To not get Centerparcs?

[goingmadinthecountry]

No holiday this year - finances - friends suggested a weekend at Centerparcs. 600+ for a weekend without activities, showers rubbish compared with ours at home, basic kitchen with not too clean stuff in it, cheap plates, tiny outside area, all the effort of shopping/cooking/washing up/cleaning/making beds. Overcrowded overpriced activities, screaming children. Having to be at every activity at a set time, riding a crappy hired bike around for absolutely no reason whatsoever. Been before and it all seemed like an effort. Really, am I missing something? Disclaimer: I live in the countryside so feel no need to get away from it and commune with nature.

Really?! Is that Woburn? Only we're going to be in a three-bed posho which was under £1000, but that's Sherwood. Woburn (the new one) seems to have an inexplicable additional mark-up.

It was the new Woburn one. A friends been there and didn't like the swimming pool but, said it was too planted and you couldn't keep an eye on very young children easily. She also said it was really small compared to the others.

I'd love to know where I can go abroad not self catering for 5 people in August for that money Soverylucky

It's OK for a short break. We've been twice. We have Alton towers near us though and prefer the water park there just for the day and put money towards a bigger holiday.

It's a middle class Butlins for people who wouldn't dream of slumming it at Butlins or Haven.

Its prices are overinflated to keep the riffraff out.

The prices are inflated to keep riff raff out, the mischievous side of me wants to go just because I know that I am the sort that is not welcome but I can afford to pay their potty prices.

YANBU and YABU. We've been a few times. It is fantastic with young children. We do a detour enroute to a local supermarket for our supplies. It's safe and we have found the Comfort Plus accommodation to be fine for a 4 night stay.

However, I wouldn't dream of going there in school hols and will go elsewhere once eldest is at school.

YANBU. I've been once and counted the minutes down to our departure. My experience may have been coloured by the fact we were with FIL with whom I don't have the greatest relationship, but it was expensive, crowded and claustrophobic. The pool was okay. I hated all the chain restaurants. I can drink shitty Starbucks coffee on any high street. Exactly why do I need to do that in the middle of a forest?

"I will never spend all that money to go to what in my eyes is a posher version of a caravan park"

I think that sums up quite nicely why CP doesn't appeal to me.

"Its £1049 for the cheapest 2 bed comfort lodge next week for 4 nights"

That works out, pro rata, more expensive than our luxury two bedroom, two bathroom, hugely spacious bungalow at Slaley Hall during the first week of the school holidays. And it included free use of the lovely indoor swimming pool.

Crieff hydro is much nicer and cheaper.

I am quite a fan of CentreParcs, but I would also agree that it is expensive in school holidays. The best bargains are when school has an inset day on a Monday and we go for an off-peak weekend.
We like the swimming (always go in the evening, when it is less crowded and can have lots of goes on the massive dinghy flume) and I also like it that we can all do different activities. Last time, DH did archery, all DC did high ropes, DS1 and DD did abseiling, DS2 did cable ski, I went to the spa. We all did 10 pin bowling. Everyone happy.

We don't bother with the bikes as the site isn't all the big.

A few people have mentioned that for the same money you can go somewhere better. i would be interested in finding out what else there is - I've looked around a bit, but seem to come up with woodland lodges where you make your own activities (cycling, walking etc.) or places where entertainment (rather than activities) is provided, which isn't really what I'm after.

Any recommendations? Budget, say, £800 for a 3 day weekend for accommodation and activities for 4 people?

I hated all the chain restaurants. I can drink shitty Starbucks coffee on any high street. Exactly why do I need to do that in the middle of a forest?

Exactly this. In fact, all the stuff I can do at Center Parcs, I can do within a mile of my house. Bowling! Cycling! A little supermarket! A Starbucks! A leisure pool! Woo-fucking-hoo! For the same money, you could have an action-packed activity week at home and have a grand over for an amazing city break to the sun.

I don't get why people spend so much to stay in a glorified motorway service station in a wood.

I have never been but now I am picturing a motorway services with wooden huts in a forest with compulsory cycling?

I would hate it, really is my idea of hell

I would love to go just to see, but it would have to be a freebie. Enough people like it so it can't be that bad.

Grumpy

Similar but cheaper is Alton Towers. Next weekend starting Friday you can have 2 adults ( child over 12) and two children ( up to 11) for £620.

That includes room and meals for children. There's a massive indoor / outdoor water park.The high wire forest thing and free archery. And tickets to the park - more than just rides it's stunning.
Might not suit everyone but cheaper than £800- and everyone agrees that AT is s rip off.

We went to Erpeheide as a last minute thing two years ago and I expected to hate it. But actually found I quite enjoyable and it was great to bridge the 5 year age gap between DS and DD.

They asked to go again so we arrived yesterday at one of the ones in the Netherlands. Bit knackered after the drive and the deer ate some of our bread delivery but am lying here watching swallows swoop into their nest under the roof of the deck cover, I feel quite chilled out for first time in ages. Will be using it as a base to have a look around the area, am looking forward to visiting Amsterdam.

We live an hour or so from a UK one but I would never pay the prices there. With the pound strong against the euro and Tesco clubcard paying for Eurotunnel I think the European good value. Diesel on the motorway worked out at just over 80p a litre so we'll not be spending all that much on travel costs.

eastmidsmummy. I defy you to find a pool as good as the CP one within a mile of your house. Or even in the East Midlands.

I like CP. I live fairly close to one. It's a relaxing, stress free holiday.

I can be in the pool within 30 mins of leaving my house. I love that I park the car and forget it. No driving to different places all week. I love sitting on the sofa and watching the squirrels. The nature walks are great.

But isn't any pool in CP heaving with other people all the time?

The pool at Erpeheide wasn't heaving near the end of August. There are lots of little pools and I managed to get a good swim in one of the larger ones each time I went . Not made it into the one here yet, we're faffing with the coffee machine and are on a go slow but will probably check it out later. DD currently trying to photograph the ducks for her summer Art project school set but they aren't being obliging.

eastmidsmummy. I defy you to find a pool as good as the CP one within a mile of your house. Or even in the East Midlands. grin

You're right, but the Center Parcs pool isn't £1000 better.!

I guess. I'm lucky that Dh hates it so me and dd go on our own. You get get a one bed cabin for £400 in the summer holidays if you book in advance. Least you could last year.

When camping is £30 a night, plus days out, plus more meals out because I can't be arsed to cook in a tent then for us CP is cheaper.