Location: Taunton, Somerset
Wanted: A young couple want a quiet break on a Greek island with some excursions in June. They would like recommendations that avoid the party resorts.
Budget: £1,200
Miles Morgan Travel
17 Orchard Shopping Centre
89%
I liked the smart furniture and pictures in this clean and attractive shop. I was offered two seven-night holidays, both through Thomas Cook. The first was to Skiathos, staying half-board at the Esperides Hotel, departing from Bristol on June 30, for £1,204. I was told excursion options included church and old town visits and an island cruise. The second option was to Kefalonia, staying half-board at the Apostolata Island Resort & Spa, leaving from Bristol on June 3, for £1,290, with wine tasting, sea kayaking and sailing as optional extras. The agent asked lots of questions and found flights at a good time of day. She was friendly and professional and searched hard to find the best holiday options.
Tui
18 Orchard Shopping Centre
83%
This shop was clean, tidy and bright but looked a bit bare. A friendly agent found me two seven-night options with hotels near beaches, both with Tui. One was the Aeolos Beach hotel in Kos for £1,040, the other the Castello di Rodi hotel in Rhodes for £1,048, both with flights from Bristol. Excursions highlighted included historical tours, waterparks, boat trips and nightlife. The agent offered a £150 discount if I booked there and then.
Thomas Cook
20 Fore Street
74%
The shop was clean, tidy and calm. The agent said Skiathos and Kefalonia were good islands and offered two seven-night half-board options with Thomas Cook: one for Punta Hotel in Skiathos for £1,318, the other for Apostolata Resort & Spa in Kefalonia for £1,244. Flight times were in the middle of the night and transfers were long. The agent, who I felt lacked enthusiasm, did not try to personalise
the holiday and asked few questions.
Winning agent
Abby Limm, manager
“Greece is fairly popular and there are lots of options so it’s important to ask about budget and interests to get the right island and hotel for the customer.”
Verdict
The process was similar in each store, with all three agents offering two options on different islands. However, the Miles Morgan agent asked the most pertinent questions and showed the most enthusiasm.
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