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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Centerparcs - Midweek Break booked , yippppeeeeeeeeee

14 replies

mojomummy · 17/11/2005 15:20

finally booked a mid week break. Hubby & I are going with DD (2.5yrs) & my mother (almost 61)

We are hiring a 3 bedroom place. No towel included.

We've never been before, so have no idea what to expect - can you advise what we should take to use/eat/wear, Should we pre-book anything ? eat-in/eat out ?

OP posts:
lapsedrunner · 17/11/2005 19:40

Sorry but never been, would love to though

RTKangaMummy · 17/11/2005 19:44

pre-book beauty treaments

if you search on TRAVEL and put centreparcs in search you will come up with loads of hints and tips.

We go to elevendon and love it

Get a bike with a trailer on for DD they love them and will keep her dry and warm

and you can putr bags in there as well.

DEFFO BRILL fun

RTKangaMummy · 17/11/2005 19:44

which one are you going to ??????

mojomummy · 18/11/2005 12:38

Hi there, sorry for delay.

We're off to Longleat. Feeling nervous & excited !

Apparently we can arrive about 1pm, but understand that people do arrive earlier ?

OP posts:
hayleylou · 18/11/2005 12:40

My mum works at Centre Parcs in Longleat

Kazter · 18/11/2005 13:23

We were at Longleat at the end of September - will go back, but would recommend the following:
Definitely pre-book beauty treatments, and if you want to use the creche or go on the Teddy Bears' picnic I'd recommend you book those (my DS who is 2 loved the picnic, and then DH and I played mini gold and had a nice relaxing afternoon while DS was in the creche)
Eating out is expensive - every meal seemed to cost at least 25 quid, which when you're having lunch and dinner out on a few days can add up, especially when the food is, at best, average!
The Parcmarket has very strange opening hours (at least I thought so) so I'd bring as much stuff as you think you might need. All the chalets have microwaves, fridges and loads of saucepans etc so you can self-cater if you want to.
One thing about Longleat - it is VERY hilly, so if you're staying at the far side of Jardin des Sports check out the cycle paths properly - there is one with a minimum gradient, but we only discovered that on the last day!!
It's all very child friendly, and there's a Dolphins session on some morning where only under 3s are allowed in the pool for an hour, and they're given lots of toys etc etc.
Obviously bring towels for both use in the chalet and for swimming - and make sure you bring a backpack to lug stuff to and from the pool.
What else, oh yes, it was FREEZING!!!! It felt about 5 degrees colder than London was when we left, and I definitely didn't have enough warm clothes, which you need when you're out and about (especially your DS if he's going to be spending time sitting on the back on one of your bikes).
You can arrive at the Park from 10am, but can't use the pool till 2. I felt like we wasted our first day - we got there at about 12.30 and queued for about 30 mins to get in, and then by the time we parked, and had lunch and went to the villa it was about 4pm, and then dropping off the car hiring bikes etc, meant we only had time for a v.v. quick swim. I'd get there early, hire your bikes (you can park them near the pool), then explore and have lunch in readiness for a 2pm swim, and then head to your villa at 4/5 ish, and pick up your bikes when you drop back the car.
You need £1 coins for the lockers at the pool, and none of the hairdryers seemed to work, so you may need hats to keep you warm on the way home!!!!

You'll have a brilliant time, we did lots of walking and cycling (which DH NEVER does, and even he enjoyed is) and DS loved it too.
HTH
Enjoy!

mojomummy · 18/11/2005 14:46

Katzer, thanks for a a great set of tips there - much appreciated.

I will make sure we are prepared - just need to search for a little snowsuit to keep my beloved warm !

OP posts:
grumpyfrumpy · 19/11/2005 08:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mojomummy · 19/11/2005 23:59

just got our welcome pack through today. Says checkout time is on Friday at 10 am - do we actually have to leave at this time ?

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SecondhandRose · 20/11/2005 00:05

Take a bath mat as they don't supply them. You'll also need rubber gloves (if you use them to wash up), a blanket to lay on the mattress as they are so uncomfortable.

Don't forget pool towels and you must pre-book everything especially the creche, beauty treatments and baby sitting.

Yes you do have to leave at 10am, they have armies of cleaners on bikes knocking on the doors. Very annoying. You can stay on site for the rest of the day if you want to.

mojomummy · 20/11/2005 00:15

ahh good tip about the mattresses - I can't bear an uncomfortable bed !

So where can you go after 10am ?

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tiredemma · 20/11/2005 09:40

we are of to sherwood on the 12th dec!! cant wait.

boys are sooo excited about going.( so am i !)

ladymuck · 20/11/2005 09:46

mojo, we had our 2 booked into the kid club for the morning session on the last day (8:45-11:45 for one and 9-12 for the other). This gave us an hour to clear the villa without their help. Dh took the car back to the car park and we met up to read the papers and have coffee. When the ds's came out of club we then went into the pool area and stayed there for a few hours (we had luch at the poolside cafe). Dried everyone off and then headed to the car where the boys dutifully snoozed for a bit. If you are more sporty then you could swap reading the papers for rock climbing or badminton or something.

SecondhandRose · 20/11/2005 12:10

We once put ours in the club and had a cooked breakfast and read the Sunday papers for 2 hours. Total decandence!

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