Brief: A young couple want to spend a week in El Gouna in early spring, avoiding the school holidays. They would like to go all-inclusive in the nicest hotel they can afford.
Budget: £1,800.
Verdict: A solid performance overall, with the winning agent providing destination as well as hotel advice.
The Co-operative Travel
The Co-operative Travel10b St George’s Centre
Score: 66%
The agent in this slightly overcrowded, messy shop only really covered the basics. She didn’t ask many questions and didn’t seem very interested in my holiday. The consultant found me a week at the four-star Three Corners Ocean View Resort with Airtours, from £1,310, and at the five-star Mövenpick with Thomas Cook from £1,380.
I tried to prompt the agent to offer excursions and asked about diving but she simply told me that I could book these when we were there. I was given a printout, a couple of brochures and a business card, and told to call when I’d decided what I wanted to book.
The service here was fairly brief and I was in and out of the shop before I knew it.
Thomson
Thomson32 St George’s Centre
Score: 70%
All four agents were free but it was a couple of minutes before one acknowledged me. She was friendly and polite, and was happy to look up information about El Gouna.
We studied Thomson and First Choice brochures, but it was a bit difficult as two of the agent’s colleagues kept butting in with comments; I think they were trying to be helpful but I found it confusing and it meant they neglected the customers they were serving.
The agent offered me the four-star Mosaique Hotel for £1,330. She also tried to access the Longwood website, but said she could not get on to it. She later emailed me details, offering the Three Corners Ocean View for £1,440.
Thomas Cook
Thomas Cook24-25 New Road
Score: 78%
I was left looking at brochures for a couple of minutes before an agent approached me and asked if I needed help. She questioned me thoroughly on what I wanted and took notes.
We looked at the Thomas Cook Winter Sun brochure. The agent was enthusiastic and commented on the sunny photos – she seemed interested in her job and my holiday. We looked at a number of hotels and found the Three Corners Ocean View as the best within my budget, at £1,310.
We talked about excursions and looked at them on screen. The agent mentioned parking and insurance, but didn’t provide quotes for these. She gave me her details and offered me a follow-up call.
First Choice
First ChoiceAsda Superstore, Imperial Retail Park
Score: 79%
All the staff were very enthusiastic, creating an upbeat atmosphere, and I was offered tea or coffee. The shop looked rather messy, but they were in the process of tidying up when I arrived.
The agent who served me was patient and looked at a number of hotels. I liked the look of the Mövenpick, but the agent could not find a price within my budget. I was given a printout offering me the Mosaique, for £1,330, and information on a scuba diving excursion, for £77.
The agent also offered insurance, parking and an airport hotel, which she said she could personally recommend. She discussed dates, budgets, excursions and facilities with me, and also checked reviews of the hotel on TripAdvisor.
She took my details and subsequently followed up with a call and an email.
Winning agent: Belinda Oates
“I’ve been to Sharm el-Sheikh a couple of times, and lots of friends have stayed in El Gouna. I’d like to go – the harbour and the choice of excursions sound great.”
Tips: selling Egypt
- El Gouna is a purpose-built resort on Egypt’s Red Sea coast. Stretching along six miles of secluded coastline, it has 15 hotels and resorts, 100 bars and restaurants, a marina and an 18-hole golf course.
- Visit the El Gouna hotel microsite for descriptions, photos, maps and details about special packages offering discounts and freebies for visiting travel agents. Go to hotels.elgouna.com
- There are three five-star resorts, including the Mövenpick, which was renovated last year. Of the eight four-star hotels, the Mosaique, which opened last November, is the newest.
- Twelve of El Gouna’s hotels are part of a Dine Around programme. Details at elgouna.com
- For more information about El Gouna, see Destinations on page 63 and gazetteers.com