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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Rosieandjim04 · 27/07/2021 11:58

Ridiculous my caravan holiday has a washinng machine and it cost £600 Confused

ineedaholidaynow · 27/07/2021 12:11

People keep talking about a week at CP. I would say OP is very unusual for staying a week there, only person I have ever heard doing that.

When we used to go they never even advertised the price for a week’s holiday. You used to just add the midweek and weekend prices together.

They are not set up for week long holidays really.

I would be happy to not wash towels for 3/4 day use. We also take trek towels as spares if needed. If you can’t bear to use a towel twice you can hire swimming towels (or you could pre COVID). We used to go when DS was a baby/toddler so used to having grubby clothes. He even needed a change of clothes once as soon as we got there as he was so excited seeing the lake he ran straight into it! But always coped without a washing machine. As others have said a laundry service is available, or used to be.

We tended to eat out too so didn’t make use of the dishwasher. Never really saw it as a completely self catering holiday, as saw eating out as part of the holiday, so a break from laundry and cooking.

Sparklingbrook · 27/07/2021 12:16

@ineedaholidaynow

But would you just leave the washing machine on *@Sparklingbrook* whilst you are out and about? Having seen the damage after a white goods fire I never leave a machine running whilst not in the building/at night The shop at Longleat is in the pool complex so wouldn’t take up much holiday time
No. I wouldn't probably, on holiday it's run as I get up and all done before we go out, or when we get back in the evening before bed. Most machines have short half an hour wash cycles.No need to leave it running when we're not there. At home it's just on when I'm in.

But as I said, the one place requested we start the dishwasher then leave...

Mammyloveswine · 27/07/2021 12:31

What? I always pack at least enough for the full week plus spares...usually 2 outfits a day (one for day one did night).

One or two pairs of pjs will suffice but I'd usually take 3.

I'm shocked anyone would want to do washing on holdiday Grin

bookh · 27/07/2021 12:34

We do one week every January. My parents took me and siblings then and DH and I have just continued it.

They used to have laundrette, as others have said but it closed due to lack of use.

Jan 19 Dd got norovirus day two. Admitted to hospital day three. Released day five but to lodge with a further visit from hospital doctor day six arranged and permission to drive given day seven. DH stayed at lodge and I was at hospital, guest services took all the clothing, cot linen, her sleeping bags, my hoody and pyjamas and washed them and had them back for when Dd and I arrived. So in the event of an illness or bed type incident they will do it. General day to day clothes they will not.

cantkeepawayforever · 27/07/2021 12:54

@Mammyloveswine

What? I always pack at least enough for the full week plus spares...usually 2 outfits a day (one for day one did night).

One or two pairs of pjs will suffice but I'd usually take 3.

I'm shocked anyone would want to do washing on holdiday Grin

Nobody in my family - except possibly my DD now she is 18, but nobody at all when they were smaller children - would have had 14 outfits!

I can manage a week's set of clean underwear and socks for us all, but that much outerwear, particularly 'holiday outerwear'? No. 7 T-shirts, maybe. 3-4 pairs of shorts / trousers? Yes. 14 full outfits, even 7 full sets, while the children were growing? No way.

Sparklingbrook · 27/07/2021 12:56

Sometimes on holiday I will wear a dress, maybe wash it and wear it again the very same week. Shock

BrotherSisterRelationship · 27/07/2021 13:00

I always wash on holiday. Nothing worse than returning home with a suitcase of dirty clothes. But for 4 days I could probably manage to control myself.

CP is great but also a rip off especially in covid times when there are restrictions on using the swimming pool.

LST · 27/07/2021 13:01

I'm shocked at the amount of people who prefer to pack a shit tonne of clothes and have a load of washing to look forward to on their return.

ineedaholidaynow · 27/07/2021 13:02

If we were staying at a hotel, we used to wear clean clothes for the evening meal in the restaurant, then they would probably be the day clothes for the following da.

I always take travel wash with me, just in case have to do a quick wash of some clothes in the hand basin, but wouldn't normally be banking on using a washing machine/laundry service

ineedaholidaynow · 27/07/2021 13:03

da = day

mrsbyers · 27/07/2021 13:14

I’d expect a washing machine and a dryer - I usually try and get most of our laundry done before we pack up for home so that’s not left to do when we get back

Shizen · 27/07/2021 13:19

Absolutely no way I’m wasting precious time doing laundry on holiday, though I would expect a machine in somewhere that was designed for self catering.

Pants are cheap (especially kids ones?!) so I always pack absolutely loads of those!

I’m surprised people are saying they wouldn’t have 7 let alone 14 full outfits for their kids (but can still afford a CP type holiday). Where are you shopping?!

OliveToboogie · 27/07/2021 13:19

Absolute rip off. I'm back from lodge on Lake Bassenthwaite. Sleeps 6. Dishwasher and washer/drier in kitchen. £870 for 5 days.

LST · 27/07/2021 13:21

@Shizen

Absolutely no way I’m wasting precious time doing laundry on holiday, though I would expect a machine in somewhere that was designed for self catering.

Pants are cheap (especially kids ones?!) so I always pack absolutely loads of those!

I’m surprised people are saying they wouldn’t have 7 let alone 14 full outfits for their kids (but can still afford a CP type holiday). Where are you shopping?!

We take about 3 each
Shizen · 27/07/2021 13:23

@LST do you mean you take 3 pants each, for a full weeks holiday?

ineedaholidaynow · 27/07/2021 13:25

Of all the things that don't take up much space in luggage, it is pants!

LST · 27/07/2021 13:25

[quote Shizen]@LST do you mean you take 3 pants each, for a full weeks holiday?[/quote]
No we take about 5 pairs of pants. But only 3 tops and bottoms as I put a wash on. Takes me minutes. Especially if the weather is nice

ineedaholidaynow · 27/07/2021 13:28

@LST but would that be a full wash? If I was going somewhere for a long weekend, I would struggle to get enough laundry together to do full washes, until probably the last day, so would probably take it home and do it there

Shizen · 27/07/2021 13:29

@LST I am amazed at your ability to pack light… personally I couldn’t fathom it, but we don’t go self catering that often anyway so have to pack enough for the whole trip.

Have to say I agree with @ineedaholidaynow that of all the things to take enough of, that don’t take much space, it’s pants! I take 2 pairs a day for myself, and 3 pairs a day for my DC in case of accidents, upset tummy’s or worse!

Shizen · 27/07/2021 13:30

Also never understand when people say it’s a few minutes to do a wash. It doesn’t! It takes a few minutes to load the machine and turn it on but not to hang it all out

LST · 27/07/2021 13:31

[quote ineedaholidaynow]@LST but would that be a full wash? If I was going somewhere for a long weekend, I would struggle to get enough laundry together to do full washes, until probably the last day, so would probably take it home and do it there[/quote]
Nah where we go they have a mini 30 wash. So the four of us just chuck out clothes in of an evening and they are usually dry by dinner the next day.

stellaisabella · 27/07/2021 13:31

You're an hour from home on a 4k holiday you didn't pay for!! Just go home and get some more clothes. Then you won't have to moan about washing "skiddy pants" Envy (not envy!)

LST · 27/07/2021 13:32

[quote Shizen]@LST I am amazed at your ability to pack light… personally I couldn’t fathom it, but we don’t go self catering that often anyway so have to pack enough for the whole trip.

Have to say I agree with @ineedaholidaynow that of all the things to take enough of, that don’t take much space, it’s pants! I take 2 pairs a day for myself, and 3 pairs a day for my DC in case of accidents, upset tummy’s or worse![/quote]
We go camping a lot so need to save space. We get all we need for a 3 day stay in a carry on hold all for the 4 of us

cantkeepawayforever · 27/07/2021 13:32

@Shizen

Absolutely no way I’m wasting precious time doing laundry on holiday, though I would expect a machine in somewhere that was designed for self catering.

Pants are cheap (especially kids ones?!) so I always pack absolutely loads of those!

I’m surprised people are saying they wouldn’t have 7 let alone 14 full outfits for their kids (but can still afford a CP type holiday). Where are you shopping?!

Shizen, I can afford, but wouldn't choose, a CP-type holiday (because we went for cottage self-catering when the children were smaller, and city breaks once teenagers).

Similarly, it's that we don't choose - rather than can't afford - to have lots of clothes. In term-time, children wear school uniform + often activity clothing - e.g. sports or dance kit - in the evenings and often at the weekend. So a 2-3 pairs of trousers / jeans / leggings / shorts / skirts, a few warm tops and a few t-shirts is fine, plus one 'smarter' outfit if needed. 1 set for winter, one set for summer, nothing fits the following year. My DH and I are similar - he has a couple of work suits or equivalent, a pair of chinos, a week's worth of shirts, then a few polo shirts, couple of pairs of jeans and a couple of pairs of shorts, and a couple of warm tops. I'm similar - enough work 'uniform' for a week, maximum of 3-4 casual outfits for each season. Replaced when worn out.