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Holidays

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

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Original poster

How much can you do Centre Parcs for and a few other questions?

18 replies

Thomcat · 01/09/2006 19:58

Longleat for a long weekend or possibly a week during the first half term for a family of 2 adults, a 4.5 yr old and an 8 month old.

First off - is it worth doing a weekend or is a week much, much better to do?

What could I expect to pay if I don't go mad with the extras?

What extras do I have to do once I'm there becasue they are just soooo fabulous?

Our eldest has special needs and can't walk so wouln't want anywhere too hilly and nearish to the action without being on top of it - whereabouts would you set up home?

Think that' all I need to know for now, unless you can think of something else?

OP posts:

sassy · 01/09/2006 20:04

Might be better w/1 of the other parks - Longleat is v hilly and spread out.

Weekend fine, you can be on site from about 1pm on fri until whenever you like on mon (villas avail from 3?pm fri until 10am mon).

Price from about £300ish I'd guess, s/one will link you to prices soon I'm sure. You won't want much in way of extras w/2 little ones-its the bigger kids that want tennis lessons/abseiling etc.

DO reccommend Aqua Sana tho - thik its £25-39 for 3 hours - bliss! (Go alone or put kids in creche and go with dp)

Crackle · 01/09/2006 20:12

I would set up house in the pine section which is right next to the pool, shops and supermarket. Some of the houses are specially designed for people with disabilities and you can keep your car there all week if needed.

If you are using a wheelchair or pushchair then the other areas of the parc are really, really accessible although it is very hilly. You could catch the landtrain to ease your travels.

My kids liked swimming best and archery next best but yours are still a bit young for that. The teddy bears picnic is sweet. If it's your first visit then playing family bowls and crazy golf would probably be enough and really doesn't need to be booked.

We paid £340 for a comfort 2 bed villa over a weekend. I prefer midweeks but weekends will do in a pinch.

I love eating out but resent paying restaurant prices so we have perfected the art of bringing just enough proper ingrediants to make nice meals but omitting puddings. We go out for pie.

You will have a fab time.

StrawberryMoon · 01/09/2006 20:13

£50 off code WEB172 i think it was try it if not i look back at my archived emails

StrawberryMoon · 01/09/2006 20:14

no no sorry TEi72..hang on ill check

StrawberryMoon · 01/09/2006 20:17

here click on this
fill in for comp, then it gives you code for £50 off..my code doesnt seem to work?

Original poster

Thomcat · 01/09/2006 20:26

Me and DP just sat here saying how much you all all rock, top advice and a £50 off code. I bow at your feet

OP posts:

pebblemum · 01/09/2006 20:27

I went to Longleat Centre Parcs for a weekend in June. Im not sure how much it actually cost as my MIL paid for it but i think it was somewhere in the region of £400 for 4 adults and 2 children in a 3bed villa. A weekend was penty for us. We found the parc very hilly, it seems to be set in a valley with most of the action ie pool entertainment being right down the bottom and the accomodation set up pn the hills around it. They do provide a land train but when we went it got very busy and most of the time we gave up and walked even though we were right at the very top of the hill. My MIL has bad legs and found it very hard. They do have disabled accomodation nearer the action though but not too close that you are disturbed by noise.

We didnt spend much on extras as we found them to be very expensive and in some cases you were spending £10 to do something for 5mins. The arcade style activities ie snooker, bowling etc wasnt too bad but abseiling etc was quite expensive. They have plenty of free play areas scattered outside for children of all ages, and a good one in the sports plaza. We would go to the pool for a few hours every day and then let the boys enjoy the freedom to run around and find animals. The gates to the parc were closed friday evening and only opened again monday so there were no cars to worry about. We also went to Longleat for the day and had a great time, that was definately worth the money even if the monkeys did rip the strip of my in laws car roof

We enjoyed the idea of centr parcs, you feel as though you are somewhere other than england, it is so peaceful and well taken care of, that we are going again in 4wks but this time we are trying Elveden Forest and going Mon-Fri. It is a lot flatter there!!

sassy · 01/09/2006 20:30

TC, you know Mn has a 10% discount code too at top of the page?

Think you might find Elveden better with dd1's SNs. Much flatter )though not as pretty s Longleat) and all sports/swimming/eateries located in the same place. Not been to other resorts.

They do hire SN bikes and trailers, thi not sure what this consitutes?

tiredemma · 02/09/2006 08:58

Thomacat- try and book 'Executive' accom if you can ( its a little bit more expensive) but much more comfy and better decorated ( the one in sherwood that we stayed in was better than my own house at the time)- I have been to sherwood 3x now but we are off to Longleat this year - but from what I have heard Longleat is really hilly- perhaps it would be a good idea to contact them and request a specific villa which is not going to be too much of a problem for Lottie. I think you can pay something like £18 and they will guarantee a certain villa for you.

we always go midweek break now- weekends are more expensive but also I felt that the one time we did go weekend, it just went too fast.
We dont really use much of the activities, apart from the pool, we have used the creche a couple of times ( so dp and I could go to the Spa together) but mostly just hire the bikes and go on bike rides and walks.

we always go in the run up towards Xmas so there is always something extra going on ( ie panto, santa etc) so maybe thats why we dont feel the need to book up activities - but from what I can remember - the activities available are fairly reasonable. Oh and there are lots of softplay areas around aswell ( which are free!! and a godsend!)

We love CP, I look forward to it as much as my summer holiday, im sure you will all have a fab time!

grumpyfrumpy · 02/09/2006 09:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Twiglett · 02/09/2006 09:10

I would do midweek and get there late Monday and leave first thing Friday .. I think 3 days is plenty

much cheaper in term-time .. I think we got a deal for about 250 a couple of years ago

go for the standard comfort

tell them on website you have special needs and they'll place you on the flat

Twiglett · 02/09/2006 09:11

you don't have to do ANY extras ... apart from hire bikes and trailers

I didn't

but if you want a facial / massage or something .. book it before you get there .. or as soon as you do .. because I tried to book on the tuesday and they'd all gone

hockeymum · 02/09/2006 11:12

If you have a disbled villa you get to keep your car there and you can also use your car to drive around the site, e.g to the lake beach, sports centre, village square etc.

Most disabled lodges are in The Pines very near the Plaza, but you dont hear any noise from there, it just makes it much easier to get out and about to the pool etc.

They have ramps everywhere so I dont think you will have much problem with access. I know its different but I had no problems with pushchair access at all, never had to fold it up or carry it anywhere.

Longleat is lovely, havent been to the others, and if you do stay near the plaza in The Pines area it is not hilly at all, thats mainly at the sports end.

We were there midweek and didnt do any activities with our 4 year old and 3 month old. We spent the days cycling and swimming and had a great time. They hire bikes with a trailer that would be suitable for special needs children up to about age 6 and also for 8 month olds, they have straps on so they cant get themselves out. We took dd's helmet to wear in it, but most people didnt bother.

StrawberryMoon · 02/09/2006 15:04

Thomcat{smile]

whinfell is quite flat but may be too far for you?

when you book top tip ask for a 'newly refurbished lodge'..they are being modernised(decor wise) all the time and we asked and got one last time we went to whinfell..also have a look at the map on website, the tell them where you want to be ie: in whinfell badger wood and lakebeck where very close for us..good luck

StrawberryMoon · 02/09/2006 15:04

Original poster

Thomcat · 02/09/2006 20:15

Thanks everyone for all you top tips, Xxx

OP posts:

mermaiden · 13/09/2006 16:02

I am planning to travel to US and have applied for a B2 visitors visa as i have a criminal record. I have been through the proper chanels but now i have received my criminal record back it looks far worse than i ever thought it was. It says that i have a charge of possession of cannabis on it dated 1998. Has anyone applied for a B2 visa with a drug conviction and what was the outcome please

StrawberryMoon · 13/09/2006 16:07

hi honey, you need to start your own thread..this one is about centerparcs and no one will answer your question unless they want to talk about centerparcs

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