Center Parcs

[pleasestoprainingplease]

So holiday is creeping up on us and we've never been before. Why can't I find any prices for the activities (I've heard can be very expensive) online. I might be able to see when I eventually can book them but that's not for a couple of weeks and I'm trying to figure out how much to put aside for activities alone!

AIBU for wanting to know the prices before I look and then maybe I won't tell the kids everything that's there and pre select some I would be happy to pay for before telling them their choices.

I'm probably being unreasonable even booking CP

Centerparcs is great in my opinion. The activity booking on the website isn't good though. The prices vary a lot for the different activities but the outdoorsy ones like high ropes and segways are around £36. I've never done the inside ones but assume they are cheaper. The spa is expensive but lovely.

www.centerparcs.ie/discover-center-parcs/activities/example-activity-prices.html
Take a deep breath first...

Is that £36 per person or family?

I've always fancied centre parcs but the cost of the activities on top of the already expensive accommodation put me off.

Thank you so much for that! Hmmm ok so outdoorsy stuff is pricey! Thought as much. The spa looks incredible but I doubt there's anywhere to leave kids safe whilst you go 😂 taking the kids alone so no option for someone to watch. Thanks though. Maybe I'll look at some of the indoor things they could do.

Love centre parcs!

There are Facebook groups you can join that are really informative - including site specific ones. Have a search in the search bar on fb

Undercoverintrovert thank you so much! Wow! Haha! Some of those really are quite pricey. Maybe I can find a nice mix. I think the swimming is free? So maybe just a few activities and swimming most days is the way to go!

So informative! Was that on the website? Sorry if i have missed something glaringly obvious!

There is a kids club that you can leave the kids at whilst you spa - of course that costs extra on top! It is a great spa, if a bit busy.

Which centerparcs are you going to?

We went to Elvedon in the summer holidays and on our last day before we headed home, we visited Banham Zoo which is about 30 mins away They have high ropes activities for about £10 - at Centerparcs the same thing is about £35, so you could do that as an option

Also, you can only swim twice during a 5 day break and swimming has to be pre-booked

The Facebook idea is genius! Will look shortly

Swimming twice during a 5 day period isn't the case anymore. It's only recently been changed. You do still need to book swimming but Slots are now 3 hours instead of 2 and you can have one every day.

@preparetheships each person!

Re the spa last time I went to Center Parcs you could actually book a package to do a spa for the parent at the same time the kids did a Children's Club activity which would be something like Wizards school or Superheros. We used to spend a couple of whole days at the pool but as said above that's a lot more restricted these days (reason why we haven't been back in a while.) There's other free stuff like playgrounds, soft play, playing on the beach and can do nature walks in the wood, (I have a ds who can entertain himself running round in circles so was quite happy just wandering round!)

Some cheaper things. Badminton, soft ball, football pool. Lots of play parks. Cycling if you are taking bikes. You don't want to do too much so maybe add one cheap activity a day on top of park, swim, cycling. I flipping love center parcs.

P.s take your own firelogs. They say not to but only coz thiers are a million pounds.

I was also coming on to say that there are definitely some more affordable activities. Also they tend to have cheaper slots at less popular times like 5/6pm ish. Bowling cheaper in the early morning slots. They used to have things like self organised nature trails where you just pick up a sheet at the desk and do it yourself. We used to book a couple of more expensive things (varied over the years as the kids got older) some of the cheaper things and then filled out with free stuff and the pool or beach. Usually the pedalos or family boats are reasonable too.

Oh yes, deffo pedalo!

They usually do a spa combined with childcare deal, it works out pretty well. I've always been super impressed with the childcare to the point they left me doubting my nursery choice for my children. My DH and I used to enjoy it, before being priced out of CP due to the school holidays.

When we went years ago it rained heavily every day so spent the whole time in the pool and luckily our cabin was within walking distance so we didn't have to wait ages for the little train thing that picks you up and takes you around.

The train thing got full up so lots of people had to keep waiting for the next one. We only went on it to explore the parc and realised how lucky we were to be so close to the pool etc

The cabins are lovely so you do feel like you're deep in the forest etc.

On a day we had nice weather we went to Longleat which is a gorgeous day out. The DC loved the animal farm in the middle the most

Which one are you going to? Lots of stuff still closed, no evening entertainment at the moment, no soft play indoors, restaurant closures etc. Seems v short staffed

I dont love Centre Parks but I dont hate it either. We usually aim for 1 more exciting expensive activity per visit and a couple of cheaper ones (crazy golf, badminton, roller skating, that sort of thing). Plus daily swimming and 1 trip to the waffle house. A winning formula.

When we went 10 years ago there was no evening entertainment on offer at all. Due to rain didn't book outdoor activities.

The only good thing about center parts that could almost justify the exorbitant cost was the swimming. I think you can only swim twice now in a one hour slot for a short break. Ridiculous.

You can book slots for swimming every day and can now do three hour slots. I went last week and missed a slot but turned up later and asked if I could go in, they let me in no problem. We went midweek and had swimming every day then kayaking and adventure golf on a couple of the days as well. I wouldn’t want to do any more than that, I was shattered! We had loads of fun though, it was brilliant after two years without a holiday. I think we paid maybe £35 for activities overall, there’s only two of us though :) I will say that if you want to eat out, book before you go as the slots fill up very quickly.

Roulade £36 each I thought that was for one activity. Oh how naive of me!

Vanillaradio Pootles34 & Tiredoftiers this is wonderful news! I could really do with some downtime and to know the kids would be well looked after at the same time makes me feel better at having some quiet time! Maybe it can be an early Christmas present!

Summerhouse Elephantofrisk these suggestions are great thank you! You mention firelogs. So is this me to make a fire in or out the cabin? I didn't know that this was a thing. Are all firelogs pretty simple to use and all do same thing or any brands to look out for. I'm now visioning a fire that I need to get going. I'm really not outdoorsy. Thanks for pre warning me!

Stripedbananas train? I didn't even realise there was a train. So will there be a timetable then? I'm going term time so hopefully won't be too busy. Fingers crossed!

Nanananani we're going to Sherwood Forest one. I got for a good price I thought so didn't look around for others.

Porcupineintherough this sounds how I think I would work out day actually. Seems like a good mix.

So pleased to hear swim restrictions have changed.

I honestly didn't realise how much I wouldn't know about CP. it's like it's own little world.

I appreciate all your tips and suggestions. Thanks everyone

I think it's only Longleat that has a train. Which isn't really a train at all. Its a land train.
Center parks is a rip off imo. I've only ever been there for work holidays so got paid for it. I wouldn't pay the prices they charge myself!