Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel a bit cynical about Centre Parcs?

240 replies

ilikeyoursleeves · 19/05/2012 22:05

We are just back from a 'five' day break at centre parcs at Whinfell. It was Ok and I am sure that many people enjoy it but it just felt like a bit of a rip off in lots of ways. Our cabin thing was really tatty, lots of wear and tear, the carpet covered in stains and the toilet seat kept falling off. The five day break was really three days as we couldn't check in til 330pm on Monday then had to leave by 10am on Friday. Yes I know we could have stayed and used the facilities on those days but realistically with two very young children and me being pregnant, who can be arsed lugging everything about and having to pay extortionate prices for lunch etc.

The swimming was like human soup with about two inches between each person, the Chinese banquet we got was double the price it would normally be and pretty bleurgh, but the main thing that annoyed me was that there was only TWO infant swings for the entire place and one tiny soft play area next to an expensive bar. I just felt that they were blatantly not putting in free activities so you had to spend more money. We ended up going out to see the lake district most days rather than doing the activities that were there as I thought they were a bit of a rip off too.

Sorry I am moaning so much but just wondered if this is just me or has anything else felt like this after staying there?

OP posts:
inabeautifulplace · 21/05/2012 13:00

I feel a bit sad that loads of people commenting on the thread have said that CP is where they feel safe cycling. This country has such an amazing network of footpaths, bridleways and byways. Many are perfect for kids to practice their cycling on. All forestry commission land has wide fire roads for access to the middle of woodland. In addition, lots of FC visitor centres have built family cycling trails (and difficult ones too if your kids want excitement and to progress).

LauraShigihara · 21/05/2012 13:01

We are absolutely not a MC family

Poulay · 21/05/2012 13:02

Sorry but Centerparcs is hideously middle class, especially if you go at expensive times - nobody else could afford it.

Whatevertheweather · 21/05/2012 13:06

Argh I hate this class nonsense!! Your class is not determined by how much money you have to spend going on holiday! It's an attitude you only find on mn.

5Foot5 · 21/05/2012 13:12

Went once to a CP in France. It was OK but I wasn't wild about it.

As others have said we got a bit hacked off by how everything other than the swimming seemed to be an extra. Even 30 minutes on a table tennis table was an extra and there wasn't exactly a queue for them.

The chalet was clean and resonably well equipped but nowhere near as nice as log cabins I have rented elsewhere. The Forest Holiday ones are much, much nicer.

Also we paid extra for a lake side view but what we got was a view of a rather nasty scummy bit if back water that frankly you would have paid extra not to see.

Yes it was nice to cycle in the woods and everywhere bit I don't count it as free exactky when we had to pay so much to hire the bikes.

And don't get me started on the wretched pony that should not have been allowed anywhere near pony rides for inexperienced young children...

Voidka · 21/05/2012 13:13

Sandy balls is also crap IME - dirty, overpriced. Yuck.#

Really :(

JayelleBee · 21/05/2012 13:13

Centerparcs = Butlins on bikes

We went a few years ago. The highlight of the weekend was the excitement when someone shat in the pool and we all had to be evacuated.

Will not be going back.

Vicky2011 · 21/05/2012 13:18

There does seem to be a lot of competitive holidaying too. The clear implication is that anyone who likes CP is either uber posh or a complete chav as well as lazy and stupid. I just think it's sad that other people seem to get so airiated about what some people choose to do on holiday.

Voidka · 21/05/2012 13:22

So where is nice to go thats in the middle of nowhere, has nice accommodation, nice pool with flumes etc and isnt really expensive and grubby?

elastamum · 21/05/2012 13:32

As someone upthread said, get a caravan or a tent. Have just come back after a weekend on a caravan club site in the peaks. £25 a night, kids cycling round on their bikes or playing in the playground whilst adults cook tea on their barbecues. Much cheaper, much more authentic and you can stay at a different place every weekend. Have been to CP in the past and it is IMO one of the outer circles of hell!

AttilaTheMeerkat · 21/05/2012 13:38

Went to the Elvedon Forest CP several years ago.

Chalet was cold throughout and furniture was tatty.

Best bits of that holiday was leaving CP to travel into Norwich and Bury St Edmunds.

28Lucy28 · 21/05/2012 13:45

Has anyone been to Hoseasons before? What are they like?

Poulay · 21/05/2012 14:39

Centerparcs is not in the middle of nowhere. But Butlins has flumes.

Poulay · 21/05/2012 14:42

In fact Centerparcs choose their sites in order to be near as many potential customers as possible. They are busy building concreting over a forest near Luton at the moment for this very reason.

Voidka · 21/05/2012 14:52

I know CP isnt in the middle on nowhere - that is just my fantasy holiday list!

BiddyPop · 21/05/2012 15:43

When we went before, we had bought a few nice bits in Superquinn (their own sausages - yum) which is our equivalent to Waitrose, but we stopped at Morrisons in a town somewhere en route for the proper supermarket shop (where we stocked up on the Gordon's on special offer). We then stopped in Morrisons in the port town on the way back home again (for more gin) to get things like bread, milk and dinner that night for when we got off ferry again.

There was quite a diverse cohort of society in CP when we were there, but there was so much choice of what to do and things to suit all tastes, that there was no time where we felt out of place.

GwendolineMaryLacey · 21/05/2012 17:18

And the class obsessed shite continues. Funny how the only people mentioning it are the ones who don't go to CP yet appear to know exactly who does go. And we're the obsessed ones? Hmm Pure bollocks.

Fluffy1234 · 21/05/2012 17:25

I find it fascinating reading all the moaning about holidays. There was a thread the other week knocking all inclusive holidays, this one criticizes Center Parcs for not incuding enough stuff. Funny old world we live in.

HexagonalQueenOfTheSummer · 21/05/2012 18:04

No chip at all here thanks Smalltown!

I didn't say it was the middle class that went, I said it was middle class wannabes. Ones that try to do everything possible to appear middle class. Nouveau Riche. Real, true middle and upper class people avoid CP like the plague, believe me. It's hardly a proper holiday, going to a concrete jungle in the middle of a forest in Suffolk is it?

I really cannot see why so many of you are getting on your high horses about the class issue. Like it or not, there is a certain type that go to CP. They talk loudly in the playground 'oh We're off to Center Parcs next week' so that everyone hears them, before getting into their 4 by 4 whilst holding their Cath Kidston handbag. Lets just hope they take plenty of organic humous and ricecakes for little Tarquin with them so he's not exposed to any of the nasty cafe food whilst there, eh! Wink

SpringHeeledJack · 21/05/2012 18:19

Gwendoline I've been about 6/7 times and have to say CP is as middle class as fuck

Poulay · 21/05/2012 18:22

I have been to CP and would concur with the middle class as fuck sentiments.

That's how they make so much money.

lockets · 21/05/2012 18:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Codandchops · 21/05/2012 18:26

I would live to try CP, trouble is that a holiday in school summer break is nigh on £1000 for me & DS while the same week ( okay 4nights) at chez Butlins is well under £500.

Slumming it again I reckon Grin

Actually scratch that as I cannot afford Butlins either Blush

diabolo · 21/05/2012 18:30

It is vastly overpriced unless you have pre-schoolers or can take your DC's out of school and go mid-week during term time.

I enjoyed the few breaks we spent there, but for the price of a week at Elveden in July, I can have 2 weeks s/c in the Med - a no-brainer as far as my family is concerned.

I certainly didn't think that it was for middle class loud parenting types, just people who wanted to holiday or have a short break in England Confused

The last time I went was shortly after the fire in Elveden. Because our original holiday had to be cancelled due to the fire, we got a free upgrade to a room with a jacuzzi spa thingie and I put bubble bath in and it went everywhere Blush.

loopydoo · 21/05/2012 18:32

I'm mid 30's and have been almost every year from the age of 10 and so absolutely love it (and Center Parcs know this and have always been very kind if I've ever needed to make a point/complain).

I think you have to be in the right frame of mind to make the most of it and plan and budget to do the things you will get most from.

So for example, I know that the pony rides at Elvedon are a complete rip off (about £13 per child for a walk on a pony for 10 mins) so I'd never book it.

However, the archery for children is really good value for money, they get individual attention and time to money value is excellent.

Once your children can swim, it's pretty much every day in the pool = free.
We have two children and so we can spend one to one time with each child and go one adult with one child down Jungle River (rapids) and take turns on water chutes etc.

We have one takeaway (pizza/italian/chinese) and it's always been really nice.

We generally get there about 10am and swim all day and don't leave until after tea on the Friday.

We spend time in the play parks and chill out on the beach if it's nice.

We don't feel we have to buy/do everything but for us, it's a way more relaxing holiday than 2 weeks in the Dordgone, which we did when they were smaller and nearly ended up divorced!!!

In my opinion though, Elvedon is the best, followed by Longleat.
I wouldn't go to Sherwood again due to nasty villa that smelt of sweat!! (but they did give us £135 off the next holiday.