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Christmas

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Original poster

Centre Parcs??!!

22 replies

ILoveGroot · 29/10/2020 17:47

We are due to go to Centre Parcs Winter wonderland at the end of November. I'm 50/50 about whether or not to cancel it due to Covid, has anyone been recently? Just wondered what it was like there at the moment!

OP posts:
LilyMyOneAndOnly · 29/10/2020 18:23

We are due to go mid November.. I've found a Facebook group which is site specific (ie just longleats) which is very active and lots of people posting questions and answers, including people who are there atm. Might be worth a try?

Crackery · 29/10/2020 18:38

We are due to go to whinfell in January. I'd love to hear current experiences...

RaggieDolls · 29/10/2020 18:57

We've rearranged our winter wonderland to next October half term. We were due to meet my sisters and that isn't allowed under rule of six especially with two of us in tier two areas.

I appreciate that doesn't help with your question but they were ace about moving it. They made it really easy.

BibbyDarling · 29/10/2020 18:59

I’ve just been to Whinfell- felt very safe, staff were amazing, enforced the rules & took everyone’s temp etc. Restaurants all very socially distanced and one way. Booked to go back again in Jan! Xox

BibbyDarling · 29/10/2020 19:01

Also felt very quiet because it’s not operating at full capacity. Got all our towels and bedding delivered in an airtight bag so no cleaners in but everything really well thought through if you need extras from guest services.
We saw people turned away at the pool because they had a temp...

PrayingandHoping · 29/10/2020 19:05

Just been to Longleat

Can't praise them enough! The place is spotless!!!!

The cleaners have 4 hours to clean 2 lodges each then another team comes in and sprays the whole place with electrified water which disinfects everything, all rugs, curtains, sofas, the lot

The changing and communal areas and constantly cleaned, everytime someone comes out a changing room a cleaner goes in and cleans it.

There are marshals everywhere helping and making sure everything is as it needs to be. But with a really cheerful disposition making sure everyone is enjoying themselves!!

We were SO impressed! We've booked to do again for the Christmas lights (which were just going up and looked great) in December.

Yes the swimming is restricted and u have to book it.... but that is the only negative.

GreekOddess · 29/10/2020 19:07

It's very quiet. Very strict with social distancing and additional cleaning. They are taking it very seriously, puts everyone else to shame!

Original poster
ILoveGroot · 29/10/2020 20:14

All sounds fab!

Think I'm more worried about one of us being I'll and having to quarantine, so not being able to go at all. The last two years we've been my DD was ill ... Hmm

OP posts:
PrayingandHoping · 29/10/2020 20:36

U can cancel at the last minute if u change your mind or are unwell.

They put other holiday companies to shame as u cannot loose your money by booking with them (we were meant to go at Easter so it got cancelled and a full refund)

FerrisB · 29/10/2020 21:32

Just back from elveden and felt very safe the whole time. Rules being followed, haven't seen a soul without a mask indoors. Activities and meals are arranged with social distancing as the focus. It's meant some queues where you wouldn't normally see them (eg going into swimming, going to Starbucks) but all in all very orderly.

I'm not into swimming but if you are you might be put off by the 2 hour rule. There's also no waves, and the lazy river and the rapids were noticeably slower than usual.

I wouldn't be surprised if the whole thing is shut down by Christmas to be honest. Sherwood shuts down tomorrow as they've gone into tier 3.

DeRigueurMortis · 29/10/2020 22:05

We've been recently (Sherwood).

It was great.

They've obviously spent a lot to make things safe.

Hand sanitizer everywhere. One way systems, screens in shops/restaurants, you have to pre-book the pool.

There are staff at the entrances to the shops checking you have a mask/sanitise your hands and ensuring numbers - all very cheery and polite rather than oppressive.

It's obvious they are operating on reduced capacity to enable social distancing but that actually worked out great as there were no queues, loads of space etc.

We were a bit worried about going but it felt safer then at home if I'm honest - so much so we've booked to go back in December Grin.

balzamico · 29/10/2020 22:16

Sherwood has just announced that it is closing for a period of time due to Notts going into tier 3
We've been many years for the pre Christmas lights, it's wonderful.

DeRigueurMortis · 29/10/2020 22:18

Bugger Sad

MarmaladeTeepee · 30/10/2020 04:55

We had a two night pre-Christmas stay booked at Sherwood but can't see that happening. I'm expecting Sherwood to remain closed and we live in an area that is about to go into tier 3 and center parcs have clearly stated on their website anyone travelling from a tier 3 area will not be admitted to their parcs. Obviously, things may have eased by Christmas but I honestly can't see that happening.

As we were booked to go at the beginning of the school holidays I was slightly dreading it. I'd heard horror stories from the summer hols about people not being able to book on activities due to high demand and we would only get 1 slot in the pool which would really disappoint my DC. I'm incredibly impressed with Center Parcs' customer service though and the way they've handled the crisis, so I'd definitely book with them in the future and it's so magical at Christmas too.

silky86 · 30/10/2020 07:18

We were supposed to go to Whinfell last weekend but live in Greater Manchester which went into tier 3 last Friday. Able to cancel no problem. However we were all gutted.

PrayingandHoping · 30/10/2020 07:22

@MarmaladeTeepee yes they are being v strict about people coming from tier 3. Some residents from those areas have been going anyway and have been turned away at check in!

LoopyGremlin · 30/10/2020 07:38

We are due to go after Christmas. How do you book the swimming pool? Do you do it in advance of going?

Original poster
ILoveGroot · 30/10/2020 08:04

@LoopyGremlin you can book swim slots and activities 4 weeks before you go. We can book ours today and they are plenty of slots for swimming, you pay 10p per person to book. Think swimming pool is open for longer as well as slots start at 8am.

Our Covid numbers are creeping up daily, trying to predict what tier we may be in when we are due to go!

OP posts:
LoopyGremlin · 30/10/2020 08:36

Thanks @ILoveGroot
Fingers crossed you get to go.

FerrisB · 30/10/2020 09:30

We are due to go after Christmas. How do you book the swimming pool? Do you do it in advance of going?

Yes but actually while we were on site last week we got an email saying more slots had opened up and we could book more.

PrayingandHoping · 30/10/2020 09:31

@FerrisB on top of your 2? Wow u were lucky! Didn't get that at longleat!

FerrisB · 30/10/2020 10:02

@PrayingandHoping

Yep- We could have booked one more if we'd wanted to!

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