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Original poster

Checking out of center parcs - do you strip the beds?

24 replies

Cluelessat30 · 15/10/2014 07:39

Having stayed at center parcs for the third time last year, my parents (staying in a different lodge with friends) told us it was expected of guests to strip the beds the morning they leave.

I'd never heard this before! The first time we went was with friends, and since they didn't mention it, I guess they'd never heard it either. We're staying again in a few weeks (yay!).

So are my parents barking? Do you strip all the beds before you leave?

OP posts:

CheeseEqualsHappiness · 15/10/2014 07:41

No, we don't. My friend is a cleaner there and she has never said this either

ClaimedByMe · 15/10/2014 07:41

It's usually in the handbook/folder thing in the lodge about stripping the beds, we do it!

Original poster

Cluelessat30 · 15/10/2014 07:49

handbook? I really should pay more attention, I just assumed it was full of emergency this or that... which I guess I should have been reading anyway. Thanks!

OP posts:

TheBookofRuth · 15/10/2014 07:57

We didn't, nor would I even if I'd known it was "expected".

Allice · 15/10/2014 07:58

We first went about 14 years ago and I'm sure it was expected then and they were quite blatant about it.
I've not seen it mentioned anywhere in the last few years.

PfftTheMagicDraco · 15/10/2014 07:59

Whenever I have been there it has cost the GDP of a small country to stay. So no, I don't strip the beds.

Finola1step · 15/10/2014 08:00

I do remember seeing something about this for the old very basic comfort bungalow (the ones where you would pay extra for the beds to be made up on arrival).

That said, I've only stayed in woodland lodges and apartments and never have stripped beds. I do think for what Centre Parcs charge, especially during school holidays, they should employ more housekeeping staff to clean and prepare the accommodation properly.

So when I go next week, I will double check the handbook.

onadifferentplanet · 15/10/2014 08:01

Yes we do, I can't remember where but there is definitely something in the villas requesting that you do either in the handbook or on a sheet left on the breakfast bar when you arrive.

charlie0123 · 15/10/2014 08:02

After I've paid that much to stay there, I recon their cleaners should be stripping the beds! It used to be requested - not sure it is expected now.

AliceMum09 · 15/10/2014 08:07

We strip the beds. It doesn't take two minutes and once the beds are stripped we always find things under the bed that we might have left behind otherwise!

SomethingAboutNothing · 15/10/2014 08:22

The first time we stayed there was a photocopied not asking us to strip the beds.

I have a family member who now works there as a cleaner who said that was definite not protocol and the cleaner was very cheek to do that but equally they have a lot of work to do to get the villas ready for new arrivals in a short space of time so really do appreciate people doing this.

The cleaners are worked very hard so if you do have the time it would be a nice thumb to do.

YeGodsAndLittleFishes · 15/10/2014 08:27

Yes, though agree that it isn't insisted on as much now, it is still preferred. Have worked as a cleaner, and the ones at CP work really hard. If it can make such a huge difference to another person's day, then why not spend a few minutes to do it.

Original poster

Cluelessat30 · 15/10/2014 10:21

I agree it's a nice thing to do, I'll probably do it again this time. If DH complains I'll tell him he can leave a tip instead

OP posts:

NickiFury · 15/10/2014 12:39

I don't pay to go away and do housework so no I would not do that.

Enjoyingmycoffee1981 · 15/10/2014 12:44

I have paid over £1000 for a four night mid week break next May half term.

The chances of me stripping a bed is, well, there is absolutely no chance whatsoever!

May09Bump · 15/10/2014 12:53

I didn't realise until I ready the manual on our third stay. I think it's bonkers to request it, CP is not cheap and there is no way I'm stripping the beds on holiday.

Beth666 · 05/03/2016 12:58

I work at center parcs as a cleaner and up until about a year ago the welcome pack suggested guests stripped the beds before leaving - and most people did.
The welcome pack no longer states this and it's the poor cleaner that suffers - not the bosses sat behind a desk that made the decision.
Cleaners have little enough time to clean the lodges to an excellent standard as it is and because of constant staff shortages end up doing more work than they should be given.
Onto another subject
I'd be interested to know if the people above empty their bins before they leave the lodges as this is still suggested in the welcome pack.
I'm shocked by the amount of rubbish left by some guests - bins overflowing and spilling onto the floor because they are too idle to walk a few yards to the big bins. I've had bags so full of you can't move them safely and heavy boxes full of bottles. I once helped someone move ten bags full of rubbish from a four bedroom lodge - basically because the guests were too idle and/or thoughtless to remove it.
I've gone into warm lodges and been overpowered by the stench of urine from baby nappies that have been left under the sink in the kitchen and even under beds and on floors.
It also does'nt help when guest don't leave on time- every minute from 10 am onwards is precious and every minute lost means less time to clean. The cleaner ends up running around like an idiot in a panic to get the work done by 3.30pm.
And late leaving guests depart oblivious or uncaring of the chaos they have caused.

AliceMum09 · 10/03/2016 01:00

I can well imagine what it's like Beth, that sounds horrible!

You don't work at Whinfell Forest do you? We go as a big family group once a year (we have two lodges) and they finish up cleaner than when we arrived thanks to my Dad - he even hoovers all the floors before we leave! And all before 10am :-)

I'd never dream of not emptying the bins either. Yes you've paid a fortune to stay there, but how much effort does it take?

Beth666 · 12/09/2016 22:10

AliceMum09
I'm quite lucky with my lodges as they are often left in good nick.

What is bad is that the lodges have been refurbished over the last 7 years - and they are using materials that are more difficult to clean - those dreadful marble kitchen work tops may look great but we clean them (of course) but then have to buff them - to shine them. The floors in the past were carpets so we only had to hoover them - now they are laminate so we have to hoover them and then mop them. There are mirrors everywhere, everything is white and steel and glass. The new look lodges take longer to clean but we were not given longer time to clean them - it's disgraceful.
When i decided to apply for this job I went to the job centre for advice and they tried to talk me out of applying!

Beth666 · 26/10/2016 18:11

I'd had enough on Monday just gone. Guests who could'nt even leave their lodges on time I watched them dump bin bags of rubbish on the grass below the window of their lodge. One was full of bottles. I gave them the benefit of the doubt but as they went to leave - they had actually got into their cars - the rubbish STILL on the grass - I told them to take their rubbish to the bins before they left "I am a cleaner I am not here to remove your rubbish" . There were six full bags of rubbish. I don't think they were very please by my request. I went into their lodge after they had gone to find a seventh bag in the kitchen that was so full I struggled to lift it. The lodge was in such a disgraceful state it took me thirty minutes longer that it usually does.

Beth666 · 26/10/2016 18:19

A few weeks ago I had a conversation with a guest. It was 9.50am. I approached the lodge believing it was empty - that the guests had gone. The door was open but i could see no-one inside. Suddenly a gentleman rushed out holding his hand up in a stop gesture saying you're not coming in here I'm still packing. I've got another hour before i leave." I politely told him check out time was 10 am not 11am. He said "Well I've paid a lot of money for this lodge i don't want "you lot" hanging around it"
This made me see red and I told him if i want to hang around I would."
We ignored each other after that. I stood nearby to make a point and then went for a walk.

annabanana23 · 28/10/2016 13:17

I always stripped the beds there and take the rubbish out.it did state in the handbook in August to do so.

Rather pissed off that i had to do it after paying over £1k for 4nights.

genius1308 · 11/11/2016 10:53

We always strip all the beds, put all the bedding and towels in the hall, empty all the bins and put on the dishwasher (try to empty it too if it's finished on time but it's not always possible). I didn't realise it was no longer in the handbook! We have been going to Whinfell at least once a year for the past 11 years (just got back home again last friday from another great week).

PutAPlasterOn · 19/12/2016 12:31

I'm pretty sure years ago they did ask you to strip the beds the morning you check out but they don't anymore. I've always stripped the beds we've used tho. The kids usually have a twin room each and only use one of the beds in each room so I strip the bed they've slept in and leave the other made up in a hope that it makes it easier for the cleaner.

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