Top Ten Centerparcs tips?

[Tartegnin]

I know there's been lots on this board about Centerparcs, and trust me, I've read it all. I'd really appreciate a consolidated "do's and don'ts", though. We're booked for a week at Elveden in July ... executive three bedroom near the golf course ... we'll be four adults and one four year old (me, DH, DD and D-inlaws) ... cannot tell you how much we need to get away,

[mumoverseas]

Nikki, we've just got back from CP in France but not the one you went to, the one in Lac d'Ailette.
There was a high chair there and in a cupboard upstairs a fold up wooden cot and a stairgate. Other than that, that was about all the child friendly stuff they had.
Don't want to put you off but the place we went was awful. There was little or no information in English and hardly any staff spoke english (yes I know, I should speak french but I don't!)

The indoor play area was good for DD aged 2.8 but she was too young for a lot of other things.
Word of warning, take your DD's 'red book'(health book with vaccinations etc) One of the things on the program was 'baby swim' which I'd liked to have done with DS aged 6 months but you could only do with proof of vaccinations. We were given no warning of this previously and its not something you'd normally pack.

I must say things were VERY expensive. A coke or other soft drink about 2.5 euros so take as many soft drinks as you can and as much dried food as you can.
Hope you have a good holiday

[FreddoBaggyMac]

Glad to help! She'll be fine - I think our DD was about that age. You could also take a travel stair gate to put on the door of her room if you think she'll have a tendancy to wander about.

[Nikki101]

Thanks FreddoBaggyMac, I think that's what we are going to have to do. DD will be 20 months so only just under 2 - will look into bars (for bed, not to drink in). Thanks!

[FreddoBaggyMac]

So it is - hadn't even noticed Some questions are timeless though eh?

[DjangoTheDjinn]

Wow this is old!

[Ladygooga]

Bluestone is lovely, just as good as cp but quiter and less commercialised. Standard of accomodation is fab and lovely staff.

We were there earlier in the yr when we had all the snow and kids loved it. Sliding down the hill on tyre ring sledges. We're going back again in new year

[FreddoBaggyMac]

Oswald - I fancy Bluestone in Wales as an alternative. Haven't been but it looks lovely!

[FreddoBaggyMac]

Nikki - we've only ever had travel cots (but haven't been to any French ones, only Belgium and Holland). How old is your DD? My DD2 slept in a bed for the first time at CP and was fine (she was under 2) - you could perphaps take one of those guards for the side of the bed, and push it up against the wall?

[FreddoBaggyMac]

Just had to comment on the Whinfell comments, we've been to a total of six different CPs both in the UK and abroad and we found Whinfell to be one of the nicest (Sherwood was the worst!) It's strange that people have such different experiences...
The best thing about the foreign ones are the balubas - I wish they had those in the UK CPs.

My top tip is don't book too much, one thing a day is more than enough. Also the trails from the Rangers Lodge are great for kids (and a very cheap way of passing a few hours!)

[girlsyearapart]

Hi go to supermarket before you get there the shop is well stocked but can be pricey.

Re executive villas they had a dishwasher and a spa/jacuzi bath. Couldn't really see other differences.

Re creche my sister put her dcs in who were around 2 and 4 and they loved it. Very nice people and professional service (Longleat)

re cots. They were 'real' ones.

[Nikki101]

We are about to go to Center Parcs in France - Les des Bruyeres. Our DD has a hate of travel cots and I can't seem to get anyone from centet parcs to tell me whether the cots provided are normal or travel cots. Does anyone know? Does anyone have any tips with what to do instead as there is no way we can lug a proper cot to France but the prospect of no sleep is making me dread the holiday!

[oswald]

we've just got back from Sherwood Forest and thought it was pretty horrible. The villas looked grim from the outside -we stayed in an exec one- and the food was poor in alot of places. There were really good things about it the Aqua Sana, the beach bit and the swimming complex but I dont think I'd go back. We went to Oasis 2 years ago and thought it was much better than this but it sounds like it has changed. It's hard to find the right thing though, the kids loved it but I feel that we have to like where we go as well, any suggestions for an alternative?

[tiredemma]

oasis wasnt actually built to be a center parcs though koo, and from people who i iknow who have been there have said that in terms of facilitis/accom etc its completly different to the other three center parcs.

i have been to cp sherwood 2x and friends have been to longleat and loved it, everyone who i know who have been to oasis have said exactly the same as your sister.

i honestly cant fault cp, each time we have been there we have had a great time and im looking forward to our next visit this xmas.

[katierocket]

see my message about oasis earlier in the thread.
horrible yuck place IMO

[koo]

My sister and partner have just returned from the Oasis CP with their 7 month old daughter. It was totally disgusting there in her opinion. She said that 'everything' was dirty, the cafes, seating areas, play areas, pool, everything was rank.

She left after 2 hours with a total refund from the very sheepish management. They floored her with the comment that as she was from the south of England, she probably had higher standards than the Northeners they usually get!

I felt awful as we have been to Longleat 5 times and really strongly recommended CP to her. She cannot stop talking about the shiny layer of grease on everything and the horrid smell of shit coming from the pool. What the hell is going on at the Oasis CP?

[RexandBen]

I've just got back from an exec villa at Elvedon and they DO have a cafetiere!

[janinlondon]

Agree completely Tartegnin. We forgot the cafetiere last time and ended up constructing a device using a saucepan and a mesh strainer. How desperate must we have been..?

[Tartegnin]

Thanks. We're in an exec villa in Elvenden in July. Think I'll take a cafetiere anyway. Sorry to say, but lack of a good cup of coffee first thing in the morning could put a dent in our vacation!

[Crunchie]

I think there is a cafetiere, but I have only stayed in exec villas in Elevedon

[stamford]

Incidentally Crunchie, when we went to the CParcs in France (Les Hauts Bruyeres) they did a fantastic service where they would bring, to your villa, a fully prepared dinner. We used this twice when our kids fell asleep early and we hadn't booked a babysitter. Its so much nicer than having to cook something or go out and get a takeaway (in the winter months when its rainy or cold!). Perhaps you could suggest (to your mate) that they do that here?

[stamford]

which one are you going to? If you are going to Longleat and don't fancy mountainous bike rides or waiting for the land train, then I would book a villa nearer to the centre (you pay £15 extra to do this). Makes it so much easier if you have a young child who insists on cycling on his/her own.

Lots of this may sound obvious but I am useless at packing-
-Must bring kids boots (for trekking through the forests when its wet or covered in dew)
-If you don't want to eat out every meal and don't fancy buying stuff from their supermarket and cooking (especially if you are in a villa miles from the centre) I would pack a few ready meals for you and the kids
-more than one swimming costume because there's nothing worse than having to get back into a damp one
-if your husband wants decent coffee then take the machine. As far as I remember, there's nothing more than a kettle.

[janinlondon]

Don't know about the other sites but at Longleat and Oasis we have always taken our own coffee plungers/makers.

[Tartegnin]

Merrygoround (and others) - any particular tips from your recent trip (original idea of this thread), especially about what to pack/bring? My husband is convinced there won't be a decent coffee maker, for example, and wants to bring one.

[merrygoround]

Expensive? We had a 3 bed (ordinary) villa (lovely) at Elvedon in mid March for 4 nights (midweek break) for under £300, and the price includes the swimming pool. Beautiful surroundings, cheap bike hire, kids can eat for £1 if you time it right.... can you get anything cheaper? I suppose we were lucky that we could go out of school hols, as dd is 2. My mum came with me and dd and loved it - I've booked us a return trip in November (you get a 15% discount if you re-book within 28 days of returning, just keep your booking number). DD had the best time, I had a spa session, we all did line dancing (yikes), rode bikes and went for walks - it is fab. I wish I could go again sooner! Was shocked at the Oasis experience mentioned in this thread - one of the things that makes it so great for me is that the accommodation is such good quality. Hope they don't all go that way.

[bensmammy]

Just returned from our first ever holiday as new parents with our 5 month old son. We visited CP oasis. It was fab ! Was terrified the whole thing would end a disaster but five days after returning we're booking up to return in the summer. Would defo recommend it to any new parent as a very baby friendly place. I thought I'd be stressed to high heaven but I left all that at the check in booths. This place is soooooooooooo relaxing and peaceful.