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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
timeforgin1 · 29/04/2018 10:00

We've been a few times since having children. Going to Longleat next month. We usually go Mon - Fri, though have been once during the weekend. I much prefer the Monday to Friday.

We've only ever stayed at the basic lodges and find they are perfect for what we need. We've usually stayed closer to the jardin des sports (or whatever its new name is) and prefer that to staying close to the plaza.

When we first went ds1 was almost 2 and ds2 hadn't been born. It was perfect for his age, and always looks forward to the next visit.

BeyondThePage · 29/04/2018 10:09

You only queue for 2 hours to get in if you choose to travel at peak check in times.

We travel to get there for 10/11am, not generally much of a wait at all - check in, park up, drop swim kit in to locker, go eat, look round the supermarket, go swim, pick up some cake, go to accommodation. I put kettle on, spread some birdseed whilst the rest go to get the car during the tea-time lull.

FrazzledAndFeelingIt · 29/04/2018 10:16

Me & my kids love Center Parcs, even the 11 year old who doesn’t get excited about much! The kids beg to go every year, even chose it over a trip to Spain to stay in my parent’s villa!

We’ll keep going as long as they all still want to. We go Mon-Fri, pay for the poshest place we can afford as it makes a difference. We always go in term time as it’s too expensive otherwise. With little ones I’d suggest to pay to be as close to the village centre as possible.

You’ve just inspired me to book our next trip!

EspressoButler · 29/04/2018 10:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lethaldrizzle · 29/04/2018 10:23

Who cares about the spelling. V odd Hmm

DarklyDreamingDexter · 29/04/2018 10:36

It's good, but very expensive. EVERYTHING is extra apart from the swimming. All the fun activities are payable and book up fast. Go by all means, but budget hundreds of £££s for extra activities if you want to make the most of it. Book them well in advance or only the graveyard slots will be available when you arrive.

aaaaargghhhhelpme · 29/04/2018 10:39

My only experience of centre parcs is the thread on here when a family paid thousands for an executive lodge and wasn’t told there would be 24 hour building work next door. They were kept up all night with drilling and banging. It totally ruined their holiday and centre parcs were shit and refused to help (till the mumsnet massive got involved on social media - and even then they were appalling)

aaaaargghhhhelpme · 29/04/2018 10:39

Can I just say I wrote center but my spell check obviously disagrees with me

nomorespaghetti · 29/04/2018 10:43

Just got back from a mon to Fri stay in whinfell. We love it! Have a two year old. Loads for her to do, spa is lovely, pool is great. This time we ended up in a lodge that was possibly the furthest away you can get from the centre (pool etc), it was a 25ish min walk with hills. That was a bit of a pain, i think i will pay a bit extra to stay nearer the centre next time. It's really set up for families, and i love that there's always a toddler nearby who's kicking off more than your toddler is Grin

houseofhungryboys · 29/04/2018 10:46

Have been to Longleat with DH, 2 DS (4 & 3 months) plus PIL - was great for everyone, did Mon-Fri
Haven't been again with family but have been back to Longleat and Sherwood Forest for a girls weekend a couple of times. Aqua Sana is the best part of the weekend usually. I did pick up a sickness bug at Sherwood but it wouldn't put me off, you could pick up something like that from any pool anywhere. Going to Woburn later in the year to celebrate friend's 50th, can't wait, looks amazing

FairyPenguin · 29/04/2018 10:51

We’ve been to Longleat once, Elveden twice, and De Kempervennen in the Netherlands once.

I would say it’s great for children before they start school as there are a variety of things to do onsite so you get a holiday without loads of driving. For little ones, there is a petting zoo, forest walks, pool, playgrounds, and bikes if you want to. All included. Then you can also pay extra for crèche sessions or sometimes activity/craft sessions too (ours weren’t bothered). Also they have things like bowling, trampolines, mini-golf, if you want to pay for those. We usually didn’t pay for anything extra apart from a go on the trampoline or a round of mini-golf together.

If your children are ok walking or are in pushchairs then I personally would rather pay more for a higher spec villa further out than have a basic one in a central location. But that’s my opinion! We liked spending time in the villa cooking dinner and watching DVDs whereas if we’d wanted to eat out at night and spend less time inside the villa then we’d probably stay closer.

Now our children are at school, we won’t go back to the UK ones as they are horribly expensive and busy in holidays. The Dutch one we went to was much more reasonable and also quiet at end of August as the locals are back at school.

I’m glad we went when they were younger but I very much doubt we’ll be back at one again. If we do it might be when they are teenagers and want activities and independence in a self-contained space. Then we can go to the spa while they play sports!

HelloViroids · 29/04/2018 10:58

It’s not the spelling - some people on MN say/suggest that CP is code for anal sex. Came from an old thread...

Sunshinegirl82 · 29/04/2018 11:21

We went last week with our nearly 2 yo DS and some friends with a DS of a similar age. It's our second visit since DS was born and we love it! Have only been to Longleat which is quite hilly but otherwise very nice.

We pay to stay close to the pool/plaza as I like to be able to just get home if DS is tired/hungry etc. We stayed in a Woodland Lodge which was basic but fine.

We don't do much in the way of activities but my friend and I did an evening at the spa and the boys did the little football skills course which was £7. We did an Aldi shop before we left so only ate out once which kept the costs down. Obviously if you do loads of activities and eat out 3 times a day it will get expensive but I think we probably spent less than £100 the whole time we were there.

Overall I'd say if you go Monday to Friday in term time and take your own food it's pretty reasonable and very easy with young children. We can also drive there in less than 90 minutes which has huge appeal!

There is a small Animal Sanctuary type place called Hope Wildlife Park about 15 mins drive away which is worth a visit too. A few animals to feed and a play area and cafe and was only £7 for us all to get in. We took a picnic with us. The kids loved it and it was an easy and cheap morning out.

Original poster
TheHonSaucyJane · 29/04/2018 11:38

Ahhh that makes sense now, thank you. I did wonder if it was a dogging site or something that I had referenced by mistake. Sorry to disappoint anyone, but I really am only interested in the family holiday!!

It sounds as if out of school holidays and springing the extra for the fancier and closer villas would be the way to do it. Love the idea of the stuff for the toddler, as naturally her nose is a bit out of joint with a new baby. Also the animals coming for food sounds lovely - if we'd done that in London, it would just have brought a load of fat wheezing urban foxes and rats!!

OP posts:
I8toys · 29/04/2018 11:57

European ones so much better than English ones.

BeyondThePage · 29/04/2018 12:38

European ones so much better than English ones

except for the accommodation, smoking and the litter. Have been to 3 in the UK, plus 2 Dutch, one French. There are more activities in European ones and the prices are much cheaper (though you have to get there and back which can cost a lot of both time and money depending on where you live in the uk), but the UK sites are cleaner with nicer accommodation - especially the basic cabins.

bruffin · 29/04/2018 12:43

I have been to seven european ones, and they have all been very clean and the accomodation can be variable , have done comfort and VIP and they are more than adequate for the money. Even when the euro was really strong and including ferry you get so much more for your money. I hate smoking and dont even remember that being a problem.

SweetSummerchild · 29/04/2018 12:46

European ones so much better than English ones.

We’ve been to two in France, one in Belgium and one in the Netherlands. I would never go back to a UK Center Parcs - too crowded, too expensive and doesn’t feel particularly relaxing.

Our kids are now 11 and 8 so can cope with the longer car journey. I probably wouldn’t have gone to a European park before kids were both over 3 as they couldn’t have coped with that long in the car.

SweetSummerchild · 29/04/2018 12:53

You don’t get a kids play area like this at a UK Center Parcs. If you did, it would cost £25 to get in, and have a 30 minute time limit. You’d also have to book it in advance.

This one also serves beer.

To ask you about centre parcs
RedSkyAtNight · 29/04/2018 12:54

We went with a 2 year old and a baby. The DC are now teenagers and we haven't felt the need to go back again.

Our experience was that the accommodation was not very nice and overpriced, the pool was too full (and with a 2 year old and a baby you basically need an adult next to one child all the time), every else costs lots of money and the restaurants were full and unless you booked well in advance you ended up eating at odd time. (and we went the first week of February - so hardly high season) As others have said, food in the onsite shop attracts a premium and the self catering facilities are not great.

For the same money (or less)you could book a significantly nicer self catering place and eat out/pay for activities as you wished.

Sunshinegirl82 · 29/04/2018 12:56

I've never been to a center parcs outside the UK and they may well be nicer/cheaper but with a 2 year old and a newborn I'd imagine a short(ish) drive to get there would be a big advantage for the OP.

I would definitely consider a French/Dutch center parcs in a few years but right now the thought of the journey fills me with dread!

15star · 29/04/2018 13:21

The squirrels are quite obese though 😂

HairyToity · 29/04/2018 13:22

Not been, but a friend who has prefers forest holidays.

chocolateworshipper · 29/04/2018 13:26

We used to go to Elveden, but after it was re-built (following a fire), everything was much more spread out and we decided it wasn't for us. We now go to Longleat. Most stuff is all in the centre and we pay extra for a villa in a central location (but don't bother paying extra for a higher spec villa). If you do buy anything in the parc market, look for items that have the price printed on the packaging - legally they can't charge more than that. Personally I thought stuff from the bakery was a very reasonable amount, including the baguettes, but most other stuff was indeed expensive. There is a soft-play area in the Jardin Des Sports, a small sandy beach by the lake, the swimming area and outdoor play areas that are all free. Restaurants are pricey, but we only ate a main course and got a cake from the bakery as dessert. You could take some pasta and sauce to cook in the villa one night, and take your own cereal for breakfast,

Frazzled2207 · 29/04/2018 13:40

We first went with a 2 yo and a baby and it was great. Definitely go (several times!) before you get to school age because it's good value in term time IMO and an utter rip off in school hols.
If you have friends interested consider sharing a 4 bed lodge which makes it even cheaper.

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