Location: Edinburgh
Wanted: A couple and their teenage daughter are looking for two weeks’ all-inclusive in Kos, Greece, during the summer holidays. They are keen to visit other islands.
Budget: £4,000 (flexible by £250)
Jimmy Martin Travel
94 Raeburn Place
94%
The shop was easy to locate and had a smart exterior. The agent was focused at all times and in no rush. She went into a lot of detail and was proactive in offering activities. The first suggestion was 14 nights’ all-inclusive in a standard mountain-view room at the four-star Kipriotis Hippocrates Hotel, for £4,069, with JTA Travel, including transfers. The second suggestion was also with JTA Travel: 14 nights’ all-inclusive at the Atlantis Hotel in a triple room for £3,728, including transfers. Both holidays departed from Glasgow airport on July 18 with easyJet. The agent made sure there was Wi-Fi at the resort and also looked into airport parking, transfers, luggage and currency services.
Thomas Cook
52 Hanover Street
80%
The staff looked smart in their uniforms and had clear name badges. I was offered two 14-night all-inclusive holidays with Thomas Cook, flying from Glasgow on August 1 with easyJet: a side-sea-view double room at the Smartline Hippocrates hotel for £4,202 and a room at the Tui Atlantica Thalassa Hotel for £4,160. The quotes did not include extras such as transfers, luggage or trips, so they were over my budget.
Barrhead Travel
49 Hanover Street
60%
I was approached as soon as I entered. The agent was polite but there was little conversation and it felt quite clinical. I was offered 15 nights’ all-inclusive at the Smartline Hippocrates hotel in Kos Town with Thomas Cook for £4,063, flying with easyJet from Glasgow on August 1. The agent was not that interested in offering much detail on the holiday,
and gave me nothing to take away.
My contact details weren’t taken.
Winning agent
Deborah McGlashan, senior travel consultant
“It’s lovely to be chosen as the winner and know you’re still giving the same great customer service. I hadn’t been mystery shopped for about 20 years!”
Verdict
All of the agents were friendly and stuck to the brief, but the winner
was more proactive and offered a more personable service.
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