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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask you about centre parcs

66 replies

TheHonSaucyJane · 29/04/2018 09:12

I've never been as, when I was single and carefree, I just assumed it was my idea of hell. But I've actually heard really good things about it, and now we have DC and I am on mat leave, I am wondering whether to book.

Could I ask:

Is it a good family holiday?
Would you do a week or long weekend?
Is it good for a 2 year old and new baby, or would we get more out of it in a couple of years' time?
Which is the best site?
Are the superior lodges worth the extra money, e.g. are they much nearer the pool etc?
Is good weather important, or is there a lot to do if it rains?

Thank you!

OP posts:

Original poster

TheHonSaucyJane · 29/04/2018 09:13

Sorry, meant to add any other thoughts/tips would be hugely welcome!

OP posts:

FrancisUnderwood · 29/04/2018 09:15

Oh god I LOVE a Center Parcs thread.

*waits for everyone's amazing stories

LostInShoebiz · 29/04/2018 09:16

I had to read the OP twice to work out if it was about Centre Parcs or "Centre Parcs".

applesandpears56 · 29/04/2018 09:17

Its expensive but good and oh so easy with children
Go to one with a good spa (Woburn amazing) but tbh go to the one closest to you as that’s what c p is about ease of travel etc!
Basic accommodation is fine but it’s nice to get the maid service if y can afford it as you are on holiday
Mon - fri prob best for a first timer. Go early on the Monday and park up and use swimming pool/parks etc before you check in and stay on the Friday after you’ve checked out.
Don’t shop in the park market bring your own food or drive 10 mins or so out of the park to a nearby supermarket

Tiredemma · 29/04/2018 09:17

Lol- I also wanted to see if it was "center parcs".

Oysterbabe · 29/04/2018 09:18

I went with a 2 year old and baby recently, they both liked the pool and the 2 year old liked the play areas. I also did toddler sensory with her and she liked that.
The best thing about centre parcs is the spa. Arrange for daddy to have the kids for an afternoon and go to the spa.

SmittenApril · 29/04/2018 09:19

I didn't think it was for me either but we really enjoyed it.

it a good family holiday? Yes*
Would you do a week or long weekend? We've been for both and enjoyed both
Is it good for a 2 year old and new baby, or would we get more out of it in a couple of years' time? The good thing about going with little ones is less pressure to spend a fortune on the activities older kids enjoy. Swimming and soft play is good for the toddler and I enjoyed long walks with my baby.
Which is the best site? Only Ben to winfell
Are the superior lodges worth the extra money, e.g. are they much nearer the pool etc? Closer is better if the toddler had to walk but with a buggy it's fine
Is good weather important, or is there a lot to do if it rains?* We've been in January and had plenty to do, just take wet weather gear and get outside anyway

madeyemoodysmum · 29/04/2018 09:22

Plenty to do. That's included if your kids are tiny. If they are over 8 ish be prepared to spend more.
Take a bike or scooters or rent bikes
Swimming pool is main attraction so don't bother if swimming not your thing.
We used to eat in once or two nights and eat out once

Fridasfridgefreezer · 29/04/2018 09:23

Only done Woburn as it’s closest to me.

I’d start with a Friday-Monday out of term time, it’ll be cheaper.

You can pay an extra £60 (I think) to be in the central zone or you can actually choose your lodge. We get the basic lodge, but in the central zone as we don’t use sauna etc.

I’ve been when it’s wet and cold and still enjoyed it. The pool is the obvious choice.

When my children were really little we didn’t book anything except the crèche and then we went for lunch.

I’ve just booked to spend the Christmas Day period there (that is a bit spenny). If you’d told me that six years ago! I like CP as it’s easy, quiet and comfortable, not to mention close to us and as we can’t be bothered with flying etc with three under 5, is perfect. We do also do air b n bs, but I do like being near cafes and places to eat.

madeyemoodysmum · 29/04/2018 09:24

We don't go these days as it far to expensive in the school hols. Will prob go back when kids are older if they want to come along if course.

We have been to one in Holland for a week. That was great Much cheaper and we drove out a few days and saw some of holland too.

Original poster

TheHonSaucyJane · 29/04/2018 09:26

Thanks all, already lots to read through!

I am confused - what's centre parcs then?! Have I inadvertently referred to some sort of den of iniquity or something?

OP posts:

Osopolar · 29/04/2018 09:26

I haven't been but we have a 2 year old and are going in November to Longleat. We are doing Mon-Fri and have a lodge with maid service as I don't want to clean on holiday. I have heard great things about how good it is for children so am looking forward to it. Will definitely be doing the spa!

Overrunwithlego · 29/04/2018 09:29

Presuming you’re going in term time, then its fine. A but contrived but a nice family break nonetheless, and an easy option if you have young children. So often holidays with kids are anything but relaxing! Extra activities are expensive but with little ones you wont need to pay out for those.

With older kids amd needing to go during term time i would say no. Each to their own but i couldn’t bring myself to pay that kind of money. Just returned from a 3 week ‘once in a lifetime’ trip to australia. Our entire budget for 4 people (and we did eveything from sailing the Whitsundays to a hot air balloon trip) worked out as less per night than the accomodation-only costs for 3 weeks at CP (appreciate you wouldnt spend 3 weeks at CP but still.....).

Differentcorner · 29/04/2018 09:32

Kids will love it but personally I can't stand it. Surrounded by thousands of others, noisy, naff overpriced food (don't bother eating/drinking out) and don't get me started on the pool germs

Heismyopendoor · 29/04/2018 09:34

We are off again tomorrow :)

We’ve been once before, mon-fri and doing the same again. Last time we booked more expensive accommodation, a detached two storey executive lodge, it was nice and really big but was pretty much as far out on the map/resort as you could go. So it was a lot of walking for us.

We couldn’t decide this time between goIng even more expensive and booking the ones literally next door to the pool or going super cheap. We are doing the cheapest one there is this time, a woodland terraced lodge and it’s still quite far out lol. Will report back tomorrow with my thoughts on it :)

Last time it snowed and we still had a great time

HeadbandsandFlowers · 29/04/2018 09:35

We have been to Centre Parcs three times and loved every minute each time.
The first time we paid extra for the executive lodge at the Sherwood Forest park and although it was lovely we never used the hydro bath (we always showered after swimming) and it was a long way —45-50 minutes walk with a 4 year old— from the ‘village square ‘ where all the shops, restaurants and swimming are. If the little ones are in a pram this might not be an issue for you but it was a long way after a busy day. This year we stayed much closer to the village and although the lodge was slightly smaller it was still perfect for our family of four - Dc 14 and 5. I wouldn’t pay the extra again.
We have been to Sherwood and The one in the Lakes and they are both very similar. Everything in the village at the Lakes is under one huge dome cover (great in the rain) whereas the Sherwood Forest village is all outside so it’s lovely to sit outside Cafe Rouge in the sun with a glass of wine but not so good when you are running to the supermarket in the rain.
Good weather helps but there is still plenty to do if the weather is bad.
I wouldn’t book too many activities before you go. The first time we booked loads of activities before we went as we were advised to do this and found it was too much to fit in ( and cost a fortune) the other two times we have booked activities whilst there - there is an app you can book from your phone or places within the village that you can Go to to book activities and we haven’t struggled to book what we wanted.
This year we gave the children the choice of Monday- Friday at centre parcs or a week abroad, they chose Centre Parcs.

Anyway I’ll stop waffling now

Hoopspoops · 29/04/2018 09:36

Centre Parcs is awesome. We have gone to the one at Longleat nearly every year for about the past 5-6 years.

Second everything that everyone else has said.

The executive lodges are worth the extra money for the en suite bathrooms and for the maid service. You get to choose how close you are to the Plaza (swimming pool) if you want but you’ll pay for the privilege.

One top tip: buy lots of bird seed/nuts etc from a pet shop before you go then scatter it on the back patio to your lodge. You will then get a parade of ducks, squirrels, deer, blue tits, cole tits and other animals inches from you french windows that your children will love. We have even had badgers at night.

Oh and there is a nursery that you can book your children into and then both go the spa for an afternoon. It’s pricey but worth it.

BoxsetsAndPopcorn · 29/04/2018 09:42

It's ok, there are better places and worse places.

The pool is always crowded as it's free and many don't want to pay to do anything else.

It's ok if you like the outdoors and don't mind paying for activities otherwise there's not much to do.

15star · 29/04/2018 09:43

I'm going next month with a 5 yr old and a 4 month old. I would say pay extra to pick your lodge close to the center where the pool is just because I won't be hiring a bike with a small baby.
We really love it, I've been before when lo one was 3. Take your own food but also food for the animals. We took nuts and seeds because there's squirrels, ducks, deer and they will come onto your patio if you leave food out for them. It's really lovely to watch! It can get expensive but you don't need to book loads of activities. Some are reasonable though so I do tend to book a couple of the cheaper ones.

bruffin · 29/04/2018 09:44

Only been to the european ones, much better value for money and great for families including teens

Babymamamama · 29/04/2018 09:44

Give it a go. We loved it during school term time with dd before she was school aged. Cheaper, less busy and tending to just be people with babies and toddlers. We loved elveden. Usually booked the superior lodge and not too far from facilities. My top tips are: do a shop for food and bring with you but remember freezer is very small. No need to pay too much for activities as pre schoolers will love the swimming (in door). Now dd is school aged you couldn't pay me to go there in main school holidays. Overcrowded and over priced. So make the most while you still can.

happypoobum · 29/04/2018 09:46

Is it Friday?

Dancergirl · 29/04/2018 09:49

My dd picked up a sickness bug at CP. I wouldn't go back, sorry

HoneyJamMarmalade · 29/04/2018 09:51

OP It is the spelling of Centre it should be Center Parcs.

It is fab, we went year in year out until the children were around 10 and 7.

We went to Elveden every time bypassing Sherwood on our way down. Would request a specific villa number due to the rear aspect and not really sharing a pathway with other villas.

You can do street view on Google Maps and have a look around the roads to the villas.

It is expensive but we had fun and enjoyed it but at no stage did we engage in anal sex which is the other thing supposedly associated with it, but only on MN

CocoaGin · 29/04/2018 09:55

It's OK. We've done a few but I will admit that unless your kids are primary age upwards, it's not fun or remotely relaxing. We found finding a cottage on a small site with a pool/restaurant/play area was a lot more relaxing and an awful lot cheaper with toddlers. We've just stayed at Una St Ives and loved it.

Even getting on site is a nightmare, you queue for around 2 hours to get to your lodge, then one of you has to take the car back to the car park and walk about 7 miles back to your lodge. Just getting your stuff unpacked takes hours. Once on site, you are a captive audience. Everything is VERY expensive, you have to book the restaurants well in advance, they aren't available on impulse and everywhere is absolutely packed to capacity. The changing rooms are akin to hell on earth in the pool area, and I found it very very stressful trying to keep an eye on our 3. It wasn't relaxing when they were little, got better with they were all at older primary. If you don't mind lots of noise and bustle, it's fine. If you want to relax, don't choose CP.

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