Page 2 | Center parcs... Which one is the best?

charlize · 2004-09-08T05:53:30+00:00

For the past 5 yrs on the run me and my whole family have been going to center parcs oasis. We all love it but as its the only one we have been to we have nothing to compare it to. Next year we are going to try a different CP. We are thinking of sherwood. Any of you ladies been to more than one and have a favorite. Also we always stay in a centrally located lodge. Is this possible in the others or are they more spread out?

Tartegnin · 08/09/2004 14:31

Monkeygirl - take your own food! I loved Elveden, but thought the food, with small exceptions, was really horrible and expensive and with bad service. The few exceptions were: the Indian restaurant, which was decent food and a nice calm decor (and they were child-friendly for early meals), the French restaurant, which was also decent as long as you're ready to pay too much, and the French fries and hot dogs at the self-serve place, which were greasy but as expected! We took loads of goodies from M&S and supplemented by basics from the well-stocked supermarket. The kitchen was pretty well stocked with pots/pans etc and dishwasher (we had an executive villa) which made self catering pretty easy, more convenient and less expensive (even with going crazy at M&S and Oddbins!)

MistressMary · 08/09/2004 14:42

Hey we are going to Eleveden at the very end of this month monkeygirl, with out ten month old.
I hope the food improves then. .

daisy1999 · 08/09/2004 16:44

thanks hewlettsdaughter will have a look

JuniperDewdrop · 08/09/2004 16:56

Oooooo yes just going befor chrimbo is great

charlize, I remember the play area above chez pierre well DS2 christened the slide........ and I had to go up it (not very easy btw) to clean up.

I live in the NE so it's only an hour away (Oasis) DH and I went offsite to a lovely restaurant in Penrith called Cat in the be bop hat.

Original poster

charlize · 08/09/2004 17:17

Wow this thread is v active. seems Iam not the only one to love center parcs
On the catering front i have to confess we hardly cook at all in the lodge. We eat out for lunch and dinner every day and yes it is frightening the cost, but to me thats what I love the no cooking! My whole family goes and we budget for it all yr and we save money by not staying in an exec lodge . but to us eating out is essential.
Last yr we all went for 7 days and I swear we all put on half a stone.
This yr we all said we were going to be good and not eat so much...well... that went out the window . After dinner out each night we go back to the logde for family size chocolate and wine. yum.
Discraefuly we never cycle anywhere either . Only my ds gets a bike.

OP posts:

yoyo · 08/09/2004 19:43

Bundle, De eemhof at the beginning of August cost about £880 (excluding cost of ferry) and we had a 6-bed cottage. We aim to be more organized next year and pick up an offer on the ferry if we can. It still worked out cheaper than a house in France for the same week (and I tried very hard) with the added benefit of the activities.

Galaxy · 08/09/2004 20:01

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monkeygirl · 09/09/2004 10:44

MistressMary - I'll be there with mad 3 year-old dd probably shouting loudly and running round excitedly with dh (she is a real daddy's girl) and nearly 4 month baby. And think I will take more food than I intended to then.

Does anyone know, can you hire buggys whilst there and are they suitable for a 4-month old baby? And if so is it expensive? Would free up a lot of space in our little boot!

louiseatReadUK · 14/09/2004 15:50

We have just returned from 5 days at Elevedon with our 19 month old daughter and loved it. Yes the food is poor - whatever you do stay clear of Platform 51 (a poor Little Chef) - but the setting is fantastic and the pool is amazing. OK - the weather was superb which helped but generally, compared to all the hassle of a trip abroad with a young one, CP scores highly.
Few tips - pay the extra £30 for a villa close in, they do have CBeebies and you can also connect up a DVD player to the TV, and dont eat the food. Complaints - the beds were uncomfortable, the light bulbs were 9w (cheapskates), and we had to clean the kitchen again when we arrived.
Regards
Louise, Read UK

Amanda1 · 17/09/2004 12:47

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MistressMary · 17/09/2004 12:54

So none of the food at Elveden is any good at any of the restaurants?
So better stock up then with goodies to take with us?!
We are going for a week on the 27th for a week, So maybe see you around or hear you .

Amanda1 · 17/09/2004 12:59

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Tartegnin · 17/09/2004 13:08

Mostly, the food was mediocre, service poor (more due to understaffing than bad attitude) and prices high. But, we did have a decent dinner at the Indian (and nice decor - calm and not kitschy) as well as a good dinner at the revolving French restaurant (expensive for what it is, but the food is good). The Indian was good with children and opens early. I wouldn't take kids to the French, as it is a more formal atmosphere and longer service. The fast food place was good for what it is - that is, greasy hot dogs and fries. I would steer clear of the pizza/pasta place, the restaurant at the Country Club, and the pseudo-French cafe. Self catering was easy, though, especially with some prepared goodies) and the supermarket on site was well stocked and pretty reasonable (maybe 10% over supermarket prices). We also made an odd-bins stop before arrival, and spent there what we might have spent on a bottle at a restaurant. That means a really good bottle of wine instead of what would have been mediocre wine at restaurant prices. We stocked up on snacking goodies at M&S like special dips and "luxury" potato chips and the like, and enjoyed a super luxury cocktail hour on the terrace while our daughter played, and then whip a couple of M&S speciality quiches or other into the over, toss together a salad with gourmet salad dressing, slice some fresh bread from the Centerparcs bakery, and voila - a great meal without much fuss and at no more expensive than a so-so meal out.

Amanda1 · 23/09/2004 15:56

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noddy5 · 24/09/2004 11:44

I am going to centre parcs at longleat on November 1st TBH I have always said I'd never go but after no holiday this year and a horrendous house move dp and I decided we wanted somewhere child friendly and cheap-ish Has anyone been to this one?Also we are going the week after half term will it be a bit quieter or is it busy regardless?Will take advice re food although I was hoping not to cook and spend my time in the spa!

SecondhandRose · 24/09/2004 14:52

Don't forget to take your bath mats to CP. They don't supply them.

EvesMama · 25/09/2004 21:21

just got back from oasis with dp, dd, sil,bil & niece. me, dp & dd are planning to go back in january just so we've got something to look forward to after christmas madness! first time there this time and really loved it. weather was poor, but we came round to 'it's just a bit of rain' and got on with is. wish we had got a lodge closer tho', right on outskirts in meadow view cos we wanted 4bed detached, but in jan gonna try and get a cumbrian near lakeside inn 9will asked for one of those being refurbed last week, thanks for that tip!)thought parcmarket was just a bit more expensive than normal shop, but that go's without saying on hol doesnt it? all resteraunts were great and staff (carly) in rock legends was great with the two girls (mine 16month, niece 13 month and contant food flicker!!) did spent too much on food as we eat out most of time (rock legends pricy for quality)but as we're going ourselves in jan, will do a shop when we get there and have a couple of meals in lodge.
thought the view (on the only sunny day we had)across lake from little deck area near lakeside inn was beautiful. speaking of lakeside inn, we all got food poisening after eating there and sil, bil and niece had to go home a day and half early! however, didnt put us off dd loved all the wildlife (rabbits, pheasants and squirrells) and we (me & dp) spent time talking whilst walking miles to lodge, which was great!
would recommend it to anyone..one word of advice...book any treatments or classes etc v.early even before you go, couldnt get a massage and girls only got to go to one kids activity.. rather disapointing so heed the warning if you dont want to be dissapointed.

EvesMama · 25/09/2004 22:10

p.s chez pierre resteraunt did a lovely sausage and egg bagetter, but the sparse and 'filthy'!!! soft play area left a lot to be desired, good job theres so much else to keep them occupied.

woodpops · 27/09/2004 08:53

Charlize, I've not reed the whole thread but I've been going to cp ever since the 1st one opened in Sherwood way back in the 80's and absolutly love it. Been their on holiday as a kid, then with my boyfiend who then became dh, been with dh and have now all been as a family me, dh, ds and dd. I've been to Eleveden which was just as good. Last year we decided to try Oasis and hated every minute of it. THe swimming paradise wasn't a touch on the other CP's. Went back to sherwood this year and it was Fab. Just seeing the joy on ds and dd faces was worth every penny. We're thinking of going back again in NOv. We've spent Xmas and New Year there on previous years which was great. Since we've had the children we always request a centrally located villa which is always acomodated for. Also they've always made sure our villa doesn't have steps because of the buggies. For us Sherwood is our favorite but then we only live ½ an hour down the road. The amazing thing is you don't feel like your still in Notts.

woodpops · 27/09/2004 08:54

Charlize, I've not reed the whole thread but I've been going to cp ever since the 1st one opened in Sherwood way back in the 80's and absolutly love it. Been their on holiday as a kid, then with my boyfiend who then became dh, been with dh and have now all been as a family me, dh, ds and dd. I've been to Eleveden which was just as good. Last year we decided to try Oasis and hated every minute of it. THe swimming paradise wasn't a touch on the other CP's. Went back to sherwood this year and it was Fab. Just seeing the joy on ds and dd faces was worth every penny. We're thinking of going back again in NOv. We've spent Xmas and New Year there on previous years which was great. Since we've had the children we always request a centrally located villa which is always acomodated for. Also they've always made sure our villa doesn't have steps because of the buggies. For us Sherwood is our favorite but then we only live ½ an hour down the road. The amazing thing is you don't feel like your still in Notts.

Sandi102 · 27/09/2004 14:36

this is a great thread and I shall read with interest, but have to make ds 3.00 feed, but i can highly reccomend longleat forest. Some great scenery and great for the kids. We went for teh first time in 2003 and will be going again next June.

woodpops · 27/09/2004 14:55

All this talk about Center Parcs. I've just booked to go to Sherwood in Jan. Can't wait!!!!

RexandBen · 27/09/2004 14:57

We went to Elvedon earlier on in the year. I found it really good, but I agree the food is not great. Avoid at all cost platform 51. However the Indian 'Rajinda pradesh?' was fantastic. One of the best Indian meals ever.

Joanie · 27/09/2004 15:01

This is v timely, just thinking of booking for nov/dec at Longleat. Never been. Think it will be good, but bit worried about the hills. DH has heart prob and I don't like pushing buggy Any flat bits to stay in? Also, what to do when rains apart from swimming(DD 3yrs & DS 18months)Also, also, someone said you have to book up everything before you go otherwise you won't get in. Is this likely for midweek in winter? Also, also also...big diff in price between 'comort' and 'exec' villa, is it worth it just for a fizzy bath and a cleaner? Any info welcome.

woodpops · 27/09/2004 15:06

Joanie, we stayed in a comfort this year and have just booked a comfort again for Jan. I thought they were really nice. In fact tons better than the so called exec lodge we stayed in at Oasis. You don't get a dishwasher but so what and to be totally honest I found the cleaners to be a bit of a pain when we have stayed in exec villas.