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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:
Dixiechickonhols · 10/05/2023 12:42

Celtic manor resort in Newport has lodges with hot tubs, tree tops adventure, spa/pool and restaurants.

Overrunwithlego · 10/05/2023 12:55

I have been once to CP and I do understand the appeal - its definitely an ‘easy’ holiday.

But.

In Easter 2018 we (2 adults, 2 kids) went to Australia for 3 weeks. At the end we added up everything we spent for those three weeks, which included:
International flights
Two internal flights
A weeks’s AirBnB in Sydney
10 days hire of a motorhome plus fuel for 1000km
Campground fees (each like a little CP to be honest)
3 weeks sailing in the Whitsundays
All food
All activities - including hot air ballooning, Dolphin watching, climbing the harbour bridge, Commonwealth Games tickets

Now obviously the cost of all that for 3 weeks was more than a week in CP. But the cost per night of all of that was less than the cost per night of a week in CP (cabin only - not accounting for food or activities). Nuts.

Overrunwithlego · 10/05/2023 12:55

3 days sailing…not 3 weeks

Neverplayleapfrogwithmrpipes · 10/05/2023 12:56

There is also whitemead park

prescribingmum · 10/05/2023 13:20

None of the alternatives on this thread are comparable to CP for us. Admittedly we do not need to go during state school holidays so we fortunately do not end up paying sky high prices. If we were restricted to state school holidays, we would have stopped going by now as I agree it is extortionate and far too busy to enjoy the experience.

We started going when DC were babies and for us, it is super convenient and great value for money. Entrance to a similar water park would cost us upwards of £60 for a family of 4 and only have 2-3 hours access. For around £450, we get a 2 bed lodge, unlimited swim access and stress free cycling thanks to no car policy.
Our children are not interested in paid for activities yet (currently 5 and 6) and we self cater so our costs are very low once we get there.

sadsack78 · 10/05/2023 13:33

My parents took us a few times, and I remember loving it- great pool, nature (I remember seeing red squirrels!) and lots of things to keep kids occupied.
This was 20 years ago though- no idea what it would be like now.

lunaloveroo · 10/05/2023 13:42

We've gone for several years now at new years with my sister and her family. 4 bed cost us £1500. Split between 2 families is £750. We would struggle to get a nice hotel room for 3 nights for that price and as a family we get / bedrooms. The dc all love the pool (go twice a day). We've never found it busy and not had a problem booking restaurants and activities. The only downfall now is as the dc are getting older there is no evening activities- bands/ shows/ bingo etc.

Idtotallybangdreamoftheendlessnotgonnalie · 10/05/2023 13:42

Butlins is way better for the money, especially the Wave hotel apartments in Bognor. You get so much more in terms of entertainment options. I don't think it's a rough and ready as it used to be. The pool is absolutely incredible for 3-10 year olds too.

Centerparcs has never really done it for me, I've been a few times but... Meh. I already live in a wooden house in a forest! Woburn has a particularly shite pool and is crap for road noise, and when we went to Longleat the cabins were absolutely disgusting and someone in our group fully ripped their toenail off on the flaking paint of the rapids. CP couldn't have given less of a shiny shit. Elveden is probably my favourite of the lot.

MagpieSong · 10/05/2023 15:14

dontlookbackyourenotgoingthatway · 10/05/2023 12:36

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

Definitely not re money. Why would anyone go just to show off if they didn’t like it? Plenty of other much more expensive/posh resorts if people want to posture. It’s the pool, the easy travel, the woods, the types of activities on offer and how child-friendly it is making it easy. Why would I want the hassle of a toddler in an airport and on a plane just for a few days in a pool? Much easier to drive over!

I think I’d quite like to give Aviemore a go, but it’s a huge drive. Sandy Balls was lovely but nothing like center parcs and only a very small pool. Forest holidays I don’t recall having a pool and Butlins/Haven are ok, but often very run down and I loathe the loud evening entertainment. I have found with Haven etc you can get quite a bit of noise outside your caravan on the evening, whereas CP is much quieter. Other people might have experienced different though. It’s nothing to do with showing we’ve got money to spare or whatever, previously we’ve saved up for ages to go because we find it really fun!

WhoBird · 10/05/2023 15:40

I find all UK holiday parks ridiculously expensive. The accommodation itself, overpriced food and shops, expensive activities, and often crappy weather. Im sure my kids have fond memories of holiday parks but for me it really is washing up with a different view as my Nan used to say! When we go all inclusive to Majorca, the cost per head per night is lower and I spend virtually no money there.

Newnamenewname109870 · 10/05/2023 15:40

Yes for easiness, activities and child friendly. I’m bored of their restaurants though and without kids I’d much rather me exploring the world in a more interesting way 😁

Dente · 10/05/2023 15:41

I cannot understand why people love CP and is anything but luxurious!

GirlsAndPenguins · 10/05/2023 15:47

I’ve been to all the center parcs in the UK and love them all! Definitely a happy place! Although I did go to butlins last year and have a fab time (so much for 2 year old to do included in the price) it is nothing like Center Parcs.
Myself and DH are both teachers. Firstly try all school holiday dates, look as far in advance as you can, I’ve seen some good prices for Easter next year and I got a bargain for Butlins in October 1/2 term.
I’m trying Ribby Hall next Easter as it was a bargain. I have Center Parcs booked for next August though!

Picoloangel · 10/05/2023 15:50

@shammalammadingdong nor just me then! I don’t get the appeal at all.

JustDanceAddict · 10/05/2023 15:51

We’ve been 4 times to 3 different parks im the past 15 years. Was def better - and cheaper - when the DCs were young.
We always got a reasonable price but it wasn’t cheap even then - think we last went about 4.5 years ago. I went to the spa w DD which was lovely tbh.
Have also been to bluestone which is aimed at much younger kids, but at least you can drive offsite (went when DCs were 12 & 13).

AlliumFairy · 10/05/2023 16:02

No there isn't anywhere the same.
We went to CP year after year from when we had DC, probably 20+ times including several Dutch ones. As they got older I looked at alternatives but there is nowhere that has anything like the rapids. My DC would spend every waking minute going up and down the rapids. It still worked for us when they were late teens.
My DC are now in their mid 20s and would still be up for CP but there is little to do in the evening and I feel that we have exhausted it.

svm99 · 10/05/2023 16:05

have you looked at the CP in Europe. We have used Netherlands, Belgium and Germany previously and they can be much cheaper even after adding in Channel Tunnel. They also have different things to do - ne had an indoor ski slope

Notjustabrunette · 10/05/2023 16:07

my friend went to a CP in holland, she said it was much cheaper

Lollzi86 · 10/05/2023 16:07

Try tattershall lakes in linconshire

nyorksdad · 10/05/2023 16:14

Ribby Hall is brilliant

We are going for our second year in a row at half term

Staff are all lovely and the food is great.

babyproblems · 10/05/2023 16:19

We went to CP and had bedbugs and cockroaches. No joke! They moved us lodges. First and last time. Didnt sleep well after that!!!

PurpleWisteria1 · 10/05/2023 16:21

I8toys · 08/05/2023 13:07

I know you don't want to do abroad but the centreparcs in Holland, Belgium and France are far superior to the UK. We tend to build in other trips around them so visit the country as well as Centreparcs so in Holland visited Amsterdam and in France went to Paris and Disneyland. There are also two Centreparcs near to each other in Holland and Belgium so used to flit between the two using all the different facilities.

You can’t do that now I don’t think. Staying at one doesn’t mean admission at another anymore 😢

StaunchMomma · 10/05/2023 16:31

I haven't been to Bluestone but looking at the website it's just not, well, Center Parcs!

I guess those of us that love it, love it!!

MrsJamieFraser22 · 10/05/2023 16:34

If you’re happy to travel have a look at CP in Europe equivalent facilities & much less expensive. We went to Belgium in February half term for a week a few years ago and it was less expensive to do that (including flights, parking & car hire) than it was to go to CP in Whinfell for a week accommodation only.

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