Center parcs is basic. Alternatives please.

[Summerstarsarepink]

Bland food. Floors sticky. Shouting parents drinking beer . Crap coffee. Dated. Kids unattended causing problems.

The Swimming pool was the only saving grace. i

After years o my brother telling me jow incredible CP’s is , we went with him last year. It was , for me, horrible. DH and I were shocked. Run down, hectic and stressful.

It was like weatherspoons and created a family park . Now maybe this is my stupidity but I was led to believe it was a luxury Butlins! I’m sorry but it (Elveden Forest) was just so disappointing .

Please recommend a luxury alternative .

I've only been to Centre Parcs twice. Same one both times. We mainly go for the pool (last time we visited we spent 6 hours in the pool on the first day, the kids adore it!) and I'd say we enjoyed it on the whole, although it is so expensive and I wouldn't pay school holiday prices!

However, I noticed a definite decline in quality between our first and second visits, which were about three years apart. For example the quality of the catering within the pool complex had deteriorated (prices hadn't decreased though I noted). The restaurants have always been chains, but I don't mind this particularly myself. We tended to mostly do self-catering to keep costs down anyway as the food aint cheap!

It's a good easy holiday with small children if they like swimming a lot. I can't imagine going every year though, I'd get bored.

Went to Craig Tara once (used to be Butlins Ayr). Grungy, dirty, lots of sweary people, I hated the food, people who rocked up in the next static (paid for by social services) were thrown out next day for anti-social behaviour. The kids loved it.

Yes that was such good value compared to Centre Parks and a great swimming pool and fab accommodation

What an utterly disgusting and classist comment.

You're kidding right ?

As a 'lower earner' I would never waste my money on Centre Parks . If I wanted a UK holiday park I would go to Butlins or Haven - used to go several times when DC younger. Always ate in a decent pub somewhere though - most chain restaurants are overrated and overpriced for microwave meals .

If spending any more than that I would like sunshine .

We went to Crieff Hydro in English school summer holidays but after Scottish schools had gone back. The only activity we booked before the day was zip wires. Could get a tennis court on the day every day, same with the golf (where they expect no experience). Didn't ride ponies. The boys were too old for me to know what the activities for preteens are like. Short walk into Crieff itself. Also did white water rafting off site.

Bluestone is fantastic. We’ve been eight times 😳

I also liked CP abroad but my Dd doesn’t like any kind of CP at all.

CP is grim. The crappy boxes all in a row, are not lodges, and barely cabins. They remind me of barracks, the sofas are foam like and industrial. It all needs a good clean and updating. Some of the accommodation is better, but when I can go to Italy and stay in a beautiful villa with a beautiful view for the price of a CP view over a manufactured lake in essentially a massive shed (but wow, it has a hot tub ) I genuinely wonder who is choosing to pay to stay there and wax lyrical about it.

And all you get is the accommodation! And a communal pool. We paid £45 for bowling. In a worse equipped bowling alley than you would find on the high street for £20. The restaurants are mediocre. The catering equipment they provide you is poor.

We don't mind paying, we've had some very expensive holidays, but I want value. And CP isn't it. I would personally choose a lovely accommodation, near to many activities. So you wake up to luxury, then do a week of a bespoke itinerary, in places designed specifically for that activity. A proper climbing centre for example, rather than a small wall in CP where they will charge you twice as much for an experience nowhere near as good.

You couldn't be more wrong! I've camped with my kids for over 22 years now. Occasionally get persuaded to waste my money on CP and it never gets better! There are some great ones in the UK but Europe really goes for it and for the last 15 years we've gone abroad. I have 4 kids with 2 at uni now yet still they want to join us where ever we end up during summer because of the places we've seen.

8 years ago I looked up a CP weekend, jotted the cost down for 4 of us then challenged myself to take my youngest two (aged 7 and 10) to Rome. We had cheap flights, and airbnb apartment, booked two children based tours, one of the Vatican and one of the forum (I will look up the company because the guy had us all entranced and this was my 4th visit), then spent the third full day doing gladiator training at a place just outside of the main part of Rome (easily accessible by bus) - I hadn't realised my husband had booked us in too! And we came home with £500.00 spare. The kids LOVED it, we all learnt loads, ate far too much gelato and pizza/pasta, enjoyed the sun and all in all it was incredible.

I don't wish to put holiday camps down, I've been to loads. But I'd rather go basic with a PGL package than pay the ridiculous prices for worn out accommodation and smelly swimming pools in CPs.

Are you sure that’s where you went? 😂

We go to Crieff Hydro several times a year and have done for 30 years now. All the kids in the family (nieces, nephews, grand kids as well as own dcs) love it. Loads to do, most of it free. Last time I had the best massage and facial of my life while DH was in the pool with kids.

I know it well, and can’t think of any park where they charge for entry. Think your relative was had!

Hilarious!

Luxury Butlins 😂😂😂😂😂 sorry

Brace yourself, OP. People who like Center Parcs, really like Center Parcs.

Maybe they don’t like the hot weather, maybe they like the extra activities on offer and the short journey time. It’s quicker and easier than going abroad. People still go abroad as well.

The kids love it and unless you’ve been you can’t judge if it’s worth the cost.

Creiff Hydro is our preference and we still go even now our DC are older. Cinema night is a family favourite.

Gleneagles in Scotland.

Try https://www.frittonlake.co.uk/ or https://holidays.cabu.co.uk/cabu-by-the-sea

We went on a day pass to Elveden one with friends and their kids as a freebie 2003. Sorry to hear it the same horror show that greeted us. We couldn't believe the state of the place for the prices

We holiday in Scotland and found Crieff Hydro a dump. And our neighbours screamed at each other constantly.

We really enjoyed Achrannie though.

https://www.auchrannie.co.uk/?gadsource=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIIdvKtr2DhAMVTZRoCR1HuAOpEAAYASAAEgJbUvDBwE

No one would want to go there, evidently. They might catch the poor.

So true. Its like a cult

I quite like CP as it’s very easy but as mentioned my Dd really doesn’t

Genuinely interested to know where you can take a family of 4 abroad somewhere hot for £1200, which is what we pay for 4 nights in CP. whenever I have looked at going abroad it’s been at least £2k for a ferry (plus long drive) and a Eurocamp so we haven’t been able to do it but if there’s a way to do it for less I’d love to!

Wow. Thanks all for the replies.

I don’t mind paying money for an experience but it was grotty and run down and I was so disappointed.

I wonder if we will look to head to France for a week camping / glamping and bbqing .

I think for me , there are just way too many people at CP. I’m not wanting high processed crap food either.

About 5 years ago - DH and I went to a Hoseasons.
Stunning challet with gorgeous kitchen and living room . Hot tub on the front deck . It was so luxurious. A few small restaurants and in an area of natural beauty . However not much there on site for children ! I just assumed CP would be exclusive for the 2.8k we spent. The curtains and cushions ( well the sofa too) was filthy!!!!!!
It was just terrible.

My kids love flamingoland caravan park. It's cheesy and it bit worn around the edges but least you can self cater (supermarkets handy deliver) and go on roller coasters every day