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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:
MyDcAreMarvel · 31/07/2019 21:09

we go premium half board and eat out for lunch so there's no cooking at all
Am Impressed you fit lunch in in between the buffet breakfast and dinner.

chipsnmayo · 31/07/2019 21:10

I took DD to CP years ago when she was about 6, haven't been back since.

I wouldn't say it was terrible but stupidly expensive - pool was so gross, cabins were sub-standard. Activities were expensive, easily take DD out for a day trip to one of those activities as a treat and cut out the middle man.

Original poster
CakePigeon4 · 31/07/2019 21:16

I’ve read a couple of these posts and though, hmm maybe... but then all of the posts that mention the negatives are enough to reassure me that I’m definitely not missing out! Grin

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

If you don't like swimming,cycling, self catering or the park, then it isn't the right holiday for you.
I don't really understand why people would choose centre parts, noted for its fab pools and cycling loveliness, and then spend all their time, and great expense, doing things you can do anywhere, like bowling, high ropes etc.
A few posters on this thread have said you can swim anywhere - if anyone knows of any pool anywhere in the Uk, that offers the same size, quality of flumes, rapids etc as centre parts, please could you tell me where they are?

Notgoodatchoosingnames · 31/07/2019 21:21

Because my elderly in FIL refuses to go anywhere else and MIL would otherwise get no holiday if we didn't go. But with kids from 6 to 21 it also has something for all. But VERY expensive. Thankfully IL's pay

moobar · 31/07/2019 21:24

@Fontofnoknowledge see that's offensive, and ridiculous. I'm not stupid thank you.

I can't rent somewhere in a REAL forest and walk and or cycle to a pool, multi sports, restaurants etc etc without seeing a single car. I can't walk up the middle of the road pushing a pram with knowledge I won't be run over.

We love in the absolute middle of nowhere. You would struggle to get more rural, really. We have ponies, squirrels, badgers and whatever other nature people are talking about.

We go because it's like a city without traffic. So it's not stupid people who can't work out how to find these things. It's people, sometimes like us, who would like the convenience of these things being there, without the hassle that goes with that with a car.

Lindormilk · 31/07/2019 21:26

See, im happy to read all the negative posts as I realise that miserable Mumsnet mums wont be there with their miserable faces complaining about everything.

yeahokright · 31/07/2019 21:30

Love it for the following reasons:

It's quiet in the cabins
Kids can cycle everywhere and feel free (no cars)
Activities on ur doorstep-where else can you do archery, ballet, messy play in the space of a few hours
Always eat in chalet so it's lovely home cooked meals with family
Price keeps a lot (not all) of the chavs out.
Result!

Milly345 · 31/07/2019 21:31

What’s bum sex

Propertyofhood · 31/07/2019 21:33

I just don't get it either. It's such a rip off and nothing is bloody even included apart from the pool, and all the extras are so expensive too!

Plus the other thing that pissed me off (I went on a hen do, have never been there with my family) was that around the central bits everyone was on their fucking bikes and we were trying to just walk from one bit to the next without getting run over by someone who could barely even ride a bike.

I find it so fake as well, like people go there to get 'back to nature' and get so excited because they see a friggin squirrel outside their door, whereas there are tonnes of places you could go and get that without paying thousands and getting run over by bike wankers at every turn.

I did like the pool though Smile

Lindormilk · 31/07/2019 21:36

CP is geared towards families really,not hens who complain about getting run over by someone on a bike.

frenchknitting · 31/07/2019 21:42

I love it. I love that I can park the car on a Monday morning, and forget about it until Friday. In the meantime, we can do a massive selection of activities, all within 5-10 minutes walk. The pool is the best I've ever been too, and so is the spa. The lodges are pretty nice, and you know exactly what you are getting. Squirrels on the patio in the morning is a nice novelty. And you are never more than a few minutes from a baby change or a starbucks.

Add in the fact that almost every eatery has a soft play and it is 100% designed for kids. It's just so relaxing, it is the easiest holiday ever.

Sure, once apon a time I would have been horrified at the very notion, and holidays consisted of proper activities in the actual wilderness, instead of just pretending. But for a while I am going to enjoy holidays that are easy rather than impressive or cool.

Propertyofhood · 31/07/2019 21:44

CP is geared towards families really,not hens who complain about getting run over by someone on a bike.

Oh believe me, I would be complaining about the bikes if I was there with my family as well Grin

RingtheBells · 31/07/2019 21:46

They aren’t that big though are they for a lot of cycling, you can’t go for a proper bike ride, you must just go on the same roads over and over again.

RingtheBells · 31/07/2019 21:48

We have squirrels outside our back door burying their fucking nuts in our plant pots, no need to go far for that.

dadshere · 31/07/2019 21:52

What is with the bum sex references? Is Centre parcs a known haven for sodomy? Is it compulsory?

CrumpetandSausage · 31/07/2019 21:53

We went in June school holidays for last weekend with another family making the most of inset days. On the Friday afternoon unloading time every car around us was a new jaguar, Audi, bmw, Tesla, etc. Good indication it’s not a cheap holiday. We had a ball. Self catered. Limited extras. The kids enjoyed it and we enjoyed it.

thetwinkles · 31/07/2019 21:55

Yep totally agree. Went once not bothered about going again.

RingtheBells · 31/07/2019 22:02

It’s not under a dome either like those adverts led you to believe.

Propertyofhood · 31/07/2019 22:03

Here you go @dadshere

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/1385104-Center-Parcs-Anal-sex

separatebeds · 31/07/2019 22:03

I totally though the same as you (prob worse) but we went for a weekend (gift to us) and really enjoyed it. Kids were 6 and 8 ish.
They loved the pool, cycling about, went to one pancake restaurant, bowling. I think it was xmas and there was reindeer and a xmas village set up.
The house worked well (looked a bit odd from the outside), was comfy, we ate one meal in (restaurant were££)
Not the sort of things I would normally do but we really did have a good time and the kids loved it.
Try it you might be surprised!.

I am still not setting foot at Disney Land though.....

DrFoxtrot · 31/07/2019 22:11

I love Whinfell and I've been a number of times. My kids are of an age now when they can go off and explore and do their own thing, it's very relaxing.

DrFoxtrot · 31/07/2019 22:11

Whinfell Center Parcs I should clarify Grin

cadburyegg · 31/07/2019 22:13

Plus the other thing that pissed me off (I went on a hen do, have never been there with my family) was that around the central bits everyone was on their fucking bikes and we were trying to just walk from one bit to the next without getting run over by someone who could barely even ride a bike.

Grin Bikes are part of the CP experience for a lot of people. You went to the wrong place. CP states in their terms and conditions that they don't permit hen/stag parties. I'm sure they'd turn a blind eye if the group wasn't rowdy, but it's geared towards families with youngsters.

Bellasblankexpression · 31/07/2019 22:14

I just remember being surprised at how small it was! It made a big deal about forest walks but you could pretty much just walk around a tiny lake.
Maybe we went to a really small
One!