Location: Norwich
Wanted: A family of four is seeking an active holiday for a week or two in Europe, preferably at a resort with on-site activities, during the school holidays.
Budget: £4,500
Thomas Cook
2-4 Brigg Street
91%
The shop was a little cramped and the brochure displays were busy, but otherwise, it looked fine. I was offered a seat as soon as I walked in by a friendly and knowledgeable agent. She looked at a range of resorts, and talked me through the pros and cons. We settled on Turkey, and I was quoted £3,657 for a week’s all-inclusive in two rooms at Limak Arcadia Golf Resort, in Belek, departing August 28 from Stansted. Flights would be on SmartLynx, chartered by Thomas Cook. Foreign Office advice, insurance, flight times, visas and luggage were mentioned. The agent called over her two colleagues, who offered first hand experience, then talked me through Cook’s direct-debit payment scheme.
Tui
94 Castle Mall
84%
I was approached immediately by a chatty agent, who offered me two one-week, all-inclusive options with Tui. The first was at the Holiday Village in Sarigerme, Turkey, for £3,534 including insurance and flights from Norwich. The second was at the Robinson Club in Agadir, Morocco, for £4,223 including insurance, airport parking and flights from Gatwick. The agent showed me a range of options, but had run out of brochures and offered only Tui products.
Norwich Airport Travel
60 Castle Mall
65%
This shop was tidy but needed a lick of paint. I was acknowledged straight away, but had to wait my turn. I was offered two seven-night, all-inclusive holidays in Turkey with Tui Magic Life. The first was for about £5,000 at the Masmavi resort, with flights from Gatwick on August 8 – but the actual quote was not confirmed. The second was to Waterworld, in Belek, leaving Stansted on August 24, for £4,094. I wasn’t shown the agent’s screen, or a brochure, so I didn’t get a good idea of the options.
Winning agent
Mia Roberts, Thomas Cook
“We all chip in when we can help each other. It’s a real team effort and it can help us close the sale.”
Verdict
All three agents found suitable options, but the Thomas Cook and Tui staff were far more knowledgeable. Cook edged it thanks to suggestions for extras, and the tips and enthusiasm of the agent’s colleagues.
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