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Original poster

Centre Parcs. What's wrong with it?

67 replies

jojoisamum · 07/09/2008 13:32

Been reading a few old threads and many people have said "was there last Summer but never again".

What's wrong with it?

We need to get away in October with DS when some work is being done to the house. Thought this might be a good option for swimming, walking and spa treatments but loads of you have said it's horrible. Is is horrible or just not to your taste?

Several of you also talk about discount codes. Can you tell me where to get one for October?

Many thanks

OP posts:
themoon66 · 07/09/2008 13:35

It's a long time since I went, but I recall it didn't seem to be good value for money really.

DD got pushed into a slide by a larger aggressive boy and split her head open, so I have bad memories of Centre Parcs generally I suppose.

Lowfat · 07/09/2008 13:36

I have never been to Centre Parcs in the UK because it is grossly overpriced and has relativley little for young children (under 7) to do unless you like swimming and bike riding - a lot. I week for a family of 4 was approx £1,000

However for a family of 4 you can go to Centre Parcs in Begium for a week for £470, inclduing ferry crossing, which is half the price for the same period.

Original poster
jojoisamum · 07/09/2008 13:37

Yikes. Not good.

OP posts:
wheresthehamster · 07/09/2008 13:44

It will be expensive around half-term. Otherwise mid-week breaks can be reasonable.

We have always loved it but it gets expensive when the children are older and don't want to spend most of the day in the pool.

Depending on how old your DS is (the optimum ages for us was between 2 and 8) you can have a great time swimming, cycling, walking and playing in the large playgrounds for free.

The comfort accomodation (budget) is perfectly adequate as well.

hecate · 07/09/2008 13:47

For what you pay for a week at centreparks, you can rent a house/bungalow/whatever - sometimes with a private POOL! and what can you do at centreparks? swim, walk, cycle, you can rent a place with a pool and go out and walk and cycle!...CP a Waste of money imo

Overmydeadbody · 07/09/2008 13:47

It is simply not to my taste.

and certainly not a cheap option either

Overmydeadbody · 07/09/2008 13:48

yes and at least if you rent your own cottage etc as hecate says you won't have to mix with the hoi poloi

Beetroot · 07/09/2008 13:50

my kids loved it.

they went off on their bikes
they played tennis/ high ropes/ archery/swam/rapid - the list is endless

we went with a group of 3 families

was fine (and I am a snob)

katierocket · 07/09/2008 13:51

IME:
-overcrowded
-horrible restaurants
-felt like we were trapped on some kind of camp, if you want the outdoors why go and stay next to 10 million other people
-actual accommodation rubbish
-overpriced

deanychip · 07/09/2008 13:51

The price...SO expensive.

Blandmum · 07/09/2008 13:51

My kids loved it. It isn't luxurious and it costs a lot for what it is.

But we have gone and had a lot of fun.

We are off toone in Hollan in Oct

katierocket · 07/09/2008 13:52

if you;re looking for somewhere with outdoors, nice accommodation plus access to a pool, spa treatments etc have a look at langdale in lake district www.langdale.co.uk

foxinsocks · 07/09/2008 13:53

positives

  1. no flying or travelling with small children, just a car drive
  2. if yours like swimming, it's fab. Can spend all day in the pool and it's under a big dome thing so always lovely and warm inside
  3. lots of sporty stuff to do. Kids' clubs too.
  4. Sauna place for parents
  5. it's a VERY easy holiday with children. High chairs and potties in the chalets etc. And you're stillin the Uk so if anything goes wrong, you know what you're dealing with. You don't feel like you're having to pack your house for a few days

downsides

  1. if you go in school holidays it's very expensive and very busy
  2. if you eat out all the time it's expensive (but you don't have to)
  3. some of the activities are expensive (but if you pick and choose it's ok)

we've been a few times and always enjoyed it. Normally last minute stuff. I have to say re the expense, virtually anything in the UK is expensive. We looked at a week in Cornwall in the summer and the sort of size house we would haveliked would haveset up back more than a grand.

Boyswillbeboys · 07/09/2008 13:54

It's not cheap (and definitely won't be at half term) but we went this summer, and had a good time, despite the fact that it rained heavily every day!! If we'd been camping or in a caravan it would've been a lot worse cos you can't get anything dry. At least at centreparcs in bad weather there is the pool, lots of indoor soft play, activities for kids, the spa of course, babysitting facilities, kids clubs for under 7s ... need I go on?? We got quite wet going to and fro, but the villas are centrally heated so everything dried on the radiators and we even had log fires (in August!) I really haven't got any complaints, yes all that eating out gets expensive but no more pricey than anywhere else.

foxinsocks · 07/09/2008 13:54

yes I've been to one in Holland (years and years ago) and one in France and they were fabulous. And because the cost was so good, we used them as a base to go out and about in the area where we were and had a fab time.

Soapbox · 07/09/2008 13:56

I do like CP - I started going when they had only just opened and we used to audit them. We used to get special last minute deals in the office for a chalet for a weekend for £25! So loads of us from the office used to go for weekends there.

I still enjoy it but it hasn't been without its disasters over the years!

I find it working best for us now that we are in that phase where the children would like a little bit more independence from us, and we need a safe secure place for them to try things out!

Like Beety's kids mine adore all the sports available, that they otherwise might not get a chance to try out. Mine particularly like doing archery/fencing/high ropes/wall climbing/tennis/football and of course plenty of swimming!

There are crowds of other people there though and if you don't like that then don't go - it would ruin your holiday!

MrsTittleMouse · 07/09/2008 13:59

I don't think that it's a bad idea, but I felt as though the whole time that I was there that there were sticky fingers trying to extract as much money from me as possible.
The worst was that DD wasn't yet one, so not really suitable for most of the free stuff (like the playgrounds and beach or the pool), and yet they charged £5 for a half hour on some soft play equipment in a hall. And it wasn't led by anyone either. They just put out the shapes and mats and the parents supervise.

Beetroot · 07/09/2008 13:59

The spa is fab too - in Longleat.

We went at half term and it did not seem croweded.

Maker your own food though - theresturants are shite

Soapbox · 07/09/2008 14:01

Oh yes Beety! How could I have forgotton about the spas. The one at Elvedon is really good too!

noonki · 07/09/2008 14:01

My sister and I went with 4 toddlers:
satyed really near facilities
Brought our own food (preplanned meals)
only did a couple of activites

We went midweek out of termtime with offers,
(type in discount codes in google and loads of sites come up, sometimw have to try a few)

Benefits:
walked everywhere
cooking facilities
playparks
swimming pool
no sightseeing (love it normally but good to not to have to bother for once - especially with four kids under 3 with us)
Accom was good (we were first in ours though! as being done up)
building site door - hours of digger watching
great for mushroom picking (no not that kind we were with toddlers - who needs halluciatens)

downers -
cost of food/restaurants if we didn't cook
cost of activites (not that we needed to do any)
no culture/bit like a posh butlins

Original poster
jojoisamum · 07/09/2008 14:04

I think I might be changing my mind.

OP posts:
daftpunk · 07/09/2008 14:04

over priced and boring.

AbbeyA · 07/09/2008 14:07

We really enjoyed it as a one off. I wouldn't want to go a lot.We spent a lot of time swimming and it was lovely safe cycling. Very healthy.

fymandbean · 07/09/2008 14:14

The swimming is great by uk standards but a HUGE letdown if you've been anywhere like Disney or Sun City....

DS loved it though - wildlife, cycling, swimming - he;s 2.5.

boogeek · 07/09/2008 14:21

We have had good breaks there - wouldn't like it to be our main holiday but it's really easy (and I'd go if my house was being done up). I am a snob and expected to hate it but really didn't. Lovely spa; my children (small) swam every morning then were knackered every afternoon so lovely and quiet! We took lots of things to do in the afternoons - colouring, collage, dvds. Cycling through the forest is fun. I didn't feel the sticky fingers, even though I was expecting to and to get quite cross about it (I got narked when we were booking and had to pay extra to pick the accommodation we wanted) - the on-site supermarket is reasonably priced and not at all like a motorway service area.

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