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Original poster

me again - calling all centerparcs lovers- who's been to Elvedon

69 replies

madgirl · 30/01/2004 14:44

me, dh and ds are looking at a mw break there end of april, and looking at an exec villa. i will be 7 months pregnant by then so won't be up for mega strenuous cycling to get anywhere, and would love to be near lake (i've been enthused by everyone's descriptions of BBQs on terrace etc etc!)- does anyone have recommendations for specific locations? also - is it worth paying for exec? we don't go away much!! thanks all.

OP posts:
nutcracker · 30/01/2004 23:43

All of the exec villas are booked for december. Only have comfort villas available (at sherwood this is)

Original poster
madgirl · 31/01/2004 14:12

crunchie - fantastic news! will psot more later

OP posts:
Quackers · 31/01/2004 16:32

Great! It will be nice at Xmas!
MG any news on your booking? Do it asap, they get booked up quick!!!!!

Crunchie · 31/01/2004 20:45

If anyone wants to anything specific about Elevdon, please post here I will check on Sunday eve if there are any special requests You've now all interested me about Christmas next year ..... Hmmm start saving Actually we could go then as DH should be working (panto) so we can't get away and if he isn't working we won't have the money anyway

lavender1 · 31/01/2004 20:52

yes, have been to Elvedon, ds was 5 months old...it was good..Villa was in the middle of the woods and the ducks tapping on your door on the morning is great...It was all there, restaurants, swimming pools so driving everywhere and getting stressed out was not. Our cabin was a basic with fire, bedrooms (2) but just being in the middle of a wood and being able to wander where you liked and do what you liked was bliss.(we didn't do much sports as baby so young but still enough to do)...Hope you have a good time there!

Girly · 01/02/2004 10:58

Hey Crunchie! please check out the spa for me try all the treatments and massages, call it market research

Also can you find the best bar and test the coctails out

ooooooh i can't wait now!

JeniN · 01/02/2004 12:18

I'm going to longleat next week - does anyone have any experience of using the creche facility? Is it a good standard? DD is 5 months - e.g. (sorry I'm a novice at using creche's) will they give her a bottle because all of their sessions coincide with feeds. I'm worried she'll just cry all the time because she sleeps loads in the day at the mo but might not be able to in strange surroundings. Actually she'll probably love it hope you don't mind me asking on this thread madgirl - btw when you book you can pay a bit extra to choose location, which I definitely would to cut down on walking as you're pregnant, but you prob already know this. Hope you have a good time.

Girly · 01/02/2004 12:42

JeniN, we went to lonleat last year and had trouble booking the creche for babies, it gets booked up really quickly, however we used their babysitting service, a nice lady comes to your villa and looks after them one on one, they are locals who have been police vetted and have lots of experience. we had a lovely lady who looked after ds (10 months) and my freinds dd who was 12 months, it was esp useful as they could be put down for naps easily. Would def do it that way again. HTH

sassy · 01/02/2004 14:21

JeniN - we put our dd in creche both times we went to Longleat last year. She was 6 months and 13months at the time. The 1st time, she was the only baby there and loved all the attention, 2nd time she wasn't very well (Streaming nose and tired) and they looked after her really well. You are asked to fill in a form explaining nap/feed times etc, and whether she is likely to need a nappy change etc (Parents provide nappies, milk etc.) They even ask you if she has a comfort toy and what to call it!DO pre-book though cos they do get booked up (as someone else has said).

Original poster
madgirl · 02/02/2004 10:21

quackers, crunchie has gone to elevedon now and said to hang fire booking til she gets back next w/end. but i reckon i should book don't you? could i bood an dthen try and be more specific with villa locations? will post on july later/ mg

OP posts:
Quackers · 02/02/2004 11:20

What difference will this make to your booking?? You know you want an exec villa on certain dates and it's currently available. The details can be sorted later. Did you manage to get the map?? I wouldn't worry at Elvedon where you are too much as it is supposed to be smaller and therefore easier to get around. However you could ask on the phone for a central location and be charged £15 for pre booking your villa if they have central ones left. I know at oasis we had a 4 bed exec and they were only located on the outskirts, so central wasn;t an option for that villa type. This is where the map comes in handy!! HTH. Then when Crunchie gets back from her break she will recommend what to do when there etc..!! Speak on July later!xx

Slinky · 02/02/2004 20:10

You can look at the maps online with the Villa numbers so you get some idea of location.

Many of the 3 bed Executives are up by the Country Club (this is in Elvedon) which is not far at all from the main complex.

Original poster
madgirl · 03/02/2004 09:54

sorry- i've been a bit dense haven't I??
am going to book today and sort location out when i ring. mumsnet was down for ages y/day. going to july now.

OP posts:
JeniN · 03/02/2004 11:33

Thanx Sassy and Girly - really helpful.

MBB · 03/02/2004 13:49

We were at Elvedon 10 days ago and had a great time. We stayed in a 2bed comfort villa which was fine. As far as I could see, all the accommodation had lake views, you just pay extra to be within a certain walking distance of the centre - £30 for 5 mon walk, £17 for 10 min walk or no extra charge and you just take a chance. Each villa has a proper fireplace and you can buy the logs there. The supermarket was fine. Ate in the french restaurant (food good, service crap) and the rib place (steaks excellant and service ok). This was the first time I've been to any CP and was v pleasantly surprised. The toddler club for 20mnth DS was great, £15 for 3 hours, and had v nice babysitter for the one night we went out to eat. Toddler pool area was great fun and v v warm! Main pool area was nice, but not as big as expected but ok for the number of people there in drizzly midweek January! Don't be fooled by Baby Dolphins, despite what the advert says it is not a swimming lesson, just 20 mins singing in a v restricted area of the pool.

Original poster
madgirl · 03/02/2004 14:11

phew glad to see a positive post: i've just booked a mid-week exec villa for last week in April. very excited! ds will be just 3 by then- should i fib and say he is 2 or would the 3yr and up club be ok do you think?
I would never have booked this if it hadn't been for all the very positive comments from everyone. need to source maternity swimsuit now!

OP posts:
noddy5 · 03/02/2004 14:16

We are planning a trip to elvedon this june as we are moving house and cant face a 'difficult'holiday my son is 9 Will there be enough for him to do as I am hoping for a bit of a rest!

Slinky · 03/02/2004 14:31

Noddy

Just found this on the CP website - you can find activities to suit age of child. I typed in a 9yo and it chucked this back :

Abseiling
Adventure Golf
Adventure Golf Tournament
Archery
Badminton
Birds Of Prey Demonstrations
Canoes
Climbing
Challenge Course
Children's Nature Walk
Cyber Toonies
Early Bird Walk
Five-a-Side Football Tournament
Family Mega-mixes
Family Nature Walk
Fan Descender
Foil Fencing for Beginners
Funky Fitness
Golf Simulator
Golf Tuition
High All Aboard
High Ropes
Horse Riding - Child's Trek
Horse Riding: Novice
Jacob's Ladder
Jewellery Making
Junior Watersports Fun Hour
Leap of Faith
Milkcrate Challenge
Mini Fencing
Mini Olympics
Play Areas
Petanque
Photo Fantasy
Roller Blading/Skating
RU a DJ?
Sabre Fencing
Scalextric Tournament
Steeplejacks
Soccer School
Tennis
Ten Pin Bowling
Ten Pin Bowling Tournament
Treasure Trail
Tree Trail
Virtual Fashion

That should keep your DS occupied for a while

noddy5 · 03/02/2004 14:33

wow that is fab so I should manage a facial or 2!I am desperate to chill and centerparcs sounds good.No airports etc

Slinky · 03/02/2004 14:34

oooh yes, definately have a facial

I had one when I last went to Elvedon - planning another when I go in December!

SpringChicken · 03/02/2004 15:18

Thanks to this thread i have just booked to go to Sherwood Forest in September for a weekend! DD or DS will be 2 months by this time.

Anyone been here with a baby? Can you advise what i should take as don't want to be lugging uneccessary things along. Cots were extra so decided against having one and will just take our travel cot, obviously wont be big enough for high chair so will just take bouncy chair along. apart from bedding and buggy cannot think of anything else - obv. will be taking bottles and steriliser anyway

Slinky · 03/02/2004 15:37

We went when DS1 was 6 months old - we took our travel cot (I'm really funny about using strange cots) - steriliser etc.

Trying to think back (6 years ago!) don't think we took much else for him.

HTH

Quackers · 03/02/2004 15:44

MG, I would still put them in the 3 yr old room as this is divided again into 3 yrs and 4 yrs. I remember DD going and was 2 but I felt the group she was put in was too young ie the creche for under 3's. She would have been much more at home painting and dressing up!! This time we put her in the next room as she was just 3 and she loved it! They had a party and made hats etc.... The babysitting service is very very good. They are older ladies genrallly not teens and I felt very at ease considering I had never met her. If you book for more than 1 noght they always try to give same sitter which is great!!

bundle · 03/02/2004 15:45

dare I say this on this thread?? I was a tad disappointed by Center Parcs (Sherwood), found it pricey and too much like a service station (without the cars)

SpringChicken · 03/02/2004 17:26

Must admit Bundle i can possible see where you are coming from - when i went we stayed in a executive villa with jacuzzi and sauna - when booking this time there is no way we could afford to that so have just gone for a comfort villa.

Have made sure it's in a good location though - some of the ones stuck right in the woods looked a bit dodgy - wouldn't be happy if i ended up in one of those - Call me a snob