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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.

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Original poster

Center Parcs - are they really that good?

20 replies

babyOcho · 12/01/2009 20:38

DD is 10 months, will she have stuff to do?

OP posts:

lulurose · 12/01/2009 20:45

No, I really would leave it a while. I struggled to find activities for a 2 and 4 year old when we went and the crafty activities were just stuff they do at home all the time.

The pools are fantastic though, I guess if he/she is a water baby they'd love it. We won't be going again until ours are older, I'd much rather book a cottage somewhere and explore a part of the UK by the sea...at our own pace.

Podrick · 12/01/2009 20:46

Horses for courses. Lots of people love 'em.

I reckon I could spend my money much better however!

Ambi · 12/01/2009 20:50

I went years ago (childless) with couples with children, we found it a bit cultlike, happy smiley families on bikes. We recently went back with our 12month old and had a fab time. DD loves the water so the pool was ideal, its very relaxing and quiet at night.

hotbot · 12/01/2009 20:59

wnt last week acshually in nottingham, felt the executive villas were overpriced and shabby. and the takeaway quality and quantity shockingly bad for the price.Eating in reataurants overpriced and again quality poor - average
so i would suggest if youre going go basic and take all your own food
added up- spose not that great value

Cheekster · 12/01/2009 21:09

I totally disagree with the other posts.

We love it, are going back in 4 weeks time for the 5th time.

We used to go just as couples but last time went to elveden (the best centre IMO) with ds when he was 12 weeks. He loved the swimming, slept the best he ever has done with all the walks in the pushchair and we did a TinyTalk class and baby massage.

DS will be 7 months when we go back and Im booking him in for Baby and Toddler time. This time we will also get a trailer for him to sit in and be pulled along so we can go biking as he can sit up now.

Your DD will love it, seeing the nature - deer, squirrels, ducks, rabbits right on your doorstep will be lovely for her and swimming is free too which im sure she'll love. Thats without booking any activities for her.

Original poster

babyOcho · 12/01/2009 21:20

Cheekster - tell me more about the trailer

OP posts:

Cheekster · 12/01/2009 22:24

Theyre fab, a little trailer that attaches to the back of an adult bike and pulls your little ones along.

They have straps to strap your LO in, and space for two children. Very handy to put your bags in too. It is fully weather sheilded with an clear waterproof apron over it so they are very snug.

WinkyWinkola · 12/01/2009 22:25

The trailers are good.

But I think Centre Parcs is massively over priced. We went to the one in Notts and it was all a bit shabby, I thought.

Well, obviously the country setting wasn't shabby but you know, the pool needed maintenance, the chalet wasn't that great and it was all pretty costly, I must say.

Takingitslowly · 12/01/2009 22:27

I think they're great. The swimming pools are good for little ones,

Also just makes the parents' time so much easier because there's lots of paths you can do with a pram, go for walks in the woods.

All restaurants very child-friendly and easy to book babysitters there too.

lostinfrance · 12/01/2009 22:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Cheekster · 12/01/2009 22:31

I agree that Nottingham isnt quite up to scratch, would definately recommend elveden - since the fire a few years back it has all been recently built again and is all brand new.

When booking a villa, if you dont mind paying more, book a woodland lodge as these too are newly refurbished - dont bother with the executive as they have the same old decor just a closer location and a whirlpool bath.

catweazle · 12/01/2009 22:33

We went to CP in Holland twice with our DD. She was 6 mo the first time and 15 mo the second. She really enjoyed it and we felt she got a lot out of it.

CP on the continent are about 1/3 of the cost of the UK ones (or they were- I don't know what effect the falling £ will have had)

nannynick · 13/01/2009 00:46

I'm at Center Parcs Longleat at this moment in time. I wouldn't say it is overpriced, if going out of school holiday time. I'm in a 3 bedroom Woodland villa and it is costing £50 per night - it can sleep 6 people.

If your 12 month old likes water, likes walks in the woods, then I'd say it's fine for them. If you like Sauna's - then Longleat Spa is great (though your DH/DP will need to care for your DD), or you will need to use the childcare facility - no babies allowed in the Spa.

Babies don't need things to do. They like to watch others... most babies I know are happy to people watch, go for a crawl around, play with their toys. Some babies love playing in water... some don't. With a baby, going to Centre Parcs isn't for the babies benefit... it's for yours.

Have just posted on another thread with regard to my (and my mum, who I've taken on my trip) experience today, eating out. Not up to usual Center Parcs standard I'm afraid to say... may even need to have words with CP Customer Services - their concessions have let them down. With luck it is a glitch - I was here in August and October last year and on both occasions there were no issues (though didn't use those particular restaurants on those visits). So I hope it's just a glitch, rather than a new trend.

hotbot · 13/01/2009 09:26

just to pint out we would go again, just not to n;ham poss lake distirict one - anyone anyone any views on quality there?

Cheekster · 13/01/2009 09:40

The lodges are much nicer (more like log cabins than the concrete prison blocks) at the lake district one - oasis whinfell I believe you are meaning, but the facilities e.g. swimming, restaurants etc arent as good.

keevamum · 13/01/2009 09:47

LuluRose can I just ask is your child called Lulu Rose? Sorry to interrupt on your thread. My DD is called Lou-lou Rose so I was just curious...

lulurose · 13/01/2009 19:27

Hi there...no, it is a combo of my dds middle names!!

What a lovely name though xx

keevamum · 13/01/2009 20:14

Ok thanks for letting me know. Hope I haven't killed the thread now.

hotbot · 13/01/2009 20:40

thnkas cheekster

fifitot · 13/01/2009 20:54

I went to the one in Whinfell and felt it was a decent price for what we got. We went on one of their out of season breaks. If we'd paid full price would have felt it over priced tbh.

You don't need to spend a fortune but I expect older kids will want the expensive activities. My Lo (2) was happy sitting on a bike with her dad, going to the fab pool and going to soft play (which was a bit rubbish actually but she liked it. They also have a small area in the pub which my DH thinks is a genius idea!).

The lodge was not quite as clean as I would have liked but it was Ok for the price in terms of what we got. Don't bother with the restaurants. They are really expensive and not particularly good.

I would go again but only out of season on a cheap deal.

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