Center Parcs swim sessions

[WhichShoes]

Does it seem like pre-booking swim sessions at Center Parcs is another pandemic measure that will stay? For us, swimming is the main reason we went and booking one three-hour slot per day is no good to us. Given that Friday evenings are 'turn up and swim', it doesn't seem like the booked sessions are there for covid-safety reasons (unless covid takes Friday evenings off..?)

I assume it's worked out nicely for CP as everyone will spend more money on activities if they can only use the pool morning or afternoon during their stay. It's already such an expensive break that I am incredibly irritated by them limiting the one 'free' activity like this and using covid as a convenient excuse.

Does anyone think it's likely they'll go back to free access to swimming or is that it now? I am sure some people prefer it as it will make the pool less busy which must be nice, but if I'm already spending so much, I want the freedom to swim whenever!

We did a CP holiday in the Netherlands a couple of years ago - much cheaper. But what I didn't realise till we got there is you also have free access to any other CP swimming area! There were another 2 CP within 40 km of us -amazingly! - so we went to 3 different pool complexes! Was brilliant!

Yes it’s great that once you are staying at a European park you can visit any other local CP and use the facilities for the day. When we stayed at Erperheide in Belgium we visited De Vossemeren (another Belgian CP) for the whole day and even had an evening meal there. De Vossemeren is a fantastic park.

This was our other problem - we always go with family or friends and have a mixed age group. In Dec, the children in our group ranged from under 1 to 17 and we had to book swim slots for everyone together. If we tried to book teenagers at a different time to infants, it used up another allocation for the week so we could not swim on all days.

We are not far from Eurotunnel, now DC are school age, I am definitely going to be looking at the EU offerings, they sound so much better

I love the swimming slots and lack of crowds. I hope they keep it.

I would be all for them if they reduced the crowds but we found the pool busier than ever when we visited recently

I was only talking about this yesterday. We used to go to the pool all day and i won't go until you can do that again as i can barely afford to go as it is let alone pay for other activities.

CP UK now charge £2 per person for entry I’ve been told, when you book each slot online?

We didn’t get charged for the swimming slots, they are free. You have to get online as soon as bookings open to get the popular time slots though.

They don’t police people leaving but they do check your time slot entering and give you a wrist band.
We went 6 times in 4 days and stayed longer than 3 hours on a couple of those.
The problem is not the amount of swimming time. It’s booking bloody slots.
I just don’t want to be thinking about which time I want to swim 6 weeks before I go. Just want to go if I have a free couple of hours and feel like it.
If we get there and only spend 1 hour then you feel like that’s a wasted slot so it kind of forces you to spend your full time there.
its not about covid at this point. Its because they want you to book the activities. Same reason the outdoor play areas are generally so shit there. No money earned via swimming and play areas.

Who told you that? Certainly wasn’t the case last month.

Those of you who book the European ones, do you still book through the Cp websites? Or elsewhere?

It's a different company. Website: www.centerparcs.eu/

The website to book the European sites is www.centerparcs.com
Some amazing prices for next February or May half terms!

What is the pool like at whinfell ? I’ve seen pictures but wondering peoples actual opinions and also how warm it is . Not going till next year but I like knowing as much as possible

It’s big and complicated compared to the other CP pools. Virtually impossible to find anyone if you get separated and lots of up and down steps to get from A to B or to go down rapids. It wasn’t purpose built for CP (was originally Oasis) so bits have been added on all around.

Still warm, still nice, just sprawling and a more complex lay out.

There are 2 options when you book a swimming slot - swimming is free but you can prebook towel hire which is £2

Thankyou @NancyDrooo

I’ve just had an email saying that they’re now opening up swimming and cancelling the bookable slots - horrah!

Dont know if this is across the board, we are going to Longleat in September.

Ooh! Might book again sometime then.

@ShadowPuppets it is at all of them including the parc in Ireland, as of Monday 11th July

www.centerparcs.co.uk/village-news/general-news.html

I’m glad they’re listening!

Text of the email for anyone who is interested:

“Dear <my name>

As part of COVID-19 restrictions we introduced bookable swim sessions to visit the Subtropical Swimming Paradise. As we have now moved away from such restrictions, we have made the decision to remove bookable swim sessions which means that you are no longer required to have a booking to visit the pool during your break.

Your pool booking will automatically be cancelled and removed from your itinerary on Monday 11 July. The great news is that you can now turn up and swim whenever you like.

If you have reserved towels as part of your swimming session please visit the pool desk to collect.

We know that the Subtropical Swimming Paradise is a popular feature of a Center Parcs break and we will still need to manage the number of guests visiting at any one time. The number of guests visiting the pool will be closely monitored and naturally some times of the day/evening will be busier than others, Saturday and Tuesday mornings are typically busy times.

Please note that it may be necessary when our pools have reached capacity for us to control guest entry.

We will be closely monitoring guest views, feedback and capacity levels in the coming weeks and carefully considering the future for entry to our pools.

We wish you an enjoyable break with us.

Center Parcs”

@NancyDrooo the pool isn't really that complicated, just not a straightforward layout.
The temp was for for my 4 week old back in May so definitely not too cold and the outdoor pool upstairs is always super hot!

@MsSquiz ah, great news! We weren’t hugely bothered either way as we have two little ones who can’t do long in the pool and we’ll generally be in bright and early as we’re up at the crack of dawn with them anyway! But I know it’s a big deal to lots of people as this thread shows.

@starsparkle08 my reply was for you, not @NancyDrooo sorry!

@ShadowPuppets same for us with the baby and a toddler, we were lucky to get the first slots anyway.

Just need a decent cafe with food options now at the Whinfell pool 🤞🏻