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?

Agree about the rude staff. I know Disney is way more expensive, but we were so used to smiles and staff bending over backwards for you that it was quite a shock to pull up at Center Parcs and get 'greeted' by this rude woman who spoke to us like she hated us and could barely be bothered to give us directions to our cabin.

And, like everyone else says, the price is extortionate and then you have to pay extra to do almost every activity. Never again.

Hope you have found some more accommodating and caring holiday providers.

It’s colossally overpriced shite. There were loads of cars and vehicles driving round when we went and nowhere to really cycle. The food was absolutely appalling, it was inedible and so expensive - I had to throw away a vanilla slice as it was like rubber and impossible to eat, and I’ve never thrown away a vanilla slice in my life. The activities were eye watering and we went to do activities, not sit around eating beans on toast and playing games we brought from home.

I can see that if for whatever reason you can’t fly then it’s somewhere you can go for a family holiday. Or if you don’t care you are being ripped off. I much prefer Butlins and I’m going half board mon-Fri for two for about £400 next year - a great break for me and my dd and with the £2k I’ll be saving on a similar centre parcs break I can buy my own bloody red squirrel 😁

Agree, plus it’s such a long term.

It opens up destinations you probably wouldn't bother going to for a week as well.

And they don't have washing machines apparently? I don't understand how anyone can go away and not wash their clothes, especially if they're outdoors or have kids.

You just pack enough clothes 😆😆

The only holiday I have ever washed clothes is at family holiday home when there for 4 weeks plus

Too much like organised fun for me. We prefer renting an apartment or villa somewhere abroad or in the UK and just exploring (we have young kids), I’m not interested in being contained. There’s plenty to do everywhere you
go.

Agreed. I go away every summer for 2 weeks, in a haven van and we manage. I just pack each days clothes and then 4 outfits for nighttime and try to wash in the sink/shower for stuff that’s not too gross.
if I’m stuck there is a laundrette on site.

My sister in laws sister in law. So outing haha.

Had rats nesting behind the headboard. When they pulled the headboard forward you could see their stash of food. Definitely rats not squirrels. As well as other cleaning issues.

Same way people go camping without washing machines. You go to the laundrette or you just pack plenty.

I've been on holidays where I have washed and where I haven't.... It's hardly inconceivable to pack a weeks worth of clothes is it?

It’s not as nice as it was 15-20 years ago (though what is?) and their prices are insane for school holidays. We only ever used to go during term when our kids were under 5 because of this.

It’s too expensive, and every time I’ve gone I’ve righty come back with a cold or a sickness bug.

That said I enjoy going round there on the bike and find the accommodation relaxing, especially if there’s a gang of you.

We don't fly, we drive. We were at a park in France in 6 hours door to door . Quicker than driving to Cornwall for us.

It's better than CP, get a pool, activities, nicer food, better weather, BBQ etc and including petrol, rolls and le shuttle.... it's all cheaper than just accommodation at CP 🤷‍♀️

Everyone does what works for them.

Neither DH nor I enjoy driving - we would be very tired and stressed by a 6 hour drive. Our kids are giant whingers about being in a car for a long time as well.

So that just wouldn't fill the CP niche for us at all - love being there in an hour on the train and then a free shuttle bus (Woburn)

I’m sure my points have already been said.
For me, it’s filled with adults doing permissive parenting ‘o no Hugo don’t do that please’ repeated 100x with no consequences when dear little Hugo doesn’t give a shit and continues to do whatever annoying/naughty/dangerous/anti-social thing he wants to.

The whole premise is aimed at the aspirational middle class who think it’s a break in nature when it’s just all manufactured, and priced higher than necessary so that they think they won’t be mingling with the poor working classes.

The overpriced activities and actively trying to part you with your money at every turn.

Yes, the swimming is lovely and included, but they’re now shortening the opening hours which is a shame.

The food at the restaurants/takeaways are not nice, the shops on site are hugely overpriced.

It’s so expensive for a hut in the woods.

Well it's not 6 hours solid driving. But yes fair enough.

Yep, we are in n-east Scotland and would rather drive and take Chunnel or ferry than spend £££££ on a shitter holiday! My kids love the ferry too, that’s where the holiday starts. The sites we have stayed at blow CP out of the water in terms of value for money and activities included. It’s just really hard to justify dropping so much money on what is just worse value a lot of the time.

Even the paid for activities are so much cheaper. We paid like 10 euro PP for a treetop climbing course with multiple levels, at CP it was like £30 PP and not as good.

Another alternative (ish), is Forest Holidays, run in Forestry Commission Parks. No pool, but organised activities, some near beaches and the Lodges were ten times better for less money .

I'm ok to do lots of travel for a longer holiday but with young kids for a long weekend, I just can't see driving 6 hours being worthwhile at all.

My observation is that very few CP guests are doing a full week, I think the niche is very much long weekends or mid week if you have preschoolers

I did find Crieff Hydro good value for money actually. We stayed in self-catering accommodation and they had loads of stuff for kids included: pool, play parks, a soft play, crafts and activities during day, sports, lots of walks and trails nearby, a magician and kids disco in evening. I was pleasantly surprised by how much we got for our money! We really enjoyed it.

No, it relies on living somewhere (like where I live in Nottinghamshire) where October half-term in state schools is two weeks.

My sister said the main difference between Center Parcs and Butlins is in Center Parcs the parents bray at their feral kids from Starbucks and in Butlins they bellow at them from the pub.

October break is also two weeks in Scotland (our council area at least).

We drive 1hr 30 to Folkestone, then it's around 2 hours through to France, broken up by terminal and train... Then 2 hours on to the park maximum.

DD likes a DVD each side and will happily read 😁 so it's easy.for us.

@ThreeStripeQueen 😂 that’s very accurate in my limited experience of both