Location: Castleford, West Yorkshire
Wanted: A family of six are looking for a week’s summer holiday in the UK at an accessible property, as two grandparents will be joining two adults and two children.
Budget: £1,500
Thomas Cook
20 Carlton Lane Shopping Centre
92%
I was acknowledged immediately by a friendly and proactive agent. They talked
me through a few options, including Butlin’s and Haven in Yorkshire and Norfolk, before settling on Hoseasons’ Searles Leisure Resort in Hunstanton, Norfolk. The price was £1,309 for seven nights’ self-catering in a three-bedroom lodge, arriving on August 17. It fitted the bill perfectly, with plenty for the children to do. I was questioned at length as to my exact needs, and the agent knew a lot about holiday parks. Hoseasons no longer publishes brochures but the agent showed me pictures and printed them out. The agent tried to close the sale by offering a £50 discount.
Wallace Arnold Travel
56a Carlton Street
87%
The two agents were busy when I entered, but I was served within 10 minutes. I was offered a week’s self-catering in a three-bedroom caravan at Haven’s Hopton Park, in Norfolk, for £1,452, arriving August 4. The agent asked detailed questions about my accommodation and destination preferences, and budget. I was given printed information and offered an activity bundle add-on. The service was good, but only one option was given.
Hays Travel
23 Carlton Lane Shopping Centre
64%
The agent was not very knowledgeable, phoned for a price and didn’t show me a brochure before asking whether I wanted to book. I was offered seven nights’ self-catering in a three-bedroom caravan at Haven’s Perran Sands park, in Cornwall, for £1,417, arriving August 4. I was given scant information, and I felt it was strange that so much emphasis was put on an iron and hairdryer. The agent could have done a lot more research.
Winning agent
Maxine Wroe, branch manager
“Families are thinking about budget but we tend to find they are after a holiday abroad for UK park prices. It’s the first time I’ve been mystery shopped, and I’m delighted to win.”
Verdict
Thomas Cook offered more choice, which allowed the mystery shopper to choose the ideal holiday within their budget. The agent was positive, friendly and professional, and was keen 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