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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think there is no equivalent alternative to Center Parcs?

258 replies

Onelifeliveitright · 08/05/2023 11:40

We go every year and this year have booked an exclusive lodge with hot tub, games room, sauna and steam room. Looks amazing! My love of CP is growing the older I get. The teenagers still love it and are now old enough to do what they like. We only do a couple of activities to keep costs down. I love the environment, the lodges and the pool. And the fact there's enough restaurants to eat out every night. We like lazy days and going out. So looking at next year. My daughter works in a private school so breaks up early in summer. We can therefore go at the beginning of the week but it's SO expensive even though term time. I've looked at loads of alternatives but cannot find anywhere else that compares like for like. Aibu to think it doesn't exist?!

OP posts:
MayBeeJuneSoon · 08/05/2023 13:30

Not just shabby but dirty, and rubbish overpriced food. The restaurant we ate in (work paid) was not nice, very mediocre

Hundreds of people and their dogs stay in those lodges....they will never be fully clean

Oysterbabe · 08/05/2023 13:36

I have a weekend break there with 5 friends every year and bloody love it. The hot tub lodges are brilliant and we always book the spa too. It doesn't work out that much at all of you're 6 friends sharing.

Fizbosshoes · 08/05/2023 13:37

I've never been to CP and for a long time they were well out of budget for what we would spend on a holiday, but for young children, a lot of what people seem to like about them (able to ride bikes around site, swimming pool, activities etc - sometimes even a spa) could potentially be found at a caravan park or other holiday park.
Although obviously they are not all the same.

Theelephantinthecastle · 08/05/2023 13:58

Haha, we have just been to center parcs!

I am not a devotee to CP but I don't think there are loads of places that have the same things. In the UK, I haven't seen anywhere with a comparable water park for young children. I am sure there are options overseas but for us it's more of a weekend thing than a full holiday and we aren't going to fly overseas with two small children for a weekend

kitsuneghost · 08/05/2023 14:03

shammalammadingdong · 08/05/2023 12:22

Having been to CP, I cannot understand how any can like it, let alone love it and keep going back repeatedly. I just do not get what there is to like about it. It's awful.

Good for you. You must be a class above. However its not your holiday.

I wish holiday snobs would just let people be. They are usually the first to complain if all the tourists turn up at their chosen tourist destination.

SparkyBlue · 08/05/2023 14:06

I've been to the Irish one which is relatively new and still a novelty to us here and to be honest it's only the pool that impressed me. I found it a bit meh apart from the pool. Personally I've found that the people who were really impressed by centreparcs were those who never normally holiday at home and see a holiday as abroad so it opened their mind that you could enjoy yourselves and have a lovely family holiday without getting on an airplane. I absolutely do see the appeal but it didn't really work that much for my family but I know people who are religiously rebooking as soon as they finish their break

MayBeeJuneSoon · 08/05/2023 14:06

@kitsuneghost this is the thread for it!!

Op asked if there is anywhere else like it.... people are saying YES!! There's much much better places.....

shammalammadingdong · 08/05/2023 14:06

kitsuneghost · 08/05/2023 14:03

Good for you. You must be a class above. However its not your holiday.

I wish holiday snobs would just let people be. They are usually the first to complain if all the tourists turn up at their chosen tourist destination.

Um, what? Holiday snob? For having an opinion on CP, on a thread about CP?

How is anyone "not letting you be"? How is my opinion affecting you going to CP? Am I turning up in your hot tub shouting "LEAVE" at you?

What a rude and weird response!

WellTidy · 08/05/2023 14:07

There is nothing else that compares for us. But maybe there is for others. We have a teenager who likes the paid activities, restaurants etc. And a younger child with disabilities who requires self catering accommodation (food related issues), space, the ability to make noise and the relative freedom.

They both absolutely love being on their bikes and the pool. We go to the pool every day, sometimes twice a day. They also love bowling.

DH and I are happy when they’re happy, as that generally means less stress and work. And we have a couple of CPs within a two hour drive of home, which makes it quite straightforward to get to. The mini market is always well stocked. The toy shop, sweet shop and ice cream shop also appeal. Everything being within easy walking distance, or bike riding distance is perfect for us.

We’ve gone every year for about 13 years. It’s got increasingly more expensive, especially as we are tied to (state) school holidays. But it’s a really easy break for us, and it’s rare to find something that works well for everyone.

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 08/05/2023 14:13

I've heard really good things about the unfortunately named Sandy Balls Holiday Park but haven't been myself.

https://www.awayresorts.co.uk/parks/hampshire/sandy-balls/?gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwu-KiBhCsARIsAPztUF3fgFclFojZtlE24DOOeAhOmSIb1fRRQ8kGZcFB6mawrtnTSdo9UaAhu2EALw_wcB

Asparagus1 · 08/05/2023 14:17

MaltedCow · 08/05/2023 12:30

Bluestone is so overrated. Nice pool but everything else is very meh.

I just priced up a week in the summer hols - £2500. Wtf?!!

ClareBlue · 08/05/2023 14:19

SparkyBlue · 08/05/2023 14:06

I've been to the Irish one which is relatively new and still a novelty to us here and to be honest it's only the pool that impressed me. I found it a bit meh apart from the pool. Personally I've found that the people who were really impressed by centreparcs were those who never normally holiday at home and see a holiday as abroad so it opened their mind that you could enjoy yourselves and have a lovely family holiday without getting on an airplane. I absolutely do see the appeal but it didn't really work that much for my family but I know people who are religiously rebooking as soon as they finish their break

There must be some Irish enjoying it as it has planning permission to double in size.

MayBeeJuneSoon · 08/05/2023 14:21

Lol so did I!

3 grand for a week near Nottingham?

We live next to a different one and half the village work there. It's all scrimp and save behind the scenes.

And....they are not good employers either.

MimiGC · 08/05/2023 14:26

Simply too expensive for what it is.

cptartapp · 08/05/2023 14:26

It did for a couple of visits when the DC were tiny but to be honest I'd rather have an air B&B in the sun. We've taken the kids to some great European cities for cheaper.
I wouldn't thank you for a CP sauna or to be lining my pram up with everyone else outside a restaurant anymore.

Pickleandplum · 08/05/2023 14:27

Comments about centre parcs always makes me laugh, for some reason people have to say things like butlins with trees etc
centre parcs is nothing like butlins, not even comparable. We went recently it wasn’t shabby. We have also been to butlins and can’t see why people use it as an insult. Both were great for us but very very different holidays.

BelleMarionette · 08/05/2023 14:30

I went to centreparcs and I was incredibly underwhelmed. It felt like being held captive in a place where the sole goal is to rip you off. The accomodation was tiny and hugely underwhelming for the price. It wasn't even clean when we checked in either. The pool was crowded and frankly unsafe, with not nearly enough lifeguards. No wonder a child drowned in one not long ago.

I've been to Bluestone and accommodation was much better (so much bigger, and space between lodges, more modern), and more to do included. They also encouraged local visits, unlike being hostage in centreparcs.

Madcats · 08/05/2023 14:34

I used to take my (now yr11) teen to Bluestone as a toddler outside school hols, and we have done a few days at various European CPs combined with Airbnbs etc on boats or interesting buildings.

We much preferred Lalandia in Billund (opposite Legoland and about 5 minutes's drive from the airport) or De Efteling's cottages with theme park entry (probably about an hour's drive from Schiphol)
I don't think that either have hot tubs.

I've not looked at prices recently, but it always used to be much cheaper visiting in the last week of August, because the German/Dutch/Scandi kids were back at school.

Dulra · 08/05/2023 14:35

I haven't been to centreparcs. I'm Irish so only one which is only opened a few years. We have family in UK so I have priced the UK ones in the past but it is nearly double the price of doing a eurocamp in Spain or Italy including the flights so that's where we always head to. If I am holidaying in Ireland I like to go somewhere different and show my kids a bit of their country.

MagpieSong · 08/05/2023 14:47

GrimDamnFanjo · 08/05/2023 13:02

I've never been but I'd like to hear from Mumsnet tears who have been why they love or hate it?

I love it because it’s got plenty for children to do, a good pool (we spend the majority of time swimming when there), is in lovely surroundings and is all on-site so simple to get around. Bluestone is much more spread out and there’s less on site, as far as I remember. I tend to be fine with a simple chalet for a holiday and self-catering, though do wish they had a laundry room. I like the restaurants with play areas for young kids. I don’t really like the type of entertainment (the shows etc) at Butlins and Haven etc., just not really up my street, so don’t feel I’m missing out without that. I like the range of activities provided for different ages (massage, assault course, swimming, teddybear’s picnic, crafts, archery, fencing, nature walks etc) and the fact it doesn’t really matter if it rains as there’s plenty of indoor activities. We tended to go outside of school holidays, but with the law change have been in half terms and it is busier, which is less pleasant. I still really enjoy it, but I’d love to go at a quieter time if I had the chance. We’ve got a holiday there coming up, actually and I’m looking forward to it. I’ve tended to go in winter, so have never tried out their summer activities. In winter, the best bit is you can swim around in the warm outdoor pool while it snows around you (if you’re lucky enough to get snow). The one we go to isn’t particularly shabby.

RovenderKitt · 08/05/2023 14:50

Mentioning CP on here always brings the moaners out! I too would like to see an alternative, I haven’t seen anything in the UK that looks comparable in terms of having that sheer number of activities that suits all the family on one site. We’ve been at least 15 times and have never had any issues that weren’t resolved quickly and efficiently by the staff.

All holiday resorts are just posh Butlins really, I even said it when we were at a Sandals

MagpieSong · 08/05/2023 14:53

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 08/05/2023 14:13

I've heard really good things about the unfortunately named Sandy Balls Holiday Park but haven't been myself.

https://www.awayresorts.co.uk/parks/hampshire/sandy-balls/?gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwu-KiBhCsARIsAPztUF3fgFclFojZtlE24DOOeAhOmSIb1fRRQ8kGZcFB6mawrtnTSdo9UaAhu2EALw_wcB

We’ve been! It’s nothing like Center Parcs though. It’s nice and in a lovely location, though you’d probably need to drive. There’s not the same activity provision on site and the pool isn’t a water park style pool. Lovely alpacas though!

ActDottie · 08/05/2023 15:02

I think it depends what lodge you book and can afford. The one with a games room and sauna etc. I’m sure is lovely and incomparable to other holiday parks but not everyone can afford that type of lodge.

Mammyloveswine · 08/05/2023 15:08

We went twice when I was on maternity leave so went in term time and it was super cheap! Loved it!

Absolutely would not pay to go now in the hols as the prices are disgusting!

Would rather do butlins tbh as at least the entertainment on a night is fab for the kids! And during the day all the rides are included etc!

We've just got back from a haven holiday and the caravan was more like a lodge and all brand new! It was great and only £200!

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