CENTER PARCS -- how basic is a 'Comfort' villa?

[MegBusset]

Looking at a midweek visit to Elveden next March. Prices for four nights are £315 for Comfort, £365 for Comfort Plus, £375 for Woodland Lodge or Executive Villa.

We're CP virgins so can any experts comment on whether the Comfort villa is fine or if it's worth upgrading to one of the others?

We will be two adults plus 2yo DS. I will be v pregnant so will want some home comforts!

we are going in jan Cod also executive. Tis DH's way of paying my dad for doing all his building work . We are going to Nottingham but booked early and get discount on account that we go each year so was only £300 and something.

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Ah no we looked at the ones with the games room but DH nearly passed out when he saw the prices. I made a fuss and he agreed to book an executive plus but then they were all booked up for when we wanted to go. We are taking the Wii and making our own games room lol. You do know you have to buy the logs for the fires Cod?

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We were really dissapointed with our comfort lodge at Elvedon...it smelt damp, was full of cobwebs...and there was half an onion in the fridge!!!!

The beds were brand new though and really comfy. If we go again we'd go for a dearer one if we could manage it.

we always buy the logs from tescos on our way up to cp. Much cheaper.

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We always cook meals in the accom (apart from on the last night, we generally go to Huckleberrys as the kids like it there)

the kitchens are more than adequate in the Exec accom.

Longleat is MASSIVE

make sure you go to aqua sana. bliss

Take most of your food with you and drinks for in the villa after the pubs close. the shop there is ludicrously expensive. My mum normally meal plans for when we go to make sure she gets everything we need. the frdige/freezers are big enough to store a fair bit in.

Don't know about Longleat but Sherwoods restaurants are v nice but v expensive and you have to book in advance so cant just pop in somewhere when you fancy it.

....the pizza place is ok. The others are, indeed cakc. Lots of fried onion rings at inflated prices.

Catering tip? Take a latex glove to occlude the fire alarm whilst cooking. Even boiling a kettle makes the fucker thing alarm.

....a ruse to entice more onion ring purchase, methinks.

I always book the villas some distance away at Longleat, as the walk takes half the day in itself with a multitude of en route urchin distractions.

...I found Elveden somewhat featureless in comparison. I LIKE the hills.....

....incidentally, I always play a spotting game in the car park with the urchins for their (and my) amusement.

We try to find a crapper car than ours in the SUV infested car park. I offer a fiver as a prize, and have yet to have to pay up.

(I own an ancient Galaxy called "Scratchy" by the urchins. It appears to have been valeted by baboons)

Oh the Fire alarm thing is so true.

Im sure I came home with one arm more toned than the other after constant 'flagging' at the fire alarm with the tea towel

I disagree about the shop being expensive, but I think it depends on where you live. We live in central london and go to Elvedon. The shop is no more expensive there than where we shop at home.

As to the resteraunts, we gave up going to them as they were so crap. With the exception of the expensive Indian one. However, according to their newsletter, they have redone many of them and are they are now big chains like starbucks, cafe rouge, etc. So they may be better now.

You MUST buy a bag of marshmallows if you are going in winter. My kids look forward to roasting them on the fire more than anything else!

Can anyone recommend an area at Elveden to stay in? Am booking now!

Personally, we like to be as close to the pool as possible. If you have young children who are tired out from swimming, there is nothing worse than a long walk back to the villa. But others disagree and like the walking. Also, if you can book somewhere where the villa backs onto water, it is lovely. The ducks come right up to the back door to be fed each day.

I've always stayed in Comfort Villa's in the past, but I have a weekend booked in two weeks time, where I have an Executive Apartment, so will get to compare. My executive apartment includes daily maid service and towels (though note: towels are not for use at swimming pool).

Comfort villa I stayed in during August (at Longleat) had TV, Microwave, Fridge, Gas Oven (though note that the ovens take ages to get to temperature), Gas Hob.

Pool is included - there are buoyancy jackets for young children, or take/buy armbands. Playgrounds including the indoor one (at Longleat it's to one side of the Sports Cafe)

Restaurant's are not that bad at Longleat. I went a couple of years back just with my mother and we decided to eat out every night. Rajinda Pradesh (Indian) was the best I felt at Longleat - but probably not worth while if you have children with you.
This Summer, I found the children (aged from 3 to 9) all found something they would eat at the Sports Cafe located in the Jardin des Sports. 'Dining In' the new takeaway (well delivery service) was actually reasonable food wise, little pricey compared with my local Chinese but that's to be expected. The menu is a bit limited - but if you fancy an evening in but without needing to cook for adults, you can get food delivered (Italian, Indian, Chinese).

Catering Tip: Take an electric Steamer, ideal for doing lots of Veg. Aim not to use the Oven (as they take so long to heat and cook food) only use it for grilling. Parc Marc has quite of choice these days, so get milk, bread etc daily. Lunches: salad, sandwiches, that kind of thing, buffet style - or if you don't mind burger and chips, eat at the Lagoon Bar (pool cafe).

Longleat Dining In Menu
Longleat Pancake House Menu

look, if you are looking for luxury you are missing the point. CP is not a 4* hotel. You go there to have all sorts of activities on tap and 5 mins from your bedroom door. The Comfort villas are fine - they're just somewhere to eat, sleep and defecate.

Everything else is what makes your holiday. The pool is the only thing included. That's the "Sub-Tropical Leisure Zone Experience" or whatever. For this reason some people spend all day every day in there even when they are not swimming.l They are deeply sad. If you are not a water-baby, be prepared to pay f0pr other activities.

Well, we've just booked! Four nights at Elvedon in Feb for £224, not bad eh?

I can't believe the prices in the half-term holidays, though! I mean, do people really pay £2,799 for a four-night break in Feb??

Longleat Parc Marc is probably similar price to Sainsburys Local. I think CP are trying to keep it reasonable, as at Longleat there is a Morrisons about 2 miles away. Which reminds me of a tip... if arriving late evening, pick up Milk and any breakfast essentials at Morrisons on your route to CP Longleat.
If you like big mugs, take your own - though you can buy mugs in the gift shop (I have a few now which say "You can't scare me, I'm a Nanny!" on them.

We found the shop at Nottingham to be fairly priced. The only thing I thought was overpriced were the logs for the fire, so we'll take those with us this time.

I would pay £60 extra for executive tis so much nicer I wouldn't pay £50 extra for comfort+ though because it is too similar to the comfort

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Spa session. Can be as low as £25 for 3 hours, if you aren't picky about timing.

Which one are you going to cod?
They are bringing out a new csi themed thingy for the kids and business guests, dp had to trial it last week and said it was fantastic but only at a few villages.