Why is Center parcs so expensive?

[TomAllenWife]

I was hoping to do 3 nights November or December
The cheapest lodge is £799

I've just been to Tenerife for 5 days for £540!!!!!

Is there cheaper times? Or parcs? I just can't fathom it at all

We are going next week- Elveden. Just a basic lodge but it was £398. January is always a cheap time. But we have a baby so don’t have to worry about school holidays.

November they do lights and Christmas shiz so it pushes the price up.

We are going Mon-Fri.

Depends when you go. We got a 8 bed lodge (4 double/twin rooms) at Woburn for £570 in September

No idea.

But it’s my idea of hell, so I’ve never been.

@Sloughsabigplace

No idea.

But it’s my idea of hell, so I’ve never been.

That’s such great input

The cost is part of the appeal, it means it's full of "people like us". It doesn't really offer anything Butlins doesn't, except different clientelle.

FWIW DC have a much better time at Butlins

Supply and demand isn’t it? There are always going to be people willing to pay a premium for an easy mini break during the school holidays or certain weekends.

It depends when you go. If you go during term time not near Christmas then it can be quite cheap. We went in September Monday to Friday in a 4 bed room executive lodge and paid £600. The same lodge in school holidays is £2000

I wouldn't pay the prices even on a cheap on . You have to pay for all activities apart from swimming. You can get a caravan or lodge somewhere else for cheaper xx

It’s true, but as kids we were happy with just swimming, and the playground, and a walk in the woods, honestly. Occasionally we might do table tennis or something but doing the paid activities was never on the agenda (I think I met some owls for a birthday treat once)

We also mostly took our own bikes (but back in the day you could ‘borrow’ the ones that had been hired then dumped when people were leaving instead of being taken back )

Emporers new clothes

I love center parcs but it is getting pricier!

The Mon-Fri 4 night breaks are cheaper than the 3 nights.

We go regularly - not my favourite place in the world but the kids love it and it's easy and repeatable. There are definitely lower price and higher price times so keep an eye out for other dates.

That said I was looking at a weekend in March for £699. I then looked at cottages.co.uk and it was round the same price for a three bed place for the same weekend. And at least center Parcs has the swimming and you don't need to drive places. Depends what you're comparing it to - don't forget UK holiday prices generally are sky high at the moment.

We used to go CP every year without fail. We had to cancel last year's due to covid rules and we looked to book for this year. It is in the summer holidays and the lodge we normally get has gone up to £4500 from about £2500 for 4 nights. For £5200 and 7 nights we are going on a cruise to France and Spain and this cost includes all food and drinks (including alcohol). Its for 6 adults and 1 child.

I dont think we will be back to CP until the prices drop again.

I think the cost is more of a supply and demand thing, rather than you getting a spectacularly luxury/premium product. It is convenient though.

You can get to Florida and back for the same price. Literally no idea why anyone would want to pay megabucks to stay in a tarted up garden shed 🙄

@Foolsrule

You can get to Florida and back for the same price. Literally no idea why anyone would want to pay megabucks to stay in a tarted up garden shed 🙄

Some people wouldn’t understand why you’d want to go to Florida so it works both ways

Never understood it myself, we tended to book hotels instead and they included breakfast. The food options are pretty poor too (I do not cook on holiday!)

It's a total mystery. I remember a thread, which I got thoroughly distracted by, from a Mumsnetter who was paying £600 per night for her lodge at Center Parcs and was wondering if she would BU to complain about building noise. Sadly, I think it has gone now.

We are a small highly populated island. There are only so many forests. There are only so many places like this. So it’s supply and demand.
Also people like paying more if they think it keeps the riff raff out.

We recently booked for March just before the Easter holidays. It cost £479 for Mon-Fri for 6 of us which I think is ok in comparison to all the holiday cottages we have stayed in. Will have to take Dc out of school. Not booked any activities as none appealed, will take our own bikes, swim, walk & playground. Booked a free restaurants and they seem standard as don’t intend to cook much. Booked for January next year and taking our dogs and it’s £400. Wouldn’t entertain the school holiday prices as they are ridiculous, but so are the nice holiday cottages with dogs. Abroad is preferable but dogs are getting on and don’t want to kennel them. Holiday cottages are expensive and you have to drive to any activities, beach etc with 4 young kids it’s work, they don’t include pool and with 4 kids that soon adds up, CP’s is looking quite good value for us at the moment.

• a few restaurants

People think it’s good because it’s expensive. I found it was full of people who didn’t find the price an issue (judging by the other cars I saw coming in) and it’s just an average weekend for them.
Whereas others will spend the cost of a holiday going there for a weekend because they think it’s going to be super special.
All I can remember is a grubby lodge, rain, a pool and dirty changing room. The adverts do make me and DH laugh though as it’s not what it’s like.

The reason your holiday seems reasonable @EcoCustard is because you are willing to take your children out of school for a week. Most parents wouldn't do that (especially after all the recent lost school time) and the vast majority of schools wouldn't allow it either.

Weve been a couple of times in the past and had a nice time, clean, good swimming pools, good self catering accommodation and restaurants doing take away was nice. But the prices seem very high now, seems they are still in massive demand from people who would normal go abroad. I cant blame them to make as much as they can now. Is annoying though. If you are all jabbed and feeling brave enough to travel, the centre parcs in France and the Netherlands are a lot cheaper, even when you factor in the crossing.