Honeymoon challenge: Three agents go head-to-head on a real brief

| August 27, 2009, 02:43

For our latest agent challenge, former Travel Weekly staff member Megan Turner – who waved goodbye to the magazine last month to move to Herefordshire and marry her boyfriend Lee – has set three agents the task of finding a dream honeymoon.

The brief

Megan and Lee would love to go on a 16- or 17-night multi-centre holiday to Hawaii, California and Las Vegas.

Leaving on September 4, they would like a week of fly and flop in Hawaii, staying in a luxurious beach hut-style hotel where they can chill out, but try to learn to surf too.

During the second week, they said they would like to go to California. They would love a city tour of San Francisco, and would like to visit Napa Valley for a spot of wine tasting.

Then they’d like to go to Las Vegas for the last couple of days, and – spot Lee’s influence – maybe get tickets for the Floyd Mayweather v Juan Manuel Marquez boxing match taking place on September 19 before flying home.

Their budget for this dream trip would be £6,000.

Agent one: Vicky Babbs

Position: Travel Counsellor
Years in travel: 22

Vicky’s package

Economy-class flights with American Airlines: Heathrow-Honolulu, Honolulu-San Francisco and Las Vegas-Heathrow.
Economy-class flights with US Airways: San Francisco-Las Vegas.
Economy-class flights with Hawaiian Airlines: Honolulu-Kona return.
Four nights’ room-only at the Turtle Bay Resort, Oahu in an ocean-view room.
Four nights’ full-board at the Kona Village Resort, Hawaii in a garden-view room.
Four nights’ room-only at the Fairmont in San Francisco in a deluxe room.
Two days’ car hire from downtown San Francisco to San Francisco airport.Two nights’ room-only at the Meritage Resort, Napa Valley, in a double room.
Three nights’ room-only at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, in a deluxe room.

Vicky says…

In Hawaii, I’d suggest hitting the less touristy side, the North Shore. This offers a more traditional Hawaiian holiday and is a surfing mecca with plenty of courses. I could arrange car hire so they can explore Pearl Harbour and Waikiki.

I’ve recommended the Kona Village Resort, which offers luxurious and romantic rustic bungalows.

In San Francisco, I have suggested the Fairmont Hotel, an excellent property with a stunning location. I could pre-book a trip to Alcatraz.

The Meritage Resort in Napa Valley has unique facilities, and honeymooners receive sparkling wine and flowers.

In Vegas, I suggest the Bellagio. I would recommend a Grand Canyon trip and a Cirque du Soleil performance, which I can pre-book.

Cost: £5,997

Agent two: Sarah Rimmington

Position: Branch manager, The Co-operative Travel, Wombwell, Barnsley
Years in travel: 23

Sarah’s package

United Airlines flights: Heathrow-Honolulu, Honolulu-San Francisco, San Francisco-Las Vegas, Las Vegas-Heathrow.
Seven nights at Turtle Bay Resort.
Four nights at the Holiday Inn, Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco.
Three nights at the Silverado Resort in Napa.
Three nights in the MGM Grand, Las Vegas.
All transfers.
Deluxe city tour of San Francisco, including a cruise around the bay.
Two-day tour of California’s wine region.
Two tickets to the Floyd Mayweather v Juan Manuel Marquez fight.

Sarah says…

The couple want luxury beach hut accommodation and surfing in Hawaii, and the Turtle Bay Resort in the Kahuku area is perfect.

We would book them in to beach-front cottage-style accommodation, which has a five diamond rating, where they can learn to surf. As an added luxury, they can enjoy concierge Ho’okipa service.

The Holiday Inn is at the heart of San Francisco’s legendary Fisherman’s Wharf – the perfect spot to explore the sights, just a short walk from the trolley buses. I would include an extensive guided tour of the city and Bay in the price.

Two days later they would head to California’s wine region, where they would stay at the Silverado Resort in Napa – the base for a two-day wine tour. The passes include entrance to wine centres and museums, and tastings at seven vineyards.

And lastly, I would book accommodation at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and buy tickets for the Floyd Mayweather v Juan Manuel Marquez boxing match – also at the hotel – on September 19.

Cost: £5,720

Agent three: Sara Armstrong

Position: Manager, D&G Travel, Dumfries
Years in travel: 20 years

Sara’s package

United Airlines flights: Heathrow-Honolulu, Honolulu-San Francisco, San Francisco-Las Vegas, Las Vegas-Heathrow.
Seven nights at the Kahala Hotel in Oahu.
Two nights at the Hilton. Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco.
Two nights at the Silverado Resort in Napa Valley.
Five nights at the Palazzo Hotel at the Venetian, Las Vegas.
One night Grand Canyon Overnight Getaway.
San Francisco tour including Angel Island, Botanical Gardens and Sea Rock.
Two days’ car hire in a convertible, for two drivers, with all insurances.

Sara says…

The Kahala is renowned for opulence, good food and its discreet and thoughtful service. Sports facilities and an introduction to surfing and stand-up paddleboarding are complimentary.

Hilton Fisherman’s Wharf is near all the attractions, such as the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.

Set among the rolling hills of Napa Valley’s wine country, Silverado is a first-class resort with exceptional service, a championship golf course, and a spa.

Connected to the Venetian by shared walks and waterways, the Palazzo in Las Vegas is a new hotel reminiscent of the extravagant palaces that dot the Italian countryside and Amalfi Coast.

On the Grand Canyon Overnight Getaway, you would be collected from your hotel and flown over Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam. You would land at the Joshua Tree Forest where you would be collected and taken to the cowboy ranch. The evening would be spent sitting around the campfire with cowboys, and overnight in cabins.

Cost: £5,985

The verdict

Megan and Lee liked aspects of all the agents’ choices. They liked the surf school and the resident dolphins at the Kahala resort, but felt that as a big, high-rise hotel it didn’t quite fit their barefoot luxe dream.

They loved the wine tour on Sarah’s itinerary, and were impressed that she included boxing tickets, but felt that it would be more relaxing to stay in a Las Vegas hotel away from the boxing venue.

Travel Counsellor Vicky Babbs provided the couple’s favourite choice. Megan says: “The Kona Village is just what we were after – beach bungalow accommodation with a traditional Hawaiian feel.

“The Fairmont in San Francisco has lovely décor and is away from Fisherman’s Wharf, which is a bit of a tourist trap. Plus, the fountain and light show at the Bellagio in Las Vegas is meant to be amazing.”

The couple’s only reservations were that Vicky hasn’t included boxing tickets, which would push them over their budget.