AIBU to think Center Parcs is a bit of a rip off?

[pearlym]

Just been for first time, had to make own beds up FGS!Nohting inc in price save for the pool - no grill or oven in the so called self catering accomm, v expensive on site restaurants- pleasant staff just not enough of them so loads of long queues- such poor supervision in the pools and water slides that accidnet waiting to happen - on site supermarket v expensive - just seemd to have been no updating of chalets for years, weedkiller used to beat down foliage near chalets - just a bit shitty really, all for £1,200 for a week. Not a fortune, but would expect a bit better than that. What do people think?

yy PicaK we got a 3 bed this year for less than a 2 bed

I think it's great, my dc are small enough tho that we don't pay for any extra activities, they are happy enough with the pool and playground, and DH took DS1 out rowing which he loved

I am really interested in going to one abroad though, they sound great

Only ever been to uk cparcs and all accomodation had ovens/grills and beds all made up. Didn't you know it had no oven when you booked.
Never go when kids are off and only paid that much for a lodge with hot tub, sauna and daily maid service.

The cost of when you go varies a lot ,two years ago we went in mid December,there was heavy snow and it was beautiful . This year we went in early Jan . Both times we had a 3 bed executive lodge with maid service,sauna etc . We booked early check in which included a basic food hamper plus snacks, chocolate and wine and the hire of two bikes and paid well under £400. The cost for the same villa over Xmas/New Year was almost two thousand!

I love the way you've all flown at me and got the humo for me expressing an opinion. As for the poster who said I was "whiny" i went with high hopes after all the rave reviews....the accommodation was damp...end of.

The bar/ restaurant bit was truly terrible, I'm sorry but it was. This was Whinfell. Maybe some of the other ones are nicer..I don't know. We booked loads of activities for dd to do which were ok but not worth the cost of the holiday. I'm just glad we went with a 60% off voucher otherwise I would have been gutted.

It costs us £700 for a week accommodation for a gite in France every July which is lovely, and loads cheaper than CP!

I've been to the European ones and UK and agree the European ones are decidedly shabby and a bit chavvy. However when I went they were half the price of the UK ones so that compensated.
Yes it?s very expensive to go there and we spend a fortune. I wouldn?t recommend trying to do this on a budget.

We?ve been to Center Parcs for the odd weekend since our elder son was a baby and he?s now 15. It's for kids. They love it. If I didn't have children I'd be going somewhere completely different.
We just took 3 teenage boys who were all thoroughly exhausted from all the activities by the time we left. They love the rapids, even though they?ve been going for years the novelty doesn?t seem to wear off. They spent hours going up and down. Also lots of badminton, table tennis etc.

It's a good venue for a wet UK weekend. Doesn't mean we don't go anywhere else. We've also been to London, The Canaries and Cumbria this year. Different kind of holidays.

By the way the Dutch don't normally use ovens so that's why they don't expect them in a holiday villa. They have a thing like a big pan called a Dutch oven that cooks on a hob.

OK, fair enough you had a crap time. But why insult everyone who goes and likes it? I'm not the only one who has made repeat visits and I resent the implication that we're somehow stupid for liking it.

Marbella is waaaaay chavvier than CP.

It's too busy and just crap.