AIBU to think that the reason Centre Parc prices are so high is because...

[spababe]

they want a 'certain type' of person to stay and wish to exclude others ie the Butlins type?

You may not like what I am saying but I think it is true. Prices in school holidays are rather eye-watering but my kids love the place and it's the only place they want to go to this year. I've gone for a middle of the range villa sleeping 4 and it's cost £1125 for 4 nights Mon-Fri.

Countries. Not counties.

I've been lots in the past when dcs were small and didn't see a certain type imo? Plus nowadays it seems to attract hen/stag trips for some reason?

I doubt I'll ever go back. Much prefer a nice cottage in an interesting place. So do dcs and dp. Or camping.

Not sure if this will work as on iPad but

www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/our-hotels/macdonald-aviemore-resort/

Oh and if dcs fancy a big pool there's one a few miles away with all the slides/flumes. It's pretty expensive at around £10 per person but they love it.

The thing we liked about the Aviemore Resort (and you can SKI there on real snow) is that they have a range of rooms and restaurants at different prices. The evening entertainment was rather lame but the pool is great. And D
did I mention you can ski?

MummyToMog - we've done Eurocamp in the tent and in the mobile home, the only real difference for us was that the mobile home had a bathroom. It's not like you're going to spend your holiday sitting in your lodgings - it's just a base to get out and see the locale

nkf - I think we're quite lucky in that regard as we usually leave around the 28th June when Scottish schools break up, our week in the Loire is less than £500 for DH, me and 4 DCs.

I won't go to CP again. Have been several times and its gone downhill, increased chalets (probably doubled or more) and their constant charging for everything drives you nuts. It's now based on getting you to part with even more money, most activities would cost us over£120 as a family

But people do...so they will charge

(Agree with everyone about France. In the summer...lovely)

"Plus nowadays it seems to attract hen/stag trips for some reason?"

I don't get that at all! I don't mind being surrounded by other peoples kids if I'm there with mine! I don't get the "girls holiday"ers there at all??

Roseformeplease but can you ski? Looks lovely.

oldebaglady sorry not sure what you're saying? I'm not against hen/stag dos, just saying they go there. I know of people who have had there's there. There are a few different CP resorts. I wouldn't have my hen do at one but horses for courses.

I've been twice and thought it was overpriced.

We looked at a week in February and it's upwards of £1,400. Orlando for two weeks for the two of us is £1,700 You can work out where we've decided to go!

My DB paid over £1k for a week at a feather down farm type affair!!! CP is a complete bargain by comparison.

I think my skiing days are long gone but après ski is something I am very, very good at.

I know they go there, and also "girls weekends" type holidays, I just don't understand why? To me it's like having your adult only 30th in a corner of a busy soft play!

I don't mind being jammed into a pool full of kids when I'm there with my own, but when I was there there were adult only groups looking like they were trying to relax???

Spababe: Anyway I wasn't asking if it was worth the money just if you thought that the pricing was to attract a certain class of person?
Yes, Thick rich.

Ahh I see, no I don't see the appeal.

really at those sort of prices I'm very glad I'm the butlins type of person.

We went once. Never again. Cost a fortune but that wasn't the problem. Where we stated was really grubby and stunk. For me, uncleanliness is a deal breaker. And you can't even fart without paying for the privilege. In answer to your question I think prices are high because people are willing to pay.

Stayed. Not stated.

OP, The type of person they're trying to attract is "Tim Nice, but Dim".

HTH

Ahhhh Center Parcs...the great sanitised, plastic outdoors.

I might be a specific bracket here but for me CP in the school hol was cheaper than Butlins...

Single parent & 1 child at CP in their hotel at Elveden in August was £450 for 4 nights compared to £600+ at Butlins for 4 nights... Haven and the like are nearer a £1000 as you pay for the caravan.

So it will CPs for us again in Aug! Though we are going to Dorset in March in term time - again paying a disproportionate amount compared to a family of four but it was less than CP this time!

that's exactly why we choose CP dayshiftdoris - because of the prices per person for small families compaired to elsewhere where you need large numbers to get comparable value.
We love our friends but we prefer to holiday as just us, which rules out a lot of SC options as they usually sleep a lot of people and charge accordingly

We have a friend who would probably be described on here as "naice" but who are on a bit of hard times. His family have recently swaped their CP (Sherwood) holidays for Butlins (Skeggy ) because they thought it was so much better value for money. I am unlikely to ever go. DH can't swim and refuses to pay to go on a swimming-pool centred holiday. Until the DC are older, I can't take them both in the pool by myself.

They charge that much because people are willing to pay that much to avoid being with the "chavvy types" that go to Butlins. Most amusing because the only people I know that go are fellow "chavvy" types like me. However they seem to be the type that want to think they are posh !bit is quite I amusing when you think about it.

I would never go in a month of Sundays, although I am tempted to go just to piss Kilmuir off . I may even buy my husband a string vest for the occasion.