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AIBU?

To wish there was a MN Center Parcs support group?

169 replies

BoffinMum · 26/10/2013 12:20

So I appear to have paid £1000 to stay in a damp bungalow and to be bossed about by unsmiling teenage staff members telling me off or telling me I can't do things, right, left and centre. I feel like I am back at boarding school, rather than on holiday. I've actually had a little cry, I'm so frustrated and feel so fleeced and got at. Hold my hand while I pretend to have s good time, people. I may need gin. And Pombears (which I noticed they sell in the Parc Market).

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HorryIsUpduffed · 26/10/2013 16:26

How interesting - we have only ever had a great time even in dire weather. But then we go to Whinfell which wasn't built by CP (they took it over from Oasis? a few years ago) and we have small DC who don't pester for paid-for activities all day long.

Recently went to a Haven caravan park and were pleasantly surprised by it, but the pool was not a patch on Whinfell and it was fecking freezing at night.

monkeyfacegrace · 26/10/2013 16:36

You bunch of miserable feckers.

We go numerous times a year, and have done for a couple of decades.

We luffs it.

Slipshodsibyl · 26/10/2013 16:43

I think the problem is that it's so expensive for what it is. We went on a break with extended family who love it. People had told me it was 'upmarket Butlins' . Remembering my mother whose holiday aspiration used to be that my parents might one day afford to take us to Butlins as children ( we never went) I think my expectations might have been a touch high. It isn't upmarket.

yourlittlesecret · 26/10/2013 16:57

Boffinmum I feel your pain. We have just had 5 days at Sherwood in a damp hut. I even paid extra for an executive lodge but it smelled damp as soon as we walked in. On the bright side it had two bathrooms and wi-fi for the teenage DCs .
The thing with CP is that you are paying to pretend you are on holiday abroad. Actually I could have booked a week all inclusive in the canaries for what I have spent this week, but we could not manage a full week away.

Crowler · 26/10/2013 17:04

We went to CP in Holland and had a lovely time (but the weather was spectacular).

That said, our accommodations were grim and the food was ahem. bad.

We did see some shocking people.

MrsWolowitz · 26/10/2013 17:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

skyeskyeskye · 26/10/2013 17:05

My friend is considering no holiday at all, as they can't afford Center Parks in the school holidays and says that her DC will not go anywhere else (they are 3 and 6). I said I would rather have a cheaper holiday somewhere else than not go at all and that her DC would enjoy a holiday wherever they went!

earlesswonder · 26/10/2013 17:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

skyeskyeskye · 26/10/2013 17:16

I know, it made me laugh.

LIZS · 26/10/2013 17:16

Have her dc ever been anywhere else !

skyeskyeskye · 26/10/2013 17:19

not the youngest one, but the older one went to a holiday park when he was a baby, so too young to remember it and hate it I would say.

I know of several people round here who go every year so there must be something good about it, but for the extra money, I am happy with my cheap holiday park holidays while DD is only young

Onesleeptillwembley · 26/10/2013 17:21

3 and 6 year olds dictate holidays? Stupid woman.

shewhowines · 26/10/2013 17:23

The kids would probably enjoy butlins more. We went for their sakes a few times and then graduated to cp when they were 8/9.
IMO cp isn't that great for little kids.

LeonieDeSainteVire · 26/10/2013 18:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mamadoc · 26/10/2013 19:29

Oh crap, really regretting clicking on this thread.

I am going for 1st time next week and dragging entire extended family. It is supposed to be a big treat for my mum who has been ill and absolutely loves having all her family together.
I thought it would be a good solution to an all age holiday, something for the tinies, tween, twenty something's, exhausted parents and the crumbles.

I need this to be good.
Please someone tell me it'll be ok!!

EmmaGellerGreen · 26/10/2013 19:32

Mamodoc - we go lots and we love it.

flowery · 26/10/2013 19:34

mamadoc you will have a fantastic time. We've been several times and are going next week. We always have a fabulous time, great service, plenty to do for everyone, peaceful villa, wildlife, clean, etc etc

HorryIsUpduffed · 26/10/2013 19:36

Going with family is definitely good. It means in particular when you go to the pool you can take it in turns to splash with the babies or go on flumes or sit in the jacuzzis. Also the mere fact of having great big family meals together for a few days will be lovely.

If you're lucky the DC will go to bed nicely worn out, and you can have grownup wine conversation. Or your DM will tell you to go out to the pub while she babysits.

LindyHemming · 26/10/2013 19:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

flowery · 26/10/2013 19:36

Oh, and until we went the first time I always thought I'd hate it.

VivaLeBeaver · 26/10/2013 19:36

Mamadoc, I'm sure you'll have a good time. Me and dd love it. All my friends love it. None of us are heavily tattooed, beer swilling louts.

I have once had a villa which smelt a bit damp, but it only smelt damp in the hallway. The bedrooms, kitchen, living room were fine. I always take a pack of flash wipes just incase but have never had to use them.

Take as much food as you can/want. The parc market isn't as bad as I thought it would be price wise. It's village Co-OP price rather than Asda price. Meals out are quite pricey.

There is cheaper stuff to do like crazy golf, nature walks, treasure trail. Swimming and cycling is free. Dd is allowed to choose one more expensive activity. So she's done high ropes once which she enjoyed and another time e we did owl handling which was good.

mamadoc · 26/10/2013 19:43

Ok phew some more positives. We are going to elveden and I will feel responsible if I've persuaded all the others to shell out and we have a shit time.

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GrendelsMum · 26/10/2013 19:49

I think it's more enjoyable if you live in town and are enjoying the opportunity to cycle, walk, etc and if you like pools. We went with family for a get together and I kept wondering why I had left my nice house in the countryside to be trapped in a place with fences round it where I couldn't go for a decent walk.

VivaLeBeaver · 26/10/2013 19:51

The best thing for me is sitting on the sofa throwing food for ducks, rabbits, swans and squirrels who come and scrap/play on your patio. I hear at Elvedon you get little muntjac type deer coming onto the patios frequently. They have no fear. We had a squirrel in the villa one year!

Take bird seed.

AnnoyingOrange · 26/10/2013 19:57

Take your own bicycles and most of your own food. The parcmarket stocks good fresh bread if you want to make a quick lunch.

Either bring drinks with you or stock up in the parcmarket rather than shelling out for cafe prices every time someone is thirsty

Then you don't feel ripped off and can focus on enjoying the free activities, pay out for a few other activities and let the kids have some freedom in a safe environment

Have a fab time

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