Why do so many people dislike Centre Parcs so much?

Never been so I can’t comment but I have looked at going many times and the price is crazy especially if it’s school Holidays. Pricey activities on top too so won’t be somewhere I’ll be going. Would rather go abroad for that kind of price!

DH used to go as a child so is quite nostalgic about it and would like to go with the kids but anytime we have looked it’s far too expensive do what it is and on no doubt shite weather.

Extremely overpriced and very poor value for money. An idiots butlins.

I used to love going with friends when we all had under 5s. Our children are now adults so haven’t been for years. I suspect it’s gone downhill. It was good in its day.

We went to a European one for the first time this half term. There were some elements we liked but the fact that everything except the pool costs extra puts us off going back. We will return to the French campsites in future where lots more stuff is laid on and included for kids.

Exactly this. And the other thing is that we tend to do it in the winter for a long weekend around an inset when you can't get good weather abroad without a long haul flight. I find it brightens up the winter and we spend most of our time in the warm pool.

I tried to book an accessible cabin. It was 3 times the cost to get one close to amenities or where we could have a car.

I really enjoy it for a long weekend as do my children. We tend to get exactly the same lodge and have worked out exactly how we like doing it and have been once a year for a long time. We are prepared to pay for activities like the high ropes and spa and have always had a good time. I think some of the moans about it are a bit ott.

In my view its hugely overpriced. I've been to both Butlins and CP and Butlins offers so much more for much less money. The clientele isnt appreciably different in my view. I'm solidly middle class and there is nothing wrong with Butlins.

I feel like they are defo more ‘dog tolerated’ than dog friendly, so I get you there

Flying, especially with young children, is a huge pain in the arse though and lots of us avoid it due the environmental impact.

So that is a massive plus for staying in the UK.

I just think it's very expensive for what it is. Plus I'd rather spend that kind of money on a week/weekend abroad, somewhere a bit different.

Yes, I think that's a fair point, it depends what suits you as a family and what age your children are.

well, 2 minutes of googling would instantly prove you wrong

It's always been too expensive for us. We tried Butlins when dc1 was a baby and unfortunately really didn't like it. So moved over to caravan holidays with free swimming- and made the most of having two toddlers in the pool, local walks etc. As the kids have gotten older we've found what really suits us all is a quiet cabin, no swimming pool or bar on site, and we spend most of our days visiting different national trust places, the occasional theme park and beach thrown in too. I'm not a beach fan really, but the kids love digging. We live very rurally, but we have been to another - also rural - county for 8/9 years and always look forward to going. I just don't understand the attraction of being around other people in large amounts, which (along with food allergies) is why we always self cater, I find it less stressful because we all eat exactly what we want and like.

Thank you. It’s DB’s FIL but they’re often up for places to go.

Butlins is absolutely brilliant for people with small kids I absolutely cannot knock it!

Not too bad if you remember to pack lube.

Agree you can definitely get cheaper abroad, in the holidays at least.

But as people are saying, it's very successful and they charge what the market will bear. So it arguably isn't too expensive, it's right!

Bluestone is I think the one place that can claim to be more or less a direct equivalent of CP. There are of course places like Forest Holidays and haven, but they either don't come close to CP in terms of range of facilities or just have a completely different vibe.

Yes CP is expensive, but for a holiday in the UK that just offers a completely self-contained break where you can just dump the car and have enough to do for a week while not really having to think or plan anything it's still fairly unique, and that's the appeal really. It's all very well saying "oh, you can get a lodge in the woods for half the price" but it's not the same offering.

Yes was just going to say I did a quick comparison of 4 nights at CP Woburn in school holidays Vs 4 days in Greece self catering, basic accommodation flying from Luton (2 adults 2 children) with Jet2 and it came out pretty much exactly the same. You could say Greece much better value due to beach, guaranteed good weather and maybe cheaper/better eating out whereas you could say CP better due to having swimming pool, soft play and other activities on site, not having to fly/shorter journey, getting a whole lodge with living area rather than a one bed apartment so easier for evenings after kids are in bed etc. Different strokes isn't it, just what you prioritise/ prefer. For me when we had little kids I'd take CP over self-catering abroad, I don't think they really benefit or enjoy the beach and hot weather that much as toddlers and for me it was easier having the shorter journey, familiar easy foods and then everything being right on your doorstep, whereas by the time they're primary age you do maybe want to be a bit more adventurous and do more of a range of activities etc so abroad became better...

I've never been to Centre Parcs, but it must be popular for a reason. They certainly do well. It's like everything, not for everyone.
Some people don't like lying by a pool in the heat all day either. It's just about preferences.

Of course I expect mud in January. But this was a bog. You couldn’t even access the secure dog area as the mud was a foot deep! Let alone allow your dog to exercise in it. It was unusable so lead walks only. What I had issue was the fact CP advertise this facility and sell it as a dog friendly holiday but it was unfit for purpose. It needed resurfacing to be usable all year round.