What don't you like about Centre Parcs??

[slipperandpjsmum]

Just got back fro our first weekend there. Enjoyed it but can imagine its not everyones cup of tea. What don't people like about it?

feeling trapped !

It's blinkin expensive. And busy.

yes,expensive too

The villas are very dated and a bit manky. It also pisses me off that they charge so much more for one which isn't really quite grim.

The villas are only somewhere to sleep and shit though. They aren't intended to be luxury accommodation. I'd be happy if they were even more basic (yes, really) if it meant they could make the accommodation cheaper.

DW and I generally love the place. We always go with a big group of friends and all the children play together.

The only thing which takes a bit of getting used to is how nothing is included in the overall price apart from the swimming. (I'd assumed on my first visit that you paid the entrance fee and then everything was included, like some giant middle-class forest theme park with bikes.)

If you are not a water-baby this can piss you off a bit, as the rest of your family are happy to have a "cheap day" entirely within the "Sub-Tropical" (snigger) Dome, while you have a day of enforced sitting in your shorts and reading on a damp sun-lounger - if you can get one.

May be out of date, but when I went a few years ago all the activities/children's clubs we wanted to do had already been booked up way in advance so we couldn't do much except use the pool/playgrounds. And I didn't expect the pool hours to be so rigidly limited - DH wanted to take the DCs for a swim on the final morning while I packed, but it was closed. Basically, it seemed all very regimented and rule-bound (only arrive on certain days etc), and unless you planned everything you wanted to do several weeks/months in advance, it wasn't going to work. This was about five years ago, and not surprisingly I haven't been back. It also seemed very poor value for money compared with many other kinds of self-catering accommodation. Has it changed at all?

The only good thing about our stay there was that it was the one next to Longleat, and they have/had a useful ticket which allows you back in over a period of several days or a week so you can do all the different things (safari, house, mazes, playgrounds etc) at least once without cramming it all into one day - we ended up spending most of our time there rather than actually in Centerparcs.

Traffic on traffic free days. Over recent visits to Longleat I have noticed more and more vehicle movements during traffic free days. Mostly it's centerparcs vans (which is to expected) but there are also quite a lot of traffic going to AquaSana (spa days I guess).

AquaSana seems to be more busy... spa days again I guess. Think at times they may have too many people there... it's meant to be a tranquil escape. Cost of Spa sessions went up a lot this year... think it was something like £10 increase (yep, looked up old thread). Not sure that can be justified. An increase is expected... but not a big increase like that. 6pm slot was £26 went to £36. Isn't good - put me off booking as many sessions as I have done on previous visits.

I've never been as I don't drive and it looks £££.

It's very hard to get to if you don't drive. They always assume you will be arriving in a car.

it is shit
glorified park and canteen

Cost in holidays

We have been a couple of times and have had a really good time, but the non term time prices are just madness.

Well I'm looking forward to my trip next Feb. We've got a 3bed couple up from bog standard cabin for a weekend for £290. Going with friends and splitting the cost so it's not bad actually. We'll book everything in advance so we know that the kids are booked into activities.

It just needs a bit of forward planning.

We really enjoy going but it is so expensive. As unquiet dad says nothing is included in the price and the activities cost a lot more than on the outside - eg: a session of 10 pin bowling costs about £30 whereas our local one costs about £10! Restaurants are not great either although that has improved recently with the addition of Strada etc

That's why we've not been uniquedad. I would like to go, none of them look accessible. My friend went to one last year, someone stole their bikes, she came back and she was fuming.

Went there once, was horrified at the prices, especially in the on-site supermarket.

£20 for special approved logettes for our open fire.

£27 for an hour-long go on someone's silk paints.

£65 for the most cack-handed massage of my life in the Aqua Sana.

£12 for their cheapest bottle of wine to recover from stressed-out yummy mummies at the swings saying pointed passive-aggressive things like "Come on now darling, let's wait until a swing is free, it's important to take turns isn't it darling, because WE believe in good manners, don't we?"

Their strap line should be "Center Parcs- We Saw You Coming."

It's full of people and their children.

The other people.

Riven, then think carefully. We didn't drive when we went either, got a cab from the nearest train station.

For this reason we were heavily reliant on the supermarket & equipment hire. I cried about money twice while we were there.

Having to pre-plan your entire trip weeks before you go otherwise you can't join in with anything because it's all booked up.

And the cost of even the most mundane activity.

Fortunately, we've found somewhere else to go now where the activities are all included, and you only book them when you arrive - but it's a secret

JustGettingByMum, can I tempt you to a fresh scone with cream and strawberries? pats seat

Oh Miggsie how I agree.
I have never been, but I would hate it.
JustGettingByMum- stuff a fresh scone, I have a case of wine for you

Riven, you might find Butlins is worth a look - the In-laws thought it was fab for BIL who has SEN.