Location: Gloucester and Stroud
Wanted: A couple is looking for a late deal on post-Christmas winter-sun destination, possibly the Canary Islands. Are there any good deals elsewhere?
Budget: £1,500
Co-operative Travel
6 Eastgate Street, Gloucester
79%
The window display was cluttered and it wasn’t particularly clean outside, but I was greeted at the door and employees were smartly dressed. The agent asked questions, but they focused on weather and activities. I expressed a desire for adult-only hotels, but these were not considered. She offered two 14-night all-inclusive Thomas Cook packages, which were under budget. I was quoted £936 for the Sunprime C-Lounge in Antalya, Turkey, and £1,114 for Royal Tulip Beach Resort in Marsa Alam, Egypt, both with Thomas Cook Airlines flights from Birmingham. I did get the agent’s undivided attention, but I would have preferred a better grade adult-only hotel.
Flight Centre
20 Northgate Street, Gloucester
78%
This shop was clean and all employees neat and tidy. Window displays and brochures were good. I was seen in less than a minute by an agent who suggested the Canary Islands, but no destinations further east. I was quoted £1,724 for seven nights’ half-board at Hotel the Volcan in Lanzarote, including transfers and Ryanair flights from Bristol. They also offered two other hotel options, but these were not printed off.
Thomas Cook
6 High Street, Stroud
30%
The exterior of this shop was clean and presentable. I was seen right away by an agent, but they were unable to help me as their system was down. I was given a business card, but told they couldn’t help. While the system issue was out of the agent’s control, they could have taken my details and gone through some brochure options. I felt the computer problem was their only concern and they were not keen to help then or at a later stage.
Winning agent
Jess Bishop, travel advisor
“I started as an apprentice in January. I have worked in sales before and I’m good with members of the public, which helps. A colleague helped me with this enquiry and suggested other destinations.”
Verdict
It was very close between the top two this week. Flight Centre was deemed a better experience, but was over budget. The Co-operative Travel’s agent offered two quotes within budget. Thomas Cook’s agent was unable to help due to system issues.
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