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Original poster

No washing machine at centreparcs

470 replies

SuperCaliFragalistic · 26/07/2021 22:39

I'm at centreparcs for a week. Someone else paid for this holiday which I'm very grateful for. However our 4 bed (sleeps 8) Lodge doesn't have a washing machine and there are no laundry facilities on site. I know its a massive rip off anyway, and I know I should have checked the details and packed more stuff, but seriously? Now I'm expected to rinse my knickers in the sink after paying 4k for this this holiday! It takes the piss.

OP posts:
ineedaholidaynow · 27/07/2021 08:43

It is all about the swimming pool at CP. We went many times with DS as it was his favourite place. As the years have gone on the prices have rocketed (never really cheap in the first place) We always took advantage of inset days to get slightly cheaper break. DS would happily stay in the pool all day. Problem is they have built more accommodation but pool is still the same size, so gets really crowded. I quite like the idea of pre booked slots to reduce the number of people in the pool but wouldn’t want to pay the same price.

We haven’t been during COVID times and in fact the last time we went we thought it would be our last time due to the prices. But even then it is usually fully booked.

gogohm · 27/07/2021 08:44

@WiddlinDiddlin

They might be accessible for wheelchairs but they aren't for other disabilities, forbidding use of activities etc. Also so expensive. Ive stayed in fully accessible cottages for far less

Googlewasmyidea1 · 27/07/2021 08:45

I always make sure I book places that have washing machines, if I go away for a week say to Spain I take hand luggage only and wash things as needed. Always do a full wash before I leave too, it's no effort, stick it in the washer and then stick on an airer/on the line in the morning

Sparklingbrook · 27/07/2021 08:47

I think the prebooked slots for swimming were introduced re Covid but this hasn't gone down well according to that thread. The whole point was to be able to use the pool as much as they want and not be restricted.
Although saying that there was a thread a day or two ago about 'code brown' when the whole pool gets evacuated so it sounds a bit hit and miss- the pool usage.

Darbs76 · 27/07/2021 08:49

Never been to CP but you’d expect there to be a washing machine if it’s a proper house style accommodation. But yeah best to check before you pack. I’d rather go abroad for the cost of CP

NotSoLongGoodbye · 27/07/2021 08:50

Frankly I think it is ridiculous that family orientated accommodation doesn't have access to any laundry facilities. I would not book accommodation without a washing machine and ideally a dryer. We stayed in a place last October without a washing machine - it was a right pain. Our car is usually filled to the brim so there is a limit to what you can actually take clothes wise.

ufucoffee · 27/07/2021 08:50

Who does washing when away for a week? Defeats the idea of being on holiday.

Sparklingbrook · 27/07/2021 08:52

@ufucoffee

Who does washing when away for a week? Defeats the idea of being on holiday.
Loads of people on this thread. it takes seconds to put a load in and press the button. Hardly time consuming.
SimonJT · 27/07/2021 08:52

@ineedaholidaynow

If your child wets the bed you get housekeeping to change it.

What do people do if they stay in a hotel? You don’t tend to get washing machines in your hotel room

You pop it in a laundry bag and they wash, dry and iron it for you.
Lovemusic33 · 27/07/2021 08:54

I have never done washing on holiday 🤔, we always pack enough for the week but we have stayed in places that have washing machines or at least washing facilities on site. I would expect there to be something.

SmokeyDevil · 27/07/2021 08:55

Those saying you don't want a mountain of laundry to do, do you wash clothes by hand? Confused It takes a minute to load it, then a few mins to put it out to dry, and then a few more to fold and put away. And the rest of the time, which is a few hours, you're doing nothing. It's not hours and hours of constant work. You could have a nap during it.

ineedaholidaynow · 27/07/2021 08:55

@ufucoffee very few people go to CP for a week. It is very much marketed as weekend/mid-week holidays. Cost alone would prohibit most people going for a week.

I would never think about doing laundry on a short break holiday

Benjispruce5 · 27/07/2021 08:57

@SmokeyDevil I hate ironing and avoid it if I can but some clothes need it.

NotSoLongGoodbye · 27/07/2021 08:59

I also don't understand the love for CP.

cansu · 27/07/2021 09:00

It is ridiculous. The place is about outdoor activities with kids. Of course you need a bloody washing machine. I think they take the piss out of their guests with the prices and the facilities. The fact that they now limit numbers and visits to the pool speaks volumes.

HereticFanjo · 27/07/2021 09:00

YANBU. They should have laundry facilities on site.

Allywill · 27/07/2021 09:01

We went to the one in Cumbria many years ago and definitely had a washer/dryer. My daughter wet the bed first night and I clearly remember washing the sheets. We were there a week and it got a lot of use - as someone else said - outdoor clothes and trousers can get wet and muddy not to mention the swimming towels would need a wash. It’s mad if they don’t at least have a laundrette.

HopeHappy · 27/07/2021 09:03

I've not been to CP for years, but I'm staggered there's not some sort of laundry facilities on site. Even if it was just a communal laundromat type operation.

Given their position in a forest that's likely to result in messy clothes, I'm so surprised.

Anyway - are you in a fancy lodge with a jacuzzi bath @SuperCaliFragalistic?? Or maybe do a trial run in the dishwasher??

ineedaholidaynow · 27/07/2021 09:05

How do people cope when their kids go on scout camps/school residentials? Their clothes from outdoor activities won’t get washed everyday? To be fair it was a rare day if DS actually used his towel so I suppose that wouldn’t have needed washing everyday!

Ilovechocolatetoomuch · 27/07/2021 09:05

We have paid £750 for a week in a 2bed cottage in the peaks. It definitely has a washing machine I would expect CP to have one considering it cost a small fortune.

SmokeyDevil · 27/07/2021 09:06

[quote Benjispruce5]@SmokeyDevil I hate ironing and avoid it if I can but some clothes need it.[/quote]
Iron them when you need them. Don't need to stand and iron for hours. Are you going to iron on holiday now too?

emmathedilemma · 27/07/2021 09:06

YANBU, we struggled to dry towels in the lodge at Centre Parcs, there was a pathetic bit of clothes airer that didn't seem to hang on anything and was nowhere near big enough for 2 towels let along 8. Ridiculous really given all the water sports and activities on offer.

Sparklingbrook · 27/07/2021 09:08

@ineedaholidaynow

How do people cope when their kids go on scout camps/school residentials? Their clothes from outdoor activities won’t get washed everyday? To be fair it was a rare day if DS actually used his towel so I suppose that wouldn’t have needed washing everyday!
People don't expect children to wash their clothes on scout camp or a school residential. Confused I used to hate the bin liner of wet dirty clothes arrive home but that's the way it was. So don't see the comparison really. You aren't going to get a washing machine in a tent...
emmathedilemma · 27/07/2021 09:08

Doing laundry on holiday is great, it takes 2 minutes to load and hang up and means you don't come home with bags full of dirty clothes to deal with the night before you go back to work. Particularly great when you have wet / smelly / muddy kit from doing activities!

Lelliebellieboo · 27/07/2021 09:11

I've just got back from CP, and I have to say although the break was amazing, it was a bit grim in the lodge with no cleaning service at all. You're simply provided with a single sachet of washing up liquid and 2 dishwasher tablets and that's it. We also only had half a toilet roll provided. No antibac spray/wipes to be able to wipe down surfaces at the end of the day and no spare towels.

Normally, we use towels a couple of times each before moving onto a clean one/sticking a wash on, not 4 days in a row - by the end of the break, our lodge was in definite need of a good clean - as people have said, for the price that you pay at CP, a refresh of cleaning products/change of towels isn't really too much to ask for as standard. What are they doing with their cleaning teams now? Have they been furloughed if they aren't working during the week, just on handover days?

It was also a real pain that we could only swim twice. We loved the swimming and for a 5 day break, this should be upped to 3 sessions without a doubt. I don't mind booking a timeslot in advance (it meant we had no queues for the slides) but my daughter couldn't understand why we couldn't go swimming again.

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