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Original poster

How to split cost of Center Parcs with partner

143 replies

MidnightMummy · 10/04/2025 11:00

I am hoping to gain some outside perspective as my partner and I can't agree! We are planning on taking my two children to Center Parcs in the summer holidays. The cost of a 2 bed lodge is £1449 regardless of numbers. The cheapest way one person could visit it to stay in a hotel room for £549 (or £699 with self-catering facilities). He won't have been in the kids lives for long by that point but we have been seeing each other for over a year. How much should we each be paying?

OP posts:
idontunderstandwhy · 10/04/2025 11:42

DaisyChain505 · 10/04/2025 11:28

If a man had written this thread and said he was going away with his two children and his new girlfriend and he thought she should pay for half of the holiday people would be up in arms.

It is very early days in this relationship, why should this man be forking out extra money for two children that aren’t his own and he doesn’t know that well.

Show quote history

I wouldn’t. I would say the same and I’m a woman and a step mum.
no matter the sex if the situation was two adults choosing to go somewhere and split the cost (rather than a parent booking and paying for a holiday then inviting partner along later) the only way I would split is in half.
but I would do the same at dinner if one person meal cost more or on a day trip when a friend took extra kids ect.
I’ve never been in an adult relationship where someone’s sat there with a calculator to work out exactly how much each person should pay.

Maitri108 · 10/04/2025 11:42

Dweetfidilove · 10/04/2025 11:41

Pay the full amount and leave him behind.

I'd be happy with this. You'd have to pay me to go.

GoldDuster · 10/04/2025 11:43

Dweetfidilove · 10/04/2025 11:41

Pay the full amount and leave him behind.

Nailed it.

Starlight1984 · 10/04/2025 11:44

MidnightMummy · 10/04/2025 11:39

My initial thoughts had been I pay 2/3 and he 1/3.
He thought he should pay 1/4.
He does want to come on the holiday so that's why I am struggling with the quarter as it feels like I'm massively subsiding his holiday. We are also going away just the two of us later in the year and are splitting the cost equally.

Maybe it is too soon to be bringing him away with my children, so thank you for those who mentioned this.

Show quote history

Why would he pay 1/3??? He's right. He should pay 1/4. Although to be honest this isn't a great start to a relationship as you're both on completely different pages.

As for subsidising his holiday, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't choose to go to Centre Parcs so I would see it as a bonus having some adult company and potentially help with the kids (if they are young).

idontunderstandwhy · 10/04/2025 11:45

In that case I would be questioning the holiday and maybe the relationship.
it’s sounds like he’s already resenting you and your kids, your right he’s asking for a cheap deal and if he wants that he should go on his own.

qandatime · 10/04/2025 11:45

If he wants to go then half, you said the price without children would be the same regardless, so he wouldn’t be paying less if it were just the two of you anyway.

ohdearagain2 · 10/04/2025 11:45

he wouldn't be going to centre parcs by himself in one hotel room - he would likely be going with you so two in a hotel room or a shared house with adult friends. I can't believe you think he owes a third! If you were sharing with another couple - the house cost would be split in two. And then you and him would split this half into half and so in theory he would be paying 1/4 then - how did you come up with 1/3?

DancingDucks · 10/04/2025 11:45

If you're arguing about this already, I think you may need to have a rethink. If he will only have been in your children's lives for a short time by the time you go away, do you think it's a good idea to go away as a 4 at all just yet?

McSpoot · 10/04/2025 11:48

Even if he would go with friends, a trip with two kids will be totally different to one with just a group of adults. Unless the plan is for him to go off by himself, the focus will be on kid's activities - you aren't subsidizing his holiday, you are adding him to yours/

bruffin · 10/04/2025 11:55

idontunderstandwhy · 10/04/2025 11:45

In that case I would be questioning the holiday and maybe the relationship.
it’s sounds like he’s already resenting you and your kids, your right he’s asking for a cheap deal and if he wants that he should go on his own.

Edited

Using OP's logic it would cost her the same whether he comes or not!He is not asking or a cheap deal, OP is expecting him to subsidize her children, which is cheeky.
Its a 2 bedroom cottage of which her dc will take up 1 bed room which is 50%
Then they share the other bedroom , so he pays half of the second bedroom therefore a 1/4.

rainbowstardrops · 10/04/2025 11:56

If he’s quibbling over money already then I’d just go with your kids and leave him behind.

PositiveLife · 10/04/2025 11:57

How old are the kids?

If it was me, I'd expect to pay 3/4 and him 1/4 but I have teenagers. I can see the argument for 2/3 and 1/3 if the kids are pretty small (as they'd usually be cheaper 'kids prices' for most accommodation/activity places)

Radra · 10/04/2025 11:57

Honestly I would say you should pay for him. Highly unlikely it's a holiday he would choose on his own - CP in the summer holidays!

NC28 · 10/04/2025 11:58

What do you plan to do about the kids activities, meals etc?

whatsappdoc · 10/04/2025 11:58

He’s having a laugh! Refusing to pay a third (£500) for a CP holiday in peak season? The best he could do on his own for that money is a room in the hotel. With a 2-bed villa he’s getting living/kitchen quarters and outdoor area. Even if he was paying half he’s still getting a bargain!

Buttonknot · 10/04/2025 12:01

MidnightMummy · 10/04/2025 11:09

Lots of different opinions then!

For added context he has been to Center Parcs with adult friends / no children so it's not a holiday he wouldn't ever be going on otherwise.

When he went before with adult friends and no children, he'd have just paid for himself, so that's why he's expecting to do the same this time. He wouldn't go on his own.

Radra · 10/04/2025 12:03

IhaveanewTVnow · 10/04/2025 11:39

Yes but he probably split the cost with the other adults equally. I think you should pay 3/4. Otherwise if it was just the two of you, you would rent a one bedroom lodge.

Show quote history

And he wouldn't go in the summer holidays, which is a lot more expensive

DaisyChain505 · 10/04/2025 12:06

idontunderstandwhy · 10/04/2025 11:45

In that case I would be questioning the holiday and maybe the relationship.
it’s sounds like he’s already resenting you and your kids, your right he’s asking for a cheap deal and if he wants that he should go on his own.

Edited

This is a bit of a reach. He’s not resenting her kids he’s asking her to pay for them herself.

Hes willing to go on what will be a very child focused holiday which obviously isn’t anyone’s first choice when they don’t have children.

Why should he have to financially support hear two random children he barely knows!

PinkElephantsOnParade2025 · 10/04/2025 12:08

I would ask him to get his own 1 bedroom accommodation.

Centerparcs is cramped anyway.

If he is interested in you and your children and wants to spend time with you he will do this.

Radra · 10/04/2025 12:09

Starlight1984 · 10/04/2025 11:40

Yeah this. Very unlikely a single male with no kids would ever be going to Centre Parcs on holiday so I think anything more than 1/4 of the cost is unfair!

Having said that I probably wouldn't ask him to pay anything as you would have to get a 2 bedroom lodge regardless? So if you weren't together / he wasn't coming then you would be paying the exact same?

I would just ask him to pay for a few meals / activities and call it even!

Show quote history

This would be my thought too.

If OP would be going anyway, it isn't costing her anything to have him join her and really no self respecting child free adult would ever pay CP school holiday prices.

The week is likely to be centred around the kids and what they want to do which doesn't make it an amazing great for the boyfriend here.

I can see the logic behind 1/4 as well but I don't really understand the argument for 1/3, which feels like it's asking him to subsidise the OP's family holiday which is a lot to ask so early in a relationship

DaisyChain505 · 10/04/2025 12:09

MidnightMummy · 10/04/2025 11:39

My initial thoughts had been I pay 2/3 and he 1/3.
He thought he should pay 1/4.
He does want to come on the holiday so that's why I am struggling with the quarter as it feels like I'm massively subsiding his holiday. We are also going away just the two of us later in the year and are splitting the cost equally.

Maybe it is too soon to be bringing him away with my children, so thank you for those who mentioned this.

Show quote history

You’re not subsiding his holiday. Believe me, going to centre parks during the school holidays is no child free adults idea of a holiday.

He is showing willing to adapt to your life and situation by going on this trip and yet you’re sounding ungrateful by trying to get him to pay for more than he rightfully should.

AnonAnonmystery · 10/04/2025 12:10

SparklyGlitterballs · 10/04/2025 11:03

I disagree. If it would cost him £700 to go there as a single person then go halves (or you pay the additional £49).

I don’t think he would go there tbh if he didn’t have dc and wasn’t going with the op. Think he should pay a quarter.

Snoken · 10/04/2025 12:10

whatsappdoc · 10/04/2025 11:58

He’s having a laugh! Refusing to pay a third (£500) for a CP holiday in peak season? The best he could do on his own for that money is a room in the hotel. With a 2-bed villa he’s getting living/kitchen quarters and outdoor area. Even if he was paying half he’s still getting a bargain!

But he's childfree it's very unlikely that he would want to pay peak season prices if he wasn't going for OPs kids sake. I realise he has been before with friends but it's an entirely different holiday when you go with kids. I think 1/4 is more than enough for him to pay.

DancingDucks · 10/04/2025 12:10

DaisyChain505 · 10/04/2025 12:06

This is a bit of a reach. He’s not resenting her kids he’s asking her to pay for them herself.

Hes willing to go on what will be a very child focused holiday which obviously isn’t anyone’s first choice when they don’t have children.

Why should he have to financially support hear two random children he barely knows!

Show quote history

I agree totally, he's just asking her to pay form her own children. I'm not sure why anyone would think that he should pay for anyone other than themselves. They don't live together, are not married or engaged. They have been together for a year.

AnonAnonmystery · 10/04/2025 12:11

@MidnightMummy I really do think it too soon to take them away with your dc.