Category: Uncategorized

Uncategorized

2nd Annual Gate 1 Photo Contest

Gate 1 Travel is excited to announce that we are launching our 2nd annual photo contest with a chance to win $500! Tag your best photo(s) from past trips with both #gate1travel #gate1contest17 and be entered to win a $500 Visa pre-paid gift card. Previously submitted photos will not be counted. One winning photo will be selected from each category (Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, Asia & Pacific, USA & Canada, and Latin America). The grand prize winner will be chosen from among the regional winners by our Facebook fans! The contest is open until January 27, 2016 and a winner will be announced in March. Full Details

How to Enter:

  1. Upload photos to Twitter or Instagram or directly from you computer or device here
  2. Hashtag #gate1travel and #gate1contest17 with the country where you took the photo (ex: #gate1travel #gate1contest17 #italy)
  3. Be sure that your social profile (Twitter or Instagram) is set to public
  4. Keep an eye on our site and encourage your friends to vote for the grand prize winner on Facebook for your chance to win!

2016 Region Winners:

Categories: Europe, Mediterranean, Africa, Asia & Pacific, USA & Canada, Latin America

Instagram & Twitter: #gate1travel #gate1contest17 & follow Gate 1 Travel

Facebook: click here to upload directly from your profile, like Gate 1 Travel & share with your friends to vote for your photo!

Looking for inspiration? Check out our traveler photo gallery to see what others have posted!

Click here for full Terms & Conditions.

AfricaMediterraneanUncategorized

Rabat, Morocco: A City of Contrasts

Nestled right between the Atlantic & the Mediterranean, Morocco is truly a crossroads of world cultures. The small kingdom of 30 million people sits at the western tip of Africa, just 7 miles from the coast of Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar. Morocco’s vibrant culture reflects centuries of European, West African, Arab, and indigenous influences.

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A Gate 1 traveler took this colorful photo last week on our 13 Day Kaleidoscope of Morocco tour. The group visited Rabat, Morocco’s coastal capital, where the traveler took advantage of the refreshing Atlantic breezes by the beach. “This city is overwhelmingly beautiful,” she notes.

From Rabat, our tour continues to Fez to visit its famous tanneries and wander its ancient medina, and dine with a local family. We’ll spend nights in the cedar woods of the Atlas Mountains, the vast Sahara Desert, and the towering canyons of Ouarzazate before arriving in Marrakesh, site of the lively Jema al Fna square. After a whirlwind of tastes, geographies, sounds and cities, you’ll fall in love with Morocco’s mosaic of cultures.

MediterraneanSignaturesUncategorized

Wander the desert in style: deluxe Israel tours with Eilat resort

Israel is a place of beauty, charm and history. Signature Collection’s 14 Day Deluxe Israel with Eilat is specially curated to offer the perfect blend of natural attractions, resort excursions, and cultural experiences.

Natural Wonders

In an open-topped Jeep, travel into the Eilat mountains, following dramatic trails that highlight the surreal scenery of the Negev Desert. We’ll stop for desert-style hospitality with warm Bedouin pita bread and sweet tea.

Explore the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, to the cliff-top fortress at Masada, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Travel via verdant rolling hills to the tranquil Sea of Galilee for a truly unique experience as we embark on a replica boat and sail on the same waters as fisherman did in the time of Jesus.

Relaxation

Spend a morning enjoying the Red Sea’s crystal-clear turquoise waters – diving and snorkeling here is the best in the world – the underwater life can be seen clearly, including rare corals, hundreds of species of fish and much more. Sunbathe at the pool or, just pamper yourself at the hotel’s spa. At night, Eilat comes alive! There’s a wide choice of trendy international restaurants and a vibrant night scene.

We visit Tishbi Winery for an exclusive vineyard tour of this family-owned winery, one of Israel’s finest. Enjoy tastings of the many types of wine, handmade chocolates and share a delicious lunch.

In Jerusalem, a local “shuk” expert takes you step-by-step to the best food stalls in the market. The delectable lunch is a fantastic blend of home-grown flavors and fresh cooked tasty delights. Join us later for a private wine and hors d’oeuvres reception that opens our magical evening at the Tower of David as the sun sets over the Old City.

History

We’ll introduce you to the ancient port city of Jaffa (Joppa), eternally linked with the biblical tales of King Solomon, Jonah and St. Peter. Tour the ancient ruins, continuing along the winding cobblestone lanes to the reconstructed Artists’ Quarter.

Visit the Old City for views of the magnificent Dome of the Rock. Then, we follow the Via Dolorosa through the narrow alleys and souks of the Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed to be where Jesus was crucified and buried.

Discover the timeless city of Acre (Akko), once capital of the Crusaders, and their last stronghold in the Holy Land. We travel to Nazareth, the sacred town where Jesus spent most of his youth; visit the Basilica of the Annunciation and Mary’s Well.

Culture

Visit the fascinating Ilana Goor Museum, located in an 18th century building that once served as the first Jewish inn for pilgrims on the way to Jerusalem. This unique museum is acclaimed for its extraordinary collection of international works of art, alongside Goor’s original creations.

Our Signature Collection tour includes an unforgettable opportunity to visit a working kibbutz and get acquainted with everyday life in this rural community.

In Jaffa, we visit the dynamic Sarona Market complex, heart of Israel’s culinary art scene, for a lunch of local specialties. Revel in the contrasting architecture of this city on the sea, home to more Bauhaus buildings than any other city in the world.

Signature Collection’s 14 Day Deluxe Israel with Eilat tour puts the very best of the Holy Land on spectacular display. Subscribe to our newsletter to save hundreds on your next trip to Israel.

Uncategorized

What’s it like touring Turkey with Gate 1?

Lauren Higbee is a true jet-setter, having visited a new country each year for most of her life. In 2014, she took her first-ever escorted tour, the 13 Day Essential Turkey, with her retired parents.

Seeing it all

Lauren opted for a tour in order to see as much of the country as possible.”For me especially, Turkey was a long-awaited dream trip and I wanted to see as much as we could in the two weeks we were there,” Lauren told Pink Pangaea. “The highlight for us was exploring new places that we probably wouldn’t have discovered on our own…we loved was the hot springs at Pamukkale, a gorgeous UNESCO site.”

Escorted tours ensure that you see the highlights of every destination, but our itineraries also include plenty of room to explore. “Gate 1 did a nice job of balancing scheduled activities with free time (time that you could use to explore on your own or book optional activities),” Higbee explains. “This worked well for us as it allowed us to customize our trip according to our interests.”

Cultural Exchange

Some might worry that an escorted tour leaves little time to interact with locals, but Lauren found the opposite to be true. Gate 1 offered “a lunch [that] they scheduled with local families in a small village,” Lauren says. “Our guide was a local Turkish woman who was very knowledgeable about the history of Turkey and the cities we were visiting. Her expert advice was invaluable in understanding what we were seeing and forming our own connections to the place.”

Lauren and her parents also visited a primary school near Konya that is supported by the Gate 1 Foundation. “Thanks to the Gate 1 sponsorship, the school had just finished building a cafeteria and we got to meet some of the children. I was really impressed that they took the time to show us how tourism can make difference in every day lives,” Higbee notes.

“I can’t think of anything particularly disappointing about the tour, aside from perhaps wanting it to be longer!”

Read the whole interview here, or start planning your trip to the land of whirling dervishes, ice-cream acrobats and underground cities.

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NewsTravel TipsUncategorized

Gate 1’s New Tour Types, Explained

Gate 1 Travel has released a new system for categorizing our growing range of travel experiences. We hope that the new categories, which are now listed on the table of contents for each destination, will help our passengers find their preferred travel experience more quickly.

The new tour categories focus on a few key elements: season, itinerary, length, and group size. The list below can also be found on destination tables of contents by hovering over the blue question mark at the top of the “Category” column.

Tour Categories.PNG

Classic – First class accommodations, balance of included sightseeing and free time, transfers & multiple meals included.

Off Season – Beat the crowds with a Classic tour itinerary in the off-season, and save on land services and airfare.

Partially Escorted – A portion of your itinerary will feature escorted touring services with additional time traveling independently.

Value – Tourist and/or first class accommodations, minimal inclusions with a variety of optional tours available to customize your experience.

Express – Short getaways featuring the highlights of a destination with maximum efficiency.

Luxury – Deluxe accommodations, unique & exclusive experiences, exceptional food, all touring and most gratuities included.

Small Group – Maximum 22 travelers, unique & boutique accommodations, enhanced cultural immersion

Independent – Explore at your own pace, without the included features of an escorted tour.