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Original poster

Center Parcs

41 replies

rossKemp · 03/05/2020 23:59

Hi all,

Do you think that when Center Parcs opens it will be relatively easy or fairly difficult to book a break? I can’t work out whether there’s likely to be loads of
availability, or whether there’ll be a scramble of people trying to rebook their breaks

OP posts:
IdblowJonSnow · 04/05/2020 00:08

I think anyone cautious wont want to go but there will be plenty of people willing to take their chances.
I personally wouldn't want to go somewhere like that. Swimming dome thing will be a germ pit for a start.

firawla · 04/05/2020 00:39

I had an email survey from them the other day asking if / when we’d think of going, and how we would feel about different options like no swimming available, no playground etc! It said with less or no activities available they’d be doing it cheaper. Was interesting to see what the thought processes seem to be from their side... I would probably go when it’s open, if there is enough to do - I wouldn’t go just to sit in the accommodation with nothing. But I think it’ll be quite split with some people desperate for some kind of break and some just don’t want to risk it

ballsdeep · 04/05/2020 00:54

The swimming pool is a huge attraction for us..
We were supposed to go in may, we've booked for later in the year. It's more expensive. I won't be happy if the pool and parks aren't open

Polydolly7 · 04/05/2020 07:49

I can’t see their pool being open for some time. If it was 50% of the price with no facilities though I may consider it for a break. Just be like any other cottage holiday.

Flippinfurloughed · 04/05/2020 07:52

We had that email too - we usually go every year at Christmas with a load of friends and about 20 kids between us. It’s a way off, but I can’t comprehend wanting to go, even if it is just lodge based with no activities and take out food.

PaddyF0dder · 04/05/2020 07:55

We’re booked for mid June. I strongly suspect they won’t be open by then. Or maybe the accommodation will be open but not much else.

Couldn’t be arsed going if the pool is closed. So we’ll probably just rearrange for the autumn and hope for the best.

Bagelsandbrie · 04/05/2020 07:57

There’s no way I’d even consider going somewhere like that until at least September when we know how the lifting of lockdown will affect things. If there’s a huge surge - which I suspect there might be- then being somewhere like CP is the last place I’d want to be!

moobar · 04/05/2020 08:02

We were meant to be there March, moved to January. I'm not sure how even that will be.

I didn't get the survey but read about it.

Not sure about a surge for initial rebookings. I think they are still working on those now. They have a few staff working from home doing that.

A lot of people on the forums seem to be choosing to cancel rather than rebook.

DurhamDurham · 04/05/2020 08:07

We're due to go at the end of September, it's for my 50th with our children and granddaughter. I'm really hoping it'll be open by then but with measures in place. I'd miss the pool if it was closed but I'd probably still be happy there with my family.
We were meant to be going to Isle of Wight Festival in June and that's cancelled which I wasn't too bothered about but my husband is v disappointed, he's wanted to go to a music festival for years (I was more worried about the communal showers and toilets 😱)

swapsicles · 04/05/2020 08:12

I'm due to go in November, just going to wait and see how things pan out, not sure if we'll go if the pools unopen, we usually go every day! I did wonder though whether the chlorine would help at all to prevent spread? Maybe things may have to be booked rather than just turn up so not so busy especially restaurants?

Eeyoresstickhouse · 04/05/2020 08:13

We are meant to be going in November. I will want a significant discount if the pool etc..... isn't open. We take my disabled mum who can't walk or cycle around the forest so she would be very bored.

MaggieFS · 04/05/2020 08:17

I wouldn't want to go without the pool, and I won't be going in a pool like that for a very long time. Need to see how thins pan out.

I doubt you'll have a problem booking OP. Can't comment on what prices will be like though!

goldie04 · 04/05/2020 08:18

We've booked for November. Plenty of availability. If the pool is closed then it's closed 🤷🏽‍♀️

organisedmother · 04/05/2020 09:06

I’m going 23rd December for Christmas, been saving for over a year, not sure wether it’s worth changing to 2021 Sad

MaryShelley1818 · 04/05/2020 09:15

We've booked to do the Winter Wonderland in the first week of December for DS's Birthday.
We'll be cancelling if the pool is closed as that's the main attraction for us with a toddler.

petalseaside · 04/05/2020 09:16

I guess some families would go if there are good discounts.

Does chlorine in a pool inactivate the virus? What about the air around the poolside?

I guess it will be a long time before families will choose to go away like this again. Unless there is a vaccine.

lottiegarbanzo · 04/05/2020 09:23

Without the pool and activities its pointless. If you want 'a cottage holiday', actual cottages are much, much nicer and cost less.

LandMoor · 04/05/2020 09:26

We went the week before lockdown and it was really good they kept everyone sat away from each other in the restaurants and had hand washing facilities everywhere I couldn't fault them at all. Everything was quiet because people had obviously decided not to go. I'd not want to go when its back open though because our main attraction is the pool and I think it would be packed!

petalseaside · 04/05/2020 09:26

I was reading this morning by Dr Hart who treated Boris that

"Covid-19 is this generation’s polio. Patients have mild, moderate and severe illness. Large numbers of patients will have physical, cognitive and psychological disability post critical illness that will require long-term management."

Sensible families are not going to risk that for a holiday, I guess?

lottiegarbanzo · 04/05/2020 09:29

And if you're a large group and want to pay CP prices, you can find a holiday house with your own private pool, in a lovely part of the country. You'd get much more space and solidity too.

The only reason to pay CP prices (which last time I looked were double the cost of an overseas holiday for October half term) is for the convenience of having so many, varied, activities on tap, plus all the young-child essential playgrounds and pool.

PaddyF0dder · 04/05/2020 09:43

I’d imagine chlorine would diminish the risk a little. But not enough to rely on.

MaggieFS · 04/05/2020 09:55

I guess chlorine works for the water, but what about every other surface? Door handles? Changing rooms? The list is endless.

JulietTango · 04/05/2020 10:27

I wondered whether they would have sessions you could book to use the pool in the same way they run other the activities.
Obviously the pool would have to be free but they could then limit the number of people in there.

HolyMilkBoobiesBatman · 04/05/2020 10:49

My understanding as far as swimming goes was that the chlorine could in theory kill the virus.
If that were the case then swimming COULD be a safe activity, but they’d have to have very strict measures in place to make the changing areas safe - such as only allowing a certain number of people in so that there was no need to reuse changing rooms until they had been cleaned.
Perhaps a policy on water shoes being worn at all times as well. Closing the slides?
It sounds like a nightmare to organise and I can’t really see any company willingly taking that responsibility on.
I suppose it depends just how much money they are losing through this whether they deem it worthwhile to open.

At a guess I’d say the most logical thing would open at reduced rates and keep the pool closed or only open for the prebooked water activities so there is minimal footfall through the pool area.

Some people would probably still go for it for a bit of peace and quiet and a change of scenery. If pools and playgrounds are shut it will probably be quite quiet so social distancing not too hard to achieve.

WaxOnFeckOff · 04/05/2020 10:57

Depends, with no facilities but full park it wouldn't be pleasant. If you think that normally at any one time, over half the park will be in the pool or doing an organised activity, the rest of the park is OK for going for a walk or cycle. Imagine how busy that will be if no one is in the pool or activities? If it was only half full or less and was cheap then I'd be happy to go. Presume only take away and shops open as well.