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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:
Anycrispsleft · 13/07/2021 07:06

The last time we went to Center Parcs the pool was absolutely heaving at all times. I like the idea of having limited numbers. But I do agree that 2 sessions in a week's stay is too little.

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 13/07/2021 07:09

They want you to pay 100 % of the price for 50% of the experience !

GiveMeNovocain · 13/07/2021 07:09

Wow. My holiday park has already emailed to say everything is back to normal on 19 July and they can't wait! I can't justify the spend on CP in normal times let alone at the moment.

ItsSnowJokes · 13/07/2021 07:09

I don't mind the booking system. Completely happy with that. I do not want limited swimming sessions. 2 for a 5 day break is not sufficient. We had to cancel our break as we were over the 2 household rules. We won't rebook now until we can have more swimming sessions.

CP will shoot themselves in the foot with this because as soon as everyone can fly off abroad, people will choose that. Cheaper, probably unlimited swimming and better weather!

ItsSnowJokes · 13/07/2021 07:11

Also the amount the have pulled out of the lodges is unacceptable. No housekeeping service, no toiletries, no games consoles (in the games lodges), no treats and luxuries in the treehouses. I have heard they now sell the toiletries in the supermarket so I can guarantee they won't go back in the lodges if people are buying them.

ItsSnowJokes · 13/07/2021 07:14

@Puppalicious

I thought it was 2 slots if staying 3 nights, but 3 slots if staying mon-fri?
No its 2 slots for a 3 or 4 night break and 4 slots for a 7 night break.
EatingAllThePies · 13/07/2021 07:15

We love centre parks, I just rearranged our trip to next Easter but we only go for a swimming and usually go every day. If it's not fully opened by then I will be gutted as we don't really want to pay for the other activities!

princessandthedragon · 13/07/2021 07:16

We went recently and I told my DH this as well. I think it’s an excuse to drive people to spend money on other activities and I wouldn’t be surprised if they keep the rule in place well after COVID has died down. It really took away from the experience. I only discovered the limit on the swimming sessions after making the booking and paying for it. I then had to go through the stress of finding slots for each member of the family. I had to book times we normally wouldn’t choose including one that was 8.45am on a Sunday morning. It wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t for the fact that the only villa we could book was right on the other side of the complex and we have two young children to get there on time.

It’s meant to be relaxing. It wasn’t! I said to my DH that if they keep the rule I wouldn’t be booking any future holidays with them. We’ve been around 6 times at least now so they’ve lost our custom and we won’t be the only ones.

It’s either short sightedness or pure gread.

rookiemere · 13/07/2021 07:18

Definitely wouldn't go unless unlimited swimming was reintroduced.
DS is a teen and we usually bring a friend, a large part of the appeal for them is being able to go to the pool when they want - they particularly enjoyed going in the evening when there were less people around. Their fun would be spoilt with 2 x 2 hr slots only and the whole lodge in tow.
I don't mind booking most activities but for us CP is the park.

OTOH we rented a private cottage in a complex recently and due to covid we got the small swimming pool for 2 x 1hr slots per day all to ourselves. That was brilliant.

motogogo · 13/07/2021 07:20

Just book a hotel instead, stayed at the Hilton, unlimited swimming and had pool to ourselves. Ok no slides but they allowed inflatables and had balls, noodles etc provided. Paid far less than centreparcs and included breakfast!

Ahahahstop · 13/07/2021 07:22

So disappointing to hear this. Was due to go twice last year but got cancelled. Due to go this September but unless pool restrictions are over we won't be going. Last time we went we were spending 4-5 hours a day at the pool

princessandthedragon · 13/07/2021 07:23

So we were there 4 days. Two of those days with no swimming. I honestly think they are using this as a money spinner.

Tiddlywinkly · 13/07/2021 07:25

Middle parking- what! No softplay?! We're going end of next week. Everyone loves the softplay in our family (for different reasons!).

Bagelsandbrie · 13/07/2021 07:27

That is absolutely ridiculous. That’s not enough slots for a longer break. Centre Parcs is hugely overpriced as it is.

bobby6678 · 13/07/2021 07:27

I have booked for Jan, I won't be going if they keep the pool restrictions. It's the only reason we go.

motogogo · 13/07/2021 07:27

Ps top tip - if you are looking at cancelling centreparcs in September there is still decent availability in the Cairngorms area, just booked and far cheaper than the prices quoted here. Very similar activities on offer but not a fancy pool admittedly - we swim in lochs though Grin

Sparklingbrook · 13/07/2021 07:28

@motogogo

Just book a hotel instead, stayed at the Hilton, unlimited swimming and had pool to ourselves. Ok no slides but they allowed inflatables and had balls, noodles etc provided. Paid far less than centreparcs and included breakfast!
That’s what I’d do. I didn’t realise such a large part of the Centre Parcs experience was going swimming all the time. There’s other places with pools. A self catering place with pool would be good too.
SmokeyDevil · 13/07/2021 07:32

I actually thought center parcs was so expensive because most of the activities were included in the price! You all actually pay 2.5k for a shed in woods just to swim in a pool?! Shock

I'd have just done what someone else suggested, book a holiday home near a Loch and buy the kids wetsuits. Far bloody cheaper, and you could probably get extra activities and still not get close to 2.5k. That's just madness.

DavidTheDog · 13/07/2021 07:34

They’ve also restricted the time you can be on site and be in your villa. We’re a family for whom hours and hours in the pool made the holiday. We unfortunately won’t be returning.

wedswench · 13/07/2021 07:35

We used to go because despite it being expensive, the kids loved swimming so there were no extra costs when there (apart from bikes) as we'd spend all day in and around the pools.

I can't much see the fun in 2 x 2 hour slots especially with older kids.

Being tied to times isn't in the spirit of holidays either is it. 9.15am on a Sunday as PP said?! That's breakfast and lie in time!

StiffyByng · 13/07/2021 07:37

We went to Centreparcs twice a long time ago and have never gone back. The entire experience was similar to be held upside down and shaken to make sure every penny of change had been extracted. I’m not remotely surprised by this thread.

We were pretty unimpressed by the activities, apart from the cost, and the food was dreadful (arrived still frozen in the middle once).

DollyTots · 13/07/2021 07:42

We’ve just got back from CP and our pool slot was still incredibly busy. Not that I actually have a problem with that but if that’s what the mitigation was for, it wasn’t working. We missed the wave machine. Everything was still well maintained and run but my gosh it was a slog and you still have to pay through the absolute nose for it. Would love to return when it is back to a more recognisable ‘normal’.

CoffeeWithCheese · 13/07/2021 07:42

We went just before the pool was reopened at all - it was pleasant enough, but we got a reduction in cost because of the lack of swimming facilities. To be fair - it was lovely when we went because they'd pretty much just reopened so all the staff were really cheery to be off furlough and it was reduced occupancy on the site so less busy.

Was considering rebooking now things are re-open but I'm buggered if I'm paying full CenterParcs prices for less stuff.

TravellingSpoon · 13/07/2021 07:43

I liked the limited numbers, we went a couple of weekends ago and the pool was brilliant because it the number of people were manageable. The flumes and rides has small if any queues and the rapids were not heaving and dangerous.

However it worked for us because we were there three days. 2 slots for a longer break is stingy and would make me rethink (we usually go foe a week in half term).

Beefcurtains79 · 13/07/2021 07:45

I much prefer the booking system and hope centerparcs keep it. We found that the pool was much more enjoyable this way and far less queues for the flumes.