Why do you like Centre Parcs?

[lalalove]

I really struggle to see the appeal of Centre Parcs. If you love it, and go there frequently, what are your reasons?

Personally I can’t get over how expensive it is, when for the same price you could travel aboard and experience a different culture/climate.
Even for a staycation in the UK you can stay in much nice accommodation/locations for less. Does it not feel like just being at home? Having to cook and clean up after the family? And if you do eat out there are just a limited choice of dull chain restaurants.

Don’t hate me, but it just seems like a glorified butlins with an outrageous price tag (nothing wrong with butlins, at least it’s more affordable which I get!)

The majority of activities are chargeable as well aren’t they? So what are the benefits of going there!?

I think I’m in the minority so maybe the comments can change my mind!

YANBU I think it’s the biggest rip off ever. Selling people the outside world

But it isn't the outside world? I'm a Londoner but the countryside I know has very few footpaths, twisty roads with cars bombing along so aren't suitable for walking or dc cycling. Or you can get in a car & drive & park somewhere to go for a walk.

You know they have Centre Parcs in Europe too right?

We stayed at whinfell when the COVID restrictions meant that the pool and restaurants were closed so we just used it as a bargain base from which to explore some of the lake District.

It is indeed extortionate however I think we are going to go next week! There’s just something about the kids being able to bike everywhere without worrying - all my boys learnt to properly ride bikes at CP. Also just love being amongst the trees for a few days! It’s just a wholesome kind of holiday. We go abroad a lot which I love but I think we spend more time as a family at CP.

We’ve been to many in Europe. Loved then all. Kids have loved the treehouses, boathouses and little houses. Some have huge indoor play areas with waterfalls annd trails (not talking Aqua Mundo). Water slides, wave pool, lazy river, wild river, pool etc aok included. Some have indoor ski domes (kids loved that) annd you can go fishing, bike along canals, eat croissants, etc. All have been updated and really nice. You don’t have to pay for a lot of activities but yes for some - same as if you go abroad. Keeps the kids entertained and they love it. Yes we travel overseas regularly so it isn’t our own holidays but don’t knock it till you try it - oh and it’s much cheaper that it is here.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mumsnet_classics/1385104-Center-Parcs-Anal-sex

^ handy link for anyone wondering

It is ridiculously expensive but it is such an easy holiday for us (me, DH and three teens/preteen). We used to go during term time when they were little.

The bikes are a novelty, we spend lots of time together (cycling, swimming, restaurants) and can also relax at the lodge (although the Tv is terrible and the DC do moan about the WiFi!)

We went once for 4 days when the kids were 4 and 6. It was school hols so pricey.

The kids loved it. They still talk about it 7 years later even though we only did one activity in 4 days and it rained every day, so no playgrounds or anything. They loved the cabin, they just loved it! The pools were great too. And the nightly discos. I had a session at the spa which was amazing.

From a parent perspective, it was the easiest holiday ever. Under an hour's drive and totally designed for families. Really comfy cabin and just felt cosy and relaxed.

We didn't eat out there so didn't spend much, just took our own food, so although it was £££, it wasn't that bad. Not sure we could have gone abroad for the price but we would never have done that as the kids didn't travel that well - dd1 has ASD.

CP is an easy holiday. No cars, swimming, cycling, quiet. Everything is just there.

It’s crazy expensive, yes, but it’s one of the only places where my teens do not moan. They love the rapids and can spend hours on those and the slides. It’s just easy. You really have to forget about the cost.

Love the car free village, and all ages in our family have a great time- regardless of what age they have been when we went.
cant wait for summers visit.

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there and I didn’t realise until you said it.

Of all the holidays we go on, we spend more time together as a family at CP.

My children smile from ear to ear from the minute we get there, it’s worth every penny to me.

I went off peak recently with my toddler and partner. I absolutely loved it. We live fairly close to Whinfell, so getting there was easy. It
loved being in a lodge in the forest but with the added bonus of loads of things to do with the little one. I enjoyed being able to cook our own meals and the weather was glorious, so we managed to have a BBQ during that time. We met some lovely couples with kids and just had a really nice time. I’m going back again this year, off peak, and I’ll definitely make a family tradition of it. I just wish it wasn’t so expensive!

When my kids were that age we did the mini trek, and the thing where they get to drive a little jeep car and collect a puzzle. They loved those!
There is also activities like chocolate chefs etc where you can leave them in the activity centre if they’re happy to do that.
They also liked the mini bowling and mini golf.

When they were 4/5 we started doing indoor climbing and badminton.

While they’re 3 you can also go in term time and get it for about £5/600 (unless you’re a teacher :) )

I don’t.

We've been a few times. I would prefer to go on a city break or a nice cottage by the sea. But those holidays are currently a slog for us as we have kids age 2, 5 and 7. So we think of it as a holiday for the kids which means we sort of get a break as they are so entertained it's easy parenting for a week.

Pros for me
-it's pretty much weatherproof. Loads to do if it's raining.
-Easy to drive to
-Cabins are nice, clean, well equipped
-Kids can cycle everywhere safely
-My kids LOVE the pool and are happy there for the whole morning so we don't really bother with the paid for activities.
-Spa is nice if you can stretch to it
-Minimal thinking and planning for adults.

Cons
-I feel like I'm in the Truman show when I'm there. Can't explain but it's weirdly artificial.
-Bit repetitive so 3-4 nights is well enough
-Food is expensive. We mainly self cater/packed lunches.
-Food choices are limited
-Activities are expensive (but you can easy get away without them).

I went with friends last year, as a friend of mine hyped the place up - I never saw the appeal. We were there for 5 days and it was the most dull and boring 5 days I've ever experienced. The activities are shite and so expensive. How people go there yearly is beyond me personally. For the same amount of money it cost us (£450pp) I'd rather stayed in an Airbnb abroad.

It’s safe for kids and they love it.
They get to do things they can’t do at home.
No cars.
They have the best leisure pools in the UK.
It is easy.
The spas are amazing.
It isn’t that expensive if you go in term time.

I think you must somehow have missed the various activities you can do

There are 128 different activities for 3-5 year olds you can do. Most do involve an extra charge

https://www.centerparcs.co.uk/discover-center-parcs/things-to-do.html

You can also leave an explore the area if you want to

I am amazed that a three year old could be bored with a few days of biking around (we took the balance bike as he’s not on a pedal yet) a huge leisure pool with age appropriate slides to go on, a nightly disco, soft play, adventure playgrounds, space to roam about without having to worry about cars, feeding wildlife, and that’s all before you get to any paid activities!

Sorry but for a three year old to be bored by all that you can’t have been doing it right.

Or do you mean you were bored as adults?

I can see why some people might be, to be fair, but for me I just focus on it being an enjoyable and active holiday for my son, and I get to relax with a wine and a wood burner in the evenings. Bonus if my mum comes to visit for a day or two (I always put another another couple of names on the booking so they don’t have to pay the day visit fee, you can do this as a three he’d lodge sleeps up to six) and I get a morning to myself at the spa.

i really think it’d either one of those things you either love or you don’t though.

I have been there with 4 kids under 7 and the worst throat infection I've ever had, and once when my bag didn't make it off the train and I had no clothes and I still remember them as the most genuinely relaxing family holidays I've ever had. The kids swim for literally hours, simple meals in the lodge and they used to do themed 3hr childcare sessions with an included activity that were actually really good value. Have also done Butlins but when it's closed to the general public and you have to be an evangelical Christian to go (don't ask!) and that was fun too!

Yes we’ve been a couple of times when kids were that age and there’s loads to do! Plus no need to spend that much as you can go term time!

I never got the appeal years ago.... then I had kids.

We go yearly for a long weekend and its genuinely often the holiday I look forward to the most as a family as its just so bloody easy. And for me that's the appeal. We're also only an hour away from 2 options so thats a bonus as less travel time = more time actually away, and generally easier with the kids!

I have 2 kids - 9yr and 3yrs and there are activities they both love, and each time they pick a new thing to try. They can walk/run/cycle everywhere and I don't worry about them being hit by cars (no cars allowed, except for transition days). The restaurants aren't amazing tbf, but the food is typical kid-friendly stuff so I don't worry they will be fussy when we eat out. We have a child with allergies too and every menu has many options for them, and its all clearly labeled. I feel like the pressure to entertain kids on holiday just doesn't apply when we're at CP as there is just so much for them to do. Whereas when we go abroad I do feel quite pressured to investigate local things for them to do, consider the food options etc. and sometimes that can take away from my own enjoyment of the holiday.

I love being in the forest and wandering back from restaurant/activity in the dark and having all the little fairy lights twinklng in the trees (we go in winter as they make it look amazing then - really magical for kids with fairy lights, enchanted light forest, light shows etc). The lodges are well equipped and cosy and it's lovely being so dark at night etc. Basically - for me, CP means cosy family time.

Yeah my experience too. Been once as it was near some friends we were visiting and never again. There are some things in life that are both expensive and basic and CP is the epoch of this.

To be fair the pool is brill and that adds an all weather element to it which you don't get anywhere else in the UK. Kids loved that.

I don't get the cycling - it's just round tarmac roads that all look the same past lodges that all look the same. It's not the countryside - you can't even go in the woods properly and where there's a pond there's plastic signs everywhere saying "life cycle of a frog" or some bollocks.

We've stayed in some Hoeseasons type lodges in the middle of nowhere which were amazing, opposite of CP which is both isolated yet crowded.

A big part of hols for me is eating out / discovering new places... all the outlets are beyond basic and generic. Starbucks? Cafe Rouge???? And ££££ as well. I could have an amazing meal in Pulia or Istria for that and the holiday as a whole would be the same price.

Everything costs extra too which feels cheeky when it's so expensive.

It's sort of an industrialisation of leisure - being herded in queuing with the cars, booking your "experiences".

I sound horrible I know - I'm not, honestly! Maybe a bit :-)

Just saying (again) for balance that the pool is good.

It removes the mental load. That's what I like. DD not good enough at cycling for proper roads? No worries she'll be fine at CP. Can't think what to do when it rains? Pool. Dunno where to eat that does food they'll like? Choice of familiar restaurants or shop. DC can't agree what they like doing? Pool again, or easily split up and do different things. Don't know how to fill that gap in the time between the "day out" and bedtime? Pool again. Trying to think what to do tomorrow? Pool again, they still love it on day 4/5/etc.

We have done camping/hotels/overseas/UK country and city breaks and DH and I prefer all of those in terms of our own enjoyment of the holiday. But if what we want is to not have to think too much, and to have children who are so happy that they are suddenly WAY easier to parent... Center Parcs.