SPECIAL EDITION
WANTED
Two friends in their 30s would like to book an escorted tour of the musical heritage and highlights of the southern US, visiting sites in cities such as Memphis, Nashville and New Orleans. They would like to know about flight options and operators, and what is and isn’t included in an escorted tour, from meals to
excursions. They’re open to suggestions about other locations too. BUDGET: £4,400
THE VERDICT
Despite the two quotes being overbudget, the shopper was very impressed with the service and holidays offered by Trailfinders, because of the tour inclusions and the professional, helpful approach of the agent. Premier’s agent was enthusiastic in the shop and suggested one good option but failed to pursue the enquiry, while the Flight Centre agent didn’t offer much in the shop or tailor any quotes in the follow-up.
WINNING AGENT
TRAVEL CONSULTANT ruth noble
The US is a very popular destination for us, and we have a wide variety
of enquiries. The music cities of the south are always fun itineraries to discuss with clients, and they’re top of my bucket list! It was easy to narrow down the options and suggest escorted tours that fitted the bill.
SCORING SYSTEM
10% Appearance/first impressions 25% Customer service 25% Advice and product knowledge 25% Holiday details 15% Overall experience
trailfinders 54 SIDNEY STREET
IMPRESSIONS: It was an eye-catching corner shop with a busy, inviting window display, and uniformed employees looking very professional.
SERVICE: As soon as I entered, an agent smiled and invited me to join her. We studied average temperatures in New Orleans and decided October was the best month. We looked at three brochures from operators such as Collette and G Adventures, and the agent was confident and knowledgeable. She tried to close the sale, but the quote was above my budget so I said I would discuss it with my friend. She mentioned travel insurance and I received a prompt follow-up message. I would recommend this agency to friends and family.
QUOTES: I was given two quotes with G Adventures, flying from Heathrow to New Orleans with British Airways for a Highlights of the Deep South tour. It visited New Orleans, Birmingham, Savannah, Charleston, Atlanta, Nashville and Memphis. The first quote was £5,146 for 12 days; the second, £5,668, was for the same tour plus two nights in Miami. The agent said the tours offered the best value because of the range of places visited.
OVERALL: The quotes were overbudget but the shopper was swayed by the enthusiasm of the agent and what the tours included.
88% 38 4 JULY 2019
travelweekly.co.uk
THIS WEEK’S WINNER
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