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?

We have just got back too and we loved it - a weekend is long enought though, I dont think I could do a week.

Infact we liked it so much we have already booked to go back for the DS's birthdays in March.

LOL at "I have never been, but I would hate it." How on earth can you know that?

We've been to Elveden twice now (and are booked to go back in December) and have had a takeout both times we visited. Never thought they were vile Mae. The Chinese food we had was lovely.

We love it there but have so far only been in term time so it's not as full of other peoples kids as it might be and the activities generally aren't booked up. DS loves whizzing round on his balance bike and has a great time in the pool. We're all looking forward to our next trip.

AlCrowley, perhaps the take away has improved. We did curry and pizza. I am not a fan of Chinese food.

In spite of the general moaning, we love it too. We rebooked last time and may do so again.

Al- I know that does sound odd. But I hate crowded places, loads of children and "activities".
I like holidays on my own
I'm sure the dcs would love it, but there's no chance. Never been to Disneyland either.

Went once. Was OK in the cabin and felt quite secluded but once you headed out it was like being on a film set. Pretend village, pretend restaurants (all basically the same but with different stage set) and ghastly amounts of people.
And activities hugely expensive.

Never again.

We love Center Parcs. We have just come back from a midweek break and immediately booked for the same time next year.

Yes the activities are slightly more expensive than at home, but not excessively so. DS1 did a morning each of cricket, tennis and soccer school. DS2 did both archery and fencing with DH. DD went on the Teddy Bear's Picnic and on the Children's Pony Ride. All 3 DC went to the Party Hour at the Time Out Club. I think we spent about £100 on activities altogether.

We spent every afternoon in the pool, which was free. The DC also spent a lot of time in the parks and soft play areas, which were also free.

The food in some places is a bit pricey, but in others it is very reasonable. One night we ate at Huck's, which was fairly expensive but very nice. The next night we went to the Sports Bar where Burgers were BOGOF, so that was quite cheap. We had the carvery at the Pancake House, which I thought was a bit over rated as there wasn't much choice of meat and veg, but DH really enjoyed it. We had pizzas from Dining In one night which were very reasonable, about £7 for a 12". On the last night we ate at The Forester's Inn, which was very nice. The children's meals were lovely and the adult meals were very well priced, I think my main cost about £7.

The DC are already planning which activities they want to do next year. I love the fact that all 5 of us can find something to do which interests us there.

One of the benefits of having pre-school DC's I suppose - we always go in term time when CPs is pretty much deserted.

Loads of space int he pool, restaurants pretty much deserted, park definitely deserted, holidays cheaper, loads of space left on activities too so we can be spontaneous and our time doesn't feel too prescribed.

DS loves the messy play sessions and the adventure playgrounds. We take his balance bike and he enjoys zooming round the woods. We swim lots and then just pick and choose what we fancy while we're there. DH and my brother pick 3 or 4 activities to challenge each other at and last time we even went to see Santa while there.

We take loads of food and only really buy perishables and treats from the Parc Market. I also make a big frozen lasagne or similar which defrosts on the way there and feeds us all on the first night. Love that it's only and hour and a half from home too so we're not stuck traveling with grumpy kids for too long.

We've been twice before and have always made the most of the returners discount code. We've got a 4 bed exec lodge for 5 days at the end of November for less than £600. Plus we get free cancellation insurance and £25 worth of vouchers to spend while we're there.

We like it.

Our parents pay to take us (DH, DD (3) and me) every March. About £250 for a midweek (4 night) stay.

It's not expensive at all, but then we take our own food and don't generally pay to do activities. Swimming is free. Walking through the woods is free. Animal spotting is free. Cycling is free. Playgrounds are free. If you go in an evening, they let you do badminton for free too. Children's disco is free. This year we had a duck nesting on our patio, deer, peacocks, rabbits, squirrels etc playing outside while we ate breakfast. Birds to watch. In March it's very quiet indeed and there are no cars zooming about.

If you're expecting to be able to go along and buy the experience then you'll probably be disappointed.

We have been once before. I was good but i think that was more about the company then the parc it self. I felt that the holiday was ALL about the kids .... place was dead at night (luckily we were in a large group of friends)...and self catering ...just didnt feel like a holiday for the adults.

I was just looking on line for a break over Oct half term .... £1,200 for middle of the range accommodation !! ...Butlins is £520 ...INCLUDING food in the upgraded yacht club.

I know people knock Butlins (we went over the summer) but i secretly enjoyed it (as a Boden wearing degree holding 30+ women) ....felt it was more of a holiday for all of us

Manda25 your post made me smile! Tell me more about Butlins.

We have been to centre parcs Longleat twice. It is only about an hour and a half drive for us which is a plus. The only negative I have about the place was the food though we took quite a bit with us.

It was quite limited for ds when it rained as the softplay was very small.

We have just been to Butlins. Cost us £600 for 3 nights bed and breakfast at Bognor. We stayed at the Ocean Hotel which was quite nice. Very clean and comfortable. Ds absolutely loved it! DH said the pool didn't compare to centre parcs.

CP is basically Butlins for Boden mums .

We do both, the children vastly prefer Butlins (but they love the evening entertainment, the shows, the funfair etc) but I prefer the nicer surroundings of CP.

My bug bear with CP is that actually, there is very little to do whilst there, except pay for their extremely overpriced activities. Some of the things my DDs have been on have been just naff, and a complete waste of money. For example, once we went to a fairy thing and it cost at least £5 to make sugar paper fairy wings (with wool to hold it on), and a sugar paper wand, stapled together. You even had to stay there and help your child - so you weren't even paying for the childcare. Absolute con. At Butlins, that would be free!

Also, there is no evening disco at Longleat. The evening disco is the highlight of my DDs holiday.

That said, the pool is much nicer than Butlins. Agree with Sailorsgal, the pool at Butlins is no comparison.

Has anyone had problems with crime at CP?
I've never been and the high crime rates (that they are apparently a drain on the local police) puts me off tbh.

I've not been to CP but we've just come back from Bluestone and I am already planning our return. We were seriously impressed although if I'm being picky the beds were a bit hard.

Pembrokeshire is beautiful anyway and the Bluestone company encourage guests to get out and about in the local area, which is great for the region.

We had a great time. But:

• it was before ds1 started school so about one third the price it would be now
• we shared cooking with grandparents and brought most food at supermarket on the way
• the dc were 2 + 4 and only wanted to do paddling in the morning and playgrounds in the afternoon
• the roof or our accomodation only started leaking the morning we left.

otherwise it would have been far too expensive.

we go with friends, a weekend off-season in january and we stay in our chalet and have a 'house party' each evening.

we cook together and drink in the chalet while the kids sleep and play cards and stuff - it's fun.. would not like it as romantic couple getaway as per the tv ads.

Center Parcs are only interested in grabbing your money and not about you as a customer or making sure you will have a nice time.

Give me Butlins any day.

Didn't like the food (self cater mostly, and found the kitchen facilities more limited than in a standard cottage not in CP; restaurant food dull and expensive). Didn't like the way I felt ghetto-ised on site! Wasn't keen on great long walk to facilities either.
Self-catering cottage in a small complex every time for me (DS1 only 4, DD2 18m) and we have had some great stays in places with swimming pool/ play facilities on site (accept I may feel differently when/ if children want nightlife)

Too institutionalised for us, would rather camp or get a cottage and find our own activities. But I have been and I can see the attractions especially as a weekend with friends.

we went to CP for the first time this april (just after easter holidays I have wanted to go since I was a kid, so was slightly over excited at finally being there!

We had an absolute ball and the only downside for us was the cost.... and that was only because I was excitable and didn't think things through! We had the comfort plus accomodation - and yeah it was dated, but we were barely there so it didn't matter! we got back of an evening, put the kids to bed and passed out ourselves!

one of the things I LOVED about it was that it is so family orientated... DC2 was nearly 3 months old if I remember the date rightly and they were fab... I distinctly remember being told as we sat to dinner in hucks that if I wanted it there was a feeding room in x location, but if he was hungry and I was happy feeding at the table then that was fine by them too [girn] I don't know if some women would find that off putting, but that was the first time I had been told outright - "feed your baby here if you want, no one has a problem with it" and I thought that was great! I was still getting used to feeding in public and actually that trip sorted me right out!

DD had a ball too - she did so many activities and really enjoyed herself... we did lots of walks / parks but also did a fair few of the activities.

We are going back in december to see the winter wonderland - and if possible I am more excited! I think I will take some frozen meals to make it a bit cheaper, but really I don't care! on the good side, DS is older so we'll be able to make the most of the pool!

Paisley leaf, we recently went to CP Elveden and had our Nintendo DS stolen from the villa. We kept the doors locked all the time so can only ascertain that it was a cleaner. CP management were unhelpful and bearing in mind we went in August and paid probably £1500+ for everything - accommodation, food and activities - they haven't apologised or sounded in the least bit upset.
Having said all that! We love it there but - YIPEEEE! - we are giving Butlins a try in October which will be a third of the price.

Centre parcs made me cry!

It was just so.... Joyless.

The chastity plastic wrapped mattresses; strangled stunted bushes pretending to be a forest; cushion-on-a-bench sofa making the evenings about as relaxing as the waiting room of an STD clinic; kitchen ingeneously squeezed into a corridor - apart from the kitchen bin, which had to go in the bathroom; the petty rules and nasty overpriced food; the surly stressed staff; heavy petting in the human soup that was the subtropical zone.

There was no spontaneity or joie de vivre. It felt like a place to go if you had teens that you were slightly scared of.

we are booked to go at new year and this week could book activities ready for our stay

i looked up new years eve and basically unless you are willing to pay megabucks there is nothing to go to on the evening of 31st. For example, a buffet dinner and dance would be £160 for me, dh and dd aged 5.

I am pretty pissed off to be honest, if you arent willign to spend that then you can sit in your villa on new years eve basically.

we have been new year before and it the prices are definatly up a lot this year.

the cheaper option is a disco in the sports arena with restricted view seat for £50 for all 3 of us, that includes no food.

I don't think we will be going again - just feel like they are taking the piss

Lack of Dog Bins.
Took our 2 dogs, because they are part of our family and we enjoy them being with us. It was great to cycle around with but then we were left with bags of dog poo attached to our bike handle for hours - what a stench! It really spoiled a beautiful day.
Have however found the best cure - a dicky bag!
it's like a portable dog bin. Can't smell the poo, can't see the poo most definately the best invention for dog owners ever!!!