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

Original poster

Centre Parks - any tactics to get it really cheap?

68 replies

lounge · 29/07/2022 20:13

All my DS friends have gone on holiday. He is getting lonely and bored. We haven't been able to go away for some time.

I would like to ask another mum and his friend to go to Centreparks with us but it will all depend on the price.

Are there any tactics to get it as cheap as possible?

OP posts:
MuffinMcLayLikeABundleOfHay · 29/07/2022 20:16

No. It's always expensive. The only discount they do is one where if you book ten minutes after you've just been, or similar.

Findahouse21 · 29/07/2022 20:16

Go to one abroad - the centerparcs in France, Holland, Belgium or Germany are much much cheaper. Some of them are really accessible using eurostar and then local transport too so you don't have to drive abroad if that worries you.

SoSo19 · 29/07/2022 20:17

I used to work in there reservations dept, and the short answer is no.

The villas are priced, and the price can change daily (midnight), it increases as the villas sell out, and peak times like school holidays are extortionate.

The cheapest way to do it is go for the standard villa (woodland lodge) and midweek rather than weekend, as those breaks are cheaper but like I said, in school holidays it doesn’t make much difference.

The cheapest time to go is January, and the further in advance you book it the better.

SavoyCabbage · 29/07/2022 20:17

Won't they be already booked? I can't imagine them having availability for august.

Original poster
lounge · 29/07/2022 20:18

Thank you for the tips.

I really don't want to go abroad though.

What a shame it is so expensive here.

OP posts:
Bernadinetta · 29/07/2022 20:18

Go in January… in school term time… don’t book any extra activities or restaurants

Skinnermarink · 29/07/2022 20:18

January.

BorisJohnsonsHair · 29/07/2022 20:19

Go camping instead - kids will love it.

Original poster
lounge · 29/07/2022 20:20

Oh so so great tips thank you.

Any ideas where is similar and suitable for teens in the Summer holidays?

OP posts:
Original poster
lounge · 29/07/2022 20:22

Is January cheap to go on weekends too guys?

OP posts:
EllaPercy · 29/07/2022 20:22

Mon-Friday term time when it's cold.

That's your only option for cheap.

Original poster
lounge · 29/07/2022 20:22

Boris I don't know how to camp lol 😂

OP posts:
SoSo19 · 29/07/2022 20:23

January weekends are usually a bit more than midweek, but still the cheapest time of year to go.

Sherwood is the most popular park and tends to be more expensive than the others too.

Afterfire · 29/07/2022 20:24

Go to Haven instead. Much nicer and cheaper!

EllaPercy · 29/07/2022 20:24

Weekends are always more expensive than midweek.

January weekends are some of the cheaper weekends. But of course a 3 night weekend break always costs more than a 4 night midweek one.

If your kids are already teens then you've probably missed a lot of the best parts of CP for them.

Why about a night or two at Alton Towers or something?

Bernadinetta · 29/07/2022 20:26

Afterfire · 29/07/2022 20:24

Go to Haven instead. Much nicer and cheaper!

Which Haven site/s would you recommend? Thanks

Original poster
lounge · 29/07/2022 20:26

I have heard of Haven, but I'm scared of big barky dogs. Are they running around everywhere?

OP posts:
EllaPercy · 29/07/2022 20:27

Why does Haven make you think of dogs?

People take dogs to Center Parcs too.....

PirateAha · 29/07/2022 20:27

If you can get a gang together and hire a basic (woodland) 4 bed lodge then it works out much much cheaper per head. Depends if you are happy sharing with DS (the rooms have twin bed options) and if you know 3 other pairs who want to go.

MrsAlbertaWhisker · 29/07/2022 20:27

An alternative would be somewhere like Park Dean resorts or Haven. Plenty of nice resorts with rope trails, laser tag, high walls and different sports. My teen did fencing and walk climbing. Much cheaper than Centre Parcs.

Afterfire · 29/07/2022 20:28

lounge · 29/07/2022 20:26

I have heard of Haven, but I'm scared of big barky dogs. Are they running around everywhere?

Why would you think that…?? We stay at Haven every year, different sites and never really seen many dogs! Only some of the caravans are dog friendly so the majority aren’t and dogs have to be on leads etc.

We are in Norfolk but we’ve been to Seashore, Caister, Wild Duck and also Greenacres in Wales. Caister is our favourite, the beach is lovely.

Get the best grade of caravan you can but saying that even the basic ones can be nice.

Original poster
lounge · 29/07/2022 20:28

My DS hates theme parks and always has unfortunately.

He hates summer holidays as he says they are too long and he feels lonely. It alway starts off ok but then the friends tend to drift off or go on holiday and he get a bit blue.

OP posts:
NerrSnerr · 29/07/2022 20:29

What is your rough budget OP?

PlanetNormal · 29/07/2022 20:31

The cheapest time to stay at CenterParcs is on weekdays between the second week in January and the week before February half term. Weekdays in November & the first two weeks of December are also low season, but not as cheap.

Original poster
lounge · 29/07/2022 20:32

I saw an article about a 10 year old boy that got mauled to death in Haven not long back. I didn't know there were dogs at Centre Parks too.

Wow great suggestions everyone thank you.

Rough budget. I don't want to spend more than £500

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