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Original poster

We see you Center Parcs

265 replies

Doyoumind · 12/07/2021 22:08

Due to go to Center Parcs later this summer.

Following today's announcements, they've said they will keep the restricted swimming slots. So where you used to pay a lot for a holiday but at least had free use of the pool whenever you wanted, you now get only 2 x 2 hour slots over 5 days/4 nights. They say customers like it.

I'm not convinced ending all restrictions now is right but clearly if people have limited time swimming, they will be paying for expensive alternative activities and CP will be making money from it. They know people are so desperate for a holiday they are unlikely to cancel.

I know they are a business and want to make money but they can't just carry on with 4 hours of swimming when people have paid so much and not expect a backlash.

OP posts:
BarbaraofSeville · 14/07/2021 08:42

Yes, if you want to go for a week at Easter next year, prices start at around £2k for a week in the cheapest 2 bedroom lodge, up to £10k for a treehouse, via about £6-7k for a lodge with a hot tub.

For that sort of money you could get decent quality all inclusive, in the Canaries with a waterpark included. Which is what a lot of people will do, as soon as they're able to.

rookiemere · 14/07/2021 08:48

CP has always been pricey, but for us, it's the lure of a holiday where I don't have to do much thinking - DS can ( or could) bike off to the pool with his pal and I can go to the spa. It's not equivalent to Butlins as its lodges in the forest - not a built up resort so totally different.

There's always threads about the relative cost of CP. The issue here is that it's main USP of unlimited swimming no longer exists. I'd happily go in normal circumstances but not with swimming slots in place.

And who knows when or if foreign holidays without expensive tests with horrible consequences if you test positive will be back on the cards. At least if you book CP you know what you're getting and DCs will be happy.

Feelingoktoday · 14/07/2021 09:17

2 adults 2 children 3 nights over the Easter weekend. Nearly £1000.

We see you Center Parcs
barbedwired · 14/07/2021 09:28

I went last autumn, never been before, reminded me of The Hunger Games

BarbaraofSeville · 14/07/2021 09:39

I went for a sneaky wander around the Sherwood Pines one when I went for a spa day. It reminded me of the Truman Show.

I was also surprised to find that most of the woodland paths were actually tarmacked Confused.

TheSockMonster · 14/07/2021 09:42

@barbedwired

I went last autumn, never been before, reminded me of The Hunger Games
Sounds like some holiday, what on earth happened?! ShockGrin
barbedwired · 14/07/2021 11:37

@TheSockMonster wet and foresty 😂

Original poster
Doyoumind · 14/07/2021 11:39

@BarbaraofSeville

I went for a sneaky wander around the Sherwood Pines one when I went for a spa day. It reminded me of the Truman Show.

I was also surprised to find that most of the woodland paths were actually tarmacked Confused.

That's because they are designed for bike riding for all abilities in all weathers.

They are now saying they will review and may add in extra slots, but no guarantee. You'll only find out on the day you arrive - once you have no choice but to suck it up. This is being driven by the financials, not the safety of visitors.

OP posts:
Sleepyblueocean · 14/07/2021 11:55

"I was also surprised to find that most of the woodland paths were actually tarmacked."

That is because they are designed for families with young children on bikes and in buggies. That was one of the positives for us with a disabled child - the sites are accessible. There is plenty of non accessible woodland out in the countryside for those that can access it.

CoffeeWithCheese · 14/07/2021 17:01

@NannyAndJohn

Personally I'd be relieved that they're keeping people safe and not going down the "let it rip" route.

Thank you Center Parcs!

Dear God you need to get a new hobby.
CoffeeWithCheese · 14/07/2021 17:05

@Sleepyblueocean

"I was also surprised to find that most of the woodland paths were actually tarmacked."

That is because they are designed for families with young children on bikes and in buggies. That was one of the positives for us with a disabled child - the sites are accessible. There is plenty of non accessible woodland out in the countryside for those that can access it.

It was one of the main reasons we booked it - to have the woodland space for DD2 to get more confident at riding her bike without the traffic or the fuck off huge hill of doom we live at the top of in both directions. Lots of accessible, well surfaced roads and space for the kids to have a bit of freedom to take themselves off to the play areas (without the local teenagers and druggies all over our home ones) and relax a bit after all the covid rule-riddled environment school had been.

I agree they may well be watching to see if they can add on payment for the pool slots as yet another optional extra though. We were going to rebook for another break but I'm leaving it until the pool policy gets clarified and dies down a notch.

Ruddyknackered · 14/07/2021 17:23

Maybe they should permanently reduce the lodge price, by the amount they refunded when the pool was completely shut. Then they could charge for the pool as an activity. People who want can go frequently, people who don't, don't have to pay the 'built in' cost of the pool element.

I don't understand some of the fury aimed at CP. it's just a holiday destination. If you think it's too expensive/ too naff/ too whatever, just book elsewhere.

HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 14/07/2021 18:02

I had no idea so many people paid £2000+ to use a swimming pool for a week. Take the kids to your local leisure centre each day and eat out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and you still won't spend half that.

rookiemere · 14/07/2021 18:57

Most people don't pay £2k. The majority of people would either go for a 3 or 4 night break - we do that as don't like leaving the site once we're there as it's a faff walking to the car park. We generally paid £450-650 for a 2 bed lodge depending on when we went.

The swimming pool has flumes and rapids- it's more akin to a water park than a pool.

cadburyegg · 14/07/2021 19:26

I think generally speaking a lot of people moaning about the cost are missing the point - it’s never claimed to be a low cost, great value holiday. If you don’t want to pay the cost then go somewhere else.

That being said I agree that part of the reason they are keeping the swimming slots is to encourage people to book onto the ££ activities. However, they’ve had a pretty awful year and need to recoup their costs somehow.

We are booked for a weekend and 2 slots will probably be enough for us because I have 2 young kids and swimming is a faff. They are also at the age where the free stuff like feeding the wildlife and scooting round the forest will also still be fun. I can understand why it’s a frustration to families with older kids that they can’t go separately etc.

I pay for the convenience, mainly, it’s about a 50 minute drive away and it’s the only holiday I’ve been on with the kids where I haven’t found it enormously stressful. My friend told me with great delight that she managed to find somewhere much better value but only after probing did I discover it was 6 hours drive away and the price she paid was outside of school holidays.

HandlebarLadyTash · 14/07/2021 19:39

We are regular CP visitors & wont be going back if the slots stay.
The age range with our kids mean they want different times younger will go once, elder will go twice with a friend.
Agree the continued development & visitor numbers has increased capacity to the point the current pool is insufficient.
Butlins skegness has a fantastic pool, failing that I liked the suggestion of the Hilton.

wordsareveryunnecessary · 14/07/2021 19:42

Someone mentioned the swimming pool was heaving. It seems that Center Parcs are somewhat overcrowded? Perhaps they need an additional pool because this is obviously a main attraction

MrsDThomas · 14/07/2021 20:30

I’m going in January with teens. They’re happy with pool, swimming and wifi. Plus the gym is available and table tennis etc.

NotTheFunKindOfFeminist · 14/07/2021 23:41

Does anyone know if you can book the restaurants for drinks only? There doesn't seem to be any standalone pubs.

honeybeesknees · 14/07/2021 23:48

There are a lot of comments about how people can understand these slots will work for people with young children, but not teenagers. I have young children, and I can’t think of anything worse! Sometimes they are having a bad day, sometimes they want to get up and go out, others they want to play for a bit longer. We have enough structured activities to do at home, rushing them out of the house when they don’t always want to. CP is supposed to be a holiday, not a regimented camp! With our young children, we often spend hours in the pool, getting lunch there and a coffee etc. We won’t waste our time doing that now if we only have two hours. I appreciate the slots for the time being, but if it carries on, it will suck the joy out of our holiday, and CP loses its USP.

ThePenIsBlue · 15/07/2021 06:35

We cancelled our august break and got a full refund. Like fuck am I taking 4 kids for 4 nights and only getting 2 swimming slots.

I suspected some companies would pull that line: “We are continuing to keep out customers safe by….”

Ludicrous. We won’t be back until we can swim when we bloody want to.

UserAtLarge · 15/07/2021 08:22

I don't think the slots work for people with young children either. If you have 2 young children it's easier to have a parent supervising each child, which means as an adult you get no swimming yourself. In the old system you could come take turns to come back while the DC were napping/in bed/quietly occupied in your accommodation. With limited swimming slots, it all has to focus around the DC getting their swimming time.

52andblue · 15/07/2021 09:41

NOT CP but my Dd and I went to our local pool yesterday for the 1st time in 18 months.
It was a 45mins slot. We were let in on the dot. 10 mins for very fast change. so, 35 mins to swim, & they blew the whistle 5mins early to 'allow others to come in'. So actually 30mins in all. It only cost £7.50 but we had a long drive and new swimsuits to pay for (she's grown).
She is 13 but has ASD so was just getting used to being in the water when we had to come out. The point of CP for me is unlimited / unplanned access to the pool complex. It's expensive at the best of times, without this it's simply not worth it, even this year imo.

Evenstar · 15/07/2021 12:32

We are currently staying at CP, the restaurant we had booked for last night didn’t open due to staff shortages and there was no space anywhere else. You have to pay £5 per person deposit, so we’ve got to go and get a refund today.

I think with the limit on swimming as well. we won’t be rushing back