Location: Winchester
Wanted: A pair of empty-nesters in their 50s want to visit locations associated with Game of Thrones in Dubrovnik and Split, Croatia.
Budget: £2,200
Hays Travel
26 The Square
72%
The shop was very clean, employees all presentable and window displays tidy. I was served immediately and given some destination choices which covered the areas that I wanted to visit, but nothing about Game Of Thrones was added. The agent did not have much knowledge about the destination but they knew some products – but gave me her undivided attention and was enthusiastic about the query. I was given a quote for an eight-night Classic Collection holiday in June, departing from Gatwick with easyJet. It included four nights at Hotel Lero, Dubrovnik, and four nights in Hotel Jupiter, Split, plus transfers, for a total of £2,414. I was given a £72 quote for single-trip insurance too.
The Independent Holiday Shop
Unit 35, The Brooks
69%
I was greeted immediately but the agent said they didn’t know about Game Of Thrones so would have to research it. Later that day I was emailed two quotes, both for eight-night stays in May, departing from Gatwick with easyJet. The first was for four nights at Hotel Lero, Dubrovnik, and four nights in Hotel Jupiter, Split, for £2,336, with shared transfers from the airport to Hotel Lero and private transfers between Dubrovnik and Split. The second quote was for five nights stay in Hotel Cavtat and three in Hotel Jupiter for £2,247, with shared transfers.
Travelbag
23-24 High Street
47%
I was served immediately but the agent said they don’t normally offer holidays to Europe. They did not discuss options at length, but offered me a quote for a 10-night holiday departing from Heathrow in June with British Airways, flying into Split and out of Dubrovnik. It included five nights in Bluesun Hotel Elaphusa, on the island of Brac, and five nights at Ariston Hotel, Dubrovnik, for £2,099. Nothing was mentioned about tours to see sites associated with Game of Thrones.
Winning agent
Jodie Spring, apprentice travel consultant
“Croatia is not our best-selling destination but we do get a few enquiries – and it does seem to be growing in popularity. We get regular training.”
Verdict
Hays Travel and The Independent Holiday Shop both produced good options for Split and Dubrovnik twin-centres, with the Hays agent winning on enthusiasm and effort. The Travelbag quotation was less suitable and the agent did not seem as interested in securing the booking.
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.
