Bristol
Wanted: A couple want a holiday of a lifetime in Nepal for 10 to 14 nights in April, visiting famous sites on an escorted tour or independently. They are flexible on accommodation.
Budget: £8,000
Trailfinders, 48 Corn Street
94%
I was acknowledged immediately and exchanged details with an enthusiastic agent. I was offered a Vintage Nepal 12-day escorted tour with Peregrine Adventures including Kathmandu, Nagarkot temples, Pokhara in the Himalayas, temples in Tansen, hiking and a Chitwan National Park safari.
Most accommodation was four-star and we had enough money left to add a seven-night independent tour. It came to £6,245, including return flights departing Heathrow on April 14 with either Jet Airways or Etihad. The agent had impressive knowledge and questioned me thoroughly. I left with two brochures and a quote with an extensive itinerary.
Kuoni, 21 Penn Street
92%
The agent was polite and efficient. I was offered two options both with Jules Verne. The first was an 11-night Discover Nepal escorted tour, flying JetAirways from Heathrow via Delhi on March 24 at £4,690, with the option to upgrade to a five-star hotel in Delhi.
I was also offered a 17-night Classic India and Nepal itinerary. The agent offered to tailor the holiday for me, which would take a few weeks and cost more, but nothing was too much trouble.
Miles Morgan Travel, 20 Princess Victoria Street
55%
Staff were friendly and dressed smartly. The agent recommended a two-week independent tour, and it would be possible to join a one-week escorted tour. Nothing was said about tour operators, airlines or prices, but this would be emailed to me.
The brochure I took lacked detail, and I was not told about the cost of travel. The agent was professional but lacked the knowledge to fulfil my needs – and I didn’t receive the quote.
Winning agent
Sue Talbot, Sales consultant
When someone wants a trip of a lifetime you have to be enthusiastic and ask questions so you know you’re giving them what they want. It’s all about the extra experiences and the little touches.”
Verdict
The top two were both great experiences for Mystery Shopper, but Trailfinders was closer to the dates, pushed the budget further and did more to close the sale.
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