you for the wedding anniversary song he played for us on 10/28. Went to thank him two times and forgot each time to thank him. David is, by far, the best tour guide that we have ever had in all our travels. Each day David invited us to join him during his free time to see more of the city. We have never experienced that before this trip. He had the group interact with his "Name the State." He played such great music during the drives that included songs related to Scotland and Ireland. If it was a person's birthday or wedding anniversary, he played an appropriate song. I loved his "Write A Limerick" contest. He sat and visited with the group and/or bus driver during the meals. I had a chance to talk with others after the tour. One man said David was by far the best tour guide he and his wife had had. One lady said David "was the best." Another traveler said David was great. A couple we traveled with heard a lady on the street in one of our cities say she had heard of David and wish he had been her tour guide. I loved his play on words. David has a good reputation. He knows his job very well and made our trip fun, interesting, and showed and explained the sights. He is personable, and he represents your company very well. Our bus driver, Gerard, was the best bus driver I have ever had. He was very personable, humorous, and drove safely. Will you email me that you passed my words on to the tour guide.
Nancy W.Our trip was FANTASTIC!!! There were 33 of us and we all got along so well!! No prickly personalities, no estrangements, no tardiness, just pure fun. Our tour manager David was amazing. He was so much fun and so knowledgeable. His jokes (no matter how bad), his music and the info he shared with us was so enjoyable. He made our group seem like one big happy family. He was always prompt, if not early, his communication with us was excellent. His passion for the United Kingdom was very evident and he was so good at sharing that. He set a very good pace for all of us and we saw so much. Our bus driver, Jared, was excellent as well. His rapport with David was so strong and the two of them made our trip extremely enjoyable. Jared worked so hard managing our luggage and was an amazing driver on the windy, narrow roads of Scotland and Ireland. He always looked out for our safety when crossing busy roads. He was always prompt and very helpful. Our tour guide in Glasgow, John, was so passionate and informative about his city. He is so proud of how Glasgow has grown during his lifetime and that pride clearly came through. His stories about legends added quite a bit of color for us and we really enjoyed his guidance around Glasgow.
Nancy O.I am writing about a tour we took in October from Dublin to Belfast and back again. The tour was amazing, but our guide was even more so. Sheila was flat out amazing. I hope Gate 1 knows that it has a superstar tour guide in the company. Sheila was kind, super organized, considerate, funny, engaging and loved by all on the tour. Our coach driver, Tony, was very professional but took the time to engage with everyone. Both Tony and Sheila were great ambassadors for Gate 1 and also for Ireland. Well done Gate 1 and we'll done Sheila and Tony!
Drew V.The trip was fantastic!
Frances L.The trip was great. We have covered lot of places an happy to be able to see UK and Ireland. The driver and the tour manager were excellent and knowledgeable.I would recommend this trip anyone who is interested seeing UK and Ireland. Eric, the tour manager is outstanding in managing the trip and providing in-depth analysis of various places. Joe, the driver, is outstanding in driving. He was able to manage to drive through narrow roads and mountains and hills.I would be happy to take another trip with GATE1, in fact I have reservations to see Portugal and Spain and then Japan next year. Thank you GATE1 for providing my wife and I with great European experience, This was my third trip with GATE1 and two more to go next year and so on.
Prasad K.Out trip was wonderful! We went to so many beautiful places and had so many wonderful experiences, thank you. Our Tour Manager, Mathew was a fountain of knowledge and a great guide for each place we visited. He also surprised the group with many little touches and stops along the tour. We will look forward to another Gate 1 trip sometime in the future. Thank you for all of your help in planning the trip.
Deborah R.Our trip to Ireland was wonderful! My sister said it was the best thing she had ever done. Everyday was chock full of interesting activities, foods, scenery and memories. Our guide, Peter, was fantastic, informative and fun; he made every experience comfortable and added some extra surprise experiences that made our trip special. We had to be flexible due to weather, but there was plenty to do and we received a prompt refund for one cancelled event. Our coach driver, Dermot, was also a pro. He safely maneuvered us through flooding, narrow roads with great confidence and humor. All of the hotels we used were top notch and located conveniently to see local sites (and pubs!) during free time. I can't believe how much of Ireland we were able to experience in one week and my friends don't believe me when I tell them how reasonably priced the trip was with everything included. They all want to sign up for the next one! We'll be back soon!
Rebecca B.I had an INCREDIBLE time! I cannot wait to book my next trip with you all; I've already been looking into the Kaleidoscope Tour for Scotland and I'm excitedly waiting for the 2025 dates to be released! Honestly, I wouldn't even be opposed to doing another tour of Ireland just because of how AMAZING it was! One of the most important things that made this trip so wonderful was our Tour Manager, Matthew, and our Bus Driver, Eddie. Eddie's driving was VERY impressive, and it was always a smooth ride no matter how small the roads got. He was kind to everyone, always had a smile on his face, took the time to get to know each of us on a more personal level at breakfast, on the excursions or during down time. He truly seemed to love his job and was passionate about getting all of us to our destination safely. His goodbye speech to us was very moving, genuine, and heartfelt! Cronins is very lucky to have Eddie as an employee; he promotes a very positive image for their company and Gate 1 by association. Matthew was the best Tour Manager any of us could have asked for, honestly! He was not only very knowledgeable, diligent, and dedicated, but he was resourceful, charismatic, and thoughtful. He had many different surprises for us throughout the tour that were not on the itinerary; one of which was probably my favorite thing we did (apart from Slieve League - that beauty is pretty much unbeatable). The sheep dog demonstration was such a cool activity, and if he didn't surprise us with that side trip, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to experience it otherwise. Matthew even anticipated a potential hiccup in the scheduled itinerary and made a change that saved all of us from the hurricane that past over during the trip and an incoming cruise ship with thousands of passengers. This forethought gave us all a BEAUTIFUL day at Blarney Castle to explore the grounds without massive crowds or torrential downpours, and we all very much appreciated that! Lastly, the personal stories Matthew shared with us about his family, holiday traditions, and life growing up in Derry during the troubles were very touching. He didn't have to do that. I'm sure all of us would understand, if the Tour Managers wanted to keep their personal lives private; but because he shared those stories, it helped us get a better understanding of life in Ireland. Plus, he would sometimes follow up his stories with a little treat he bought for us; weather it was fudge, lollipops, or even scratch tickets to honor his late grandmother. It was very sweet and yet another thing he did that went above and beyond his role.
Kimberly D.