We see you Center Parcs

[Doyoumind]

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.

The hotel I went too, also had jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. all open. And gym was open without needing to book slots.
Was in the hotel monday and tuesday night, and weds morning. dont know if those days made it less busy??

@NewallKnowall I think you're being a bit unkind about the CP accommodation . The newer cabins can be very nice. But I agree absolutely with what you are saying. CP worked for us as it adapted as DS grew older, without the freedom to head off to the swimming pool when he wants, it's not got a lot going for it.

I have just got back from Center Parcs and we thought the two hour swimming sessions worked pretty well.
Pools and slides were not busy and it was easy to get seats.
I have been to CPs lots of times so I know what it was like before and often it was really busy with long queues for slides and difficult to get seats.
The biggest disadvantage for me was the lack of spontaneity - the slots had to be booked in advance.
Definite advanatges and disadvanteges with each system, but I wouldn't discount CPs based solely on this.
We had a great holiday.

I absolutely agree ! I think the restrictions on the pool were necessary at one point but with “freedom day” around the corner they really shouldn’t be restricting so much . I went last September with my 19 month old and I found the swim slots okay as my toddler only swam 1-2 hours at a time, plus the weather was hot so we had fun out on the lake or on our bikes . But yes , we were spending money elsewhere at the park. Now that we have two kids and they are not on the same nap schedule ( my 8 month old isn’t on any schedule at the moment 😞) those time slots won’t work as well . And for older kids it’s a joke. I think a lot of businesses are taking advantage of Covid restrictions , and maybe rightfully considering the struggles over the past year, but it still angers me .

I went in on a day pass with a staff member a couple of weeks ago and it was lovely not having to queue. However if I was paying to be on holiday there I wouldn't go without being able to swim daily.

I won't be going if swimming is not every day.

A two hour slot everyday seems fair but twice in five days is shit and no way will I pay grands for that crap.

I’ve just had an email about extra slots, apparently on your arrival day they will send texts about extra slots on top of your two pre booked ones.

I used to go every year, I won't go again until I can swim every day. It's the main part of the holiday! I also like to be spontaneous on holiday and we would often go for an evening swim with the children. Such a shame they're keeping it.

We're heading there in the next couple of weeks, and one of the bloody slots overlaps with our 2year old's bedtime, so that's going to be a fun time for all involved. Everything is so bloody regimented that I'm frankly dreading it, and just wanting to get off the site each day and do my own thing. MiL is very kindly paying for the chalet, as I certainly wouldn't be spending my cash at CP. As soon as France is back up and running, we'll head over there for a cheaper and more flexible holiday.

I bet they take advantage of the end of restrictions to book more lodges though! Funny how the soft play which is free is still closed for our safety 🤔
Once they book all the lodges out each slot will be heaving. So you’ve the worst of both worlds- can’t turn up when you like but the pool will still be busy.

@notasillysausage

Going against the grain slightly here. I prefer the slots, much less busy and feels safer. I would like 3-4 slots though rather than the 2!

Problem is if everyone has 3-4 slots maybe it won't feel as uncrowded.? Personally I'd rather have the crowds and be able to swim when I want.

We go next weekend. I’m really annoyed that we can only get into the villas at 4pm but we can go onsite at 12 (so you have to spend more money as not allowed in the pool!) and we have to leave the site at 10am on the Monday. So a 4 day holiday is now 2.

Butlins is fun (have only been on an adults weekend!) but it is v different scenery to CP. So you're not in a lovely forest setting with a lot of other things to do. And the accommodation is right on top of each other. I've only been to the Butlins near a beach so you can add in going to the beach as one of the activities. I imagine small children would love it though, probably less of a break for the adults but it is undoubtedly fun.

My kids are all grown up now but no way I would be going to CP without unlimited access to the pool. As others have said, once your children are older, the best part of CP is the fact that they can go to the pool on their own countless times. I can see why the slots might work for little ones.

2 slots for a 5 day break is far too little. You'd at least expect a slot a day.

I suppose to be fair to CP a big Covid outbreak generated from there would look really bad.
I'm not convinced staggered swimming slots would do much to stop it, but I guess at least they can say that they've implemented measures.
Also there must be a lot of additional administrative overhead because of these slow, so I am hopeful they'll go when/if Covid ever does.

Centre Parcs will still have restrictions on other activities so it's not like they can make as much money as they would normally. Do people genuinely spend more than 4 hours in the pool on a 4 night holiday? I've never done that, ever.

I drove past the Penrith one the other day and it got me wondering what the USP is, why is it so successful?

I don't think restricted swimming slots are a bad idea, but 2 slots over 5 days/ 4 nights seems stingy.

Guess we won't be going back then. We usually spend 2-3 full days in the pool at Center Parcs and always spend the whole of the last day there so wouldn't be happy at leaving at 10am either.

It is three slots for a 5 day break (Monday to Friday)
Two slots for Friday - Monday break.

@Hallyup6

Centre Parcs will still have restrictions on other activities so it's not like they can make as much money as they would normally. Do people genuinely spend more than 4 hours in the pool on a 4 night holiday? I've never done that, ever.

I guess the thing with CenterParcs is that everything is expensive and swimming is the only thing you don't have to pay for each time. Lots of people will just take the kids into the pool every day they are there. Maybe not for hours at a time, but the pool is fun and kids do tend to love it.

I think they should be allowed to swim every day if they want to but still restrict it to 1-2 hour sessions and get people to book ahead to limit numbers.

@Hallyup6

Centre Parcs will still have restrictions on other activities so it's not like they can make as much money as they would normally. Do people genuinely spend more than 4 hours in the pool on a 4 night holiday? I've never done that, ever.

If you go from Monday to Friday, you can be there for most of 5 days, and most people would probably go swimming at least 3-4 times, and maybe some in the past have been more than once a day during the middle of the week, say in the morning and the evening.

Given that you pay so much to go, and most of the other activities are so expensive, a lot of people will suck up the extra cost of the accommodation, because they can get away with not spending much more, if they mostly swim, walk in the woods, use the play equipment and relax in the accommodation.

The bit that annoys me the most is the whole lodge having to go together or lose their slot. So we’ve got to coordinate nine people, including a 22 month old and a 9 year old, all swimming for two hours at the same time (or some of us leaving early and not actually getting two hours at all). It’s pathetic.

TBH having a booking system (or even just a limit on numbers) for the CP pools moving forward wouldn't be the worst thing in the world - not necessarily limiting the number of times people can go but just stopping the pools getting insanely crowded.

Carameljack

I bet they take advantage of the end of restrictions to book more lodges though! Funny how the soft play which is free is still closed for our safety 🤔
Once they book all the lodges out each slot will be heaving. So you’ve the worst of both worlds- can’t turn up when you like but the pool will still be busy.

I’ve just got back and it was at 100% capacity and the pool wasn’t busy, it was nice and calm in my slots and no queues and choice of changing rooms.
Felt safer as well as more lifeguards per guest.

@blametheparents

It is three slots for a 5 day break (Monday to Friday) Two slots for Friday - Monday break.

Not unless they've just changed it. It's 2 x 2 hours for a Mon-Fri or a Fri-Mon. Only increases for a week - to 4.