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 live in wales and have done bluestone many times but DS2 still feels he's missed out on life not going to CP

do butlins have great pools? Go karting? Anywhere in the south west, wales or midlands

Butlins minehead is like hen party central for the Welsh, or an Ibiza weekender! I'm not up for that

UK holidays right now are in ridiculously high demand for obvious reasons, they can pretty much name their price .
We are going to Spain in Feb half term , I'm a sp so paying full price for ds - 260 pp mon to Fri, half board Inc flights and transfers
Going abroad has its pitfalls right now but if you've got nerves of steel u can get a real bargain !

Tbh I think the big Swansea pool is better than a CP pool.

@erinaceus

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.

Its definitely not premium! Its the most basic holiday Ive ever been on

They’ll charge it for as long as people are willing to pay it.

I remember pricing it up a couple of years ago and it was cheaper to go to one of the European centre parks for a week including travel than it was to go to the centre parks near us for 5 days! Madness.

I’d like to go in a way, but I just won’t pay it.

When we went it rained heavily the whole time apart from one day where we went to Longleat and spent the rest of the time in the pool but of course that's time limited now.

The DC had way more fun at Butlins which was bearable for me so long as you stay in a nice room in one of the hotels.

We went a number of times over the years. It was great when DCs were younger because families could book lodges beside each other and the DCs could play in the woods.

Also great as they got older as good place to have a bit of independence within a confined area. DS 15 would probably still love to go if we brought a pal, but not going whilst swimming is limited and also DH is not a great fan.

It's got dynamic pricing so the trick is to book early. We also used to get a local Friday and Monday in September and it was cheaper then. A lot of Uk holidays are expensive now, Forest holidays charge ridiculous prices and you have to pay extra for wifi on top, but people want safe, guaranteed holidays particularly when the DCs are very young.

It’s just easy, for frazzled parents with small DC.

Every restaurant has a little soft play, and plenty of high chairs. The pool has a shallow section with water play and a tiny slide that toddlers love. The accommodation has got a high chair, bathroom step stool and windows they can’t fall out of.

For that age, it was by far the easiest holiday. Need a daytime nap - no problem, just go back to the lodge. Need emergency nappies - the supermarket with sell you any size (at a premium price). Toddler wants to swim twice a day - fine, you can swim as often as you want, no booking. No messing around with car seats and finding the nearest supermarket and where to park and will the accommodation be toddler safe.

Now my DC are older, and CP have limited pool time, it’s a lot less attractive.

I’ve enjoyed Center Parcs since my DC were babies. My DH used to put the DC in the little clubs and go to the spa together, do stuff with them in the afternoon such as swimming or other activities. Then we’d feed the kids their tea in Huckleberry’s and then get a takeaway later when they were in bed with the fire on. We carried on going all during the DC’s childhood often with their cousins.
Now my DC are in their 20’s and we still love to go. We went last year and enjoyed archery, Segway, hiring a pedal boat, high ropes, clay pigeon shooting and we popped out one day for lunch and a mooch around We all enjoy the restaurants and the sweet shop. Last time we had a sauna and that was great fun.
I wouldn’t like to go if I was on a budget as I enjoy all the activities.

We went a few times when the DCs were younger. The price wasn't bad as we went with another couple, if it is coming out of one family budget it's expensive. Also booking well in advance is cheaper.

Wouldn't go now. There's more competition, we found a lovely lodge with a hot tub in the south west for a fraction of the price. Fab beach and pubs nearby.

BigSandyBalls2015 is there any chance you could let me know the name of the place you found?

@TheYearOfSmallThings I've PM'd you ... don't want it getting too popular on here

Outside of school holidays is reasonable. But since DC started school I've found you need to book far in advance. Or on one of the random teacher training days so straight from school Fri to all day Monday. Much better when ypu could use the pool as much as you liked, we didn't really pay for activities.

Im not sure why Butlins is being touted as a cheaper option to center parcs. When I priced it up it was very similar in price, although being a family of more than 4 does seem to be more expensive at Butlins for some reason.

Yes you can go to the European center parcs cheaper than the UK ones, but if you're a single parent the long drive isn't practical, especially as you're booking CP as an "easy" holiday. Driving hundreds of miles across the continents on your own with several children isn't really easy. If I wanted something more taxing as a break, I wouldn't be booking CP at all.

Went there as part of a gathering with in-laws and literally the only worthwhile thing that happened was falling off my bike and a seriously attractive professional footballer rescuing me.

I would go again if I was guaranteed a similar experience but otherwise it was overpriced middle-England, no ta.

It's a limited resource, of reasonable quality with a decent pool, safe environment and kids clubs in this country. So they can charge more.

Plus staffing is expensive in the UK. Less so in Spain/Portugal/Greece.

Butlins at feb half TerM is cheap as chips
Anyone know what minehead is like?

@MrFsAunt

Went there as part of a gathering with in-laws and literally the only worthwhile thing that happened was falling off my bike and a seriously attractive professional footballer rescuing me.

I would go again if I was guaranteed a similar experience but otherwise it was overpriced middle-England, no ta.

Name the footballer or it didn't happen 😜

Centre Parcs also has dog friendly accommodation options which don't seem to be available at the Butlins and Bluestone resorts.

@TomAllenWife - I’ve done Butlins at Minehead. It’s less modern than the other sites but so much to do and Minehead beach is lovely. Dds have done loads of foreign holidays and Butlins is one of their favourites.

I used to love CP but find it's gone really downhill over the last few years. I wouldn't pay to go now. Last went a couple of years ago and begrudged having spent money to go as it was a bit grotty and very overcrowded.

@CayrolBaaaskin the reviews are awful, saying the cleanliness is poor
I don't know whether to chance it or not

@TomAllenWife - we were there a few years ago but it was clean but basic. Definitely a bit rough and ready in places but young kids love it. Also I think you can get fancier accommodation if you pay a little more. The buffet is ok too when you have kids - lots of choice. My dds liked it more than Spain, etc.

I went to Bognor Butlins during Covid times though and the accommodation and some of the facilities are more recently renovated. I’d definitely recommend Butlins as a whole- I think it went a bit more Mc during Covid….

Shows are cheesy and I’d never go without kids but they love it so if they’re occupied I’m happy. And it’s cheap if you book ar the right time.