Center parcs - how much are the activities?

[minxthemanx]

Am thinking of booking a weekend at CP, as we're in desperate need of a break. It's very expensive and I'm prepared to tell the DC that they will only be doing the 'free' stuff - but out of interest, how much are the activities like bike hire/adventure golf? Can't see any prices on website.

You need to use your booking ref to access the bookings site so have to book first! We go to Whinfell and have done football coaching - £8 for half an hour, tennis - £6 for 45 mins court, cooking club - £8 -45 mins.
Activities can add up quite a lot and if you are going for a weekend they can eat into your time as you have to book time slots which in themselves are tricky to get. Some activities have age brackets and mean if you have 2 children and they are in different classes the times don't always match up. 'Free' activities - swimming (spent hours in the pool) is the only free one we did. There are treasure trails that cost a couple of punds and last ages.
I would be tempted to book activities for a M-F stay but we never do M-F as too expensive!!

You're right, Center Parcs activities costs can add up and are expensive. We have had quite a few Monday - Friday breaks at Longleat, and once to Elveden Forest.
My two boys liked doing sports,water activities, and also enter the tournaments, so we ended up spending a lot of money.
You used to have to book one day in advance, but now you can book most things before you go.
Remember that the price is per court, not per person, so a family can play badminton or soft ball on a court for 45 mins together, or taking it in turns. Take your own equipment to save paying extra to hire it.
My boys also liked going round the crazy golf course which was not very expensive and takes a while. Sometimes they would go round more than once.
The bowling alley had cheaper early bird and night owl prices - you pay per lane, not per person, for 1 hr bowling, so the quicker you bowl, the more goes you get.
The tournaments are good value, because they last a while, and you get more playing time than if just hiring a court. There are bronze silver and gold medals for winners, and certificates.
There are some nice restaurants there as well.
However, people on a tight budget can self cater from the supermarket, spend most of the time in the indoor and outdoor pools, ( the rapids are great fun for kids that can swim ) spend time cycling around the resort, feed the ducks on the lakes, and do some cheaper activities. There is a cafe inside the swimming pool complex, so no need to come out for lunch.
As DITDOT says, once we had booked, we got our confirmation and list of current activities and prices. I then filled out and posted the form to book activities, but I expect you can do this online as well.

Thanks for your tips - I've had a word with DS1 and explained that I'm very stretched affording CP during the school holiday, so it will be swimming, bike rides, playing outside! He seems quite happy with that. Unfortunately I suppose the same applies to Mummy - no aqua sana for me

Although we have been many times, I have never used the Aquasana facilities. They are pricey. I do like relaxing in the outdoor and indoor hot tubs in the pool area though. We went in February one time, and it snowed. very strange going down the outside rapids and sitting in the ho tub with snow falling on you!
Table tennis tables in the Sports Hall are cheaper than the badminton, tennis, and squash courts, and my boys liked doing the roller skating sessions as well.
The tournaments are not only for people who are very good at a sport - anyone can pay to enter, and get a few games playing different people. Some are quite competitive though - especially the adult men! I think the age for kids tournaments is under 14.