Tell me about Centre Parcs...

[Hulababy]

...looking at a comfort, 3 bed villa at either Sherwood Forest or Whinfell Forest at Easter, mid week.

4 adults, 2 5 year olds.


But, how much are the extras: cycling, horseriding, the activity walks for children, other children's activities, adult spa stuff, etc?

Is it worth the money? It is about £200 more than getting a cottage somewhere in the UK for a week.

[roisin]

We went once 2 yrs ago, and said we wouldn't go again ... but we are going on Friday! The boys really liked the pool.
Anything else you want to know?
Extras are expensive:
Horse-riding:
£16 for child 30 mins (min age 2, U5s must be held and supported on horse by adult)
£26 for 1hr beginner/intermediate (min ages 12 and 9)
£33 for advanced cross country 1 hr 30 mins, min age 10

Spa:
£32 for 3-hr session - well worth it: it really is lovely.

.. back in a mo

[roisin]

Childcare/fun sessions for children £13 for 3 hrs.

Hawk Walk (min age 4) £6 for adults, £5 for children - 45 mins

Bikes:
Adult £18 mid-week, or £9.50 daily
Child £8.50, or £5 daily

We went off-season (Jan) last time, and for me I think it's expensive for what it is during school holidays.

You don't have to do lots of 'extras' though, my boys enjoyed walking in the forest, bird-watching, cycling, and watching/feeding the birds.

If you're not desperate to make a decision this week, I could send you the brochure of activities after we get back (a week on Monday).

Alternatively I'll post details of any other specific activities you want to know about?!

[Pinkchampagne]

We went last year & thought it was very overpriced considering the accomadation was very basic (they don't provide an iron, DVD player, towels or even toilet paper!!) & the only activity included in the price is the swimming pool, everything else is extra!
We didn't do many extra activities other than bowling.
There are two great adventure playgrounds for the children though.

[blackandwhitecat]

I'm going in Feb half-term to Whinfell for 1st time so will let you know. You can get accommodation for 6 which is much cheaper than 2 separate villas. Friends swear by it and have to say I like the idea of having everything you could possibly want to keep adults and little ones happy in one family friendly village type place. Tis expensive though. I bought the holiday for my dp's xmas present.

[AnguaVonUberwald]

Went once, the food was so bad I nearly didn't eat the whole time, adn really expensive as well.

[jenkel]

Went last year to Longleat in February. We stayed in the Exec accomodation which was nice but it was one of the most expensive, in total there were 6 adults and 2 under 4's.

Pool is lovely, food is awful, long queues for food and expensive, we only ate out one evening and I'm glad we took other food. Accomodation though was lovely, but it was the premium stuff. Spa was nice, didnt really stay outside much as it was very cold and snowy, but the pool was a huge hit with the girls.

[IlanaK]

We have been three times before and are going again next week. We only go in the winter in the cheapest weeks. But, in those weeks, I think it is excellent value. I would never go during the school holidays though as the price triples.

I have a 5 year old and a 2 year old. We do not book many activities. The swimming pool is free and to be fair it is way more than a pool. Loads of water slides for all ages, wave pool, rapids etc. You could easily spend all day in there - the only thing that limited us was how tired the kids got.

The first time we went we booked lots of activities for my older son: football lessons, the creche, etc. He didn't want to do any of it - just swim.

So now we do ten pin bowling, pizza making, my dh does the spa and I do a water colour painting class and that's it. We just swim and also make use of the free kids entertainment and playgrounds.

[WestCountryLass]

We went 2 years ago and won't go again. The food was terrible, everything was so expensive and apart from the pool it did not have much going for it (unless you want to remortgage).

[nearlythree]

My friend said that the villas are minging - really dirty - and so is the pool - both dcs on th etrip got ear infections.

I can recommend cottages near Halesworth in Suffolk, I think they are called Bucks Farm Cottages. They have an adventure playground, swimming pool and indoor games room, plus lots of friendly animals. Nearby is Southwold and lots of other nice places, plus attractions like an otter sanctuary. The famers' wife leaves a home-made cake and will cook meals and arrange baby sitting. It's all very family-friendly including stairgates, window locks etc. The only problem I had was that the pool was quite deep throughout.

[Skribble]

Have you had a look at hoseasons parks and lodges, some really nice accomodation on parks with a variety of activities. Good prices too. I have never ever considered Centre Parcs due to the prices and always go for a cottage.

[Spidermama]

I can't believe the prices.
I'm so shocked. I didn't realise just how much Centre Parks is totally out of reach for us spiders. I can highly recommend Sandy Balls in the New Forest. That's about half the price and a good holiday experience.

[Whizzz]

We went for the first time last year (Elvedon) - DS had 2 weeks off at Whit whereas most places only got 1 week off - hence it was half the price ! I wouldn't pay the school hol rates - far too expensive. It is good, but IMO not worth paying over the odds if you are limited to school hols.

[Skribble]

1 week in august in a 2 bedroom place = £1096

We stayed in an amazing cabin that slept 14 in 7 bedrooms in lovely woodland setting, 2 fantasic parks, and woodland areas for kids to run around in, Ok it didn't have a pool or laid on entertainment but it would cost £1500 for the same week and could easily have 2 or more families as there are seperate sides for the bedrooms. Top class with everything provided right down to the chapange glasses. They have smaller accomodation too.

[Skribble]

Just looked at Sandy Balls and it didn't come out any cheaper for the same week, that was the log cabins I looked at.

[WestCountryLass]

We went to Corfu for a week for £800 5 star half board in October...

[IlanaK]

We are going next week Monday to Friday in a 3 bed villa for £209. I would not even consider it at holiday times.

[lackofgravitas]

Went to Longleat for a week last September. The cost wasn't too bad as my parents came with us, so we had four adults and one child - more adults definitely makes the cost easier to bear. There are lots of very confusing reviews out there - I found one shortly after we'd come back which said if you'd first been to CP Longleat in September 2006 you would never go again. We had such a good time we're booked for a week this September, Whinfell this time! There were a few niggles (things like the American restaurant with the fantastic indoor play area being closed one lunchtime for a corporate do involving about four people, grr) but mostly it was really good. We ate in our villa about half the evenings, and ate out the rest, always ate out at lunchtime (including when we went to the safari park and had lunch there, now that really WAS bad food). I wouldn't say any of the food was actually bad, and the Indian restaurant was bloody lovely.

Overall, I just really enjoyed being able to walk or cycle everywhere, we did so many fun things, and had to put DD in her carseat all of four times, all to get to, from and around the safari park. She loved the bike trailer, thought it was the funniest thing ever. And it's not every day a two-year-old gets to go on a zipwire!

[Hulababy]

Thanks for all info. Think we have changed our mind about CP for this time though, having spoken to friends as well. Also, my legs are in a bit of a sore mess after less than an hour swimming yesterday - so maybe that much swimming isn't such a great idea.

Think we will go for a cottage in North Yorkshire for a week instead, and do some visiting around there - Beamish, Eden Camp, Forbidden Corner, Lightwater Valley, Flamingo Land, Whitby, etc.

Maybe CP another time.

Thanks again though.

[Hulababy]

Cost also a factor. Was going to be about £700 for 4 nights or £600 for 3 nights at CP, but we can get some lovely cottages for a whole week, in North Yorkshire for less than £400.

I figured that we would prefer to be out and about doing other stuff, than swimming - so extra cost not justified for us at present.

[popsycal]

hula - if it is for easter time i may be able to get you a free ticket for beamish - ask me nearer the time

[Hulababy]

That'd be great, thanks Will remember to get in touch.

Definitely want to go to Beamish again. DD loves it!

Also keen to return to Forbidden Corner as DD had a great time there.

[Hulababy]

Will be Easter time - planning to go Sat 31st and return Sat after. Will be away for DD's 5th birthday on 5th and her friend's mums birthday on 2nd.

[tiredemma]

I love CP, we go there every year, the week before Xmas for 'Christmas Countdown Week'. Have always stayed in the Executive accom and this year had the luxury 4 bed with private hot tub, sauna and steam room. It was fab!
We went to Longleat for the first time in december, but it is far too big and hilly- much prefer Sherwood.

[snowwonder]

love this my dad is doing some work in my house in feb half term, and has booked for me and my girls to go to centre parks at longleat, so we are out of his way!!!!!

i am taking loads of food as supermarket on site is expensive, we plan to do loads of swimming walking and a day out at longleat

[IlanaK]

You know, I think the expense of the shop and resteraunt there is relative to where you live. We live in central london and don't find it anymore expensive at CP than around here. But if you live somewhere where food is cheaper, then I guess you would find it expensive.

I have only been to Longleat and Elvedon. We would not go back to Longleat only because it is just soooooooo hilly it almost killed us! We are not fit enough. Elvedon is great though as everything is central.