Talk to me about Centreparcs

[rosalux]

DP and I have 5-7 days in mid september for a holiday. I would like to go abroad but have been vetoed. I am adamant that I want childcare though for DS who will be 13mths. I have heard good things about Centreparcs, and there is one quite close to us in Wiltshire. I've never been before and am naturally suspicious of organised fun, but that was pre-DS. Anything anyone can tell me would be greatly appreciated, from whether it's worth the extra to book in early/stay near the main site etc to how much the creche costs, whether there is babysitting available, whether you can bring your own food (all strangely absent on the website, or at least I can't find this info) to what activities are worth doing, which accommodation is best etc.

Thanks in advance

Staying near the village centre depends on how you'll be getting around. If you're likely to be walking with a pushchair, it's beneficial to be nearer. Doesn't matter so much if you'll be cycling.

I didn't use babysitters or creche, but I think if you select them as if you're going to book them, the prices would come up.

Yes, you can take your own food and alcohol.

Oh, and you know about the bumsex, right?

Watch out for Fridays...

is the bumsex extra?

It's ok but VERY hyped and VERY expensive! Just back from a week there.

It's lovely and very relaxing! Lots of playgrounds for little people, pool great fun. Kitchen is very limited is equipment, we has 1 sharpe knife which was a bread knife, you ever tried cutting veg with a bread knife, on a draining board (no cutting board) it's an art .

Would love to go back

Hi there, creche runs 3 sessions per day I think, one in the morning, one afternoon and one early evening - can't remember how much it costs maybe £20 per session, they sometimes do special deals for the spa with creche.

They do babysitting in the evening, 3 hr minimum think its around £8 per hour but to be honest the restaurants are heaving with other peoples children so you would be better seeing if DS will sleep in his buggy rather than forking out ££.

It's SC there is a shop on the site. The sites are large so it might be worth booking close to the centre or another option is hiring bikes - your DS should be old enough to go in one of those trailers.
It is expensive to go for a week I'd recommend Mon - Fri which is plenty long enough. All the accomodation is reasonable although the comfort ones are showing their age.

I wouldn't really recommend any activities for your DS at his age, but there are things you could bring him along too like the crazy golf or outdoor play areas. Big attraction is the pool they have a great area for young children.

Have fun.

Thanks for your info. I was thinking Mon-Fri as we've never been before and I didn't want to be stuck for a week if we hated it. Has anyone been to the Longleat one in particular?

We've been to Longleat twice Mon-Fri each time. It is a hilly site, my recommendation would be to stay as close as you can to the main pool, it is worth the premium. What kind of childcare are you looking, it's not really all day everyday, I think there is a three hour limit a day due to their OFSTED registration. But apart from the spa treatments, most things are set up for doing with kids, and everyone else will have theirs with them, so you can't get away from kids altogether.

DD was about 18 months when we first took her, she liked the pool, feeding the ducks, there was a little "beach" next to lake where we enjoyed building sandcastles etc. She also liked sitting in a bike trailer and being cycled round.

It's not really "organised fun" like you get in overseas hotels. It's very much up to you to seek it out and book it if you want it. You can get away with not booking any activities. The only things we booked were spa and horse riding for me, messy play for DD, which I'm not sure I'd do again, and ten pin bowling when it started raining. If you want to eat at 6pm you need to book in advance, if you want to eat at 8, everywhere is very quiet.