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 extortionate for what is essentially a posh Pontins/Butlins set in a forest
I look at the indoor pools and think if the weather is bad they are going to be heaving

If you are going to spend the money it costs, surely you could find a place in the world that costs the same or less for a week or two and get guaranteed weather and have the freedom to pick and choose where you go and what you do

It reminds me of a cruise ship. You aren’t expected to leave

Or one giant Airbnb that adds nothing to an area (at least with an Airbnb people shop, go out to dinner and generally spend money in the area)

Of the people I know who regularly go and call it a “real family holiday” from an outsiders perspective they swap full time/wraparound care in day to day life with dc going to as many lessons/activities as they can
There doesn’t seem to be much family time going on.
Or maybe I only know people who don’t want their dc around them.

If we holiday in the UK, I want to be at the seaside, not in a damp shed in the middle of Bedfordshire.

It’s expensive, the restaurants are really average, and I found the tropical paradise air temperature too cold.

The cost of the package and all of the activities, food etc whilst there. At Sherwood pines, you can see into the CP and it feels a bit like an inner compound! of a beautiful forest.

I live near Whinfell, and they treat the staff like crap, so I dislike them just for that tbh.

Also, it's expensive for what it is. You'd be better off hiring a cottage in the location you want to visit since you have to pay for all the extras anyway.

A lot of people rave about the pools, but I really don't understand why, as they're often not very clean and very crowded.

As I said a rat in the rapids. That would seriously ick me out. My SIL is petrified of rodents and she’d freak out. Not the relaxing treat you’d expect.

I’m relieved the foreign ones are better, would consider going there.

One type that plans and books holidays with the kids being happy and having fun as their main focus. So they will go to places like CP, Butlins, AI’s with kids clubs etc etc.
Then there’s the other type where the adults plan and book the holiday they want and drag the kids along.

There’s a middle group surely?

We have never done AI but do CPs regularly. It’s great for a multi generational group family holiday and easy which makes a difference. The restaurants are a bit crap though.

You're right on the evening entertainment but not really on the rest of it!

The CP pools are very much playing pools - perhaps you accidentally went to the spa or something? They all have - a lazy river, rapids, at least 3 flumes, a water playground type thing with several smaller water slides

There are many activities that aren't woodland walks. Over 200... https://www.centerparcs.co.uk/discover-center-parcs/things-to-do.html

There also is an arcade..

I’m very surprised at the comments at it being damp etc. we have had a problem. The lodges are gorgeous and well equipped

Agreed. And I’ve been multiple times too

It's all about price for me! Give me a tacky caravan park over centre parks any day. A quarter of the price and way more fun for my kids.

We're an easily pleased family, love an evening disco or a 2p machine. Centre parks is probably too upmarket for us anyway. Infact the price is probably to keep families like ours out 🤣

The cleanliness problems come about because the staff are treated like crap and not given enough time to actually do the job well, so it doesn't surprise me. I've known lots of people who've worked there over the years and the management are awful.

I was hardly lording. It's just a consideration for some people, such as those who understand the concept of sunk costs.

It's a long time since we went but I still consider Der Kempervennen in the Netherlands much better value than any of the UK Centre Parcs.
I did, however, note that there seemed to be fewer lifeguards - but that seems to be standard at all the European holiday parks we've been to

I had the exact opposite experience.

longleat has always been brill for us.

went to one in Belgium and it was a shit hole.

We love the evening entertainment (none of that at CP), we love the activities (the only ones CP do are woodland walks as far as I can tell), we love the swimming pool with flumes and slides and stuff, CP pools are spa pools/swimming pools not playing pools.

CP pools are the main feature for my dc. Which holiday parks have comparable pools?

We all play badminton which we struggled to find in other parks

Last time I went to CP I ended up with conjunctivitis from the pools.

We love it! When kids are young it’s an amazing uk based break. So many activities to book, kids are on their bikes the whole time with some challenging hills 😂
You can go in a group without being glued together and the pool is lots of fun! Ice cream and sweetie shop! The kids love it!!

the restaurants are naff and it’s inexcusable really. We know this and we work around it but for what you pay you shouldn’t have to! I don’t know why the Dodd situation is so bad!

We love holidays abroad but we still go to Center Parcs! You just have to reconcile that it’s not cheap. It is what it is.

Flew long and short haul with dc from them being babies and never found flying all that stressful.
Choose a later night flight and take a “pillow” sized plushy (we had a snowman and a dog)
and once the excitement of the airport, boarding, take off, meal and finding they can get children’s tv with their own earphones they drop off to sleep for hours of the flight.

Should mention both have ADHD so not known for being the calmest of children.

Don’t think you can say CP is environmentally friendly.

I think there's not an issue that it's bad, it's just that it's very expensive and not a good deal compared to a holiday abroad. It's about 4 times the price of Butlins or Haven for example, for only a slight upgrade in accommodation standards.

I've never been. I agree that they get away with the prices they charge and its busy so there must be some people that like it.

I like "posh" centreparcs in Netherlands like the UK but way nicer and better value.

I think it’s classic inverted snobbery to be honest.

I agree.

Same haha! I don't think I would really gel with centre packs clientele after this thread 😂