Location: Bangor, North Wales
Wanted: A family of five is looking for a good deal in the school summer holidays and has heard Turkey is cheap. Can they get at least a three-star break for two weeks for £3,000?
Budget: £3,000
Thomas Cook
252 High Street
91%
Paint was flaking off the outside of the shop, but posters were well displayed, the interior was clean and agents were smartly dressed. I was seated almost immediately and the friendly agent told me Içmeler in Turkey was popular and good value for families. She found a fortnight self-catering at Moonlight Apartments in a one-bedroom apartment for £2,969 departing August 15 from Manchester with Thomas Cook. The agent mentioned Foreign Office advice, talked about excursions and suggested a payment plan. I went away with the Turkey and Bulgaria brochure, but could have been given more options. The service was professional and personalised.
Polka Dot Travel
228 High Street
85%
The shop looked attractive from the outside. I was greeted by a friendly agent, but they weren’t overly enthusiastic. I was given five three-star self-catering options in Turkey, all with Jet2holidays departing July 21 or 23 from Manchester. Hotels were in Bodrum, Marmaris and Dalaman and varied from £2,750 to £2,920. The agent printed the quotes, but there was no mention of extras and they didn’t ask about the family’s interests. The shop’s exterior was eye-catching, and the agents wore smart uniforms. I was offered two weeks at the Blue Palace Hotel, Marmaris, Turkey, self-catering with Jet2holidays for £2,690. Flights were with Jet2.com from Manchester on August 15. The agent asked about the family’s interests and talked about excursions. The consultant was knowledgeable and I felt like a valued customer. But I was only given one quote.
Barron Travel
Coedleys/Treborth Road
77%
The shop looked attractive from the outside. I was greeted by a friendly agent, but they weren’t overly enthusiastic. I was given five three-star self-catering options in Turkey, all with Jet2holidays departing July 21 or 23 from Manchester. Hotels were in Bodrum, Marmaris and Dalaman and varied from £2,750 to £2,920. The agent printed the quotes, but there was no mention of extras and they didn’t ask about the family’s interests.
Winning agent
Leah Flinn-Williams, sales consultant 
“I normally leave the destination blank for customers to decide themselves, but you do get more for your money at hotels in Turkey – especially for families”
Verdict
Despite Barron Travel offering the most hotels, it didn’t feel as personalised a service as Thomas Cook or Polka Dot Travel, whose agents impressed by answering key questions about a classic bucket-and-spade family holiday.
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