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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

not to understand why you would choose to pay 5x more for a Bluestone / Center Parcs time holiday?

66 replies

LapsedTwentysomething · 09/04/2015 21:37

We've done both over the last couple of years with small DCs, although I had the advantage of being PT / on maternity leave, and DD hadn't started school, so I have been on that kind of holiday.

We're enjoying the loveliest family break at the seaside, and a whole week has cost us £250 for accommodation every bit as Good as Bluestone - better, in fact, as it's quiet and we have a private garden and are on a farm. Granted we'be had the benefit of fantastic weather, but if we hadn't we could've done the same sorts of indoor activities as at a resort and paid less for them. I remember paying £6 for a short and pretty lame kite making session at Bluestone and similar for half an hour or so of messy play at CP. Why?! We'll never bother again.

Just makes me cross that resort holidays are so extortionately priced - nearly 6 x more for Bluestone for the same week, and more for Center Parcs. Independent hols are so much better value.

OP posts:
flowery · 09/04/2015 22:46

Something is only a "rip off" if you don't get what you paid for. Presumably most people who book holidays are capable of checking what they will get for the money they are paying, and are able to make an informed decision as to whether that holiday represents reasonable value for money for them in terms of meeting their needs.

We go to Center Parcs. I can assure you I am not getting "ripped off". Each to their own.

Original poster
LapsedTwentysomething · 09/04/2015 22:48

Well it is if you could get exactly the same holiday for half the price a week earlier.

OP posts:
BigBirthdayGloom · 09/04/2015 22:48

We love center parcs, but we go with my elderly parents and its just about right for them to be able to walk most places and to opt in and out of what we and the dc are doing. It is expensive, but because it suits our needs perfectly and we have a fabulous week, it's good value for us.

Janethegirl · 09/04/2015 22:51

I've booked CP but it's because I need three bedrooms each with ensuite and they can do this for a sensible cost.
However, as I posted previously, I will wait to see if this was a sensible option. Hmm

Marmaladedandelions · 09/04/2015 22:53

It's not the same holiday if it's a week earlier, is it? Hmm

flowery · 10/04/2015 07:22

It's not the same if it's a week earlier, when I can't go because the DC are at school. Obviously during school holidays the balance of supply and demand changes therefore the acceptable market rate is higher.

Plus I'm still not getting ripped off because I know what I am getting and what it will cost me and am making an informed decision.

LaurieFairyCake · 10/04/2015 07:26

It's for parents of young dc who's children aren't at school yet, right?

It's over 2 grand for a week in school holidays.

TheEmpressofBlandings · 10/04/2015 07:34

Cp comes into it's own when your kids are older, I'd say. You can let them have so much more independence than if you were at a cottage.
We started visiting cp when I was 10, 31 years ago Shock. We went almost every year, it was brilliant. This was before they had opened the first uk one, and way before the prices went through the roof in school holidays. They are pretty extortionate in holidays, but then, where isn't?
We went to bluestone last year and the week we went (Easter hol), the price was pretty similar to cp. I didn't think the facilities were anywhere near as good.

thatstoast · 10/04/2015 07:45

Never been to cp but I love bluestone. I won't have to worry about school holidays for a while but we just payed £300 for 8 people in term time which is good value.

fluffymouse · 10/04/2015 08:25

Because bluestone used to do fantastic last-minute deals.

We paid £199 for 4 nights including breakfast and activities for 8 people. The accommodation was amazing

malteserzz · 10/04/2015 08:34

Never been to bluestone but we love CP and always find it much more relaxing than any other holiday, in a cottage we would have to travel to activities whereas at CP it's nice to leave the car and bike everywhere including to restaurants.

Original poster
LapsedTwentysomething · 10/04/2015 08:37

They are pretty extortionate in holidays, but then, where isn't?

Our holiday cottage ??

Well yes it is the same holiday. If you're not bothered that it's more than twice the price a week later that's up to you, but I just don't understand why you would waste your money like that (my opinion, obviously not yours) when you could spend a fraction of that on a really good holiday elsewhere.

Anyway. Last day of hols. Am off to enjoy it.

OP posts:
flowery · 10/04/2015 09:06

It's the same holiday if it's on the same dates, which it isn't. One holiday is available to us, the other isn't. Yes obviously I'd rather prices during school holidays for holidays anywhere (not just CP) were the same as during term time, but I understand we live in a free market economy and wouldn't expect any holiday company to charitably charge less than they can for their product for my benefit.

I'm yet to come across an alternative which offers us everything CP does for a lower price.

SomewhereIBelong · 10/04/2015 09:11

You need to define "really good holiday".

CP - we go because we all (2 adults, 2 teens) feel like we have had a holiday.

we even pay extra for a lodge of our choice - middle class ripped-off mugs that we obviously are... so it is a short wander through woodland to the pool - which has many slides, rapids, and wave machine and really warm outdoor swimming.

We eat out every night and can drink - it is only a short wander back to the lodge.

We will play table tennis, badminton and laser clay shooting as well as swimming every day and a couple of evenings of swimming under the stars , we will visit the wildlife stations and bird hides, and may see things we have not seen before - last time it was a woodpecker about 6 feet from where we were standing, we will walk for miles, the kids will go off to get breakfast and a newspaper for us all in the morning.

We will watch the wildlife and relax , not have to drive place to place or get all packed up for a day out.

But - each to their own, some folks don't seem to think they have had a holiday unless they have paid peanuts and sit on a beach with hundreds of others moaning about the food and crappy facilities.

AryaUnderfoot · 10/04/2015 09:24

Center Parcs in Belgium is the answer. All the advantages of CP in UK but activities are a fraction of the price. Also, you can take non-swimmers on the rapids in a buoyancy aid, which DD (5) loves.

We are going in the next half term for six nights in the most expensive accommodation (includes sauna and bread roll delivery every morning). It has cost £400 plus shuttle crossing.

Discounted · 10/04/2015 09:26

One of the reasons CP is so popular is because it's overpriced. Obviously, no-one's going to admit it, but the high prices mean you know what kind of people you're going to be sharing your holiday with.

We've had some fantastic and much cheaper cottage holidays but you can't argue it's the same holiday. You don't have anyone who'll entertain the kids for a few hours while you go to the spa (or a spa). You don't have access to the most amazing swimming complexes, or a host of sports and other activities on your doorstep. CP allows older children to have freedom they can't always have outside....Yes all these facilities come at a cost but to many they're a cost worth paying.

Of course you can get all that at Butlins, but see above....

For us CP was worth paying for when Dc were small and life was hard Grin not no so much now our teens are a delight to be with once you get them away from their gadgets. I know others find the reverse and CP comes into it's own when the teens/pre-teens get awkward and difficult to keep entertained.

I'd far rather go to CP than a "cheap" holiday in the med, which would cost about the same in the school holidays.

HesBeenAVeryNaughtyBoy · 10/04/2015 09:33

We are going to euro park in France (same as CP) it costs much less than the equivalent here even when we are taking two cars on the ferry. Why stay in UK and pay way more for something similar abroad but with the advantages of showing the kids somewhere different?

SomewhereIBelong · 10/04/2015 09:39

I stay in the UK because for me travelling is a waste of a short break... to get to France/Belgium requires a day each end for us, rather than a couple of hours.

We will go away for a holiday too, which may involve flying etc, but not for a CP type short break.

Welshmaenad · 10/04/2015 11:27

Yanbu. We paid a sodding fortune to use the pool at bluestone last year - I couldn't afford to camp in their car park, never mind stay in their overpriced cabins - and it was HORRIFIC. Crumbling, dirty, grotty, broken - it was like a dilapidated 1960s lido. I complained and basically got told to fuck off. I was incandescent.

Welshmaenad · 10/04/2015 11:28

Ooooh, Arya, hast thou a link? That sounds sublime.

JohnCusacksWife · 10/04/2015 11:38

I'd love to know where you can get three weeks at peak time in a cottage for less than £1k. In my experience you get what you pay for with holiday cottages.

rookiemere · 10/04/2015 11:40

We have been frequently to CP generally once a year. We go with friends and get adjoining lodges. We book early for a long weekend and avoid summer holidays. Usually costs under £400, for that we get great use out of the pool and bring our own bikes. If we want to cook we do but if not we eat out. We do some of the activities, expensive but DS enjoys them. It's a fab holiday.
We are currently on holiday with relatives sharing a house. It's fine but no facilities or garden and sharing is always a bit tricky.
I like CP ! I find it weird that people would spend a lot of money to fly abroad in the boiling heat and share a small hotel room with their Dcs but each to their own.

Nannyplum2015 · 10/04/2015 11:44

Hi op, where abouts is this holiday you went on? I want to go!

DustingOffTheDynastySuit · 10/04/2015 11:47

Car free, guarranteed toddler friendly, pool and soft play included in the price on tap, restaurants you can drink at and walk home (not Bluestone, food on site was vile, self-catering facilities were great though).

It's not my favourite holiday in the world, but a 4 night break off season is good value and gets us some proper kid-focussed time.

And if you're lucky with the weather somewhere like Blue stone you can go offsite and have a brilliant UK beach holiday, but if it's raining you're not stuck in trying to google soft play within 40 miles on your 3G because there's no wi-fi and no facilities in your remote cottage and the kids are going crazy.

AryaUnderfoot · 10/04/2015 11:49

Welshmaenad here is the link. We booked quite a long way in advance, so were able to get all the discounts going. If you can find a time that's outside Belgian/Dutch school holidays, you can get really good prices. There's a website (can't remember the name but easy to find on google) that lists European school holidays for several years in advance.

www.centerparcs.com/gb-en/belgium/fp_VM_holiday-park-de-vossemeren