Center Parcs but not Center Parcs

[thursdaygrumbles]

I might be looking for the impossible here. I love center parcs (I know it’s not universally loved on here) but the prices are just outrageous

I was thinking the other day what I loved about it, and it was the fact that the car was out of the way, we’d got our bikes and we just set off of an adventure without having to constantly worry about vehicles on the road. Once there I just feel totally chilled. It just feels so safe.

so my question is, is there any other place you know of, that doesn’t cost £2k for a 4 night break where you get a similar feel? I’m really not fussed about swimming but somewhere where we leave the car and then don’t think about it again until it’s time to leave.

I have nearly 5 year old twins and a dog 🐶

For clarity the £2k was during the school holidays

Bluestone in Pembrokeshire. Loved it when my two were younger.

Bluestone in Pembrokeshire? Four nights in August for 2 adults and 2 children starts from about £1200 so not cheap but a fair bit less than £2k.

Just came on to recommend Bluestone! About half the price of Center Parcs and absolutely lovely.

Following! I agree, the prices are outrageous. But I love it so I inevitably end up comparing other holidays to Centre Parcs, which spoils them for me. That said, no way am I going to shell out £2k for 4 nights self-catering in the UK.

I can’t recommend it as such but I’ve been looking into booking a Landal Green Parks break in the UK. I understand the Dutch ones are very similar to the Centre Parcs model. Quite attracted by the idea of a 4 day lodge break with a hot tub for £400 (admittedly mine aren’t in school yet so this is March). The Welsh one looks beautiful, although my attraction there was the pool - the other one I looked at was Hampshire as looks to be good for the Zoo and also cycling/walking. As I say I haven’t booked though so can’t recommend as such!

we live just 15 minutes away from a CP so it’s always been a great getaway where we aren’t travelling for hours.

it’s just madness though isn’t it

Forest holidays? Not as big sites but nicer lodges.

Thank you for the bluestone recommendation. I swore off south wales as so many bad things happened whenever we went. Blow out on the motorway one year, next year my DD got really poorly and we ended up coming home early after several trips to A&E, but I might have to get my big girl pants back on and tackle the 6.5 drive again

Sandy Balls in the New Forest

Potters Resorts. Hopton (5 lakes is adult only). It's all inclusive - activities, food and drink. Not much of a pool. It's not cheap but when you factor that you don't spend any money there it's not so bad. Once you sign up they send deals.
We've been and we didn't go back to the car after we'd parked.

Definitely have a look at CP in Europe, they're a lot cheaper even counting the ferry costs. You can get good deals at the end of August when the French /Dutch etc kids have gone back to school.

Forest Holidays. A calmer and cheaper Centre Parcs!

www.forestholidays.co.uk

Some NT have cottages and have bike tracks.

The isles of Scilly? You can't take your car and you have to get there by ferry or plane. Not an entertainment holiday though!

Sandy Balls is fantastic, loved it there.
Bluestone 100% recommend I think we've been 4 or 5 times, so much to do on site, but there's lots to do off site, and you're close to Tenby, Saundersfoot, St David's as well.

(and the A&E in Haverfordwest which we spent 4 hours in with DD 🙄)

The part of the uk is amazing isn’t it, we’ve stayed near Amroth 3 times now. The last time we were at Carmarthen hospital 4 days in a row. DT1 was so poorly. It’s kind of traumatised me, the journey there for us is pretty epic 😞

Kelling Heath Norfolk . Try private owners on UKcaravansforhire , especially if you’re not bothered about hot tubs or swimming with slides - bit more back to nature . Ideal for small children . Low key entertainment in the summer. Sad my two have outgrown this type of holiday atm . We will go back one day maybe with grandkids

The charity ds2 is an ambassador for takes over the majority of Bluestone every two years and I hear nothing but good things. This year 300 families with disabled children were able to go.

We love Center parcs, go every year. £3k for a week is pretty good I think, cheaper than Cornwall. We cut back a bit last time only eating out once a day but usually go eat out twice a day around activities so hardly self catering is it... I imagined everyone does that as everything is always so booked up!

500 sovs a day to avoid getting run over is a bit toppy, isn't it. I'd rather spend £40 on a Caravan Club site and take my chances.

Look at Landal sites in the Netherlands. Loved our trip there last year and sounds right on your street if travel to the continent is an option.

If you want significantly cheaper the Haven at the bottom of the Lake District is great - not on par with center parcs but loads of activities and really cheap (notably better than the other haven sites we've been too).

We did Landal Het Vennebos when ours were at School. If I remember correctly, May Half term and last 10 days of August were an absolute bargain due to different school dates in Europe.
Need to be prepared for fairly primitive cooking ( this may have improved!). But great pool, its flat! Plus bring the Netherlands you can cycle into the nearest town very easily. When ours were older we got the train from nearby Eindhoven into Amsterdam for the day. Also you can drive to Antwerp for the day.

Bluestone. It's probably better

Eurocamp?