Centre parks advice please!!

[wouldratgerbeunknown]

For various reasons i haven't really done any xmas shopping this year so thinking of booking a trip away as an alternative.
5 adults one 2 year old.
Sticky point is two adults are teachers so options are limited how do do manage this is? Is a weekend enough time ? Or during the holidays?
Is it even a good idea???

A weekend is long enough but I don't think center parcs do weekend breaks during the christmas holidays - i think they do slightly longer ones which would also be ideal for teachers.

Oh I wasn't thinking of Christmas just some time in the future

They usually do Friday to Monday and Monday to Friday. So the teachers would have to arrive later and leave early if it’s term time weekend. Holidays are as you’d imagine a lot more expensive. The ones on mainland Europe are cheaper but it depends where you live and if you can easily get to Eurotunnel and then Holland for example.

Center Parcs would be good if you’re all going to use all the facilities - the pool, bike hire, and all the leisure activities. Otherwise, why not hire a cottage somewhere you all want to go? Would be much cheaper!

For mainly adults I think a weekend would be plenty but depending on when, could still be quite costly for in effect two days presuming you let on Sunday Eve/ Monday morning?

we really like it and you could always try and do the spa for an afternoon. For walks on site we really like longest as it’s a lot more spaced out. Do like all of them though.

I think I was hoping for a lot of activities we've done cottages in the past and although nice often there's not a n awful lot to do
I looked at Disney Paris but it was so expensive
Times running out now so I need to pull something out of the bag!!

Their weekend breaks are Friday - Monday and you can get on the site earlier on a Friday before you can access your accommodation. If you went in term time the teachers would need to arrive later on Friday and leave Sunday night unless it’s very close to work.

Also depends on what activities you will enjoy. There isn't a lot the 2 year will be able to do apart from swimming pool, playground and be on the back of a bike. And all the activities apart from swimming are extra charges and soon add up

Oh I really thought they were all included.
Hmmmm maybe I should look at something else.
I looked Disney Paris but it was ££££££

If we do Friday- Monday, we’re there before lunch on Friday, leaving Monday evening! It’s so expensive that I wouldn’t want to go for any less! Swimming every day, cycle to get around, spend a lot of time in the Sports cafe playing badminton/pool/table tennis etc. We go to Longleat as it’s close enough to max out the time and as the largest site, enjoy walking and cycling around. We love it in winter as the lights are fab!

Swimming is free and the playparks, walking etc. depends what you want to do. The activities you need to pay for. We don’t do that may because we like to just walk, go to the parks and lots of swimming. Plus chill in cabin etc. the spa is amazing!! But obviously need to pay.

Why not try a historic and festive place - recommend Lincoln, Keswick is amazing, Stratford? Book a cottage via booking.com, find two local pubs with fires, hire bikes, and find a trampoline place and a pool for the toddler.

So is CP!

If they are full time teachers, then they'd have to arrive Friday night (leave after work and then fight the traffic) and leave at some point Sunday (I wouldn't want to leave late as I'd not done any washing, planning, food shopping, made lunches etc for the week) so you're not really making the most of what you paid for. Or, you pay 3x the price and go in the holidays

As others have said, even a basic lodge at Centre parks isnt exactly cheap and the teachers would pretty much have to leave Sunday evening, unless you very close to one, add in lots of activities and it soon becomes very expensive, yes a game of squash etc might be reasonable, but do the high wires for example for five it’s close to £250 , suddenly Disney isn’t as much as you thought

The activities are really expensive and a lot don’t last very long so the costs soon mount out. Eating out on the site is nothing special and the accommodation isn’t even that great for what you pay.

Thankyou all so much . Really families are fleeced so much not really sure what to do now.

We are booked for February break, Fri to Monday £1700 for 3 bed lodge (6 adults, one baby). The activities are £££ before we add taking everyone out for brunch, coffees, food shop etc. DH and I take them somewhere different for a long weekend each year and thought this would suit the baby with swimming, sensory classes and ease of bedtime instead of a hotel but definitely not a bargain.

@wouldratgerbeunknownwhat sort of budget are you thinking? Perhaps we could suggest a few gems.

You’re not being fleeced at all, it’s entirely optional 🙄

How about the first May bank holiday weekend? The teachers can come Friday evening and stay for 3 days.

You don’t have to do loads of activities though. Each person could pick one each - the time will fly. Especially if you’re new to CP as you’ll want to explore. The swimming will take up a fair bit of time. I’d suggest taking a food shop with you. Try to get some cook meals too. The restaurants can be spendy so doing a meal or two in will help.

I love Center parcs, but unless the teachers school has different term dates to the rest of the country, it’s going to be ridiculously expensive.

Have you considered Butlins? They do loads of activities but another lot cheaper than CP - eg my son did archery at Butlins for £12, at CP it was around £30. It’s not as nice as CP by any means, and the accommodation is very run down, but it’s also much cheaper. If the activities are important to you, I’d look at this!

Sorry I can go away anytime I want to , as long as work permits . Just meant it's tough fir people tied to school holidays

Have you looked at Potters? The only all inclusive in the UK. All food, drinks and loads of activities included, amazing west end standard shows in the evening. I really enjoyed it. A bit pricey but at least you know you won't be spending anymore, and it really is good value.

Potters looks great ! Thankyou they have some really good half term breaks!! And it's not far Thankyou for the tip