To think Center Parcs really isn’t middle class

[GodAgainstAll]

Just spent a few days there for the first time. It’s expensive and the people there seem to be v affluent in terms of clothes/cars, but middle class? I was surprised.

I agree. Middle classes of old were the aspirational classes who worked/aspired towards higher social standing. Upper middle classes or upper classes would have the country property.

It is outdated because at that point, not much immigration had taken place. Today we’re in a very different place.
I think that now ‘class’ represents behaviour and education rather than income.

I would love to understand the rationale for your assumption that going to centre parks means, or used to mean, thatyou are middle class. I mean, does having £1500 or so, and chosing to spend it on a week at this holiday camp make you middle class?😂

The OP hasn't been back to say what they mean by middle class.

It is a bit excruciating but it makes a change from LTB.

I get you OP. Went on a very expensive all inclusive this year and the amount of tattooos, vaping, obesity, swearing and missing teeth was notable. Sorry to be a snob but I just didn’t want my kids around it.

@Bigcoatweather my parents are immigrants hence the house abroad. I do find the class discussion interesting as they seem to complete ignore the changing landscape as you say.

You know none of those things are contagious, right.

Well, some poster upthread noted that there were "successful Indian families" there 😂

Great we will fit in perfectly next week!

Tattoos with three "o"s may be significant.....

An all inclusive holiday? There's no such thing as an upmarket all inclusive 🤢

😉

Most of the doctors, barristers, professionals we know do not send their kids to private school now - preferring to spend their money on living in a nice area close to outstanding state schools where most of the kids are from the same sorts of backgrounds. The people we know paying for the private schools are pretty much all in the ‘money’ jobs, mum doesn’t work, dad in finance. The occasional celebrity family. It put us off as I’d rather my kids were surrounded by the former.

(yes I appreciate the absolute privilege of the former and how incredibly unfair it is)

Went on a very expensive all inclusive this year and the amount of tattooos, vaping, obesity, swearing and missing teeth was notable.

The upper classes often have tattoos, plenty of the men are fat, granted fags are more popular than vaping but smoking in general is fine, swearing definitely a thing, less so missing teeth but often missing chins!

An all inclusive holiday? There's no such thing as an upmarket all inclusive

What about the Sani resorts (clutches pearls)

@Reesescheeses At least it gave you an opportunity to feel superior. We all need those, I guess.

Have just come back from our first visit. What I noticed primarily was a real lack of diversity both in terms of ethnicity but also family groups. Very few (if any) mixed race families, single parent families or gay couples with kids for example. We cross over into at least two of these examples so really felt it. It’s also logistically set up for 2.4 type families which for various reasons made it more of a slog for us. Very busy as well! As ever I preferred the staff to the clientele in the main but I often feel like this in places which feel very uniform class wise.

Most of the doctors, barristers, professionals we know do not send their kids to private school now - preferring to spend their money on living in a nice area close to outstanding state schools where most of the kids are from the same sorts of backgrounds. The people we know paying for the private schools are pretty much all in the ‘money’ jobs, mum doesn’t work, dad in finance. The occasional celebrity family. It put us off as I’d rather my kids were surrounded by the former

Why would you rather your dc were surrounded by the former?

Quite. The state of some of these comments.

But you went on an all inclusive??? 🤔

Your poor children. I hope they aren't too traumatised 🤣

Do people really go on holiday to people watch and judge? I honestly couldn’t care less what clothes people are wearing, or what car they drive (usually leased anyway). I go away to chill and focus on whoever I’m on holiday with. The only time it would become an issue is if people were affecting my enjoyment by their behaviour. And honestly, you can’t judge people’s class on what they wear. I have a friend who dresses down all the time,and can sometimes look a bit messy, but her dh is a dentist and they are pretty well off. Visually, class in the old days used to so easy to read, and thankfully these days it isn’t. But some people still think class = money. It doesn’t. As they say, money cannot buy class.

Ive been to both Butlins and Centre Parcs in the last year and there wasn’t really any difference in the clientele 🤷‍♀️ Maybe CP used to be seen as ‘middle-class’ (whatever that means) but not the case anymore. I personally liked both holidays.

This is the funniest thread I've read in a long while.

I’m a class straddler as I grew up poor in social housing but I went to an RG uni and have a professional job. Ironically the richest person in my household is tradesman DP. The number of visible tattoos in the swimming pool is definitely different in different places - Haven is high, parkdean medium, sandy balls low. As a heavily tattooed person I notice if I feel I stick out or am getting looks in the pool!

I can’t say I’ve ever noticed if the families on holiday sites are single or gay tbh.

I mean looking back I can see there is a lack of diversity regarding them being very white but does that actually affect your holiday really.

I don’t see a holiday as a diversity check list it’s a break to get away from all the shit.

I see what the Op is saying. CP is expensive, you don’t expect people shouting drunk outside your lodge at 2am, sub standard entertainment and surly staff.

DH is a snob (I’m working on it), and he reluctantly went to butlins and we actually loved it. For the price we felt like we got a lot more and the cliental was no different. Just normal families to be honest like us.

The food plan was also amazing, salad bar incredible and I had the best poached salmon I’ve ever had.

I don’t work for butlins but the kids just bloody love it and CP irritates me for the price/limitations/pretending to be middle class.