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Original poster

EU Price discrimination Center Parcs

43 replies

umizoomi · 01/05/2018 09:27

Looking at booking a holiday to Center Parcs in Belgium

The price for the holiday on Centerparcs.com is €699 (everything is in English, I selected visitors from the Uk')

If I price the same holiday on Center Parcs.be the price is €519 as there is a 'last minute discount' it's all in French but I understand enough to be able to book)

Great, I will book.

As soon as I start booking and register that I am in the UK, even though I am still in he .be website and everything is in French, the discount is removed!!!

AIBU to think this is totally against the law and is effectively price discrimination?

Same holiday, same accommodation but as soon as I indicate anywhere I am in the UK, the price rockets, seemingly just for being Brutish?

OP posts:
Buster72 · 01/05/2018 09:32

Many countries have varying price structures for locals over foreigners.

theymademejoin · 01/05/2018 09:33

seemingly just for being Brutish

If you're brutish they might want to discourage you Grin

Original poster
umizoomi · 01/05/2018 09:40

Haha, well i might get Brutish, thieving bastards!!

A bit of research shows this IS against the law. Disney have been investigated for similar.

OP posts:
Twofishfingers · 01/05/2018 09:42

Interesting isn't it. If you book early you might get a discount, does that mean that companies discriminate against people who suffer from chronic lateness? If you book online it can often be cheaper, does that mean that companies discriminate against people who don't have access to the Internet? Some companies will have siblings discount, does that discriminate against families with one child?

Hmm
scaryteacher · 01/05/2018 09:44

It's Belgium, so it's batshit anyway. They have their own rules. I know, I live in Belgium!!

Twofishfingers · 01/05/2018 09:51

They may have a different price if you put that you are in France, or Germany, or Japan. Have you checked? They might not only discriminate against the Brutish (sorry that's gonna stick, it's so funny).

MrsHathaway · 01/05/2018 09:55

Is it De Vossemeeren? Bloody love it there.

tictoc76 · 01/05/2018 09:57

Always book it through the local countries website and have never had a problem with the discount being removed

Mumto2two · 01/05/2018 09:58

With or without a discount, our European CP trips, were still a fraction of the cost we used to pay here. Transport included! And much better too...have loved every trip.

RiddleyW · 01/05/2018 09:58

Interesting isn't it. If you book early you might get a discount, does that mean that companies discriminate against people who suffer from chronic lateness? If you book online it can often be cheaper, does that mean that companies discriminate against people who don't have access to the Internet? Some companies will have siblings discount, does that discriminate against families with one child?

Is the fact that it is legal to vary prices for some reasons but not others new to you?

Original poster
umizoomi · 01/05/2018 10:01

Yes de vossemeren, we love it too.

I just think it advertises the price with last minute discount/late availability but then as soon as I put Royame-uni in the drop down, it's €180 more expensive?

Yes, the French price is cheaper too.

The price for a French CP break is the same whether you book through .com or .fr (well near enough) I just think €180 is taking the piss

OP posts:
ToffeeUp · 01/05/2018 10:01

The British price often includes the optional extras like tourist tax, linen hire, cleaning etc.

I also never had problems using the local websites and discount but the prices do seem to change on a daily basis.

VivaKondo · 01/05/2018 10:02

May i point out that it’s not a discrimination against Britain vs EU. But one between Belgium and the rest of the EU?

Not everyone is out there to have a go at Britain/the British.

Original poster
umizoomi · 01/05/2018 10:07

We didn't have an issue last year.

It's not about British pricing.

I am in .be, select the cottage, it's €519. Go to next screen and it asks me to register.

I put in all my name, address etc into the boxes (it's all still written in French) and as part of this there is a drop down for the country.

Select Royame-Uni. the holiday breakdown and price is shown down the right hand side of the screen with what is selected - cottage type, dates, people etc it shows €709 last minute discount -€180 Euro and when I press the continue button to next screen to add extras like bikes and so on, the discount has gone and the price is back up.

OP posts:
Original poster
umizoomi · 01/05/2018 10:09

Also has anyone been to Le Lac d'ailette in France? We looked at booking that but the reviews are patchy about activities etc?

OP posts:
Original poster
umizoomi · 01/05/2018 10:11

I should say it's not about British pricing for extras

OP posts:
caperberries · 01/05/2018 10:11

It's the same with Euro Disney (or used to be).

DH booked online and used the address of some friends of ours in France, it was about €250 cheaper!

Dulra · 01/05/2018 10:14

Doesn't seem right at all. I know in some countries there is a local price and a tourist price but that is normally in places like India where they charge more for tourists going into the Taj Mahal because of the huge difference between what locals earn and what westerners earn but that wouldn't be the case in Belgium. Is there an email or contact number to query it?

WhatchaMaCalllit · 01/05/2018 10:15

Have you considered that it might just be a difference in the exchange rate? Being that Belgium is in the Euro Zone and the UK isn't???

Original poster
umizoomi · 01/05/2018 10:15

Disney seem to get away with it by having different offers at different times for different countries.

Last holiday we have to DLP I booked through the French website as the offer was better and so cheaper. But the price didn't rocket when I put a UK postal address in it was the price advertised.

OP posts:
MrsPreston11 · 01/05/2018 10:18

I take advantage of the booking offers on the French/German/Irish Disneyland Paris sites all the time.

Just leave the country as Belgium and fill in the rest normally.

I can only speak for DLP but all my confirmation etc is emailed so it doesn't make a difference other than sometimes when we check in the person will start talking to me in French/German.

Original poster
umizoomi · 01/05/2018 10:19

*Have you considered it might just be exchange rates given it's in the eurozone?
*
The price on the website is €519 - it's shown in EUROS

The price when I put in a UK address is €700. Still priced in EUROS

I will pay for the holiday in EUROS.

Exchange rate has nothing to do with this.

OP posts:
Maremaremare · 01/05/2018 10:24

Is this Center Parcs much better than the UK ones? Am curious :)

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 01/05/2018 10:24

I'd call/email and ask for an explanation. They might be able to remove the extra cost.

Original poster
umizoomi · 01/05/2018 10:25

Yes they are better and much much cheaper. It's still a lots cheaper but I think it's outrageous they can do this

OP posts:
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