To ask you about centre parcs

[TheHonSaucyJane]

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!

My 3 love Centerparcs! We’ve been going for years. For first timers I’d say to opt for either Sherwood or Elveden. I prefer Sherwood but the toddler pool at Elveden is much better. I think they’ve recently built a similar toddler pool at Longleat. However, with a pram I’d avoid Longleat as it is very hilly. They do have the land train but it’s often a faff to get a pram in as it would need folding. Sherwood was nice when ours were toddlers as the outdoor play parks are good and the soft play was also good.

It’s what you make it really. Don’t go expecting luxury but we have always found it very relaxing mainly because our kids loved it so much. You can opt to be close in and there will be a range of accom in the central bit as the different levels of accom are split across the park but when we had a pram we actually liked being further out to walk through the forest as our toddler loved seeing all the wildlife and he just stood on the buggy board.

I’d say opt for Sherwood (or at least def not Woburn) if it’s easy to get to but failing that, go for Elveden. Whinfell is very different in make up and never feels like CP to us and Woburn just felt so false. I know they’re all false to a certain extent but I really felt it at Woburn due to lack of trees etc.

Sweetsummerchild - that is the joy of the European parks - the fab play areas, some with birds and small animals plus beer or sangria available. I think its so much more relaxed. Maybe a bit older than the UK parks but definitely more fun for the kids.

Once in Belgium I think - my two did quad biking on proper petrol quadbikes around a mud infested track. It was pissing it down but they had never had so much fun in their lives. Think youngest ds was 5. It would never happen at the English ones.

In school holidays it’s 8 million quid to go.

Here’s the cheapest and most expensive for Christmas week - the cheapest appears to be a shed, the most expensive - still not as good as the Caribbean for 7 grand

Who the hell pays £7K to go to Center Parcs?

We've been 3 times. Really it's hideous. I hate it. Overpriced and cheesy. The pool is good fun but you have to go every day and it is hardwork with little kids. But it's included in the extortionate price so you have to make use of it.
The first time we stayed in the basic cabins at longleat. It was freezing in November and as you can't drive to your cabin you have to walk miles or rely on the 'train' service. This questionable form of transport is often full at peak times and is novel once. It only goes one way round so depending on where your cabin is it can take 40mins plus to get to where you want to be.
We stayed more recently in maid service accommodation which was closer to walk but overpriced for what it was.
The 'village' is an overpriced array of shops and restaurants that are frequently full.
My kids enjoy it and teens can be quite independent. We had a cabin with games room which was ok but of course you pay.
This year we went to forest holidays, and it was more restful but again these days for short breaks they are so expensive. Finlake in Devon I found better value for money.
The first time I went I truly hated every moment and wished we had gone elsewhere.

You hated it but went 3 times?

@whatalovelymug yes. I hoped perhaps the first time was accommodation/time of year and the second time we went as part of several family members in different accommodation, in part because I'd been very ill and we knew the teens could use the pool etc and have a bit of a break.
But yes, I really do not enjoy the whole atmosphere and it's one of the worst choices of holiday ever for me.

Ok, fair enough.

I like CP, but wouldn’t spend that sort of money when my children have to go in term time. And it certainly does have a certain type of atmosphere.

It is great! We went to Longleat last September with our 2.8 year old and then to Woburn with him and my MIL in March for a long weekend. We are going back to Longleat on September. Like you I never had any desire to go before I was a mum but there is so much for kids to do and we love seeing him enjoy himself. We struggle to get him.out of the pool! Food is good to esp. The Thai takeaway xx

We are going tomorrow for the first time to Sherwood , have only heard good things about it (apart from price)

I like CP now as the kids are older and more independent. I used to hate going when they were younger as it meant chasing them around the swimming area to make sure everyone was still alive at the end of the day.

We go in early have lunch, swim etc and then unpack in the evening on the first day to avoid the crowds. We also stay until as late as possible on the last day, have breakfast and do one of the cheaper /free activities.

Other than this we take lots of easy meals/snacks from home to keep the costs down. We don't use the parc market much as we literally empty household essentials into a big box and take them with us (half a pack of butter, last dregs of ketchup etc).

It can be expensive and stressful especially with younger kids but if your kids are happy to swim, feed the ducks, run around the playground and cycle around, then it can be fun.

There is a strange atmosphere once you arrive though,can't explain it but it's all very 'happy' if you know what I mean.

We go to CP a couple of times a year. We first went for DD2’s 1st birthday. We stayed quite far out from the centre and found that DD2 would fall asleep in her buggy on the way to go swimming which scuppered our plans more than once. We now tend to pay more to stay in the middle.

We’re trying out European Center Parcs in October and it is really cheap in comparison.

OP you can pay I think £50 extra to chose a specific villa. There are basic ones near the central hub.
DS loves the pool but I hate the crowds. We're not going back now we have to go in term time.

Having said that, they did a cracking fireworks display at Elveden last year.

We have been to Elveden several times and also both of the Belgian Center Parcs. I normally go for a long weekend or a 4 night break which is plenty long enough. I feel a week would be too much personally.

You get lots of pre school age children at CP. The pool and the play parks are included in the cost (there are good toddler areas in the pools at Eleven, Woburn & Longleat) but the soft play areas are in the bar and restaurants in the UK parks. The Belgian parks had amazing indoor play areas all included in the cost of the holiday and they also had little petting farms which you don't get in the UK parks.

The more expensive lodges actually tend to be further from the centre. You can pay £50 extra to guarantee you are in a lodge close to the facilities (you get to select your lodge free when you book the European CP) but we never bother. We have found we often end up quite close to the centre when we have booked the cheapest lodges but this may just be coincidence.

There are indoor activities (these cost extra) and the pool for rainy days but as you can imagine, the pool gets very packed when the weather is bad.

As others have said, food and drink is expensive and you can spend hundreds if you eat and drink out a lot while you're there so it is good to bring your own supplies with you.

I don’t get center Parcs! I’ve been once and I was so bored. Every activity costs a fortune, the food is expensive and not that great. There’s just not much to do unless you want to spend a fortune (in addition to the fortune you already spend on mediocre accommodation). I don’t see the appeal. I know I’m in a minority as everyone seems to love center parcs but I just didn’t enjoy my ho,I Day there at all, so boring.