centreparcs - tell me about it, good or not?

[Newhere2]

Hello,

I have never been to a centreparcs, however am considering one fro a short break.

They look like they fit all the criteria a child would want. Though I have heard lots of good and bad comments in the past.

Does any one have an opinion on:

• which are good ones?
  
• where to spend money or not (better accommodation etc)
  
• what are the additional costs?
  
• would you go again?
  

thank you!

[Whatsnextmum]

Norfolk is good.

Tbh you will get those that hate them. They are what they are. Nice enough but someone will always moan or tell you about the better deal they got elsewhere.... ;) can be pricey but if you have the cash it's no issue

Enjoy x

[TheSkiingGardener]

With kids they are brilliant. We get the executive lodge for the maid service. Otherwise the woodland lodges are fine. Get the map up when you look for location of lodge and lok at the times to each area, that will hal

[lottieandmia]

We love it and the kids also love it. But it is a marmite place from what I have read on here!

[TheSkiingGardener]

Sorry, help you decide. Longleat has it's sports place and it's swimming pool on opposite sides with the sports place in a huge valley. The other places don't have the big valley issue!

All activities apart from swimming, soft play and playgrounds cost money and food onsite is expensive. Nothing to stop you driving off to a supermarket though

[PickleMobile]

I've only ever been to Sherwood but I've been going for over 20 years! I love it. The minimum lodge I would get is a comfort plus.

It can be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be. We've been and done loads of paid for activities, had the welcome hampers etc, or you buy all your shopping and bring it with you and just go swimming and walking and bike riding.

Yes you could go abroad sometimes for the price you pay so it's up to you what you would prefer.

Oh and I would live in the Pancake House if I could!

[Mandy21]

We have booked to go in June. I do think its a license to print money - the price they quote on the website is the absolute minimum you will pay - as you go through making the actual booking process (before you even get as far as booking activities) you're asked if you want to pay for insurance, a lodge in a central location (£50!!) both are of course optional but 'advised'. Then there's the £6 surcharge to pay by credit card. The 'mid-week break' Mon - Fri actually means you can check in at 3pm on the Monday (although you can use the facilities) and check out by 10am.

There are some reasonably priced activities (use of badminton Court £7 or £10 depending on times etc) but things like the High Wire activity (sounds a bit like Go Ape) is £60+ for 1 adult + 1 child (and its obligatory up to a certain age for child to be accompanied by adult).

So I do think you have to be careful, you could easily spend £££££.

[Mandy21]

We have booked to go in June. I do think its a license to print money - the price they quote on the website is the absolute minimum you will pay - as you go through making the actual booking process (before you even get as far as booking activities) you're asked if you want to pay for insurance, a lodge in a central location (£50!!) both are of course optional but 'advised'. Then there's the £6 surcharge to pay by credit card. The 'mid-week break' Mon - Fri actually means you can check in at 3pm on the Monday (although you can use the facilities) and check out by 10am.

There are some reasonably priced activities (use of badminton Court £7 or £10 depending on times etc) but things like the High Wire activity (sounds a bit like Go Ape) is £60+ for 1 adult + 1 child (and its obligatory up to a certain age for child to be accompanied by adult).

So I do think you have to be careful, you could easily spend £££££.

[lottieandmia]

I would definitely take your own food as the supermarket is a total rip off!

[Wolfiefan]

Get insurance! We had to cancel last minute as our DS was taken into hospital with a serious kidney condition. We lost all our money. They were completely unsympathetic.
I'd never book again.

[lottieandmia]

That's awful Wolfie - very bad luck for your :(

[BitOutOfPractice]

Go to one in Holland. Much much cheaper, even with the ferry / petrol

De Kempervennen has a snow centre so you can ski / snowboard

[Newhere2]

wow thank you for all the advice!

[Yika]

I've been in both Belgium and the uk (elveden) and really like it. I find it extremely relaxing. They are well laid out and the lodges are quiet. I find it much less stress to holiday close to home with a small child and there's plenty to do without forking out for millions of activities. I've been 4 times do far and will go back again this year.

[flagnogbagnog]

We went two weeks ago to longleat. We really enjoyed it. We have done other uk holidays such as Haven, Butlins etc and Centreparcs was head and shoulders above the rest. Our accomodation was lovely (basic lodge) and the whole set up of the site was brilliant.

But I agree it is shockingly expensive!! A fine tuned money making machine. We did not eat at any of the restaurants because the prices actually made me gasp. There was a sweet shop which the kids loved, but after owning my own sweet shop until recently I knew how much everything was marked up and stuff was 4 or 5 times more than rrp. But it was really easy to shop off site (found a Lidl and waitrose near by).
I would still recommend it though, and we are planning on going again, so I suppose that says it all doesn't it?

[Newhere2]

thanks for the advice especially re the extras!

Do you need to book activities in advance prior to going?

[BitOutOfPractice]

Yes you do. But it holland they are a quarter of the price. Just in case you missed my post.

You can't book the Dutch sites through the ,co.uk site because then everyone would notice that they are being charged up to 300% more in the uk so you'll need to go to the .com site

[mummymeister]

we have been twice. it really wasn't for us to be honest. it was a bit like "organised fun". we have had much better self catering holidays for half the price. and as others have said its an absolute licence to print money. you have to book things in advance if you are going at peak times. just didn't enjoy it and wouldn't go back but lots of others do. I guess its a bit of a marmite holiday.

[CuttedUpPear]

If The Daily Mail ran Butlins was how I heard Centreparcs described yesterday

[Newhere2]

thank you.

nice hint 'bit out of practice'! I think we want something a bit more local this time though


Yes marmite seems to be the right description.

However I seem to get the feeling for something not too far, with swimming an option than centreparcs may be the best choice.

[Creamycoolerwithcream]

We've been to the four U.k ones and my DC enjoyed the swimming pool at Longleat the best as they loved the rapids. We normally book a Sunday brunch if it's avaliable, there's a massive selection of food and it keeps us going all day.

[sebsmummy1]

My partner and I went to Elveden Forest for our Babymoon. Shockingly expensive.

I agree it is a license to print money. I like the if the 'Daily Mail ran Butlins' comment but would enlarge on that with 'if Ryan Air's chief exec owned the Daily Mail which ran Butlins'. As the hidden charges are on par with trying to organise a flight with no luggage and taking a piss in a bottle instead of being charged for a wee. Extortionate.

[Newhere2]

Creamy, what is the sherwood one like?

Also do you need to bring sheets etc?

[Newhere2]

plus is there seating around the pool area? in case the adults don't want to swim constantly?

[redskyatnight]

We went once when our DC were pre-schoolers. We'd never go again - other than the pool (which you can only spend limited time in if you have pre-schoolers) everything was extra and expensive. Much nicer to book a selfcatering cottage somewhere in the UK for half the price!

[Creamycoolerwithcream]

No you don't need sheets only for cots if I remember rightly. I enjoyed Sherwood, the shops and restaurants were arranged really well and it doesn't have the big hill like Longleat. All the spas are lovely if you get a chance to use them.