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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Tips for Center Parcs?

44 replies

Hopeislost · 25/01/2022 09:28

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.

OP posts:
PrayingandHoping · 26/01/2022 19:11

@lunar1

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.
That is such a great idea!!!!
Feedmepancakes · 26/01/2022 19:17

Definitely a marmite thing isn't it!

We love CP and have been twice with our young kids. Buy smokeless logs before you go, the single wrapped ones. Take some condiments, dishwasher tabs, coffee etc from home.

Under counter fridge with a tiny freezer compartment. Ours had a wine fridge which we also used for juice and beers.

You can request high chair, proper wooden cot (though it was quite small) stair gates and I think bed guards too if you have little ones.

Original poster
Hopeislost · 26/01/2022 19:24

@Purpleavocado

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
Great shout on the pods! I expect the kids will sleep badly so much coffee will be needed!
OP posts:
PrayingandHoping · 26/01/2022 19:28

@Feedmepancakes

Definitely a marmite thing isn't it!

We love CP and have been twice with our young kids. Buy smokeless logs before you go, the single wrapped ones. Take some condiments, dishwasher tabs, coffee etc from home.

Under counter fridge with a tiny freezer compartment. Ours had a wine fridge which we also used for juice and beers.

You can request high chair, proper wooden cot (though it was quite small) stair gates and I think bed guards too if you have little ones.

High chairs and cots are standard in all lodges.

The cots are standard size 120x60

BrambleRoses · 26/01/2022 19:34

I love CP, not sure what’s not to like!

Peabody25 · 26/01/2022 20:30

We love Center parcs! Loads of play parks, take bikes if you've got them, it's perfect for that. You can hire them but it's quite expensive.

We've not been since pre covid so might be different now but we used to take lunch, usually sandwiches, into the swimming complex instead of buying it there as it's quite expensive. Make sure you pre book your swimming slots as well.

As others have said, try and get shopping beforehand from a nearby supermarket.

Take extra dishwasher tablets if you have them, as well as washing up liquid, hand wash etc. you'll need separate beach towels for swimming. We've also taken a couple of extra baking trays as well as there's never enough. The ovens are quite small as well so try cook things that only need one shelf and the bobs rather than more than one shelf.

Hoppinggreen · 26/01/2022 20:49

@BrambleRoses

I love CP, not sure what’s not to like!
It’s too peopley
Campervan69 · 26/01/2022 21:09

Yes you will have to take your own food into the pool area as the bars are all closed. Saves a fortune.

PrayingandHoping · 26/01/2022 21:28

@Campervan69

Yes you will have to take your own food into the pool area as the bars are all closed. Saves a fortune.
It's open at longleat....
HoliHormonalTigerlilly · 26/01/2022 21:53

@BrambleRoses

I love CP, not sure what’s not to like!
All the people. Fake surroundings. Like being stuck in a huge motorway services & sleeping in Ikea. Expensive.

Sorry. I'm not a fan.

Opal71 · 26/01/2022 22:25

We've been a few times, my tips would be-
-Take some bird seed and monkey nuts to put out for the squirrels. You can also get clear bird feeders with a suction thing to stick on the patio doors. If you're lucky you'll have a visit from the deer as well as the birds, ducks and squirrels.
-We try not to buy much in the shop as I find it quite expensive. We brings as much as possible with us.
-A lot of people find the gas cooker tricky to use. I've found that the trick is to turn the knob to switch the fan on as well as the knob which controls the oven temperature

  • The heating/ thermostat is on a timer for 9 hrs I think. Sometimes it can get a bit chilly but there is a way to override it. You can google it or ask at the help desk.
-take chalk for the big blackboard -we often take a small plug in radiator, there's always one bedroom that is cooler than the others -some people take a slow cooker to cook meals, I've never bothered but many people swear by it -definitely buy logs and matches before you go. Must be the paper wrapped ones but so much cheaper
  • take a disposable barbecue for toasting marshmallows; can be fun even in the winter.
-there are plastic cups but not plates or bowls. If you need them for small children you need to take them -we usually take couple of extra dishwasher tabs

I'm sure there must be other things. Hope you have a great time!

Campervan69 · 27/01/2022 08:02

Ah okay 👌 which one are you going to op?

HauntedDishcloth · 27/01/2022 08:44

There are facebook pages for each park which have lots of info & people asking questions, even down to what individual lodges are like.

MrsDThomas · 30/01/2022 08:15

I’ve just come back. Loved it! Been about 15 times, and we never get bored.

We only went swimming once at night. Much better, I’m not too keen on small kids splashing about and screeching now the kids are older, and we went upstairs to the quieter pools!

We only ate out twice, bought pasta etc for the other 2 nights.

Played a lot of pool, you have to book the tables in advance. It is expensive but we knew that.

You don’t need bikes. We’ve never used bikes there. I racked up over 20k steps daily walking!

Take washing up liquid, kitchen roll, your own beer and wine if you intend on staying in.

And the heating is on timer, but just increase the temperature once it goes off and it will come back on.

Useranon1 · 30/01/2022 08:46

Don't bother with the tasting pods - you get free ones every day if you have a lodge with daily cleaners!

Spellfish · 30/01/2022 08:54

Definitely take matches (for the fire) and silver foil (there’s usually only one Pyrex with a lid so you need it to cover up baking trays, and for sandwiches etc). Or just bring a cool bag with batch cooked food for the first night - with young DC it’s easier to get to the lodge and just heat something up you know they will eat, then get them to bed, rather than out to a restaurant.

dogsfrogslogs · 30/01/2022 19:07

There's a Facebook group called CenterParcs Hints and Tips that's worth joining.

KindergartenKop · 10/04/2022 20:07

Does anyone know if the standard lodges at Woburn have a cafetiere? Thanks!

Chrisb75 · 04/03/2023 18:14

We really like CP, just came back last week from Longleat, just beware that in the restaurants 7.5% service charge is added automatically to your bill total due the cashless environment. This is fine however you are then asked to pay your bill total via an app which asks if you would like to add a tip of various percentages of your bill total. Again fine, just remember you have already tipped 7.5% when you add an additional amount.

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