Location: Northampton
Wanted: A couple want a three-night romantic break in Budapest
next month, staying in a central hotel near the sights.
Budget: £1,500
Goodyer Travel
46 Main Road, Duston
90%
The agents looked smart and welcomed me as soon as I entered. The agent was extremely knowledgeable about the city and made a lot of personal recommendations. I was offered a three-night stay at the Hilton Budapest, from the Jet2CityBreaks brochure, flying with Jet2 from East Midlands on April 21 for £540. The second recommendation was for the Sofitel Budapest Chain Bridge hotel, also with Jet2 and the same dates for £952. The agent explained that while the latter was more expensive it was closer to the heart of the city. I was asked a number of questions about what I liked to do on holiday and was also given details about the cost of transfers.
Northampton Travel Services
12 Harborough Road
86%
A very helpful consultant in this tidy agency suggested a three-night SuperBreak stay at the Gold Hotel Wine & Dine, flying with Wizzair on April 21 for £796. The hotel looked excellent and met my needs. I was given details of tours as well as private transfers and the agent did try to close the booking. The agent was genuine, friendly and easy to chat to, but slightly less knowledgeable about Budapest than this week’s winner.
Thomas Cook
88 Abington Street
70%
I was left waiting for five minutes before I was approached. The agent was polite and friendly but did not go into great detail. I was recommended a three-night stay at the Adina Apartment Hotel from the Thomas Cook City Escapes brochure, flying with Ryanair on April 21 for £810. The overall experience was hampered by a computer problem as it took the agent more than 10 attempts
to generate a price and print a quote.
Winning agent
Karen Millard, travel consultant“I am delighted to have won. I have been at Goodyer Travel for 20 years and always like to find out exactly what the customer wants and tailor the holiday to them.”
Verdict
All agents did a good job, although they could have maximised the budget more. The winner’s enthusiasm and knowledge stood out.
Top-scoring agent each month will win use of a car for 10 days.
The winning agent must be at least 25, for insurance reasons. Winners under 25 will win a week’s all-inclusive holiday at an Elite Islands Resorts property. The prize is non-transferable and the car must be driven only by the winning agent. The winner must not have any serious driving convictions. Elite Island Resorts will endeavour to supply the car to the agency but reserves the right to request the winning agent to collect and return the car from Essex or a central location