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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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:
JMSA · 08/05/2023 21:04

@Freepo

My comment was a bit tongue in cheek, since many others are understandably complaining about the cost! I haven't been to the place so have nothing against it personally Confused

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 08/05/2023 21:12

Never done a CP holiday, but on seeing this thread I had a look at their site.

4 nights on the very last week of the school summer holidays £1300 ????? So £325 per night?! And all that is included is a cabin and swimming in their on site pool? Have to bring and cook your own food / pay extra for meals and activities?

It's sickening.

Munchies7 · 08/05/2023 21:43

We switched to bluestone for a couple of years once our youngest was 7, we found we had outgrown CP and done all the activities to death.

I won't be back to Bluestone though. There's just nowhere to eat. The standard of food is very poor, its all managed by bluestone and no external catering like at CP. Very few fresh vegetables to be had. Its all something with chips or a side salad at a push.

The food windows in the Serendome are abismal. Very poor quality frozen spiral fries with the cheapest of cheap sauces/cheese/meats. yuk. You can tell this is what spoiled our break at Easter! We found a few local pubs thank god, or cooked in the lodge after a trip to Co-Op.

Boopeedoop · 08/05/2023 21:48

I haven't priced it up, but have you looked at potters resorts?

Stillwearingskinnies · 08/05/2023 21:49

I don't have a problem with the idea of CP and we have taken the DC a few times.
But there are a number of problems.
In no particular order:
Price - it's too fucking expensive
Food - the restaurants are crap and always busy and the food in the "supermarket" is hugely overpriced
Swimming - the pools are absolutely heaving. If you don't want to go on a slide/rapids/wave pool then there's nothing to do. You can't actually, you know, swim
Activities - you have to book weeks in advance and guess what... they're hugely expensive
Accommodation - it's not that great. It tends to be quite grubby and there's a lack of basic stuff. You end up bringing a lot of stuff from home which is a pain
The only time we enjoyed it was when the DC were little and we went during term time. It was so much quieter. But even then the DC were too young to do much.
We prefer to get a cottage somewhere and do our own thing now.

StillWantingADog · 08/05/2023 21:49

There’s loads of comparable places in the Netherlands.
we’re heading to one of the Landal places our there next month.

happytobemrsg · 08/05/2023 21:53

Crikeyohreilly · 08/05/2023 12:20

We are a Center Parcs family and we go every year and previously have been multiple times a year. We also stay in the Exclusive lodges and the cost increases have really been phenomenal. I expect to pay more for the benefits however the cost increase combined with the decrease of benefits over the years is eye watering. Personally I don’t rate Bluestone. It’s a shame because I liked the idea but it’s just not a CP for us. Over the years we have reduced the frequency of our holidays to CP because of the expense and value for money. They really have become greedy. My kids adore it and say it’s their favourite holiday but I have an issue paying that much for such little. I haven’t found n alternative but we are using Air B&B more and have found places with ample facilities in beautiful locations for a fraction of the price. Following along to see any suggestions for an alternative!

Sorry if you’ve already shared, but would you mind giving recommendations on where to go/stay which is not CP?

coretext · 08/05/2023 22:13

Have you looked at Crieff Hydro? I'm not sure that the lodges have hot tubs, but there is a fab spa. Worth a look

KarmaStar · 08/05/2023 22:28

Potters resort one in Essex one norfolk..maybe more I don't know.. a family member recently went said it was fantastic and they didn't need to spend a penny the whole week as it's all included,all sports crafts food,drinks,dancing,rooms lovely.staff great.I've never been but they said it was truly amazing.even evening entertainment included.no small children but teens may be ok.

LemonadeSunshine · 08/05/2023 22:38

Lostinalibrary · 08/05/2023 12:44

Centre Parcs is not all that anyway. Butlins with trees.

'Butlins with trees' 😂😂😂😂😂

Fizbosshoes · 08/05/2023 22:43

Tanktanktank · 08/05/2023 19:44

Might not be the sort of thing you’re looking for, but The Manor and Ashbury Hotel’s at Oakhampton in Devon was really enjoyable for a big group of friends with kids. Massive list of things to do, nice Spa (at the Manor) although the Ashbury may have one now too. They are about a mile apart. Craft, sport, activities and a golf course.

We've had a great break there a few years ago and the variety of activities was amazing but (unless it's recently had a major revamp) the accommodation was pretty dated and not luxurious, but fine.

PurpleSunshineRain · 08/05/2023 22:46

We love Forest Holidays

Wenfy · 08/05/2023 22:46

You can usually get an Air BnB with all of those facilities. We usually book one in cornwall somwhere. Roughly £2000/week for 5-6 bedrooms.

LividHouse · 09/05/2023 09:08

If anyone is north with smaller children, Ribby Hall is like a smaller (cheaper) CP.

Great for toddlers.

footpedal · 09/05/2023 10:04

Part of the issue is that need to do a shed load more maintenance than they do.
They take the money but don't invest in enough improvements

footpedal · 09/05/2023 10:26

KimberleyClark · 09/05/2023 10:21

What about Bluestone in Pembrokeshire? I’ve not been but it is meant to be lovely.

https://www.bluestonewales.com/

Discussed down thread !

MagpieSong · 09/05/2023 22:26

PurpleSunshineRain · 08/05/2023 22:46

We love Forest Holidays

I enjoyed that too. It didn’t have a pool though if I remember right? Could be wrong on that score - it was a good few years ago. I only remember a hot tub.

Blueisthecolour1 · 10/05/2023 12:25

You can get an all-inclusive holiday in Majorca for 10 nights for a family of four at two thirds of the price of a Centre Parcs vacation for 7 nights. Honestly, I really want to like them but they’re too darn expensive for what they offer - activities also coming in as extra expense on top. It’s nuts what they charge. Nuts I tell you

Blueisthecolour1 · 10/05/2023 12:27

We’re actually going to Sandy Balls this May half-term at a fraction of the price. Never been before but it looks lovely and has good reviews too which is also why we picked it

742EvergreenTerrace · 10/05/2023 12:35

I always viewed CP as a very expensive place to go. As kids we went abroad and did Butlins. My kids each year go abroad and a to uK holiday

for most, the selling point of CP is the walk/bike ride in the woods, a hot tub lodge, erm not sure what else is there, a pool I guess

for the price of the above, you can go anywhere in Europe with food and drinks included. I really hate cooking and cleaning while being on holiday.

I have woods near my house, I can ride a bike there. Same with a rapids fun pool. I don’t have a hot tub though.

am I not being unfair to say most people go to CP to say, they’ve been to CP, as it’s known to be an expensive holiday, it’s a ‘we have money to spare’ kind of thing

dontlookbackyourenotgoingthatway · 10/05/2023 12:36

742EvergreenTerrace · 10/05/2023 12:35

I always viewed CP as a very expensive place to go. As kids we went abroad and did Butlins. My kids each year go abroad and a to uK holiday

for most, the selling point of CP is the walk/bike ride in the woods, a hot tub lodge, erm not sure what else is there, a pool I guess

for the price of the above, you can go anywhere in Europe with food and drinks included. I really hate cooking and cleaning while being on holiday.

I have woods near my house, I can ride a bike there. Same with a rapids fun pool. I don’t have a hot tub though.

am I not being unfair to say most people go to CP to say, they’ve been to CP, as it’s known to be an expensive holiday, it’s a ‘we have money to spare’ kind of thing

It's the car ban, the forests and the pool. Without the faff of an airport.

Theelephantinthecastle · 10/05/2023 12:42

dontlookbackyourenotgoingthatway · 10/05/2023 12:36

It's the car ban, the forests and the pool. Without the faff of an airport.

Show quote history

And being able to go for a weekend because it's in the UK.

I also prefer cooking for myself to AI - but that's personal preference of course.

And I don't have woods or a pool with waterslides near my house