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Location: Blackpool
Wanted: A couple and their two young teenage children would like to spend a week to 10 days in Santorini during the summer holidays.
Budget: £3,200
Thomson, 9 Birley Street
90%
There was only one agent in the store, but once he became available, he listened intently to my requirements. As he had been to Santorini, the agent was able to offer some great options. I was recommended seven nights’ B&B at the Perissa Bay Hotel, costing £3,120 with Skytours. The agent recommended a boat trip and said most of the island could be explored independently.
I was given a quote for insurance and asked about hotel parking. He gave me his details and asked whether he could get in touch if he didn’t hear from me. I felt confident that I knew a lot about the holiday, although I would have liked to have been given a brochure featuring it.
Thomas Cook, 10 Birley Street
77%
I was acknowledged straight away. The agent asked lots of questions and her colleague chipped in with some great recommendations. The system crashed and I had to wait a long time, but eventually the agent provided three quotes.
The cheapest was a seven-night holiday with Thomas Cook, staying in a one-bedroom apartment at the Eleftheria resort for £2,497. But I was not emailed the holiday details through as promised.
Sunseekers Travel, 24 Deansgate
54%
The agent in this shop didn’t really engage with me, but I was provided with three holiday options. The cheapest was for seven nights in a one-bedroom apartment at the Eleftheria resort, which cost £2,220 with Thomas Cook.
I would have liked more enthusiasm from the agent and personal recommendations for activities, rather than examples taken from TripAdvisor, but the holidays were competitively priced
Verdict
All of the agents were able to provide suitable holidays within budget, but the lowest-scoring agency could have shown more enthusiasm.
Winning agent
Rob Edgeley, assistant retail manager
I’ve been with Thomson for 10 years and came to Blackpool in November to start my new challenge as assistant manager.
I love getting the chance to travel to new destinations, getting to know customers and making sure they have an amazing holiday.