To think that Cente Parcs might be a bit [hmm]

[DrunkenDaisy]

I've never been so have an open mind. My parents want to do something nice for the family for their birthdays next year. My DS and DB have loads of little sprogs, but I have just one DD aged 14.

Will I have a shit time? Or will it be fun?

[NorfolkBroad]

I have been twice with my parents and DD. My mum, myself and my daughter LOVED it. We practically cried when we left. My dad didn't enjoy it quite so much as he is not a big swimmer and we spent alot of time in the pool. I think you will enjoy it.

[LordOfTheFlies]

We have been 3 times (Longleat twice and Elvedon) when the DCs were preschool.

They did indoor play ( football, tumble tots, Teddy Bear Picnic) and loved the childrens end of the swimming pool.

Main downside ( for me as the only driver ) was taking the car down, unpacking, the queue to get back to the carpark then the walk back.
Then on departured day ,you do it in reverse.
There are cars/vans driving round (C/P staff) so though it is safer than a road, children have to be aware.
It pi**ed with rain the whole time on two visits (May was fine). We got the bike trailer for DCs (on DHs bike ) which is hard work on hills.
Accomodation good,clean.
But it is expensive.
We've taken DCs to Butlins the last 2 years. Nearly everything is included so we weren't continually shelling out.( And it's half the price) Gold Appt B&B +dinner.

[flipthefrog]

ooh might go for a job there then tiff

[SpottyFrock]

My kids love it! When they were little it was all about the pool and the soft play areas oh and practising riding their bikes. Now they're 8, 6 and 4 and love all the activities.
We go Oct half term most years. Now they do stuff like archery, soccer school, ranger walks, birds of prey experience, horse riding etc. They love it and DH and I find it very relaxing.

[Vicky2011]

We love it, go every year. I think it really does depend where people's pain thresholds are for holidays. My horror is airports and flying, ruins any holiday abroad for me whereas for others it's just a means to an end. The bit that I'm not mad keen on at Center Parcs is the pool, I would agree with those who say it is crowded and the changing areas not clean. We go once and make sure we're there for open time at 10.00am as for the first hour it is not too crowded and the muddy feet haven't taken over the changing area!

We just find CP so.....easy. I also don't think the food is as bad as people say - we didn't dare go to Hucks for years as we'd read so many terrible reviews until we finally gave it a go and it was fantastic, sort of TGIs without the dirty tables! The curry house is also really good. It's one of those places to try once at least.

[JemimaMop]

The food isn't great, but it is a bit of a novelty for us (living in the sticks) to have a choice of food on our doorstep. So we eat out every night. It isn't cheap, but we don't eat out a huge amount at home so enjoy the novelty factor. Plus the DC love the kids cocktails in Hucks...

[GypsyMoth]

flipthefrog.....lordy,no!!! a good few miles from Luton!this one being built here is to attract londoners,its up near Bedford. place called milbrook

[fluffles]

i usually prefer to DIY on holiday but with a group with kids of really different ages i think it's great. or a group where some have kids/babies and others dont.

it's easy to spend time together and book different people into different individual 'treats' but then get together again afterwards.

on a DIY holiday with a group IME the whole group tends to either stay together despite different ages/interests or it fractures and then stays split all day rather than being easy to meet up again.

[CurrySpice]

When we go we stop at M&S on the way and buy some Chinese food for one night, we eat at Cafe Rouge one night, and I cook the other night.

We love to be all snuggled up after a bath in the jacuzzi bath, eating dinner in our PJs with the fire going

I am going with a group of 8 girlfriends in November and can't wait

I a just looking at the prices of CP in the Netherlands in October

[bluebump]

I went to one when I was about 10 and had the best time ever - the swimming pools are great and we hired bikes and rode around a lot. I haven't been back and actually that was about 23 years ago so things may have changed since then!

[alana39]

Having said I loved it earlier in the thread, have seen some more posts and it's true the food is shit. I've never been for more than 4 days and half the boot is filled up with a shop done on the way, so that we only have to buy bread and milk in the shop there. The restaurants all have a captive market and don't seem to be bothered about actually providing you with decent food.

That might be more of a problem with older children, as when they're young it's easier to cook for them at home anyway.

[flipthefrog]

no one in bedfordshire? that's silly, centreparks luton

[GypsyMoth]

but you will all be coming to the new one here in Bedfordshire wont you??

the road sign is up for it already!!

[TheProvincialLady]

I have been twice - against my better judgement - and hated it. I also felt claustrophobic. Too many people in too small a place. Our accommodation was excellent, I will say that. but everything else was not what I expected. Too expensive for what you get, by far. The no cars thing is also a myth if you are expecting a peaceful utopia. The reality is loads of people who never normally cycle, wobbling and puffing all over the place whilst their ill bred offspring zoom ahead. You can't walk on the paths any more than you can down the A1.

[chopchopbusybusy]

We went to sherwood forest about 20 years ago. I wasn't overly impressed as most of the activities were fully booked. We didn't know you should book in advance. Even bowling was full for most of the stay.
We went about four years ago to one in France and it was great. Again we didn't prebook anything. I tried but most if the staff don't speak English and my French is tres basic. But, when we got there booking was no problem. Many if the activities were half price on Monday and Friday (changeover days). Accommodation was great.
We had a VIP cottage with sauna cabin and huge whirlpool bath. The
thing I liked least was the pool which was very busy, but the dds
loved it.
Lack of traffic and being enclosed meant the DDs could safely go out alone on their bikes while DH and I enjoyed the whirlpool bath .
It was also much cheaper than the UK ones.
We didn't eat out much. Stocked up at the nearest supermarket and sent the DDs to the onsite bakery every day for fresh bread (and cake).

[joric]

Exec. Accom. Looked like a wooden toilet block from outside ( sherwood forest) it's dirty and expensive and overcrowded.
Horrible!

[FreudianSlipper]

my idea of hell, but then i hate all inclusive too. i rather jsut go to a nice little hotel close to a sandy beach (preferably not in this country) and entertain ourselves this is what we did last year (italy) and loved it

they are big enough to escape from the rest of your family

boden and joules i would run a mile if everyone was wearing their middle class oh so dull look we all think the same so we dress the same uniforms :o i shall definitely not be going now

[catgirl1976]

Food terrible. Its a holiday park though - thats all nothing more. Probably more trees than Butlins or Pontins but the same just more expensive. I didn't like it one bit.

[nickelbabe]

Canter parcs is great, actually.
it's all self-contained, andthere are country-type walks as well as te built stuff - there's a swimming pool, a boating lake, that tree-climbing stuff with ropes etc, and loads of activities.

used to go there at christmas with Ex's family, and I loved it.

It did used to make me feel sad watching all the kids enjoying themselves, knowing that I didn't have any that could enjoy it ....
(sorry, wallowing! )

we used to go to the Sherwood Forest one.

[noddyholder]

I really hated it every minute. Ds was about 9 and loved it! The only plus was the food available was all calorific heaven burgers and the like and so I stuffed my face but the place was butlins with trees and bikes

[JemimaMop]

soverylucky - Soccer School costs £11 per day per child, so £66 for 2 children for 3 days. DD's 3 activities came to about £34. Tenpin Bowling is about £18, Pedalo about £7. My Spa treatments came to £50. Bikes cost about £85 for 5 of us. Holiday itself cost about £650 for a 3 bedroom lodge in August.

[PaisleyLeaf]

I'm also about centre parcs. I guess because of how much Wiltshire police say that the centre is a drain on their resources - puts you off.
But if there's a load of you going together as a sort of get together and it's your parents' treat, it should be okay.
It's a good idea for you to perhaps let your DD take a friend along.

[DELHI]

Im with Munstersmum - I loathed it and would never go back. Food dire, the swimming pool was heaving the entire time and the accomm was pretty basic. DCs thought it was OK - but have never asked to return Certainly not my idea of a holiday, paying to be trapped in a giant forest with hoards of other families and a glorified caravan to sleep in.