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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:
BeerAndMusic · 10/04/2025 12:12

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

In an ideal world he would probably want a different holiday!

1/4 from him I would say and 1/3 of food, you pay any kids activities.

Starseeking · 10/04/2025 12:12

Dweetfidilove · 10/04/2025 11:41

Pay the full amount and leave him behind.

I’d do this as well.

perfectcolourfound · 10/04/2025 12:13

Simple maths. He's a quarter of the people enjoying the holiday, so he pays a quarter.

If he paid anymore, he's 'subisidising' (to use your words) your holiday.

LlynTegid · 10/04/2025 12:15

Half, given you have got to the point where he is being considered as a step-dad in all but name.

Minnie798 · 10/04/2025 12:17

He pays 1/4 and you pay 3/4.

LumpyandBumps · 10/04/2025 12:17

I think there may be other factors to consider.
The price you quoted seems to be in peak season. Are you limited to going in school holidays? If so, and he would not have been, then your choice of dates is increasing his costs.
The bedrooms at Center Parcs are not equal in size. The main double bedroom is normally much larger than the second, twin bed room. That would indicate that a 1/4 and 3/4 split is not fair either.
Maybe a pragmatic approach is to split the difference between between the fractions you both think you should pay? ie you pay halfway between 2/3 and 3/4 and he pays halfway between 1/4 and 1/3.
I can’t see that it’s reasonable to expect him to pay half as has been suggested.
The cost as a single person isn’t really relevant. You could just as easily say that you need 2 bedrooms at ‘x’ cost and therefore he doesn’t need to pay anything, which would clearly not be fair.

Onelifeonly · 10/04/2025 12:18

You're not living together so he shouldn't be expected to have any financial responsibility for the children. I think his idea of paying one quarter makes most sense. If you go alone with the children, you'll pay the same for the accommodation, so you're still benefitting. Foodwise, he could pay for what he eats unless he wants to treat you. Or if you're cooking in, maybe a third assuming the two children don't have adult appetites.

TwistedWonder · 10/04/2025 12:19

You’ve only been together a year and you’re expecting him to subsidise your DC who he barely knows already as well as helping you with their childcare?

Honestly if I wanted a new partner to come on holiday with me and my DC, I’d pay for the lot and he could pay for a few meals etc. It’s a holiday he’s going on for you - jig one hrs chosen himself so his offer of 1/4 is more than fair

And I would say the whatever way round the sexes were

Silvers11 · 10/04/2025 12:20

@MidnightMummy Who suggested the holiday for all 4 of you? Would you have been booking this holiday anyway, if you were not with your partner? Did you ask him if he wanted to come, or did he ask you if he could come too?

If you'd have booked it anyway with or without him, there is no way you are subsiding him, so that's unreasonable to be thinking in those terms at all.

Your children barely know him, you don't live with him I'm assuming (as they don't really know him), you haven't been together all that long and I think 1/4 of the cost is more than reasonable of him if you were booking it anyway.

Onelifeonly · 10/04/2025 12:21

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.

He would if they just had one room.

SpringIsSpringing25 · 10/04/2025 12:21

Would you have gone with the kids anyway if he wasn't coming?

If that's the case, it's not costing any more for him to come.

I wouldn't have expected him to pay anything towards the accommodation. I'd just be happy to have his company and to pay his way or a bit more towards food, eating out, ice creams, et cetera

It all sounds far too transactional for a couple who are supposed to be loved up.

I personally would be leaving it much closer to the date to the side where him coming along or not is a good idea. It's obviously your children's main summer holiday and I'd want them to be the priority.

rookiemere · 10/04/2025 12:21

Using your own logic OP, the 2 bedroom villa is required for the 3 of you at CP regardless if he comes or not. 1/4 seems fair considering if he went on his own he wouldn’t have to share any of the facilities.

McSpoot · 10/04/2025 12:22

LlynTegid · 10/04/2025 12:15

Half, given you have got to the point where he is being considered as a step-dad in all but name.

Huh? Her first post said that he's barely spent any time with her kids - how does that possibly make him anything like a step-dad?

Silvers11 · 10/04/2025 12:23

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.

Well then they would only need a one bed lodge wouldn't they? The OP said that the price of a 2 bed lodge was the same price regardless. She would still need a 2 bed whether she is with her partner or not.

crumpet · 10/04/2025 12:23

You pay 3/4 and he pays a 1/4. That way you both win. You pay less than you would have done ifwas just the 3 of you, and he pays less than he would have done if he’d gone on his own. Win win.

FlatWhiteExtraHot · 10/04/2025 12:25

I wouldn’t expect him to pay anything in a situation like that, as the accommodation costs the same however many are in it. I would expect him to bring some groceries and pay for his share of meals out.

Expecting him to subsidise your kids’ holiday is mad.

RareGoalsVerge · 10/04/2025 12:26

It would cost him £699 to go without you as a single person.

It would cost you £1449 to go without him as a single parent family.

So the total if you each went independently woulf be £2148 total.

If you team up and go together you only pay £1449 for everyone which is 67.5% of £2148

So you should pay 67.5% of £1449 = £977.47 and he should pay 67.5% of £699 = £471.53

You are then sharing the benefits of teaming-up fairly.

vandelier · 10/04/2025 12:34

If any trip needs a precise mathematical calculation, I wouldn't go.

If I were in your situation I'd pay 3/4 and he 1/4. Sorted.

Any other convoluted mathematical equations would mean the visit is off. How are you splitting other costs like the journey, the food/drinks/bike hire etc.? With another maths lesson?

Just go and pay 3/4 or leave it.

Silvers11 · 10/04/2025 12:34

Silvers11 · 10/04/2025 12:20

@MidnightMummy Who suggested the holiday for all 4 of you? Would you have been booking this holiday anyway, if you were not with your partner? Did you ask him if he wanted to come, or did he ask you if he could come too?

If you'd have booked it anyway with or without him, there is no way you are subsiding him, so that's unreasonable to be thinking in those terms at all.

Your children barely know him, you don't live with him I'm assuming (as they don't really know him), you haven't been together all that long and I think 1/4 of the cost is more than reasonable of him if you were booking it anyway.

Just to add to my previous post, I personally wouldn't be charging him anything for the accommodation, if I would be going anyway. Expect him to pay for food etc that he eats, share petrol money etc etc absolutely yes - but not the accommodation. I would then be waiting to see until much nearer the time, if your children know him better by then, whether it is a good idea or not for him to go too?

Snoken · 10/04/2025 12:36

RareGoalsVerge · 10/04/2025 12:26

It would cost him £699 to go without you as a single person.

It would cost you £1449 to go without him as a single parent family.

So the total if you each went independently woulf be £2148 total.

If you team up and go together you only pay £1449 for everyone which is 67.5% of £2148

So you should pay 67.5% of £1449 = £977.47 and he should pay 67.5% of £699 = £471.53

You are then sharing the benefits of teaming-up fairly.

But he would obviously never go as a single adult man in peak season so he's not saving anything. He's doing OP a favour by going on a holiday that is centered around her children.

catin8oot5 · 10/04/2025 12:41

Why are you taking this douchebag on holiday with your kids? Is dick that important to you?

Original poster
MidnightMummy · 10/04/2025 12:41

Thanks all for your input, I didn't think I would get so many replies!

I will be going solo with my kids so we can put the calculators away 😆

OP posts:
CiscoTS · 10/04/2025 12:44

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.

What does he think he should be paying?

CiscoTS · 10/04/2025 12:44

MidnightMummy · 10/04/2025 12:41

Thanks all for your input, I didn't think I would get so many replies!

I will be going solo with my kids so we can put the calculators away 😆

Oh 😂

SandrenaIsMyBloodType · 10/04/2025 12:49

If you were taking your children on your own, would you still get a 2 bedroom lodge? If so, then arguably he isn’t costing anything.
I’m not actually arguing that he shouldn’t contribute but maybe his contribution should reflect the difference in the style of accommodation that you would book if he wasn’t going, versus what you would book if he was…..
I have only been once about 20 years ago and genuinely do not know how many variations there are