Mum and Dad want to take two children under 12 to Orlando during the summer holidays for two weeks, staying in a villa with a pool. They want to fly from Manchester, and the price should include car hire and theme park entry tickets.
Budget: £10,000
Verdict: The top two agencies gave exemplary performances, with Thomas Cook’s keen discounts winning the day.
The Travel Village from Save ’n’ Sail
The Travel Village from Save ’n’ Sail298 Highfield Road
Score: 58%
The first agent I spoke to told me she was new and couldn’t help me. Another member of staff intervened and took details from me regarding my requirements, but explained it would take her a long time to get some options.
Although I asked if I could stay, she said it was better if she called me later in the day or for me to come back in. She did ring me later with three options, all under budget, but it felt difficult to get a sense of what I was being offered over the phone, and although the agent was enthusiastic, I felt she was in a hurry.
Compared to the other agencies, I didn’t feel my custom was of particular value to them.
Sunseekers
Sunseekers24 Deansgate
Score: 69%
Roadworks outside this shop didn’t help, but even without them, the peeling paint work and letter missing from the shop sign didn’t look very professional.
Inside, I was greeted by a friendly agent, who showed a great deal of patience in looking at packages and separate flights and accommodation to get a deal, finding three suitable options with Thomas Cook and Cosmos.
She used her personal experience to build up a rapport, but I was a little confused over pricing as the printed quotes were not clear. She didn’t quote for theme park tickets or insurance. She said she rarely booked long-haul, complicated itineraries.
First Choice
First Choice9 Birley Street
Score: 96%
The agent stood to greet me and was very enthusiastic about my request, having visited Orlando many times. She showed me her screen while she searched for options, and got quotes for two villas in Kissimmee and a hotel, recommending the latter on a price and location basis.
She knew a lot about the attractions and recommended booking tickets in advance. She was genuinely friendly and warm throughout, and built up my excitement about the trip.
It was a close call between this and the winning shop, but the price of the villas – at £9,500 including all extras – was so much higher, it put First Choice in second place.
Thomas Cook
Thomas Cook10 Birley Street
Score: 97%
This confident agent immediately asked whether I had visited Orlando before, and after checking my preferences, looked at a number of accommodation styles and locations to give me a variety of options.
After checking availability, she obtained five quotes from Thomas Cook for executive homes, which she recommended, to hotels, apartments and a Disney resort, with good discounts. She offered a three and a four-bedroom villa in Kissimmee, both for £6,890, departing on July 26.
I was given a brochure and details of all the quotes, which also included the cost of car hire and insurance, park tickets, a dolphin swim excursion, and a quote for travel insurance. The discounts on offer made this shop the one offering the best value option on the day.
Winning agent: Christine Devine, world travel consultant
“I’m just back from maternity leave so I was a little nervous about all the new product in Orlando, but I checked in the brochures. I will take my little girl there one day.”
Orlando tips
- New attractions opening this year in Orlando include rollercoaster Cheetah Hunt and Cheetah Run at Busch Gardens, opening in May, and Legoland Florida, aimed at the under-12s, opening in October.
- The hotels on International Drive are the most centrally located for visiting theme parks, but Kissimmee is also nearby and offers better value options, including many villas.
- Use deals on theme park passes to persuade clients to book.
- Sell Orlando to long-suffering parents by reminding them it’s not just about the theme parks. Shopping, golf, and a range of other activities such as stockcar-racing, ziplining and fishing are also on offer.
- For more on theme parks and Florida, see page 49 of Destinations and Gazetteers.com