Location: Folkestone and Dover
Wanted: A couple are seeking a seven to 10-night multi-centre trip with a city, beach and activities in southeast Asia in March or April next year.
Budget: £3,000
Virgin Holidays Concession in Tesco,
White Cliffs Park, Dover
88%
This concession was bright and enticing, but there was a limited selection of brochures. The agent gave me a choice of packages and gave advice about activities and the area. She was very knowledgeable, and suggested Krabi in Thailand.
I was offered an 11-night Virgin Holidays package staying a week at Centara Anda Dhevi in Krabi with B&B stays either side at Rembrandt Hotel Bangkok, flights from Heathrow with Eva Air on March 11 and internal flights with Bangkok Airways for £2,882. An alternative to Krabi was The Village Coconut Island hotel in Phuket for £2,874. The agent was very enthusiastic and kept the holiday within budget.
Tui
47 Biggin Street, Dover
81%
The window display was very minimalistic, but there was ample choice when it came to the brochures inside. It took more than five minutes to be served, but the agent was very friendly. They could not offer multi-centre trips for 10 days, so we were offered seven days in Krabi at £2,220 or a 14-day multi centre to Krabi and Khao Lak for £2,912, including B&B accommodation,
transfers and flights. We were not told about the areas or activities.
Thomas Cook
29-33 Sandgate Road, Folkestone
40%
The shop had an upbeat vibe, a good visual display and a wide range of brochures. I was quickly given assistance and asked basic questions about tailored holidays. After being told we were unsure of a destination and flexible on dates, the agent refused to offer any quotes or suggestions without being given more specific details. The agent gave their undivided attention, but their unwillingness to provide suggestions or a price was disappointing.
Winning agent
Yasmin Malhas, sales consultant
I didn’t realise how beautiful Thailand was until I did a course, and now I’m a specialist – but I’ve never been. It’s so vast, with lots of ways to tailor an itinerary, so it’s a great multi-centre destination.
Verdict
Virgin Holidays’ agent’s ability to tailor the dates to our requirements, along with her excursion suggestions and enthusiasm, saw her come out
on top this week.
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