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?

there is a new one opening here in 2014 in the village next to ours!!!

the dc are happy as it means JOBS for us all (they are teens)

OP I thought the same as you but really, there's loads to do for everyone, or nothing if you prefer. You'll have a great time

I went when I was early teens, It was fabulous!

We went to one in France once. There was lots to do and the pool was nice but I also think it was a bit over-priced.

We usually stay in houses and cottages that we rent directly from the owners and compared to that the standard of the chalets was a bit so-so

And yes I know that for the price you are getting fee access to the pool but everything, absolutely everything else, you have to pay extra for.

I guess it is good value if you just want to swim all day.

Not my cup of tea. Stayed once & not planning on returning.

Depends on how you are with busy places. Every activity will be full. In fact you should prebook for your DD if there is something she fancies.

Unless your parents are paying for everything it is expensive. The food is awful. Think like a theme park but you are there for four days.

Bizarrely I find the place claustrophobic. I know there's green space! I did like the spa but it wasn't school hols so possibly quieter than normal. Probably do not appreciate Centre Parcs as live in the sticks anyway.

I love Center Parcs. I can just switch off and relax. We go every year, it was great when the DC were babies as it is so child friendly and now they are older they love the activities.

We are going in August and have booked:
3 mornings of Soccer School for DS1&2 (no adult supervision needed notso)
Pony Ride, Animal Magic and Ballet for DD
Tenpin Bowling
Pedalo on the lake
3 Spa treatments for me

We have also hired bikes and made reservations at a different restaurant each night. We will swim every afternoon too. I can't wait!

IMO Bluestone is nowhere near as good, you have to drive off site to get to anything. There are barely any activities there. If you live in teh city I suppose staring at the Welsh countryside might be a novelty, but I live in the Welsh countryside. Almost everyone I know that has been there has been disappointed with it.

Works very well for kids, gets them off your hands. Went with friends and loads of kids, brought food in and had BBQs every night

We never went there when I was younger as it was too flipping expensive.

Somewhere very similar to the Centre Parks idea is Bluestone in Narberth in West Wales - I've been to the area a lot on family holidays and most recently went on hen do to Bluestone and had an amazing time - go ape, lazerquest in the woods, spa, bbq, swimming...

I went on family holidays for years after lots of my friends stopped and when I was 14 my youngest brother was 5. Stuff I enjoyed included playing cards late with my parents after the little siblings were in bed!

Bluestone looks Fab - but I couldnt do a Pilates weekend with Gewn from Gavin and Stacey. I just couldnt take her seriously :o

I love Center Parcs, try to go once a year but it is expensive. The kids love it though.

Have a friend who swears by the ones in the Netherlands - works out cheaper even with ferry, and is only a couple of hours drive once you're on the continent.

Last time we were there DH commented that the cars in the car park are getting more expensive, but we can only go in school holidays now and it's hardly surprising, as it costs so much more.

We don't usually book much - the pool, play areas and being able to cycle round quiet roads is enough although I imagine this might change as the children get older.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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).

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.

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

the road sign is up for it already!!

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