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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:
Original poster
jojoisamum · 07/09/2008 14:28

DS will only be 13 weeks so he won't be doing much except trying swimming. Just need to get away for 4-5 days while this work is being done. Don't fancy just being self catering as would want to eat out or have a take away in the evening with a drink or 2. It seemed the ideal solution but I am wondering now. Hotels might be difficult too as we'd be sat in the hotel room quietly with DS when he was sleeping in the evening!

A cottage somewhere would be just like being at home. I'd want a bit of pampering!

Langdale is full on the dates we have - Monday 13 October for 4 or 5 nights.

OP posts:
JiminyCricket · 07/09/2008 14:30

we go on on mid week breaks in Feb/March, sharing with another family which makes it a really budget option (got elvedon for £250 for 8 people mon-fri in jan this year). We completely self-cater (eat picnic sarnies in the comfy indoor sports areas). The kids adore it, and the slides and stuff is fun. We do spa, plus sometimes some other outdoor activites or the odd game of badminton. But then we are poor . They are changing the restaurants a bit e.g. nice cafe bar where you used to be able to get ok paninis/family meals is now cafe rouge. Everything is going branded and expensive. So I guess it depends what you wnat. I don't think it is worth summer prices tbh, after all, most of the outdoor things, like people say, you can do elsewhere. But for a fun short break with friends it is great with little kids.

boogeek · 07/09/2008 14:48

Which one are you thinking of going to?
I've only been to the one in Penrith but the Indian takeaway there is very high quality ;) I think it would be fine, especially if you can find a discount code!

JudgeNutmeg · 07/09/2008 15:13

I'm going with my boys for the first week of the Christmas hols for just under £300. They love the freedom, I love the peace and quiet and the nature.

We eat out on the last night only and avoid the absolutely silly crush of people who haven't booked a table but are still desperate to pay £8 for a burger. I also find the big cafe place at the Jardin des Sports a heaving mass of boden-clan humanity but very good for people watching whilst the kids play ping-pong.

We go at least once a year and enjoy it every time. Much prefer Longleat to Sherwood. I have pre-booked roller-skating this year so am fully expecting to make a complete arse of myself.

Original poster
jojoisamum · 07/09/2008 15:17

We're thinking the one in Cumbria as it is not too far from Scotland!

Indian sounds good. We both like that.

OP posts:
Gobbledigook · 07/09/2008 15:34

Going to the Lake District and staying in Centre Parks is just wrong

Janni · 07/09/2008 15:54

We've been a few times to a few diffent sites and always enjoyed it.

It IS expensive, but we liked the safety and freedom for the kids, the range of activities and the nice vibe there.

kiddiz · 07/09/2008 16:02

I have been and have family who go regularly but always during termtime and not the school holidays when it is expensive and packed. We enjoyed it (went to Elvedon) and, having had a truely horrendous experience of a Haven site this summer, don't think it was too pricey really. We paid £1500 for two weeks in hell with Haven where you had to pay extra to blow your nose!!

Gobbledigook · 07/09/2008 16:32

£1500 for a Haven holiday?

Not that I know anything about them but just thought they were cheap and cheerful hols!

SqueakyPop · 07/09/2008 16:37

We've had two Centerparcs weeks - one in the Netherlands and one in France. Both weeks had poor weather, especially the one this year (only one sunny day, and the rest rainy and stormy).

If we had a private cottage and had to do our own thing, I think we would not have had a great time. With CP, there is the option of the giant indoor area to keep everyone amused. We may have been able to cobble something together by driving into a city and going swimming, bowling etc, but it was very easy to do this at CP.

The nature of the villages means that you can let your children explore on their own (ie with siblings) at quite a young age.

Blandmum · 07/09/2008 16:48

It is the ease of getting entertainment that is the delight for me.

My two kids think that they are in hog heaven in the waterpark, and love the freedom for cycling round.

the last time we went I booked them into activities, which they did enjoy, but not as much as the freedom and the pool! This time I think that I will keep things ower key, other than booking them, and DMIL into the ski centre where she will be teaching them to ski (she is a game old bird!) while I relax in the spa!!!

Hulababy · 07/09/2008 17:13

We are going in December for a week, once DD finishes school. It will be our first holiday there.

I thinkt he worst think with Centre Parcs is the cost - it is not cheap, infact it can be very expensive, and the prices can be outragous in school holidays.

Also, all the extras - only thing free is the wimming, playgrounds and walking - really do mount up. A bike is £32 a week to hire for example.

However, for a winter break (we get to go a week before state schools break up so a bit cheaper), sharing costs with inlaws, and with swimming all inclusive - it isn't too bad.

DontCallMeBaby · 07/09/2008 17:28

My theory from reading various reviews is that all the parks have a rogue cleaning crew each who spend their shift getting high or something, because there are a few shocking reviews of villa cleanliness out there, but they bear no resemblance to what we found on our two trips. Villas perfectly nice both times (though some niggles about kitchen equipment).

Spas at both Longleat and Whinfell are lovely. Wouldn't mind being there right now.

We didn't have any out-and-out bad meals, although some were mediocre and all a bit overpriced. Franchises are creeping in now (Cafe Rouge and Bella Italia IIRC) so that might improve things (or not). We had an Indian takeaway at Whinfell which I thought was reasonable, not as great as some have said, but I think I've been spoiled by a meal in the Indian at Longleat, which was (hugely unexpectedly) the best Indian meal I've ever had.

MmeLindt · 07/09/2008 17:37

We have done last minute holidays in Holland and Germany for next to nothing. The cheapest was 50euros for a weekend in a 5person bungalow. Saying that, we booked on Thursday and travelled on Friday so it was ultra-last minute

I would not pay the prices in Britain, but here on the continent, they are reasonably priced.

I cook ahead so that we don't have to eat out all the time.

Like Kiddizz, we have been to a Haven holiday park and felt that Centerparcs is much better value for money. Haven was a complete rip off.

Try this website for a good deal if you want to book last minute. Sorry it is in German, if you change to English then the last minute deals disappear. They obviously do not want the Brits coming to the continent at cheap rates

nannynick · 07/09/2008 18:02

positives

  1. only a 2 hour (or so) drive.
  2. security - it's fully enclosed, children (from around age 5) can play near villas with little supervision.
  3. no cars (except on change-over days), so children can cycle on the roads.
  4. spa is lovely and treatments cost less than at my local spa.
  5. you don't leave the centre... no costly sightseeing. Sure you can leave if you want, but I've never found the need.

negatives

  1. it's costly, but I feel that may be due to the market they are aiming at.
  2. ovens are terrible - hope the upgraded accommodation has better ovens.
  3. eating out can be costly so don't do it often... self-catering is fine apart from the slow oven
  4. pool gets a bit crowded in peak season, but not as bad as my local swimming pool!
mumto2andnomore · 07/09/2008 18:26

The only thing wrong with CP is that its getting expensive ! Its lovely, we have been to Sherwood many times and Longleat once .My children love swimming, so we spend lots of time in the pool area. They all have a great bit where you can swim outside but the water is really warm, especially magical at night when you are swimming in the dark in the foret with all the stars above you. We are going again in October, cant wait !

mumto2andnomore · 07/09/2008 18:27

Obviously meant to say FOREST !

Leslaki · 07/09/2008 20:49

If you don't mind the drive to Holland go here Just priced it with keycamp - you can go Oct half term for 4 nights accomodatioan dnferry included for £149.50! And you can stock up on cheap booze in Calais! Duinrell is bit of a cross of Centre parks and a bigger Gulivers/Smaller Alton Towers only better!!! You will love it. Tons of positive reviews on here.

AbbeyA · 07/09/2008 21:48

You need to be clear why you are going. We went to relax, to be able to swim whatever the weather and to cycle along car free tracks. It gave us all that and it was only for a few days-a nice break.

Marina · 07/09/2008 21:59

I am sure that when we looked into the new French Centreparc (Lac d'Aillette) the dreadful current exchange rate pretty much wiped out the lower prices.
We're quite snobby too I suppose and have always preferred self-catering abroad away from the masses. But we had a great time at CP in Elveden in June and I'm now a complete convert. Accommodation is basic and I found having the loo across the entrance hall a bit of a PITA but the beds were comfortable and so was everything else. We had a superb setting on the lake, which the dcs loved - ducks, moorhens and coots everywhere, plus the chance to try out archery, riding and have a daily family table tennis tournament. Dh and ds fished. I did the rapids and flumes every day with the dcs.
We had a very pleasant if not stunning meal in the Cafe Rouge but just brought our usual shopping with us.
The safe, family ambiance was a priceless chance for us to let up a bit on our usual urban angst about having the dcs under our noses at all times.
The staff were superb. Friendly and chatty without exception. Excellent service everywhere.
The spa was bliss.
Tbh really honest Jojo, we took a young baby to Whinfell some years prior to this and did not have half the fun we hoped for. It was wasted on us. You might prefer to keep Centreparcs for when ds is old enough to really love the pool.

nannynick · 08/09/2008 13:39

With regard to discount codes, they send offers by e-mail every now and then. Current promotional code is SAVE. Just did a search... You can get 30% off a Mid Week break, in a 2 Bedroom Comfort Plus at Elveden, arriving Monday 13 October. Similar offer at Longleat.
In October schools have a Half Term, so prices go up a lot for Mid-Week bookings starting Monday 20 October and Monday 27 October.

bundle · 08/09/2008 13:43

expensive
plastic
pretend countryside instead of real
crap food unless you take your own and cook

maltloafeater · 08/09/2008 13:54

It feels like you have been processed through a holiday sausage machine and spewed out the other end. (but my dcs loved it and are always asking when they can go again!!)

WilfSell · 08/09/2008 13:59

food in the restaurants is shit

everything else kind of works, despite what the middle class snobs say (and I am one ) as it's easy to get about, kid friendly, relatively private, green.

If you don't fancy it and have enough cash, a babyfriendly hotel with a spa is a good alternative.

Fimbo · 08/09/2008 13:59

As has been said on previous threads, it is an upmarket Butlins.