To not get the fuss about centerparcs?

[BelleMarionette]

It seems to have an almost cult like following. I went recently and joined the Facebook group to see if any useful information and anyone who dares say anything negative is immediately jumped upon. Centerparcs can do no wrong apparently.

When we went, the cost was exorbitant (nearly £3k for one week for a poky terraced single story 'lodge') and nothing was included other than the pool. Activities were extremely overpriced. The shop and restaurants were also poor both in terms of value and quality. The pool was overcrowded, changing rooms and pool dirty, and it looked very tired. Only a tiny, boring playground on site.

I've been to Bluestone and found it much better: better quality and more spacious accommodation, included activities and play areas, both inside and out. Paid activities were reasonably priced too. Pool was far better maintained.

I've been to Butlins too: so so much cheaper and loads included. Accomodation was also better, and the pool was miles better than center parcs.

I don't understand what the obsession with center parcs is, especially given how poor value it is.

AIBU?

I nearly drowned in the rapids first time I went down I thought it was just an outside lazy river

Ah I went to the one in Ireland and it was red squirrels.

I think it may be a school holiday problem. I thought about going before the children went to school. No way at school holiday price!

You get red squirrels at the one in the Lake District I believe- begins with a W.

There are literally billions of “don’t get the hype about CP” threads on MN, and it seems to be very much a MN orthodoxy not to like it.

I do quite like it. I agree it’s over priced but it’s a nice break and an escape from it all. We went as we came out of lockdown one of then occasions with no pool and very limited resources. It was actually my favourite time of going there as it was really quiet - something like 35% occupancy. We went off site a bit as well, but the kids did a few activities, we cycled, bbqed and had a go on boats. It was much much cheaper that time too!

Because it’s massively overpriced it keeps out the riff raff that you get at Haven and Butlins. People blather on about the pools and the peace and quiet etc etc but it’s really because they're not honest enough to admit they don’t want to rub shoulders with the chavs.

I thought it was grubby. I think if it was a reasonable price I would see the appeal.
I have a relative that goes at Christmas and Easter and pays all the high prices. They also complain they are skint - I wonder why.

I went with a toddler and whilst it’s great there were no cars, there were loads of inexperienced cyclists who made the pathways dangerous. It was also raining whilst we were rhere. Still disappointed it’s not under a massive fake roof like I thought when I was a kid.

We love it! It is expensive but the children have such a nice time, and I really enjoy being in the forest.

I am looking at booking Bluestone for our next one but it seemingly isn’t actually any cheaper - this is in May half term 2023, so might just stick with CP as it’s nearer to us.

Anyone with school age children struggle with the 'pick your dates to keep costs low' aspect...

CP has a bit of an odd vibe, like the Truman show or something.
Everyone merrily cycling off from their identical lodges on quiet roads to do their neatly scheduled activities.
Food options are dreadful, like a shopping centre.
The whole time there's a subtle feeling of being ripped off.
Having said all that my DC love it, even the older ones. They declared pool at bluestone is rubbish in comparison to Sherwood CP. The younger two prefer Haven though because of the beach.
IMO CP and Haven are pretty similar, full of annoying kids, both have shite food and both are places I wouldn't set foot in if I didn't have children.

Bognor Regis The renaissance of good old Bognor. Pleased to hear it. That's my next-but-one holiday sorted then.

The reason mumsnet raves about it compared to Butlins/haven is that the prices keep out the chavs so Tobias, Sebastian and Amelia don't have to mix with such types. Keeps the Yellow-Joules-mac brigade happy.

I'm with you OP. I went and couldn't wait to go home. The lodge was pokey and the bedrooms and bed linen were damp. The fridge and freezer were tiny. I had brought food for the week with me and had to keep some of it in a cooler.

The activities were expensive and often at stupid times. Who wants to go scuba diving at 8.30 in the morning? All done and dusted before we'd normally even have finished breakfast. The days were very long and hard to fill without spending a fortune. The swimming pool was packed. Nowhere to sit.

It was the worst holiday I've ever had. I seriously considered leaving after 3 days but because I was with family I plodded on.

There weren't even enough chairs to sit on in the 'patio' area - which was actually approx 6 large concrete slabs. Ridiculously small!

Never again! I just cannot see the attraction. Have had way better holidays in rented holiday homes across the Uk for way less ££. We've done more and more importantly done activities at the times that suited us! CP is far too regimented for me.

£3,000? That’s ridiculous. I’m currently on an all inclusive holiday in Crete, £2,400 for the 4 of us, including flights.

You should go to CP in Belgium - cheaper and less than half the price.

*I meant nicer and less than half the price

But but but… bum sex? 😂

To clarify, no I’m not a fan (of either!)

We love it. Been for a weekend in Haven yrs ago and it was awful. Chip fat smell and bingo.

not for me.

£3000 for a week in a terraced lodge. Fucking hell. I don’t understand why anyone would pay that much, even if they’re loaded and money no object.

The mind boggles.

Service station in the woods. That’s all.

I’ve only been to Sherwood. A few times over the years, with different family groups, most recently this spring. DH and I had a short break with DD and DGD. We take food, eat simply but go out for a few treats. It’s not a long drive (a big bonus for us) and we can all do our own thing there. Two bedrooms, we split the cost, it was reasonable.

We’ve also done caravan parks, very different vibe, but we enjoyed them due to choosing ones with beach access.

We normally rent a cottage in our chosen location for about £800 for the week. We want views, tranquility, comfort, outdoor activities and convenient amenities in the vicinity…and we always find one that ticks all the boxes…never had a bad experience yet.
I mean ok, there isn’t a grubby swimming pool rammed to the rafters on-site…and restaurants serving shit, low quality expensive food may be a short drive away but I suppose you get what you pay for. Lol.

My colleague recent did a few days at CP during the summer and absolutely loved it, they booked straight away for another go. So there you have it. I don’t understand the appeal but it’s obviously firing at an audience I am not a part of.

You do realise you don’t HAVE to go to Bingo or even eat chips at Haven if you don’t want to?!

We just hire the nicest caravan we can - which is on a level similar to the lodges at CP - and use it as a base. The swimming pool at Seashore for example is pretty good - maybe not as big as CP but certainly does the job, and the rest of the time we go on beach walks, eat out in neighbouring areas, hire bikes and go cycling for the day in the countryside or nature reserve type places. It is what you make it. Never set foot in a Bingo hall- probably should actually as I used to love it with my Gran and it’s probably good fun! 😁

So much snobbery on Mumsnet.

I must say it’s also very amusing to local people in Thetford - where Elveden CP is - that people spend £££££ to stay in what is essentially Thetford, one of the roughest areas of Norfolk! It’s like some weird bubble.

Surely that means it's really clean?!

CP used to be good I think, but it's gone massively downhill over the last decade or so, yet has remained very expensive. I used to think it was worth the money, now it is definitely overpriced. It's very run down and just "feels" a bit grotty nowadays.