Centre Parcs is a very weird place.

[MOIST]

Fake forest. Plastic stuff. Signposts and advertising everywhere. Like Ikea in a fake forest with one-way system and bad feng.

Most peculiar.

it's megashit to be honest, you are better off going to Butlins

It is not worth going abroad for them IMO. Part of the attraction is a relatively stress free holiday.

I'm always confused when people say CP is 'safe' are we talking the lack of traffic or what exactly?

Lack of traffic and lack of obviously drunken people or groups.

Chavs can't afford it, I think is the theory.

Oh God you poor thing! When do you escape and how much lighter will your wallet be?

Yep. Went once. Never again. For the white 2-point-2- parents and children.

All is perfect in the Centre Parcs fairy tale. for 2 days lol

Try the parks in the Netherlands, much cheaper and the school holidays are at different times to the UK which makes it quieter. There are lots of different parks, near the beach or wooded areas close to towns.

The Efteling is much better. Hate theme parks and went once -- on a work day out cos I could take my son, single mum.. It is amazing. Hotels around too.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efteling

I am old and grew up near the Elveden one. The forest was definitely there first and isn't fake.

I have been, although it was a few years ago. It does have a slightly odd feeling about it, but tbh I don't think its much different to the Butlins and Pontins that we went to when I was a kid in the 70s. I think its hard for those places not to feel a bit institutionalised. I do remember the food in the food court being particularly bad though, and I'm by no means fussy.

MrGrumpy My Ds (aged 7) has autism also. I found it really good, but mainly I think because we had no expectations about activities etc. He really is unable to cope with any sort of activity, so we just pootled for the weekend and took it as it came. Ended up not doing anything but swimming. (I am really glad I did not book anything as he simply would not have done it).

FWIW, I had to drag my DH kicking and screaming to CP. he hates going away, hates the disruption to his routine (I strongly suspect he is on the spectrum also) and he had a great time. In fact, we booked for 3 nights and when we left before we had even turned out the driveway DH commented;'Yeah. I'd go again. But for longer. We did not have enough time there'.

Massive result!

I was going to try for Butlins this year, incidentally. But we might be going to France instead.[happy dance]

I really need to stop reading this thread as it is winding me up, but I cant!

Concentration camp analogies are insane, insulting, rude, ridiculous.

People who haven't been to a CP, making ridiculous, dismissive, rude comments. I have never been to Butlins as it wasn't somewhere my family went when I was a child and as an adult DH and I have just never really fancied it. But I wouldn't dream of making nasty, sweeping comments about it and the people that go there a la this thread as I have no idea. I have never been!

If you have been and didn't like it, fair enough. But saying it's creepy that everyone is happy? Maybe they are just enjoying their holiday?!

Center Parcs is what you make it. We don't pay for extra activities, take our own food and cook in our lodge. We have a fab time and when you look at the cost of the lodge plus a bit extra for food it is good value when everyone is entertained all week.

And as for comments about nettles and untrained wild birds, Centre Parcs have obviously let their standards slip there

I absolutely loved it as a kid so would have no hesitations taking my dc.

It is weird from a rural persons point of view absolutely. I grew up in snowdonia outback so find it really weird to see hoards of people schlepping around the countryside in the 'wrong' clothed etc

Also though, we all have different phases of our lives. Someone upthread said it is a holiday for the unadventurous. I am sure all of us have done plenty of quite adventurous things in our lifetimes.(I spent 6 years living full time and working in Eastern Europe etc. Right now my work takes me to the Stans for about 3 months in an 18 month project cycle).

I loved CP the one time I went and would go back. I have a small child, with whom it is hard to find stuff to do and places to go that he would enjoy. It's even harder to get DH out of his comfort zone. That's just a different phase of my life now where I have different needs. I would not take my son on a holiday to Bishkek right now, no matter how much I love the city myself. In a few years time maybe. Just now, no.

Different strokes and all that.

Centre parcs are obviously onto a good thing money-wise.
Most people report feeling a bit or a lot ripped off by it all. However, they like it enough to continue to go and let themselves feel ripped off.
Clearly a market for the easy, clean, don't have to think too much or face too much uncertainty type holiday....and people are willing to pay.

Each to their own, in their precious holiday time, people can do what they like and what they will pay for.

Although it's not an al inclusive package holiday (very clear that little is actually included) it has that same vibe, in terms of those who will go. People who want to go abroad, with certainty that they will be collected from the airport, every meal and entertainment will be included and they probably won't need to venture off the site during the holiday, will find the ease and certainty appealing. Those who like a bit more free spirited stuff and who are at ease with a bit more uncertainty probably don't do all inclusive and might not like Center Parcs, in the same way they might not like Disney or anything else which is very packaged and increasingly appears to be money grabbing.

We have been a few times because it is the one place I can get my 17 year old autistic DS to join us. Both my boys love it but we are not one of those happy families with impeccably behaved children I'm afraid. Last time we were there my boys decided to whack each other in the bowling bar and I had to shout 'ENOUGH! (I really had had enough by this point as it wasn't the first incident)' So whoever said you don't get the sort of parent who shouts at their children clearly wasn't there the weekend we were!

I don't agree that it is more stressful to go to one of the Center Parcs abroad though. A quick trip across the channel and a 3 hour drive is worth the huge drop in price and once there it is more relaxing as they tend to be far less crowded and have more things for children to do without paying extra. The one we went to in Belgium (De Vossemeren) had a huge pirate themed play area which was fantastic - you could easily spend half a day there. They also had trampolines outside the Grand Cafe which my younger son loved. When we went back to Elveden my son said 'where are the trampolines?'
The pool was just like Elveden but as it was so much less busy you had no queues for the popular slide and no bodies bashing into you while going down the Rapids! You also get 3 free activity vouchers for booking early which helped keep costs down. We loved it so much that we have booked to go to the other Belgian Center Parcs (Erperheide) in February half term!

Norfolk one an hour away from us , treated ourselves to an amazing lodge which was pricy but lovely.... unfortunately I found the shopping bits grubby and pool over crowded (this was in half term so expected to be busy) food awful. Certainly not a 'middle class' place that many mumsnetters seem to think it is from the thread. We ended up staying around our lodge and paid for some activities which the children loved. Wouldnt bother going back

We found the food pretty ordinary also and ended up cooking ourselves the second night. DH pointed out that the experienced CP folk arrived with cars loaded with shopping! We will do that next time.

Centre Parcs exist for people who either just can't be bothered to or don't have the time to actually put bit of thought/research/ imagination into arranging a holiday. Otherwise why on EARTH would you choose to go somewhere for identical, souless, dull accommodation, have 1000s of annoying other people on your doorstep and fork out constantly for every other activity/meal?? There are 10000s or far more stunning, cosy, beautiful self catering cottages/barns in stunning locations- even smaller holiday parks in the UK -that would cost less, also are near to or have facilities for kids on site and is a holiday you can make unique to your family-and don't have 1000s of other screaming kids/families around you 24/7. Such a bizarre concept and genuinely astounded so many fork out for what you end up getting there.

One of DHs bros went every year - I'm sure he thought it made him middle class.
They would spend as much money as humanly possible, eating out 3 times a day (not that there is much choice) and doing activities from first thing in the morning and then into the evening.
He would show off he had spent thousands. Problem being when we went we were queuing to get in behind mercs and Porsches who probably didn't think about the money
BIL regularly can't pay his mortgage and could never afford to go on a 'proper holiday'....
Except he could, he just spent it all in 3 nights in CP trying to show off

When I was there (in term time) I was surprised how busy it was, staff told me they are at at least 98% capacity all year round, just more pre-school kids and adults (!) in term time.

If they fill the place all year round and given how much it can cost sounds like an extremely lucrative business, no need to improve the food options which is the one thing people seem to agree on that is weak

Overall I think it's reasonable value and good fun with small kids in term time, no way would I pay the extortionate school hols prices. Though might fancy the ones on the continent given the recommendations on here.

We are going this year at half term, not been for three years. It's not my choice but the dc love it.
We take our own food, it is overpriced to buy anything there.

I don't think it's middle class at all, there are some hideous types in the sports bar (dh being one of them).

It is dull, wildlife is great, it's easy, we are exhausted.
I am tired of dealing with weirdo holiday cottage owners.

Centerparcs does actually appeal to me quite a bit, but GAWD the prices.

If we're holidaying in the UK we rent cottages which are twice as nice for half the price. We do similar activities - one of the cottages we like is 5 mins walk from a flume pool, and a 10 min drive from a forestry commission site where you can hire bike, Go Ape etc. I also like to eat out a lot on holiday, and the selection of restaurants at CP seems a bit duff. I know it is actually possible to leave the site, but can't what you're paying for if you spend a lot of time off site.

I love it!!

Before ds we went on adventurous holidays but now we do what suits him. He needs something that he feels comfortable with and works with his disability.
We live rurally and don't need to go on holiday for real countryside and beautiful scenery.

I looked at the prices! Eye watering! I managed to get 4 days in Warsaw and in Rome for half the price of CP.