Center parks - a bit tacky?

That’s all very well, but how many people did you hear speaking French on your trips to Center Parcs? Because a holiday’s not a holiday unless you can practise your prep school French on a bored supermarket cashier in Toulouse or wherever.

I’ve noticed that the Euro holiday snobs even pull cat’s bum faces if you say you’re going to America for a holiday. I imagine it’s the lack of medieval cathedrals to drag their children round.

Whatever accommodation we’ve had over the years, the beds have been comfortable, the water has been hot, it’s been peaceful, and few cars make it pleasant to walk about. We take some essentials but who cares if we don’t eat healthily a couple of times. DGC have been there over the years from tots to teens, and always enjoyed themselves. And these are children who’ve had lots of different holidays, in the UK and abroad.

For those who’ve tried it once and didn’t like it, fair enough. For me it holds some really good memories of time spent with family.

but once you've actually paid for your accommodation all of those things are completely optional? Restaurants/supermarkets/activities etc. You don't need to go to any of them if you don't want to.

I don't get people who have clearly managed to drive however many miles to get to CP but couldn't be arsed to pop into one of the hundreds of supermarkets on the way, and then are surprised that a small supermarket with a captive market is on the pricier side? You can even leave and come back if you want to get a few things/takeaway, as long as you're prepared to walk/cycle from the car park.

Similarly you can leave and do activities if you HAVE to be doing extra stuff every minute of the day and the ones there are too expensive for you. Although personally I don't think they're that different - at the example list here www.centerparcs.co.uk/discover-center-parcs/activities/example-activity-prices/whinfell-forest-pricing-guide.html it's 14.50 for a double kayak hire whereas that's 30 pound at my local reservoir. There are different types of treetops things but the most expensive is from 42 pounds compared to 59 pound at go ape. 6-9 quid for adventure golf sounds pretty similar to local ones too.

My adult DS goes each year with a bunch of friends, they have great fun and pay around £125 each for accommodation on a Monday to Friday break. How is he being ripped off?

Objectively, I’d say that getting to Woburn, Elveden or Sherwood Forest is a fuck sight easier for most people than getting to France.

And I’ve had disappointing holidays in France. Subjectively speaking, of course.

The worst was at a Pierre et Vacance where everything was shit. Wasn’t cheap either. We left early.

Objectively it is terrible value for money in the uk - whether you’ve saved up all year or you’re a millionaire on your tenth holiday you are being ripped off. I’ve been to one in France and it wasn’t cheap but it was cheaper and it was loads better. The activities were better, the pool was better, the food was better, the shop was better, the playgrounds were better, the indoor play was better, the accommodation was about the same. I dunno, people spend money on all sorts of shite, I suppose centre parcs is no different.

And Gail’s is up north these days and it’s very average so I guess it will be at centre parcs in a decade or so 😁

I went straight there as well 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣

No, as it happens they were fine. We flew long haul from when they were tiny, no problems. However I understand that was sheer good fortune and not an act of heroism on my part. Luck they enjoyed it, when some DC really don't. I've seen plenty of parents working very hard to keep DC happy on planes and trains, to no avail and completely understand why they'd prefer to restrict journey times.

Tell me your kids are nightmares to travel with without telling me 🙈 the journey is part of the fun. Don’t like the locally convenient options, don’t go then. Travel further to somewhere you do like

I go to CP 2-3 times a year. I also go on another 4-5 ‘holidays’ outside of the UK, so nothing to do with not being able to get on a plane to Spain.

The level of criticism and sneering about a holiday that lots of people do (evidence by the fact it’s always so busy!) is very bizarre.

I hate the idea of going to Cornwall or Barcelona but for thousands of others it’s their ideal holiday. I don’t sneer because it’s not my vibe.

Never been to centre parks but love Butlins. I'm middle class because I'm neither rich or poor

These threads always have too much overthinking just enjoy your holiday

But they’re not defensive threads. They’re started by Center Parcs critics. And the criticisms generally come with a big helping of snootiness.

If you don’t like CP don’t go. I don’t go anymore because the family’s older. But I’d go again if it suited.

I’ve been on much shitter and worse value holidays in Europe. Particularly in France.

Wow you’re scathing!😂

im a clientele of CP. Not because i cannot fly to Spain for a week . Its because I dont want to. Prefer to pay a lot for CP to avoid sun lounger, sand and grubby fingers in the all inclusive.

I think people who are defensive over centre parcs (2nd thread in 2 days) is because they know it’s a massive rip off even if you go in the depths of January in term time armed with a slow cooker and a jar of Nescafé. No one likes feeling or admitting that they’re being ripped off.

I went to the one in the Lake District. The food was disgusting and overpriced. The supermarket was shite and the bakery in there was the worse I’ve even been to. There were cars and centre parcs vehicles driving everywhere because the most expensive accommodation had their own parking. The activities were extortionate. The staff were meh. And everyone had the face on because it’s not that good and you’ve all paid a fortune and you resent it’s rammed full of other people because you’ve spent so much.

I think the clientele is people who for whatever reason can’t fly for a week in Spain, but have the same amount of money to spend on a break.

What's bravery got to do with travelling a long way with your DC? Whether that's going to be viable or remotely enjoyable for anyone is dependent on the character of the DC and their enjoyment or not of travel, the convenience, the cost etc. Not sure why you're implying that someone who chooses a short journey over the hassle of being the sole caretaker and entertainer on a long trip lacks courage, or is overly dependent on their husband.

Agreed . Kids don’t like crowds, organised group activities or cycling? Take them to centre parks ! Said no one ever

My adult DC have been to several (we’ve only been to two) and Sherwood gets their vote every time.

If your kids don’t like any of the things they have there, it seems a really odd place to choose to go. I can’t imagine many kids being bored there, unless they’re used to a lot of screens normally or constant entertainment. Mine spent all day in the pool (to be fair, we went to Sherwood) and they’re 4 years older than yours. They could spend ages just cycling around, going to the playgrounds and they made friends with some other kids there too. If mine had said they were bored at a place that is designed for kids’ fun, I would have been very surprised.
Maybe 6 was too young but can they not entertain themselves without you normally?

The food outlets are very tacky. If I was to stay there (despite the extortionate costs!) again I’d never eat any of their fast food crap. Rest of it is fine, in a ‘not bad’ sort of way. The bits I like are the accommodation, outdoors and the pools.

I know what you mean, it doesn't reflect my view of the typically mocked middle class life, which I think is actually the very upper middle classes (yummy mummies, organic fair trade coffee sold by an independent, sourdough, rare breed meat, quinoa, mindfulness, sound baths, reformer pilates, lululemon, English sparkling wine, pickle ball, environmentally friendly second hand designer clothes, wooden toys, a hamper from Fortnums, glamping at Feastival, Daylesford farm shops, wild swimming) but I think "middle class" is incredibly, incredibly broad and to a lot of normally middle class people Joules, dishwashers rather than washing up, over priced cafe rouge and badminton followed by a walk in the woods with a Starbucks latte hit that bill. CPs don't dooriginal working class holiday park things, like "entertainment" like Butlins which is very classic old school working class holiday. They also don't have caravans they have the "wooden villas/lodges". There's no karaoke, no gambling/slot machines or arcades, there's a lot of wood and whilst the restaurants are chains now, they aren't mcdonalds or KFC, they're Starbucks, Bella Italia and cafe rouge.
I also think the clientèle at CP is super super broad, the sports bar is always really busy, always, so whilst I'd never associate soft play, tv screens and carling with middle class life, clearly lots of CP customers really want that.
The reality is the organic eating, farmshop visiting, range rover driving, designer coat wearing mummy and daddy middle classes are all skiing in Val D'isere, getting winter sun in the Maldives or having a luxury villa holiday in Arrabella and Rupert's Provence villa over the summer. So there isn't actually a proper middle class market. You could try Lakes by Yoo in the cotswolds, they're very traditional upper Middle Class (complete with £500 a night piece tag, Michelin star chefs doing supper clubs, a Barbara sturm spa and electric car charging stations).

I’ve just noticed you went to Woburn. I’ve only been to Elevden. When I researched, the impression I had was that Woburn is ‘Center Parcs Lite’

This made me chuckle. Op, you would feel very let down if you went there expecting to be surrounded by middle class children off on their private school extensive holidays. Perhaps if you booked a treehouse and checked out the Porsches, Lamborghinis and range rovers outside.
We’ve just got back from a 7 night break and loved the wildlife, lack of cars, ability to cycle and walk through the area. I did chuckle at the Elemis hand wash in the pool area toilets.
It’s personal preference but I don’t see it as a middle class place at all. Just regular families on a break.

We always go for New Year’s with another family and it’s perfect for post Xmas blues.

@indoorplantqueen I would like to go in that lull after NY & before going back to work/school.