Centre Parcs - what do you love about them and what don't you like ?

[Wheelybug]

Always vowed never to go to centre parcs but we are trying to sort out a summer holiday with a 4 year old and a (will be) about 4 month old.

We're thinking it would be easier to pack up the car rather than fly somewhere and dd1 loves organised activity (creche etc).

So, kind of thinking of centre parcs but wanted to have my pre-conceptions challenged. So, what do you like about centre parcs and if you've been and didn't like it - why not.

Also, will it be hellish in the summer hols ?

I don't like the fact they charge about £4000 a week in the summer.

Very true. That's one of the factors that has always put me off tbh.

Centre Parcs is very nice but apart from the swimming and playground.. all other activities are extra cost. We went at christmas with a nearly 5 year old and 3 year old and I asked them the other day which did they prefer centre parcs or camping - they both replied camping - no thinking involved.. Not suggesting you go camping but just to let you know my kids opinion.. lol
We have also been to Butlins and for this age group felt due to the activities they put on it was better..

think its a great place in the winter but summer wouldn't bother - too much money for too many indoor activities. be much better finding a s/c cottage in devon/cornwall maybe with an onsite pool.

Sounds like my idea of hell - middle class Butlins

dislikes: expensive.
i book extra activities for dcs and they refuse to join in (ok, won't do that again)
everyone at cp seems a bit, well, smug

likes:
kind of outdoor fun for people not brave enough to go camping (ie. us)
lots to do
peace and quiet
most things are child friendly like nice pubs with play areas
the rabbits
riding bikes (I don't have one at home so novelty value for me)
accomodation is far better than any holiday resort abroad, you get real beds not fold out ones and have a lot more space
houses are big enough to go with another family if you wish (or take babysitters!)
i like the spa, dh likes golf so we wangle a bit of time off too

Tinker - I always think it's going to be hell but have been twice now and have booked again to go this year and love it!

I love that it really does feel spacious, outdoorsy and peaceful - even though there are loads of people there.

I love that ds's adore the pool and we go every morning - pretty much fills up the day sometimes and it's free (hurrah!).

Everywhere is obviously very child friendly - in fact I'm pretty sure we'll never go again once ds's are off our hands... but for the moment it's fantastic not to have to worry about them, 'cos everywhere caters for them.

Hiring bikes is fab and doing a couple of activities in the week - ds's this year have been told they can do 3 things each - and that's probably too much.

There always feels like there's tons to do.

The line dancing by the way in the evening is hilarious if you can get a babysitter - I have never laughed so much at dp trying to get the hang of the moves - well worth it...

We go in the second whit week - where we are the primary schools have a 2 week break - so that week is about half price, so very affordable.

We take food to cook all our evening meals in the house and we have lunches out so it doesn't work out as being toooooo expensive.

The houses (and we always have the most basic) are great - very big, clean - OK, no dishwasher in the basic and we paid to have towels, but has everything you need for a break away.

I'd go for it!

Thanks everyone - Tinker that is my feeling about it so its good to hear what people like about them.

I think its probably something we need to try for a weekend first rather than commit to a summer holiday !

The middle class butlins comments always come out-yawn.

We love
leaving the car and getting around by bike or walking
the pool, especially swimming outside in the warm water, beautiful at night
being close to nature
the spa
family friendly restaurants
getting away from it all
having lots of things to do in any weather

My children love it and its an easy holiday with a baby, we took my ds when he was 5 months.

I dont think its particularly middle class, i think there is a fair mix of people.
I always arrive and feel dissappointed at the accommodation, the first time we went, we were in unrefurbished accommodation forthe first half of holls and then got moved to refurbisted for the second half. the second time, we were in old unrefurbished accomm. The unrefurbished is decidedly grotty (we went to nottingham and to elvedon), a bit grubby, mildewey and damp, with dirty marks and cracks on the walls. The refurbished one was fine, clean and pleasant.
BUT both times by the end, i have had such a nice stress free time with the kids, that the accommodation hasnt mattered, it is lovely to see forest outside every window, the animals wandering about outside are really lovely (lovely to see the kids' reaction the first time a rabbit hops by in broad daylight). The cycling is great. You dont have to do extra activities if your kids are small, they are more than happy with the pool, biking, feeding copious ducks out the back and playing on the excellent play grounds.
Resturants are good, very child friendly.

Overall, if you get a deal on the price, well worth it. To pay full price for summer, not worth it, imo.

We have just had our first holiday there and think you would be bonkers to pay holiday prices. Even off-peak I think it's wildly overpriced.

Cons:
Ridiculously expensive
Very little for toddlers to do
Very busy especially around central area
Lack of baby-changing facilities
Shabby accommodation
Not enough family changing rooms in the pool
Getting on and offsite is a total pain in the arse

Pros:
Nice surroundings
Pool is good

To be honest we will always go to a camping/caravan site in future, just much better value for money.

Pro:
Child friendly
Beautiful
Lots to do
Safe place for wobbly little ones to cycle
Love the bunnies/squirrels/various fowl

Con:
Outragiously expensive to book - and then expensive on site
Do not really like the whole "camp" idea
Too many people in the pool at peak times
Too expensive - it is so out of proportion I have to mention it again.
Some accommodation pretty grotty

Having said all that, the kids and DH love it and we have been to Whinfell Forest, Lake District, about 5x in the last 3 years

I agree in the school holidays its very expensive. Luckily we have a different October half term to most and with the code for repeat bookings we are staying in a woodland villa this October for £400. Thats for 2 bedrooms, midweek 4 nights. I dont think thats too bad.

I've only been once (Longleat). I loved it but DH didn't so we haven't been back.

pros -
fun cycling everywhere
nice to have no traffic
liked the french cafe
swimming fun for the kids
loved the spa
childrens club was good (for 2 yr old)
I really enjoyed it despite the fact it rained almost all the time when we went
children love it

cons
financial the biggest one - I think the rental rates are extortionate for fairly basic accommodation
when we went a few years ago the cafes in the pool complex weren't that great foodwise (has probably changed since)
No centre parks are near the sea and i like to be by the sea for a summer hol
having to pay for lots of extras - activities
supermarket very basic - probably best to stock up on the way.
DH did not like spending his holiday with so many other people - at certain times it felt crowded

mumto, or anybody else in the know:

What is the "repeat booker code"? We are considering another break at Whinfell Forest [groan] and have stayed there a few times (last Oct 2008) but I have never seen anything to offer discount.

Any wisdom gratefully received, ta !

Have only been once, for a weekend, but we weren't impressed.

Hideously expensive.
Crowded in communal areas.
Tropical pool was anything but tropical.
Activities needed booking up so far in advance, so our last-minute spontaneous weekend with friends was bereft of activities as they were so full.

I would rather rent a cottage somewhere for a week or two, and use the money I would save having lots of days out, lovely meals out and swimming in a leisure centre!

Liked: we had a newly refurbished apartment which was lovely. Calm surroundings. Outdoors fun with safe cycling. dcs loved the pool. Babysitter was fantastic.

Disliked: supermarket was expensive and badly stocked (we brought basics but wish we'd brought all our meals), the restaurants were expensive and dreadful. Most of my gripes were food related, tbh. The prices are but we went in deepest November midweek, which wasn't too bad.

We went when kids were 1 and 3.

Pro's

Lovely accommodation (truly I have been to Butlins too) and good quality set-up generally.
Forest, bikes
swimming pool
spa.. ohhh the spa...
You can go for a short break not a whole week

Con's

Not too much for v. small kids, we ended up trudging from one soft play to another (it was January!)
Onsite food and supermarket expensive and fairly uninspiring
Institutionalised feeling - place was full of other toddler-families. Arrival day murderously crowded.
Really expensive, yes.

On balance we wouldn't go again unless desperate for a last minute off the shelf holiday. Free spirit camping/cottages/mountains are more our scene TBH. But lots of people love CP it's really worth doing once to find out whether you are one of them.

Love it!

I wasn't sure I would when I first went but after a while when I figured out the geaography it was much easier.

Also, now I no longer have a baby and my eldest is 3, I love it even more.

We've been 4 times in 3 years, and I get excited every time we drive up.

Pros.

Everywhere very child friendly, especially the restaurants and bars.
The pool is FAB
I have the best sleeps there as so relaxed, blackout curtains, quiet and comfy beds and duvets.
The cycles are great
The food in the restaurants is nice.
So much for everyone to do
The journey (we don't live too far away)
It is very relaxing

Cons
Expensive- especially in summer
One of our accomodations a bit musty
Activities expensive too

So basically, if you're rich and can afford the best accommodation there are no cons

.....'not middle class' sayeth Geraldine the goat wotsit.

I beg to differ!

.....returned from CP (um, 12th visit? Something like that..) last week. It was full. I would venture that the clientele was even more Jeremy and Jemima than usual. Perhaps the 'credit crunch' has forced them to downgrade from Zermatt to Longleat for an early season break....

....the car parks are enormous and mazy ( I was going to say labyrynthine labirinthine but have drunk wine) and I always lose our car. I amuse the urchins during our search by entreating them to try to spot a crapper car than ours (ancient, grubby 'R' reg Galaxy aptly named 'Scratchy') with a prize fund of £5.

.....I have yet to pay this prize, as we wander amongst the BMWs, Mercs, and Porsche 4x4s.....

It's great fun though. But very, very expensive. Have been mostly to the gloriously large, and hilly, Longleat. Went to Elveden once, it was nothing like as good...

Discount code, anybody?

....none of the discount codes work. I have tried.

They are not rejected, but you will get an identical price without entering them....

You have to use a discount code within 28 days of leaving. We have used on only once- didn't want to commit any other time. They do check when you last stayed so Oct 2008 not really falling into that bracket.

When you go next time, pick up a leaflet at reception. They are also sometimes in the lodges and we have also had them posted out to us when we are still in the post holiday glow but unfortunately skint.

Thanks for answering.
Do they really expect people to return within 28 days? How much holiday do people have??
Or does one simply have to have booked within 28 days? Sod it, we are not the world's best forward planners...

..it is to book within 28 days of leaving. I have that code at the moment. But it only yields a less than munificent £25 voucher to spend on the break.

Big deal!