Has anyone been to centerparcs in Belgium?

[cornsilk]

Which one is closest to Dunkirk? Is it mad to drive there from the UK?

We went to De Kempervennen near Eindhoven, so drove through Belgium. Not mad at all. 3 hour drive from Calais. Great facilities, very friendly, and at the time we went substantially cheaper than the UK.

Great thanks!

Is that the nearset one to Calais then?

No, but have been to one in Holland - Het Heijerbos? It was great, not that we have been to English centerparcs, but all facilities and accommodation good. It was about 4-5 hours from Dunkirk I think. Ferry to Dunkirk is cheaper and nearer, and was a nicer ferry IMO!

We met someone who said the Belgian ones are better than the Dutch

Can I use a code for a discount?

I didn't find a code, but when you book you can get early booking discounts of up to 35% and you also get a discount for taking kids.

I confess that I went to De Kempervennen on the strength of MartianBishop's recommendation!

It's showing about £1000 for a week - is that right?

We didn't pay anything like that much!

Erperheide is great, about an hour's drive east of Brussels.

Thanks will have a look at that.

Sounds rather high? Are you looking at the Feb half-term? Understand that that is more expensive than usual as UK and much of EU all has the same week.

You have to look for the bargains. We went to a centre parcs in Germany last year - Heilbachzee - in January and paid just over 100 euros for five days. It was fun, but not nearly as good as Erperheid but for 100 euros we had a great time. We've paid 300 euros for five days in Het Meerdaal in Holland in february this year, so a lot more expensive but still not too bad.

Belgium half term begins 23rd february this year.

I think that we paid 650 Euros for a week in the October halfterm for a VIP lodge (so got breakfast and lunch thrown in).

Was looking at August - will try to find a bargain instead!

CS, look at the final 2 weeks of Aug - it is cheaper then (assuming that you have to go in school hols).

Right thanks Lady Muck - yes have to go in school hols unfortunately.

We have been twice to De Vossermeren (for Easter weekend) and also to Le Bois Francs (for a week). If you want to any information you are welcome to ask. I think that the newest addition in France (Lac D'Ailette) is now one of the nearest to the Calais crossing.

If you are looking at August Dutch schools go back mid August so prices go down for second half of August.

We've been to Eperheide too and really enjoyed it. Also check out Landal holiday villages. hereKind of on the same theme. They have lots in Holland and a few in Belgium. We spent a week last Easter in one of the German parks and dd keeps asking when we're going back. Cost about 500 euros for a week in a VIP bungalow with sauna and sunbed.

No, but have been several times to Holland. They are cheaper than UK even including ferry and offer discounts for early booking, young children etc. In the school holidays kids eat free in the restaurants which can save you qite a bit if they are small enough for child portions.
Het Heijerbos is great. We usually go via overnight ferry from Hull or Harwich. It gives you a fresh start on the Dutch roads (which are far better than ours).

We've been to De Kempervennen and Eperhiede Centerparcs. Both were approx 3hrs from Calais - very easy journey - but then DH did all the driving . We went over on the Eurotunnel using Tesco vouchers so it worked out very cheap.

Compared to the UK we found them

1. Much cheaper (accomodation, food, activities and bike hire)
2. More free activities but less of a range of activities compared to the UK
3. Much more relaxed (a lot of the activities can be booked when you get there)
4. Accomodation more basic. I think to get the equiv of a UK Comfort lodge you need to at least go for the Exec standard over there
5. DeKempervaan is better for slightly older kids, whereas Eperheide is much better for the younger ones.

we have been to eperhide last year it was fab, really good value with the discount for under 5s etc but the euro was weaker against the pound then. it was an asy 2.5 hr drive from calais

We have done two CP's in France, last time at the newer one in the Champagne region at Lac d'Ailette. Only two hrs easy and fast motorway drive from Calais, brand new Villas, we stayed in the most basic Confort and it was very comfy. Easy to do day trips to Reims (30 mins away) Eperney or Parc Asterix and Disneyworld.

But, its a bit more expensive now with the pound so weak however you can still make some savings by timing your stay out of French holiday dates (they differ from the UK) and using Tesco vouchers to pay for the Eurotunnel.

Have also stayed in a Landal Greenpark in the Netherlands, nr the border of Germany nr Aachen. Accomodation slightly more basic but still more than adequate with less activities & amenities but excellent value for money and make a good base for day trips i.e. we went to Cologne, the Nurberg Ring (DH is a petrolhead) and Maastricht...

The £1000 per week poster, are you sure it is not in euros as that is what i always book in>? Mind you with the exchange ragte it couold be a grand either way!