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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

has anyone used the babysitting service at center parcs? is it the time out club staff? its tempting but im feeling unsure

34 replies

nailpolish · 02/12/2008 14:32

obv its not important, but it would be nice even for a couple of hours to have a nice romantic stroll with dh and a drink or 2 one of the evenings

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Original poster
nailpolish · 02/12/2008 14:48

bump

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liath · 02/12/2008 15:48

Hi NP - I've never used the baby sitting but I'd assume it was the same staff as the time out place. I've had ds in the time out club twice and was pretty happy with the girls there if that's any help. Is it Whinfell you're going to? You could give them a ring to find out I expect.

Original poster
nailpolish · 02/12/2008 16:04

hi liath
its whinfell we are going to
have you been there?

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snickersnack · 02/12/2008 16:19

At the one in East Anglia (name escapes me) it was an extremely nice local lady with lots of grandchildren. She was a regular babysitter for CP and had been CRB checked etc.

Original poster
nailpolish · 02/12/2008 16:20

ok thanks
did you use it? did you book in advance?

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Smittals · 02/12/2008 16:24

Hi - we went to the E. Anglian one (Elvedon) and our babysitter was one of the Time Out club staff. Was reassuring to know as we'd already used the creche in the day (DD was about 11mth). Definitely a big bonus to be able to go out as a couple! We booked in advance - and for the creche, just in case (went in Nov but still thought it would be busy). FWIW we were impressed with the level of care in the Time Out club - they got DD to nap and also took time to make a little art project with her, not just free play.

Original poster
nailpolish · 02/12/2008 16:27

we have booked a 2 hr session at the time out club for dd's (6 and 4) - an activity thing - will see how that goes
thanks!

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liath · 02/12/2008 17:13

Have been to Whinfell a couple of times, NP. Have you been before? We were there last month & all the lights & decorations were up, it was lovely.

IlanaK · 02/12/2008 17:17

I used it once at Elvedon. It was a mature local lady (I assume she was a mum with older or grown up kids). She was very nice.

Original poster
nailpolish · 03/12/2008 13:52

no never been before; liath, really looking forward to it

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rookiemater · 03/12/2008 13:59

Hi naily, we have used both the Time Out and the babysitting. I'm not sure if the babysitter was one of the TO staff but she had a raft of qualifications with her and seemed very suitable. I can echo what smittals says about the Time Out club, they gave us a written report about what DS was up to.

If you do get some precious child free hours I can heartily recommend the Acqua Sana. It is pricey but DH and I have done it together and it is a nice way to spend some time together as a couple.

The trouble with Center Parcs is that whilst you may have paid someone to look after your DCs in the evening, the likelihood is that everyone else in the pub/restaurant will have brought theirs with them andto be honest the foods not great, apart from the Indian but don't go for the set buffet. If it were me, and I wish it was as I love Center Parcs, I would save on the evening babysitter, buy a nice bottle of wine and wrap up very warmly and sit outside for a few minutes to enjoy the scenery, then make a nice toasty fire.

What type of accomodation have you got ?

MrsBadger · 03/12/2008 14:07

rookie is right re the restaurants though - unless you go to the ultra posh one (there' aalways one but it varioes from site to site) or book a table for later in the evening you won't have a child-free meal

stroll & drink v good idea

this is why we take my parents

rookiemater · 03/12/2008 14:27

Mmm, we never found ultra posh restaurant at Whinfell. Good reason to go again, just to check.

Oh and Naily if you ignore my advice and go to the restaurants, which also seem incapable of figuring out on a rainy weekend that they will be busy, then you can exchange tesco vouchers in advance for use at Cafe Rouge and Bella Italia/Pasta whatever its called. Worth doing because you get £10.00 to sped for every £2.50 of vouchers.

Original poster
nailpolish · 03/12/2008 14:55

i wasnt really planning on going out for a posh meal with dh - just a romantic walk together and a drink or 2one evening?
maybe ill give it a miss and book an afternnon time out club for the dds and go and take a sauna with dh or the aqua sana instead

in fact i already have them booked into a 2 hr art actvity thingy one afternoon so ill do just that

thanks all!

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Original poster
nailpolish · 03/12/2008 14:56

mrsB - we are going to GET AWAY from the family over xmas

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MrsBadger · 03/12/2008 15:07

oh no you are right - La Sapiniere only at Longleat & Elvedon

Original poster
nailpolish · 03/12/2008 15:11

is teh cafe rouge no good then? i have booked our boxing day lunch there
the rest of the meals we are cooking ourselves

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MrsBadger · 03/12/2008 15:13

the cafe rouge is fine

lovely in fact

but the LA Sapinere is th eposho no kids one where yo'd have to go for a completely child-free evening

Original poster
nailpolish · 03/12/2008 15:14

ahright

brilliant i cant wait

whre is nice to go for a drink in the evening (if there is such a place)
and did you take all your food with you

i am taking the girls bikes but should i really take dhs and mine ? dds are only small and go on their bikes at walking pace

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MrsBadger · 03/12/2008 15:20

don't know re drinks at whinfell - we are southerners and only do Longleat & Elveden

often (bizarrely) their bowling alleys ahve decent bars

do not go to the bar in the sports bit as the tvs are always on

wouldn;t bother with your bikes
I never take mine but dh always takes his and goes for long muddy power rides with his ipod in (this is his idea of an ideal holiday activity )

Original poster
nailpolish · 03/12/2008 15:25

lol MrsB

i hope dh doesnt discover the football on the telly in the bar
thanks for the prior warning

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rookiemater · 03/12/2008 15:33

Hi Naily, there are 2 bars at Whinfell. One in the complex which is the Sports Bar and is to be avoided if you don't want big screen TV or over priced poor quality food.We were upstairs last time, and I don't think there were TVs up there. On the upside it has a soft play.

There is another pub at the lakeside which is more pleasant although to describe it as atmospheric would be pushing it somewhat.

Cafe Rouge and Bella Italia both good food, but service patchy. I like the supermarket at CP, people say its very expensive but they have local produce and a good selection of beer and wine, they also deliver the food to your lodge if you spend over £40.00. If you want to treat yourself then you could get some food from Rhegged.

Original poster
nailpolish · 03/12/2008 15:37

thanks rookie you have been really helpful
i do think i will take some food but not all - and get the supermarket there to deliver. its a holiday after all - who cares if its a bit pricey - we are eating in every day except boxing day so i can justify it to myself

how long did it take y ou to get there from ediburgh?

are you going to the xmas night out? i may well bend your ear all night - dont sit too close!

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moopymoo · 03/12/2008 15:38

We used the baby sitting at Whinfell when ds1 was about 12 months old. Was a lovely older local lady, she was great with both boys. We were gone for about 2 hours and went together to the aquasan spa. Was almost completely empty as was around tea time and we had an amazing romantic time for thefirst time since had ds2. Cant recommend it enough!

Original poster
nailpolish · 03/12/2008 15:42

oh moopy that does sound wonderful
actually that is better idea than drinks
what itme does the aquya place shut i wonder

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