Location: Horsforth, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Shopping for: A gulet cruise in Turkey
The agencies
Thomson
92 Town Street, Horsforth, Leeds
Score: 68%
There was no litter outside the agency. The windows were clean and adverts with the latest deals were prominently displayed.
When I was greeted by an agent I asked if it was too early to book a cruise. The agent went to the Thomson brochure and showed me the details, including prices and destinations.
She said the main season is between May and October and asked when I intended to travel. She also asked if I had been on anything like this before. I was given the brochure and the agent’s business card as I left the shop.
The consultant was well presented in what appeared to be a Thomson uniform and she was wearing a name badge.
Thomas Cook
70 Town Street, Horsforth, Leeds
Score: 72%
The outside of the shop was advertising the latest deals along with some summer displays. Inside, the displays were neat, with plenty of brochures marked with the agency’s logo.
I was approached after a couple of minutes browsing and explained my enquiry. The consultant offered me the Airtours and Manos brochures and showed me the gulet cruises in each.
She advised that travel in July or August should be booked as soon as possible to avoid disappointment as the ships accommodate only small numbers of people and this type of holiday is becoming more popular.
She showed me the destinations, facilities offered, dates and prices. I left with the brochures and was given the agent’s business card.
Althams Travel
28 Town Street, Horsforth, Leeds
Score: 78%
Window advertising at the agency offered late deals and a selection of summer holiday availability.
When I went inside, I was greeted by a friendly, smartly dressed, agent. The brochures were neatly stocked and the agency looked organised and tidy.
The consultant asked me what I was looking for and if she could help. She produced Jewel in the Crown, Olympic and Thomson brochures.
The consultant then showed me the relevant pages in the brochures and gave me details of the destinations covered, prices, dates and local information. I left with the three brochures and her business card.
The winner
The Co-operative Travel
19 Town Street, Horsforth, Leeds
Score: 84%
When I entered I waited for a while as the two agents were serving customers. But I did receive a smile as an acknowledgement. When one became free she asked about my enquiry and referred to the Thomas Cook, First Choice and Manos brochures.
She said that as Co-op Travel is independent it offers bookings through a range of companies. I was told that I would need a visa that could be purchased on arrival. Medical advice regarding vaccinations was also mentioned.
The agent said she had access to gazetteers.com, which offered reviews and comments of the locations. I left with the three brochures and her business card. She was very informative.
Prize
Congratulations, The Co-operative Travel, Horsforth. One of your agents will be staying at The Village Inn and Spa, St Lucia, courtesy of Elite Island Resorts, after coming top in this week’s Mystery Shopper.
The Village Inn and Spa is a quaint 76-room hotel located in the heart of Rodney Bay, offering a relaxing and intimate atmosphere. The hotel is located in Rodney Bay Village.
Every week for the next year the travel consultant who gets the highest Mystery Shopper score will win a seven-night stay for two people at an Elite Island Resorts property. Flights are not included.
Selling tips
Tip 1: For most operators, the gulet cruise programme begins on May 1 and runs until October 31.
Tip 2: There are different options to suit different pockets. Operators such as Anatolian Sky and Exclusive Escapes offer luxury gulet cruises, while Thomas Cook and Kosmar have some budget options.
Tip 3: If you don’t want to share the gulet with strangers, consider travelling with friends or family. Four to 16 people can privately hire a gulet.
Tip 4: It’s not just about the sailing. Luxury gulets have air-conditioning, diving, snorkelling, windsurfing and canoeing equipment and a TV.
Tip 5: It is possible to tailor-make a gulet cruise to suit you. Combine Turkey with a Greek island when booking with Exclusive Escapes or Anatolian Sky. Alternatively, combine a one-week gulet cruise with a week’s hotel stay with Anatolian Sky.
Mystery Shopper scoring system
- 60% Advice and product knowledge
- 12% Customer service
- 8% External/internal appearance
- 7% Welcome
- 7% Farewell
- 6% Staff presentation