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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that people should at least go to Centre Parcs before they slag it off

141 replies

Ohbehave1 · 25/09/2015 20:30

I am fed up with my friends saying how expensive Centre Parcs is or how they wouldn't like it when they haven't even looked on the booking site.

I know they can be expensive but I have done it on the cheap. And I know that they have gone downhill a bit, but they can still be good value for money.

For those that want to complain, at least look at the booking form.

OP posts:

Mintyy · 25/09/2015 20:34

Do you work for them or something? How very odd!

Autumnnights1 · 25/09/2015 20:35

Any place that centres around kids is always a rip-off. But in saying that, I did go there a few years ago and would never go back. Got it on the cheap too and found there was nothing to do unless you liked hiking and looking at nature. Trying to keep the kids away from the expensive activities was a trial.

PunkrockerGirl · 25/09/2015 20:37

Tbh, nothing my friends who've been there have told me would make me want to go near it.

TattyDevine · 25/09/2015 20:37

I know what you mean - I love it for a cheap 3 dayer, which now doesn't exist out of term time, but so be it - its great if you are not paying full £££ that you perhaps pay in the summer holidays, but you have to have been to evaulate how much you would be willing to pay. YANBU.

MinecraftWonder · 25/09/2015 20:39

I'm sure i'd enjoy it, it looks nice.

But for the ££ they charge...and not just the holiday but all the extras...I honestly think it is a rip off and not somewhere i'd spend money on.

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 25/09/2015 20:39

I don't need to go to know I'd hate it!

I don't comment on other peoples holiday choices though. Each to their own and all that......

Original poster

Ohbehave1 · 25/09/2015 20:41

No Mintyy I don't. I have just had 3 people in the last couple of weeks asking how I can afford to go when it is soooo expensive. My last trip which was midweek, for 4 adults and 4 kids was cheaper than Butlins or any other caravan or Chalet park.

OP posts:

Original poster

Ohbehave1 · 25/09/2015 20:42

Doyourhink. How do you know if you haven't been.........

OP posts:

FartemisOwl · 25/09/2015 20:43

Was just about to say it beats Butlins! I've only been once and loved it!

ghostyslovesheep · 25/09/2015 20:44

I've been a few times - I thought it was okay but expensive and a bit full of psueds

I went to Butlins this summer - stayed in a beautiful new chalet - rebooked for August Bank Holiday next year - I'll bet my bum it's cheaper than CP

poocatcherchampion · 25/09/2015 20:45

It depends if you like a holiday park environment though doesn't it?

Some people like to be freeeeeee

Original poster

Ohbehave1 · 25/09/2015 20:47

Minecraftwonder. That's exactly what I am on about. You don't have to do extras all the time. and you can spend hours relaxing in the pool whilst the kids have fun there.

I couldn't afford the extras. Or a top of the range villa. My point is you can do it on a budget - it's not as expensive as people make out.

OP posts:

StillFrankie · 25/09/2015 20:47

I've been loads of times, both as a child and as a parent myself.

I wouldn't go back as the cost is ridiculous. If you have a preschool child its a bit more affordable but during school hols its better to go abroad. you get more for less.

redskybynight · 25/09/2015 20:50

I've been to Center Parcs so can I slag it off?

If you have school age children, even paying for basic accommodation and no extras during school holidays is ridiculously priced for basically use of a busy pool and a rubbish place to stay. I'd rather spend the same money paying for nice accommodation for longer.

BreeVDKamp · 25/09/2015 20:51

We went last week for the first time and I just didn't get it. I think I'm missing something. Nothing is included! Why is it so expensive?
The accommodation wasn't anything special (we had one of the chalet things with a photo of the woods on the wall) and it was £3.99 for a box of crunchy nut in the supermarket!! The pool was fine but nothing amazing. And there was a sense of forced fun everywhere you went. I wouldn't rush back and I definitely wouldn't pay school holiday prices!!

BreeVDKamp · 25/09/2015 20:52

And the housekeeping was so so bad!!

jubblie · 25/09/2015 20:55

We always liked it as it suited our family.
I grew to enjoy it less and less though!
The food in the restaurants is awful but so expensive. The ds's always loved it and they'd go back again tomorrow.

jubblie · 25/09/2015 20:56

Yes housekeeping is poor. Pool area and changing rooms are always grubby as well.

jubblie · 25/09/2015 20:57

Also the queue for the bloody bikes was massive. Every time. That annoyed me too!

EarSlaps · 25/09/2015 20:58

If you can go in term time out of season I think it's not too bad value. We've been in Feb and Nov- was £500 for a three bed executive lodge with sauna and wifi etc in February, shared it with PILs. We mostly self catered and didn't do many extra activities so I didn't think it was too bad.

Now DS is at school I thought we'd never get a chance to go back, but happily our LEA has half term a week earlier than most of the country in Feb. The nearest CP was about £750 for a 3 bed executive lodge, but the one a couple of hours away is £539. So we're going with PILs again. The week after (half term for the rest of the country) is £1200 . We'd never pay that.

M4blues · 25/09/2015 20:58

We do Oct or Feb half term every year. Kids love it and dh and I find it quite relaxing. It can be expensive but it's a nice winter break. I certainly wouldn't go during school summer holidays. But riding bikes in the brisk winter air then stopping for hot choc and swimming at 8pm with all the lights is lovely.

JawannaDrink · 25/09/2015 20:58

I don't need to get herpes to know I wouldn't like it. YABU.

Quiero · 25/09/2015 20:59

I'd love to go...but when I can get two weeks in Spain for roughly the same price as one week at Centreparcs, I'll take the sun.

It's fucking extortionate.

Grazia1984 · 25/09/2015 21:02

We went about 2 years ago and it was amazingly dire actually. It was like being transported into an enivornment on another planet with people from another class. You'd subbathe in your garden (supposedly top of the range 4 bed place but much worse than your house at home) and the neighbours on both sides would be out having a fag every time as there was no division between one garden and the next.

I think most of us found aspects we could enjoy but I would not go back.

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 25/09/2015 21:02

I know I won't like it because my idea of a good holiday is a cottage in a remote location with a minimum of other people around and some decent challenging walking from my front door!

I don't do swimming pools and I prefer not to do too many other people when I'm on holiday. So yep, I know that Center Parcs is not for me.

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