I am looking at my first trip to Europe since 2012, and am considering a Gate1 trip.
I have read enough reviews to feel confident in them, but I notice that there costs include air transportation. (At least I think they do!)
I have also read enough to know that the best advice always seems to be to book your own airfare so that you are "in charge " of your ticket should issues arise.
What do people do in this situation? Are my assumptions correct?
Many thanks.
Em
Why not call Gate 1 and ask them for the tour price without airfare.
I would be more comfortable booking the air with a package trip than booking with a 3rd party for an independent trip. I've only done a few tours. For tours/cruises, I like to book my own air so I get an itinerary I like in terms of times and connections and, most importantly, for me, is so I can add additional days before my trip, and perhaps a few after. I like to make sure I get to the start of the tour, and to recover some from jet lag/time change. That said, if you can't get them to price out the trip separately or if the air is "free" that would be a consideration.
Emily Welcome. I have no experience with Gate1, but have looked closely at a few of their tours over they years When I look at the Gate 1 website, they pretty much clearly show a price for each tour with and without air. But important to note, is that it seems to be most often based on flying out of New York. So that if you call them to discuss, they will give you another price that includes your flight from your home city. Letting them book the whole trip puts you on one ticket which is advantageous to you. I would expect them to be accommodating and willing to discuss options with you if you have preferences.
As its your fist time, I would prefer to not book flights yourself. That way, if there are delays or problem, you have another set of eyes tracking you, and you can call them for help too. Plus it usually include airport and pickup transportation on arrival. .
Not Gate 1 but I once booked a tour with Road Scholar and used their flight booking service. Which turned out to be really good as I got delayed by sickness at a plane transfer airport and thus missed my flight. They booked new flights and had a driver pick me up at the end to get me to join the tour a day late. Their service was really good.
But, normally I do my own flights since I usually add on days both pre and post tours - which are usually the Rick Steves ones.
I have traveled many times with Gate 1. There is always an option to book “Land only” if you want to make your own travel arrangements. I have done both ways, never a problem.
I think you should price it with and without air. Generally (not always) the tour group can get a better price on the air than you might be able to do by yourself. However, you often lose flexibility with air via the package. When we book a tour or a cruise in Europe we will book our own air because we like to come a few day early and sometimes stay for a few extra days at the end. When we come early we can adjust to jet lag on our own time and not on the tour. And sometimes at the end we are not eager to get home. And sometimes you might find a great fare but you may have to change arrival or departure cities. Just need to price all your options. The internet makes it easy to do so.
thanks to all who replied.
clearly my rust is showing as calling Gate1 is the plan.
Em
Emily, almost all Gate 1 tours are priced either "land only" or "with air." There are a few that only have the with air option, but most give you a choice.
Advantages of booking "with air" include that they will provide free transfers between hotel and airport. Disadvantages include the need to work through someone else when irregular operations occur. I saw this firsthand on a Gate 1 tour when our flight at the end of the tour at a small airport was delayed by 4 hours. This meant everyone was scrambling. Those with Gate 1 arrangements got home just fine, but it was just one more hoop to jump through. I was glad I made my own flight arrangements at that time.
Also, unless you are in a big hurry to book, I would make sure that you go online and sign up for their weekly special emails. For the last two years they have had a sale in Sept and a sale in March where they waive the single supplement for 4 days. This can be a big money saver. (saved $3900 last sale on a river cruise/tour). If they have this sale, you would learn about it in the emails. I also try to post something here if I can.
We usually book our own air, unless we are traveling to a country where Delta doesn't have good air connections.
We have a Gate 1 trip to Armenia and Georgia next year and will use Gate 1 for air.
We did Egypt with Gate 1 and had air through them. Only Egyptair has a direct flight from the USA (JFK) to Cairo.
Gate 1's airfare usually saves you money.
However, sometimes the flight connections can be not so great, so check that before you decide.
@geovagriffith, does Gate1 allow folks to pick travel days?
I have never traveled with Gate 1.
In general tour operators have the best price for air and include transfers to the starting point of the ship Le tour. They do not always have the best routes or flexibility.
If you don’t use them for air, they may still provide the ground transfers for a fee. Might want to make that part of your inquiry.
Enjoy the trip.
@Jules m - Yes, in the booking page, you can alter the travel dates. So if your tour starts Sept 15, Sept 14 would likely auto-populate in the departure date but you can go in and change it.
Yes,
you can pick your travel days. We usually go a day early and that is not a problem.
