Christmas at Centre Parcs

[NeverAgain2]

I thought that I had posted this earlier - but no sign of it, so trying again!

I am thinking about going away for the first time this Christmas with dh and dc.
To avoid having to go and stay with the in-laws again

We have been to Centre Parcs before when the dc were much younger - during term time, I imagine that holidays would be a bit more hectic.

Has anyone got any tips?
I have no idea how much they will rob me for Christmas Lunch

If anyone has any ideas of other, similar venues, with a good pool, activities etc, I would be happy to look at alternatives.

CP Winter Wonderland just looks nice...

Never been for Xmas but just booked for the weekend before, we get home on the 23rd am very excited

We went to the stereo of forest centre parcs a couple of years ago. It was great. Lots of Xmas decorations, snow, a pantomime and things to do. Swimming on boxing day was really fun. We just made Xmas dinner for ourselves in the lodge though so not sure about meal prices?

Is it just for Xmas day? Why not a swanky hotel with pool etc. Food and accommodation might be better. And are your IL quite that bad?

We would be going from the 23rd - 28th.

Not just for the day - in-laws are not that bad, but this is the first year that we might actually have enough cash to go and it was going to be a 40th treat for me too.

Don't you have to book for the whole week at Christmas, or have I got it wrong?

A friend went many years back with her partner and his family, and her mum. it worked well because they could always escape and do other things so were not cooped up the whole time. They all contributed food and cooked their own Christmas lunch with everyone helping so that it didn't fall to just one person, and had a little Christmas tree up in the lounge of their accommodation. They had turkey sandwiches and other goodies when they spent Boxing day in the dome!

Could work well re: avoiding the IL's, just don't tell them where you'll be in case they try to visit!

They will definitely rob you for the Christmas lunch. Everywhere does!

Went just before xmas once. It was a beautiful setting but oh my, the queues to see santa. It was like a production line....extremely busy, lots of queueing, parents trying to placate tired, bored noisy young children whilst they waited in a long line which snaked for ages. It rained too- all rather wet and stressful.

I imagine it will cost you top whack as well, not cheap at the best of times.

Why not go away. We went to Barcelona just before Christmas and it was amazing because the Spanish celebrate on the 6th January. So you get all the nice, street lights and markets and decorations and atmosphere without the queues and panic of the UK. You can get a nice hotel with pool from £500 -£600 for a family room for your dates.

I have been twice for seven nights for the actual Christmas week and it was fab. They make a big effort with the decorations and there is so much to do. We went on a horse and carriage ride that stopped at a lovely santas grotto. Booked meals where Santa visits and the children receive a gift. One year we had snow so the views were beautiful. Christmas lunch was mega expensive ( £70 a head I think) and I wouldn't go if on a budget. We had a great time

Forgot to say you can pre order loads of stuff. So when we got there had a real tree and lots of decorations which the children did as we unpacked the car.

Thanks everyone.

On reflection, am thinking about shelving going away this year, and perhaps putting the £1000 towards a family holiday next year instead.

I really would love to go away at Christmas though.

Indecisive? Me? Never