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Original poster

Centre parcs prices - I am totally shocked!

37 replies

Abubu · 30/01/2009 10:39

Hi,

I am aleady thinking about summer holidays. Last year we were looking into centre parcs but we decided our twins were probably a bit too young.
This June they will be 2 and i thought it would be nice to go to Longleat for their birthday week. I have just looked at availability and prices and am totally shocked that the cheapest lodge available in June (comfort plus) will cost us £802!

Am I being naive or is that very expensive?

After 3 years of not having a real holiday (by the time summer comes around) my husband and I are desperate to do something but that just seems extortionate, considering that you have to pa for meals and activities seperately. 5 years ago we went to Mexico on an all inclusive deal for about the same price!

Do centre parcs prices go down nearer the time of booking or are they always high because they know that with young kids there are not a lot of options?

Thanks.
Abubu

OP posts:
bundle · 30/01/2009 10:41

always high

really not worth it

check out nice cottage with leisure centre nearby

Hassled · 30/01/2009 10:42

It baffles the hell out of me - we live quite close to one and I would love to go. But for only a bit more we could have a holiday somewhere with guaranteed sun, and stay longer. So everytime I think about it, it just seems like a waste of money. And there seems to be comparatively little covered in the initial price - loads of the activities are "extra".

morningpaper · 30/01/2009 10:45

I am always baffled by the cost - we went for some off-peak weekends when the DDs were small and we shared with friends but there is no way we can afford it now they are older and need their own room

Their top-price apartments can be up to 5k for the mid-week break in August. I am constantly baffled by wondering WHO has that kind of spare cash for a rainy holiday in Britain?!!

They don't change nearer the time

Mind you they reported crap profits in the last quarter

wannabe10 · 30/01/2009 10:48

My kids love centre parcs but the cost is crippling. We always spend at least three hundred on activities and stuff as well so have said no to this year. I always laugh at the mega expensive accomodation prices but there is always people in them. Not sure the recession has hit everyone!

ConnorTraceptive · 30/01/2009 10:49

Accomadation is soooo not worth what they are charging, we had an executive lodge last year and it was very basic. You also won't get your activities brochure with prices until AFTER you've booked. I was so shocked at the prices for most of the activities.

DadInsteadofMum · 30/01/2009 14:40

If you can face the journey go to Holland - at the end of August (after the Dutch schools go back) you could go for a week for less than the price of a mid-week break in the UK.

whitenoise · 30/01/2009 14:43

don't forget that your last holiday was only for 2 of you by the sounds of it.

i would love to ;take the DSs to CP but can't afford it. They have never had a proper holiday (DS1 is 6 this year)

ProfYaffle · 30/01/2009 14:45

I totally agree, every now and then I forget how expensive cp is and send off for a brochure - just to get shocked all over again. We've been to some of the Hoseasons Lodge park things which are kind of like a small scale cp, much more reasonabl.e

foxinsocks · 30/01/2009 14:45

my sister's school (where her children go) has inset days in the middle of term and she used one of these days to take the children for a weekend at Center Parcs.

I was amazed at how cheap it was (in the winter, weekend break). But that was out of school holidays. If you look at the difference between their prices in school holidays/half terms and other weeks, it's extraordinary.

SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore · 30/01/2009 14:46

We always go in the winter as its much cheaper then. We are going on mon to Nottingham. It cost us £360 for five days in a two bed executive.

Activities prices go down. I have just booked ten pin bowling for a tenner. It's £18 in the brochure.

foxinsocks · 30/01/2009 14:46

well it isn't extraordinary, it's typical isn't it but still annoying

we went to one in France because it was the cheapest accommodation we could find and it was lovely

PuppyMonkey · 30/01/2009 14:48

I was on the site just the other day and for a laugh I put in some dates in the middle of the summer holidays in a very luxurious lodge - now either I'm going mad or it said £4,000!!!!!! I came off the site very quickly after that. Was I seeing things?

Docbunches · 30/01/2009 16:28

Abubu,

You're not wrong - their prices are ridiculously expensive, particularly in School hols which is when we always go. I would say, it's definitely not worth it unless you get a good deal during term time.

I admit I've been obsessively monitoring the cost of a half-term break, thinking naively that the prices must come down as they seem to have a lot of unsold accommodation - but no, the prices have gone up! (a 2-bed woodland lodge is £999 for 4 nights ).

I know I said I'd never go again after last year's experience, but it's my DCs favourite holiday destination.

liath · 30/01/2009 17:06

The peak prices are something else! I am amzed there are enough people out there willing to pay them TBH.

We're going in early March and paying £150 for a midweek break. It's worth keeping an eye on the website for deals - we got a 20% discount. We're not planning on paying for any extra activities and will take most of our own food. Once you add on a weekend the price rockets. I doubt we'll carry on going once the kids are at school.

threetinytots · 30/01/2009 18:29

They are very over priced for what is basic self catering accomodation. We've been twice, but each time out of school holidays and used a saving code the first time. The second time was just recently - someone was selling their booked and paid for holiday on Ebay as the could no longer get the time off work to go. I got it for the bargain price of £150 for 4 nights in a 2 bed exec villa. We had a fantastic time and I felt I could justify paying £150 on extra activities - something that I wouldn't have done if I'd have paid full price. Midweek prices are definately cheaper.

PrimulaVeris · 30/01/2009 18:58

Their prices have shot up this year. We normally go at some time in the spring for a midweek break, but it will cost us £800, plus activities ... so we're not going. I'm susre it was about £600 for the equivalent last year.

If you don't have school age children then you can get some very good deals off-peak.

satonthesofa · 30/01/2009 19:11

Went autumn '07 to Longleat over the weekend, DH booked it, have DS 4years. Was appauled at the price, couldn't believe he'd paid that much for 4 days (am being really unhelpful and can't remember the price sorry)I spent the whole weekend shocked and was just glad that DS was too small to do any of the 'extras'..........but that said if you ask DS where he would like to go on holiday now Centreparcs is the answer. I am not willing to pay those prices again though. The spa session was well worth the extra though

bigTillyMint · 30/01/2009 19:14

Have you tried the ones in Belgium / Holland? Last year it was half the price, even with a cheap ferry to Dunkirk, and the facilities are the same!

Mind you with the exchange rate at the moment, maybe not. But it's worth checking out.

christywhisty · 30/01/2009 19:17

We used to pay less in euros for 10 days in holland than it cost for a week in pounds for the UK and that included food. We always went the last week of august.

madwomanintheattic · 30/01/2009 19:19

middle-class butlins.

nice enough if you can fork out the cash though.

all mine are at school now, so my centerparcs days are over - not paying holiday or weekend prices. (bah humbug)

SlightlyMadScotland · 30/01/2009 19:24

I have heard that it can work out cheaper to go to Centre parks in Belgium etc. even with the Ferry costs. And apparently the accomodation is better and they have more (and possibly inclusvie?) acitivities.

bluebump · 30/01/2009 19:28

I had the best holiday to Centre Parks (about 19 years ago...eek!) and still remember it now fondly. The swimming pools were amazing. It sounds ridiculously expensive now of course but I do remember a summer holiday job being a cleaner at Butlins (I say holiday job, I lasted a month tops) and people then 10 years ago were paying about £1k for a week in their top accommodation and it was cack.

EllieG · 30/01/2009 19:33

I am going to lovely farmy cottage place in France for half the cost of centreparks this summer and there is loads to do, beaches nearby, animals for the kids to play with and all manner of loveliness.

Over a grand for centreparks, £400 for my lovely French place.

bigTillyMint · 30/01/2009 19:38

Well, that's true Ellie - camping on a good site in France with a pool with waterslides and playgrounds, etc, next to a beach is far better (and cheaper!) IMHO!

EllieG · 30/01/2009 19:42

Damn right. Plus you get french foooodd - ooo can't wait croissants and baguettes and cheeses and pate and wine and markets with fab fresh fruit and veg and crepes and gallettes and patisserie....

sorry, got bit carried away...mmmmm

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