Why do so many people dislike Centre Parcs so much?

[coulditbeme2323]

Following on from the thread about over rated things, CP came up again and again.

I feel I am in the minority on MN, but in real life it runs anywhere between 95-100% capacity.

Of course people are entitled to their opinion and if you dislike it you dislike it, but honestly what do people find so awful about it?

It's a cabin in the woods that costs the same as a week all inclusive abroad.

it costs a lot of money but then there’s extra costs on top of you want to do anything exciting.

Full of lairy, gobby people. It had a Butlins feel.

Our family spent a week vomiting afterwards due to stomach bugs from the poo.

There was a high fence around the complex and as someone who likes adventure, you had to make a real effort to get out on my bike.

What CP was that?

I think it's over-rated purely based on price point.

I actually like center parcs but the price is extortionate compared to a holiday abroad (whether that's all inclusive or Eurocamp style etc).

It has its place, but it's an over priced, over sanitised "nature" based break.

I've been a couple of times, and whilst we enjoyed it, especially the pool it's nothing spectacular.

It's poor value for money.

I’ve never been to one, but it seems fairly obvious that it’s insanely expensive for not very much? I used to be totally baffled that people who lived near us when we lived in the rural Midlands would shell out huge sums to go to CP at half term — I could understand it more if you lived somewhere with no outside space in the middle of a big industrial city, but we had woods with lovely bike paths right on the doorstep and a lovely swimming pool close by.

Poor value for money and usually quite rude staff.

We have a disabled son and they couldn’t have been less helpful with our stay. It was a real eye opener that they are just about making the money and nothing about the experience of guests.

Edit to add we haven’t been back since and also for us it’s a right faff not being able to have a car anywhere near our accommodation…. but I appreciate that’s a big part of their ‘thing’.

I prefer to go to an actual log cabin in the woods. They do exist in the UK. I’ve been to Center Parcs three times and each time I’ve tried my best to love it but I don’t.

I found the restaurants to be like the food court in a shopping centre, and the bars to be like the worst stereotypes of a Weatherspoons.

I loved the pool, the chalet, the cycling and the activities (I was less impressed with the availability of those activities) but the eating options were just awful.

I've been once and loved it but I'd struggle to spend the money knowing that I could instead earmark it for a cleaner, a luxury food shop, meals out and local days out and still have change (so cheaper to buy relaxation in my own perfectly cleaned-by-someone-else home)

I've been once and loved it but I'd struggle to spend the money knowing that I could instead earmark it for a cleaner, a luxury food shop, meals out and local days out and still have change (so cheaper to buy relaxation in my own perfectly cleaned-by-someone-else home)

Went once when the kids were young. Never again. Massively overpriced. Cabin was damp. You got skinned alive for all the extras. Felt crowded.

Weatherspoons holiday in every way except the price.

I've never been so can't say I dislike it for definite but the idea isn't at all attractive for the price. It seems very expensive to be able to go swimming on holiday (can do at a caravan park much cheaper) or walk in a forest (can do so from my house). Not interested in archery or bike riding etc.

You ever been to Butlin’s since you think it has ‘Butlin’s feel’? Butlin’s is better than centre parks because everything is included. Amazing pool, great shows, beach, kids disco, football coaching, adventure playground. Don’t knock it.

Never been but I think they work out expensive for what they.

We had years of fun at Butlins with cheap deals and unpopular summer week with young kids - last week of school hoildays - many of the people weren't our cup of tea but we enjoyed the hoilday rain or shine.

Then when last wasn't great too busy we switched to UK beach hoildays then as kids got older to city breaks.

Some people prefer a week on a beach and pool in Spain and some of them feel that's only what a hoilday can be - others fancy different hoildays. I don't think we ever fancied center parks or Pontins parks either but know others who've had great breaks at them.

I think it's great with pre school kids when you are not governed by the school holidays and the ridiculous price increases associated with them! At that age most of the activities you do with them like the parks and pool are free and it's nice to walk/bike around without cars to worry about. As soon as they hit school age it became unaffordable and we started going abroad for the same price!

it's the outdoors for people who don't really like the outdoors IMO.
overpriced accommodation that's not particularly nice, crap food offerings, and then pay even more for activities you could actually do anywhere if you really liked the outdoors!
Butlins for people who think they're posh.

the fence thing kills me too, i felt trapped!!

That's what we liked - though only went to Skegness one. Great pool lots of free shows - fun fare nearby beach - could walk to other places like into town.

We did self catering as kids could be tricky about waking and eating times when young - and while it could get expensive drinks at shows - we got a lot for the basic money and did a lot in the week.

Its just extremely expensive for what it is. You can get log cabins in Woods with hottubs for much cheaper. All I ever hear friends say is 'well the swimming is free'.. i should think so too. I can see it really losing its popularity soon

One thing I do agree with on the whole the food, there are a couple of places that are decent, but on the whole I agree the food is poor.

The cabins are damp

the restaurants are terrible

the “sub tropical swimming paradise” is not that warm

the spa treatments are expensive and not good quality

Super expensive. Shabby. Swimming pools not especially clean. It’s a substandard experience for an inflated price. Very poor value.

It depends when you go and who with. We go with another family sharing a 4 bed, Mon-Fri in term time (shoot me) in Jan/Feb and it’s well worth the £300-400 per family for 5 days of relaxation and swimming.

I agree the school holiday pricing is preposterous though!

Yes the fun fair! The arcades is the only place we spent any extra money. We get the food packages because I don’t want to cook when I’m on holiday. Can’t go wrong with a full English each morning! We rarely had lunch as we filled them up and had an early tea.