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Original poster

Centreparcs...elveden anyone been?

26 replies

Twiglett · 24/11/2004 16:20

DH could do with a break

Has anyone get any good discounts .. the mumsnet one seems to be giving all of fourteen pounds off a 3 bed basic villa in february (that ain't 25% off)

Is it worth booking a certain villa (my parents are going to come with and dad is 84) so wondering if I should book closer to the centre

What's elveden forest like?

OP posts:
Original poster
Twiglett · 24/11/2004 16:21

In fact its only 5%

OP posts:
KangaMummy · 24/11/2004 16:32

we always go to same row forgotten numbers right now though will look them up.

We are near to centre and on the flat side. There are even nearer ones will look it up later for the numbers.

we only have 4 bed but on each block think there are 6 and sometimes 8.

Original poster
Twiglett · 24/11/2004 16:33

thanks kanga .. that would be helpful

OP posts:
bakedpotato · 24/11/2004 16:38

twiglett, i hated it. (pretty sure I'm in the MN minority on this though and i have heard other Parcs are nicer.)

the villa and i think we got a more expensive one felt like a mobile home. the pool complex's heating system was down on day 1.

if your parents ain't too nimble, you will definitely need to book rooms near the central complex.

oh god, the central complex! don't start me off!

the forest and bikes were fun, though. but i will never, ever go to a CP ever again.

Original poster
Twiglett · 24/11/2004 16:40

We went to the nottingham forest one when DS was 2 much to our own surprise .. and we had a fab time because we arrived late Monday and left early friday it felt like a short break

OP posts:
bakedpotato · 24/11/2004 16:41

we went sat-mon and it felt like a long, looooonnnngg jail term

Original poster
Twiglett · 24/11/2004 16:48

but I was expecting very basic accomodation to be fair .. wasn't disappointed on that front

with 2 kids the days of 5 star travel are far behind me (oh for the Hotel Nacional in Havana .. halcyon days )

OP posts:
pedilia · 24/11/2004 17:16

I went before the fire and have been to sherwood,belguim, france and germany it's a bit surreal because they are all exzctly the same, I have always had a good time.

wouldn't recommend more than a midweek break though.

futurity · 24/11/2004 17:35

I love Elevedon (although haven't been since the fire). Am going next week to stay in executive villa which is fairly near the centre. I think you have to pay to book a specific villa or to request location.

I am also going for a midweek. Weekends are too busy and expensive and whole week is too much!

MistressMary · 24/11/2004 17:40

Hello we went to Elveden back in October and loved it.
We did go for an excutive villa though, we were very happy with the self catering facilities. Oven, Microwave, Dishwasher etc..
The only thing we thought though was the beds were not brilliant and the bulbs were low wattage.
The complex was a little away from the villas, so a bike is handy.
The place itself was very clean and tidy. Plenty to do and no problems.
Food is ehem, not brilliant althought the Indian is very good and you can do takeaawy food from there and the Italian. Avoid Hucks Diner.
We enjoyed it and going to Longleat next year.

MistressMary · 24/11/2004 17:41

Also if you book an excutive villa you get to pre book lots of the activitoes or treatments.
We stayed the week BTW.

Original poster
Twiglett · 24/11/2004 17:43

Why executive over the comfort?

OP posts:
futurity · 24/11/2004 17:46

Because my DH is fussy! The executive was just a bit nicer (we've stayed there before) and..the main reason..has a massive jacuzzi!! (which I don't know if I am meant to use anyway as I am 28 weeks pregnant so it will just be for DH and DS !!)

foxinsocks · 24/11/2004 17:48

you can prebook with comfort ones as well. Only the VIPs get a head start on booking to everyone else (unless they've changed that all now)

cupcakes · 24/11/2004 17:57

We stayed in an executive last December at Elveden. The accomodation was fine. We spent quite a bit of time there as my dd was quite young so we wanted something nicer than average. Which I gather it was (my dh had previously stayed in the other ones). It was quite far away though, over near the spa so watch out you don't get placed there if you want to be at the central complex.
Did feel a bit like being in jail but I would imagine I'd feel like that at any of them...

MistressMary · 24/11/2004 18:36

Yeah but you can go off site?
We ventured out on one day.
The excutive villa we stayed in was near the sauna though. And also you get a maid service too.
Although we didnt really bother with that.
Got the cbeebies channel for the young ones, on the telly as well as the other channels.

bundle · 24/11/2004 18:40

bakedpotato, i'm so glad you said that. dh compared it with an eastern german motorway service station. the bikes were great and dd1 loved the creche which we used twice. but we won't be going back in a hurry either....

noddy5 · 24/11/2004 18:51

agree with b potato and bundle i'm afraid!Went to longleat and ds loved all the activities but it was butlins with trees in every other way.Having said that if there is a spa at elveden that is relaxing and it is all geared to kids having fun and some of the clubs etc give you a break.Definitely try to be near the centre for your parents so that they can go to the villa in the day if they get tired we were out in the outskirts and so stayed out 12 hrs every day and were knackered and asleep by 9 every night!

bundle · 24/11/2004 18:52

the babysitters are good too, it's not all pants

stripey · 24/11/2004 18:56

We've been to Elveden and it was OK (I'm not into cycling or swimming and all of the massages were booked). On the whole it was a good experience but we were central, definitely wouldn't want to be far away from the centre with an 84 year old unless hes a keen cycler.

Original poster
Twiglett · 25/11/2004 15:55

Kangamummy .. have you managed to have a look for the numbers yet .. would be very grateful as think its best we're near the centre and on the flat .. thanks in advance

OP posts:
MistressMary · 25/11/2004 16:09

I know we had an excutive in near the spa and they were Oaks Nine Hundreds.

futurity · 25/11/2004 16:34

Found this ..does it help?

KangaMummy · 25/11/2004 18:22

sorry twiglett we are 820 which is between centre and country club and car park.

And is flat

there are some that are even closer 825,826,827

the nearest ones to our one which are also right size for you are 821 and 817. they have the same view {sort of} of the trees etc.

If DF is reg disabled then you can keep the car near villa and also you will not have to pay for villa preference.

You deffo want to be on the same side as the car park as the ones on opposite side of the centre are more hilly. Not enormous like longleat but not very flat.

I hope that makes some sense.

I should say that I did actually prefer it before the fire the centre inside feels a bit claustrophobic. Very low ceilings.

have a good time

KangaMummy · 25/11/2004 18:35

we go for a {7 nights} week as shorter is too much kerfuffle for us to get there

any shorter and its not a break.

DS loves the clubs

we taught him to swim there and ride his bike.

Do not leave bikes unlocked for a minute. I hired one and it was stolen within a few minutes of me parking it in bike park. DH went to get me another one no charge.

If you take your own take extra locks and bring them all in villa when you go to bed.

We only take DS one but we never leave it outside.