Tips for Center Parcs?

[Hopeislost]

We're going in February (not half-term) for the first time. I realise that CP is a bit like marmite here but we got a good deal 2 years ago and it's been delayed twice so we're going! But it's our first time so please let us know what we need to take or not bother taking please!

Also, are the fridges big enough? We are there for 4 nights so we're going to a big supermarket on the way.

We did a girl's weekend away and I seem to recall it involved a lot of shuffling to get everything in the fridge although that might have been due to the vast quantity of wine and there was only 6 of us in an 8 bed lodge for 3 nights. I think we might even have had 2 fridges but under the counter ones?

Fridge isn't massive tbh. But the supermarket there sells lovely food.

Regular CP visitors. We are lovers of CP!

Do a food shop before you go - they do have a supermarket but we always get food in before we go.

Book swimming/restaurants.

Lots of parks to visit for children.

You can pre book takeaways three nights before so you can plan what time you want it.

PS. Take washing up liquid!

@Floundery

Fake your own death between now and February to avoid going.

Glad it’s not just me

Remember swim stuff and pre book sessions.
Fridge is under counter so not huge.
Kitchen well stocked with crockery etc but take washing up liquid/ extra dishwasher tabs/ dishcloth
Trainers for walking/ cycling everywhere
Book if you want extra activities/ restaurants
Bike locks if you’re taking bikes
Plastic bags to leave over bike seats to save soggy bottoms

I love CP have a great time. It gets bad reviews here but I love it.

Buy your own fire logs from B&M or somewhere. They need to be the individual wrapped ones. And matches. I am not sure how swimming works these days but the tip used to be, go for a swim as soon as you arrive, eat, and then drive to the lodge and unpack when it is a bit quieter. We take games , a Bluetooth speaker, books, art stuff, wine, treats and properly chill. If you are taking little kids, there are high chairs and you can borrow bed guards. When I first went, I didn’t know you couldn’t leave your car at the lodge. You need to drive back to the car park and walk / cycle back to the lodge. I also didn’t realise that people don’t really leave once on site.

As with all U.K. holidays, take cards, board games etc for bad weather - we spent hours playing snap on holidays (not cp) when mine were tots, great for entertaining them in pubs in particular

We like the Sports Bar for a drink whilst the kids play in the park! We also play badminton / tennis with the kids which is always hilarious!

We just got back from our postponed weekend. Had an amazing time. You have to prebook the swimming but you get a 3 hour session and you van go again after 6pm without booking.

They have limited the amount of bookings so was really quiet compared to usual. Which made it even better than usual and we love it.

The one thing our lodge was missing, which seemed ridiculous given how many water based activities there are, was a clothes airer to hang up wet stuff, but probably not practical to take one from home! We had a chalet with balconies so dried stuff over the chairs on those but it seemed like a basic that was missing and needed.

Which one are you going to?

The fridges are quite small and there's only an ice box at the top rather than a full freezer in our experience anyway.

Thanks for all the advice. I've booked our swimming slots. There was lots of availability so hopefully it won't be too busy.

Take back packs - so much easier to transport stuff (swim gear, wet clothes, shopping etc) when on bikes.

We've always stayed in lodges and find the radiators brilliant for drying swim stuff.

Wellies for the kids

Bird food/duck food - at Elveden and Sherwood you can get the wildlife coming right up to your lodge windows.

Take your bikes, or kids scooters.
Take plenty of food.
Don't bother taking cash as you can't spend it.

CP fans here. Go regularly

Take kitchen roll, washing up liquid and basically any other little thing /condiments u will want depending on what you are planning to do/eat

Currently u can only book your takeaways on the day.

Remember a coat! (My husband forgot once ha ha)

I don't know if it's still the same but last year you weren't allowed to shower and change properly after swimming so clothes that you don't mind getting damp that are easy to pull on are useful. we took flipflops which were good on the hottest weekend of the year but might be a bit chilly in Feb!

Take tassimo pods if you want to use the machine and not get ripped off in the shop
If you want to go to the restaurants, book them in advance

@emmathedilemma

I don't know if it's still the same but last year you weren't allowed to shower and change properly after swimming so clothes that you don't mind getting damp that are easy to pull on are useful. we took flipflops which were good on the hottest weekend of the year but might be a bit chilly in Feb!

Showers and changing rooms have been open for ages.

Yes everything is open now. Rucksacks are a great idea. My kids have one each with a towel, trunks and goggles in. Then when they get changed all their clothes go in their own bag.

The lockers are so well designed. You use the wristband which is the key for your lodge to lock them. I want that at home! There's a machine on the wall you can scan them under if you forget your locker number.

We have a clip on table tennis net set for the dining table. Book your activities in advance, they will be full when you get there.

Don't go.

Which one are you going to?

I absolutely love it. It's my actual favourite holiday destination. I am not exaggerating. I dream about going!

We take bikes, fire logs, washing up liquid, swimmers and spare swimmers (in case one set doesn't dry in time). Big shop before you go, very wise. Parc market is fabulous but expensive. Fridge is reasonable size.

We go in term time when restaurant booking is essential!!! One night we spent getting turned away from every place like Mary and Joseph. Probably not such an issue but if there is a place you particularly want to go, worth booking in case.

Activities are expensive and be careful not to do too much as CP is honestly exhausting. If you bike and swim and check out all the play areas that's quite a lot of activity in itself.

If you enjoy it half as much as I do, you are in for a treat!!