An older couple are looking for a week of sun and some culture in Tunisia in April. They want to stay in a five star hotel, with some historic places to visit nearby. The budget is £2,000 to include flights.
Visiting these two neighbouring towns near Bristol, it was difficult to decide between excellent consultations at The Travel House and Global Independent Travel Centre. First Choice would have got a decent score too, if Mystery Shopper had been acknowledged sooner.
- Wanted: Tunisia
- Location: Clevedon and Portishead
First Choice
First Choice 7A The Triangle Centre, Clevedon
Score: N/A
When I entered the shop staff were concentrating on consultations. Over the course of my lengthy visit, at least six customers came in, waited, and eventually left without being acknowledged.
When I was seen after about 20 minutes, the consultant said the shop was exceptionally busy. She was keen to help, with exemplary enthusiasm and patience, but had difficulty finding something to suit. It would have gone better if she had spent more time establishing my needs early on.
The eventual quote was a compromise: a beach hotel from which we could take excursions to historical sites. The quote was £1,430, at the Riu Palace Oceana at Hammamet from the Thomson Premier Collection.
The consultant secured a good price, but after spending nearly two hours in the shop, I left with a holiday not really fitting my brief.
NB: Agencies that keep Mystery Shopper waiting for longer than 15 minutes fail to score.
Miles Morgan Travel
Miles Morgan Travel 2 The Precinct, Portishead
Score: 80%
The consultant was careful to ask relevant questions, such as our dining preferences and how we wanted to spend our time. But she could have made the brochure come alive by helping me to envisage my holiday.
She gave me quotes on more than one holiday, so I had a good idea of what my budget would be. The quotes included seven days at the Sindbad Hotel in Hammamet costing £1,562 on a bed and breakfast basis or £1,668 on half board.
She recommended flying from Bristol with Thomson and chose a hotel from a Classic Collection Holidays brochure. Flights with Thomas Cook were discounted because of the early departure, and The Residence hotel in Tunis was discounted because of the high cost.
She use the internet to find additional photos of the hotels we discussed. Kuoni was also mentioned and we looked at the Cadogan brochure.
The Travel House
The Travel House32 High Street, Portishead
Score: 89%
The consultant gave me a friendly welcome. She asked lots of questions and described the excursions that could be taken, such as a desert jeep safari – I found myself imagining I was already on holiday.
She recommended a Thomson flight from Bristol, with seven days at the Radisson Blu near Monastir hotel in the Classic Collection brochure, at a cost of £1,550 on a half board basis, including a £74 discount.
She also gave me a quote for comparison for the Marhaba Beach hotel in Sousse with Thomson, costing £824 on a half board basis. The consultant had all the information at her fingertips and her attitude and lively approach would encourage me back to the shop.
I left with two relevant brochures and printed personal quotes, with the consultant making sure I knew where her phone number was on the documents.
Global Independent Travel Centre
Global Independent Travel Centre10 Old Street, Clevedon
Score: 90%
The consultant established a good idea of my requirements and her recommendation was spot on. She provided several options, but one stood out as the best.
She discussed three hotels in the Classic Collection brochure – the Radisson Blu, the Sindbad and the Hasdrubal at Port el Kantaoui. The Radisson was recommended because of its closeness to places of historical interest, with a quote of £1,772 including a sea view room on a half board basis.
Searching the web, she checked the distance between various destinations, hotels and the airport and suggested suitable excursions. Although I said we were flexible on timings, she only researched one date, but I might have got a lower price if we had moved further away from Easter. Also, she only offered me one flight time.
Overall, it was a very professional performance.
Tips: Selling Tunisia
- May, June, October and November offer the best of the climate in Tunisia: warm, sunny days and inviting sea temperatures. In winter exploring the country takes precedence over sunbathing. Pack something showerproof for the end of summer rains during the first half of September. Heat-tolerant golfers might like to travel in early June as some courses introduce their ‘high-summer rates’ with savings of up to 40% on green fees.
- The beautifully preserved Roman town of Dougga and the underground villas of Bulla Regia are sites unique in Roman History. Tunis’ Bardo Museum houses the world’s finest collection of Roman Mosaics.
- The hotels offer great value for money so suggest longer stays –a minimum of ten days there and use at least three of them to see the Sahara and the south. The great variety that Tunisia has to offer belies its compact dimensions. Because it’s a small country it’s easy to get round.
- Tunisia has some of the finest beaches in the Mediterranean and Hammamet’s south facing, swathe of golden sand takes some beating.
- For more information on hotels in Tunisia, visit Gazetteers.com.