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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why on earth anyone goes to Center Parcs?!

533 replies

CakePigeon4 · 31/07/2019 17:50

I’ve had several friends who have been to various sites and raved about it, but to me it just looks like a slightly more upmarket Butlins?! It’s extortionately expensive, the chalets look like they’re furnished by Premier Inn, you have to pay for activities, you’re stuck on site eating at their overpriced restaurants... Am I missing something?!

OP posts:
OllyBJolly · 31/07/2019 18:21

for the same money you could get an amazing self-catering cottage anywhere in the country - why is Center Parcs better?!

It's a different kind of holiday. I did both when DCs were young. As a single parent, Center Parcs was an easy holiday. No driving, everything in walking distance. Safe play parks, fantastic pool which we used at least twice a day. Very family oriented. I also did Haven parks which were good but didn't feel quite as safe. Center Parcs no car policy makes a huge difference.

Self catering cottage takes a lot more planning and effort and you usually have to get in the car and I drive enough at work.

Mrskeats · 31/07/2019 18:21

Lots of cottage companies let you use pools and facilities in nearby hotels.

bakingbabyv · 31/07/2019 18:22

I bloody love CP... we're going twice this year & I cannot wait... Agreed it's overpriced in some areas, but we've been a fair few times now and go very well prepared with food so we only eat out once.

Sunshinegirl82 · 31/07/2019 18:22

I actually don't mind the sound of a cruise!

I think for me, price isn't the only consideration really. You're right that it would probably be possible to do things more cheaply but at a greater cost in terms of hassle, time etc. I appreciate it might seem wasteful to some but I'm happy to pay a certain amount extra for the convenience of having everything within a 10 minute walk of my accommodation, especially with young DC.

I know it sounds unlikely that it would be peaceful but I've always felt that it is. Maybe it's the forest location?

It's not utopia obviously, it's a holiday park but we haven't had a bad experience there as yet.

Lazypuppy · 31/07/2019 18:23

@CakePigeon4

@Lazypuppythe chalets at Center Parcs are very definitely 3 star in comparison to the last couple of gorgeous cottages I’ve stayed in for a fraction of the price

Thats your opinion OP which is fine. Like i said, i like the standard of the chalets we stay in. Everyone is different. I would much rather pay extra to have everything on site and easy access. We've just done a holiday to cornwall and it was stressful having to get in the car every time we wanted to do something.

notso · 31/07/2019 18:24

I don't know how anyone can not feel ripped off by the activity prices. £10 odd for a one hour disco, £15 to watch my child make a bird feeder, £9 for a squash court.

I liked the safe cycling aspect but the rest of it just left a bitter taste. The pool is no better than any other we've been to for a day out. The food was crap, I can go to a chain any day of the week. We got a take away curry one night it was awful.

The lodges were just bog standard to me, we were in one of the better ones. I had to tell the cleaner not to bother as well as she was coming at 9am Hmm

RainbowAlicorn · 31/07/2019 18:25

I love Center Parcs, it is my favourite place in the world. It is really peaceful, even with lots of people there. I relax the second I get out of the car. My daughter loves it too. I don't go because its naice, I just love being in the middle of a forest and being close to nature. I live in a rural village and never see the amount of squirrels and rabbits as I do in one day at Center Parcs.

17CherryTreeLane · 31/07/2019 18:25

I relax the minute we arrive, as they're brilliant at catering for food allergies. Feeding my child is the most stressful factor of all our holidays.

KUGA · 31/07/2019 18:26

Centre Parcs,?.
Definitely a miss spelling,Should be parking in the centre.YUK.

GriphookTheGoblin · 31/07/2019 18:26

We've taken DS (aged 3.5) the last two years and we've loved it. We've been able to go at really quiet times during term time and we've all had a fantastic time.

It's an easy, stress free getaway with a young child. And with DS at the age he is no need to pay extra for activities.

gubbsywubbsy · 31/07/2019 18:26

We like the pools and rapids and water slides .. no where in the uk has them like they do .. we eat in the chalet and don't really do the activities .. we enjoy it .. It's really peaceful and relaxing in the forest .

Original poster
CakePigeon4 · 31/07/2019 18:26

@notso this is exactly my impression of it. I just couldn’t put up with crap food and substandard accommodation, it would ruin my holiday. And especially at the extortionate price you pay for CP!

OP posts:
BarbariansMum · 31/07/2019 18:27

Well you must be very lucky to have a pool as good as the Centre Parcs ones easily available to you notso. We just have a big standard leisure pool w a couple of slides, wave machine and lazy river here.

Venger · 31/07/2019 18:27

I've been to CP and I've been to Butlins. Out of the two I prefer Butlins as more of the activities are included in the price than at CP and activities that do cost extra are reasonably cheap, we go premium half board and eat out for lunch so there's no cooking at all, and we stay in a three bed apartment so have plenty of space. I've also never been hassled by rough looking swans at Butlins Grin Price is cheaper too, last year we paid £700 for a term time Monday-Friday (third week of July so last week of term) for two adults/four DC with premium dining and premium accommodation including queue jumper tickets and guaranteed seating for the evening shows.

Original poster
CakePigeon4 · 31/07/2019 18:28

@BarbariansMum to be honest the pool is pretty close to the bottom of our list of priorities, so maybe that’s why it’s not enough to sway my decision.

OP posts:
Impatientwino · 31/07/2019 18:28

We go a fair bit and we love it.

Our kids are happy in the pool/rapids all day tiring themselves out and in the parks and fresh air. We hire the boats and get out on the lake, bit of crazy golf etc

We can go to the sports bar and have a couple of afternoon drinks while the kids play in the arcade/soft play bit. We go bowling and play badminton.

We eat in the lodge in the evenings generally and eat out on the last night. We light the fire when kids in bed and share some wine and relax/play cards etc.

I can bung as much crap wine as I like in the car on my driveway and turf it out the other end and don't have to carry it far. We have a toddler who seems to require more stuff than the rest of us put together and a pushchair and bikes - sometimes a trailer too.

Our nearest one is a 35 minute drive and it's an easy break for us without much headspace required from me to think about logistics etc - I'm a bit of an over planner so probably suits my personality I guess to know what's there and what we are doing.

We went as a group and took turns having the kids and using the spa one day which was lovely and peaceful.

I don't really understand what's not to like but it's a good job not everyone likes it as it would be always fully booked and even more expensive Smile

In fact yes it's rubbish, definitely don't go Grin

CoffeeQueen24 · 31/07/2019 18:29

It’s like a posh butlins but completely void of entertainment when the weathers bad and evening entertainment (and it’s not even that posh definitely on the wane!) overpriced and overrated imo

SusieSusieSoo · 31/07/2019 18:29

I'm a LP Center Parcs is a brilliant easy holiday for us. It's safe, loads of activities for us to try out, we go swimming, eat pizza, visit Santa (we always go before Christmas), cycle etc. Friendly other families, friendly staff, loads of playgrounds for ds now 6.

I couldn't do a self catering cottage by myself with a young child. This is one time I can properly relax & we do eat in the restaurants too.

The real Santa is at Whinfell CP don't you know Wink xx

Passthecherrycoke · 31/07/2019 18:30

I don’t believe you regularly have day outs in better pools notso.

I must admit I’ve always been to the same one- Woburn- which I think is a newer one-and the chalets and hotel have always been good. We do pay more to be closer to the centre so not sure if the outlying ones are different.

Bellasblankexpression · 31/07/2019 18:30

We’ve stayed in three different self catering places each with private pools and one hadn’t a sauna and a hot tub too and it was STILL cheaper than centerparcs

We also stayed in a place in Devon that offered all food included and over 60 activities, and that was £550 for three nights.

StupidlittlepricknamedRick · 31/07/2019 18:30

I cannot believe the price of it and then the activities on top. I don't understand the appeal at all but I don't have to go so hey ho

Impatientwino · 31/07/2019 18:30

If my kids didn't swim so much I doubt it would have so much appeal to us that said. That is the main activity we do there for at least half a day every day.

Bellasblankexpression · 31/07/2019 18:31

Had*

StupidlittlepricknamedRick · 31/07/2019 18:32

I also thought for ages that it was under a dome Grin

Bellasblankexpression · 31/07/2019 18:32

Do you not find the pools absolutely rammed? My experience of cp was definitely not peaceful!
The cleanliness was a real issue as well, especially around the pool and the spa (although the spa was lovely, just not particularly clean)

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