Center Parcs -extortionate?

[tomboytown]

I’m so shocked at the prices of everything.
Basic pasta dinner for 4, one beer- £85

No availability at 4pm for dinner, the restaurant had just opened and was deserted, nothing available TIL 8pm apparently
Was still half empty at 5pm

V basic (crap) burgers for 4 £35

A badminton court for 4 for 1 hour is £35

The map is really bad

The staff are great, fabulous idea, but needs a massive overhaul

There’s no newsagent type shops here, just one supermarket

Really? At LL there is a newsagent and a Starbucks at the sports centre. U could also pick up crisps etc at the parcmarket by the swimming pool

Maybe I’ll change the title to ‘how to survive Center Parcs’
Some of it is great and the kids are loving it so I’m sure they’ll ask to come back
I just want sunshine, the beach and a book!

Here the pool is in the same complex as the supermarket, but there is a Starbucks and snack place at the sports complex and vending machines

I wasn’t really moaning about snacks, I was just responding to whoever told me to take snacks out.

I call it Stepford Holidays. It isn't a holiday if you have to plan everything months in advance and eat in crap overpriced chain restaurants everday

Whinfell do have a newsagent style shop. One in sports complex beside clothing store and there's the parcmarket in the main dome. There's also a Starbucks in the sports area and another beside the pancake house whatdoyoucallit.

Yes, it's expensive. I'm not a fan but the kids love it. I've been going to cp since they came to the Uk and for sure the price has gone way too far up and the quality has gone down significantly.

My last trip was (hopefully) my last as the food wasn't great (whinfell) and was overpriced, the takeaway was appalling compared to previous trips. They'd changed the menus (again) and the cleanliness of the poolside wasn't great.

I know it's a great idea but the best thing to do is to take loads of food with you and have packed lunches/takeaway a couple of times and take extra naice bung in the oven food.

Go into Penrith, there's Morrisons and Booths really close. Buy a big old Booths lasagne and some salad etc.

Center parcs is what it is. We tend to get a 4 bed with friends so it's far better value then.

Ugh. I loathe CP.

"Executive lodges" like concrete pill boxes lined up in the woods. Purple foam sofas. And everything but the pool is a rip off extra. Poor to mediocre, over priced onsite restaurants or cook yourself. What a holiday.

Literally have taken DS 5* Caribbean all inclusive with so many activities included, for less.

Each to their own of course. Baffles me though.

We have just got back from a long weekend at Longleat CP. Executive 2 bed, me, DH and DD18, DD17. It was wonderful a relaxing break. Really comfortable accommodation, really nice showers, silent surroundings.

We arrived before lunch on

Friday (no queues) - parked up, went to the pancake house for lunch, (£40 including drinks for 4). Went swimming/lounging/water rides for 3 hours, picked up milk (£2) and back to the lodge for a cuppa - we took teabags and chocolate digestives. (£800 for a 2 bed for 3 nights) had a 12 pack of Krispy Kreme donuts waiting (cant remember the price but going to guess £10). Went out to eat - Bella Italia -pre-booked 4 months ago for 7pm as that is when we eat. (starter to share + 4 dishes - pizza/pasta + drinks £64 - same price as Bella Italia everywhere). Back to lodge for a donut for afters. Wildlife watching - deer, ducks, jays, little birds, woodpecker, squirrels (all eating birdseed we bought from home) and later - bats.

Saturday. Breakfast - donut and cereal from home - went swimming for 2.5 hours, loads of fun, lounged outdoors in the sun for a bit, back to lodge - salad and nachos with dip from home for lunch. Off to village centre - Escape room £108 for 4 - wow a great time, we all loved it. Off to Las iguanas for tea (£124 for our meal including 3 cocktails- shared starter, 4x main, water, 1 soft drink - cheaper cocktail prices than Las Iguanas Bristol), back to lodge to collapse and watch the wildlife - gorgeous free meteor shower too.

Sunday. cereal for breakfast, off to pool for a couple of hours, more floating than swimming - getting tired. Pick up Sunday paper (£1.50). Went to Falconry session £90 for 4 of us (booked on the day as we fancied doing something). OMG what a wonderful time - only 10 people there - got to hold a peregrine falcon, and then fly a kestrel, a Harris hawk and meet a young red kite, it felt so special, the presenter was good - he runs a rescue centre with the profits he makes. Then off to dinner at Hucks - the food was really nice - chilli for me with all the extras, ribs for DH, fajitas for the girls, along with puddings and drinks £104 - A bit like TGI with the same sort of prices. Back to lodge, watch wildlife...

£1343.50 + £50 petrol spent on a fun and relaxing holiday for 4 adults - felt like a proper break, no cooking, no cleaning, no sharing of rooms, no stinting on food or activities - all in.

Expensive - kind of - the meals were all what we would have paid outside of Center Parcs if we ate out. The activities were the same cost we would have paid for activities outside of Center Parcs. The accommodation was pricey if you count it as just a 2 bed lodge - but with the wildlife, the pool, the forest and lake walks, the kids play areas etc included it seemed reasonable for 4 adults. Would we do it again - Hell yes!

Monday went for a final swim, then home via Longleat safari park next door (£118.80 for 4 booked in advance) where food was extortionate for stall/cafe type wasp infested fare... but that's another story...