Location:Liverpool, Merseyside
Wanted: A couple want a romantic holiday to the Maldives to celebrate their wedding anniversary. They have never had a luxury holiday before and would like to go in June for up to 14 days.
Budget: £5,000
Trailfinders
36 Whitechapel
99%
The exterior was in good order and the interior was spotless with employees looking smart and well presented. I was acknowledged straight away and the agent was extremely friendly and patient and he seemed to enjoy assisting me. He recommended 13 nights at the Adaaran Select Meedhupparu resort for £4,787 departing Manchester on June 2 and flying with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. The agent asked detailed questions and I was impressed by the his knowledge. I was offered upgraded accommodation and boat or sea plane transfers. The service was outstanding and the agent’s attention to detail was exceptional. I was treated as a highly valued customer.
Kuoni
10 Peter’s Lane
96%
The service was excellent and I was greeted as soon as I entered the shop. The agent quoted £5,086 for 11 nights at Kuramathi island resort departing Manchester on June 12 flying Emirates via Dubai. The price included a speedboat transfer and was slightly over my budget. The agent was highly professional and asked thorough questions about my holiday needs. I was not offered any upgrades.
Thomas Cook
75 church st
58%
The agent was friendly and polite but I got the impression they were keen to complete my enquiry as quickly as possible. The recommendation was for 14 nights’ all-inclusive at the Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives resort departing Manchester on June 2. The name of the airline was not given. My holiday needs were fulfilled, but at £5,368, it was over my budget. No attempts were made to upgrade or add extras to my holiday.
Winning agent
Ian Mclean, travel consultant
“I am so surprised to be the winner, it is great. I have been here since February after a career change and I love tailoring holidays to each individual customer.”
Verdict
The agent ticked all the boxes. He asked thorough questions and found a holiday slightly under budget but then offered upgrade options.
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