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 second what RetiredGoth2 said. We were there Feb half term, and it felt very much more upmarket than usual. I think I also said on another thread that it seemed to be a lot families who would normally go skiing that week.

As most other posters have said, the prices have become obscenely expensive and it's not really worth it. The reason we go a lot is because DP won't fly or travel abroad due to anxiety, so if possible we treat ourselves approx once a year to a short break at CP. Our DCs love it too. Although in Summer, I have to be near the seaside or it's just not a summer holiday!

I've only ever been to Whinfell.

Advantages - it is a very easy stress free holiday which counts for a lot with preschoolers. You can have a great time even in crap weather. The kids absolutely love it and dd regularly asks if we can live at CP!

The comfort lodges are good value for money during off peak times and TBH are nicer than the unrenovated executive lodges.

With littlies you can get away with not forking out for expensive extra activities. If you go with a family with similar age kids they'll all be happy enough with swimming, biking, treasure hunts etc.

Cons - Can be crowded and feels a bit fake!

We've always had Center parcs break every year in feb half term or easter - the dc's love it so much and look forward from one year to the next ...

... except this year. The price hike is so steep we just can't justify it and staying at home instead. £800 for a basic comfort villa midweek - plus activities. No way.

We've booked to go again this year.

Last year, (Oct '08) was the first time for us. We went during term time and stayed in a Lakeside Lodge, I think it cost us £450 for a mid-week break. Our accommodation was very clean, everything worked fine, would def recommend, we had a fab time.

This year I've booked to go again, but we need a 3 bed villa, so we're staying in a 3 bed New Style Executive lodge, the ones with the heat experience room (whatever that is). For mid-week, in mid September, (Forresters Lane area) it's cost £565 so a bit more but I'm hoping the weather will still be nice.
Then today I also booked the same accommodation for end of March 2010 (seven pines) for mid-week for £309!!

I used the code PSB9 as we will have a child under 5 with us. It is far cheaper to stay term-time obv. The perks of HE'ing

Sorry should've added we stayed at Whinfell, will be returning there too.

Does anyone have any experience of Forresters Lane or Seven Pines? Specifically the New Style Executive Lodges?

We are going using the 28 days later thing for about 400quid the last week of the easter hols - we got 20% off with that code so well worth using...when you've got preschoolers its good value I think.

longleat pros:

really very foresty.
animals at the patio doors.
great spa.
swimming pool fab.
cycling paths.
no cars.
good play areas (though nottingham is better)
accommodation good.

cons:

bloomin knackering hilly cycling.
pool changing gets busy.
shop doesnt have enough choice.

I am quite snooty about lots of things but enjoy cp just because the dcs absolutely love it.

Astarte I stayed in seven pines before they renovated that area and the villa was VERY tired! Peeked through the window last time we went to Whinfell and it looks really lovely. I've stayed in a new style woodland lodge and it was very nice - underfloor heating in the bathroom etc. £309 is a pretty good deal .

I know!
It's for the 2 storey 3 bed executive lodge with heat experience shenanigans too
Our dates were 22nd March and I used the preschool code PSB9.

Hope you get a good deal

We LOVE CP and go to Longleat twice a year - March and September and are also booked for Xmas this year. We have a 10 month old son.

We NEVER pay full price as we mostly book within 28 days of leaving - you only have to pay a deposit - not the whole lot.

We always stay in "executive" accommodation which has towels, dishwasher, dvd etc and I have never been disappointed yet. It's always very clean and housekeeping come to clean every day when you're out. The beds are comfortable, the showers are great and the furnishing is modern. Most of the exec villas at Longleat have recently been refurbished with flatscreen tvs, leather armchairs and rainforest showers.

We love leaving the car in the car park and walking everywhere. Would recommend bringing your own bikes to save money (you will need a lock!).

We don't think it's too expensive - the restaurants are the same as any town centre - Cafe Rouge, Strada etc and I don't think the prices are any higher than normal. There is also a takeout service (love it!) for those with babies!

The babysitters are great and always very experienced and we leave our little one safe in their capable hands for a late night swim/meal out. £5.75/hr before midnight is an absolute bargain as we usually end up paying £10+/hr in hotels and I am sure the ladies at CP are far superior!

The SPA is also fantastic - can highly recommend the "pregnancy" treatment!

I would recommend CP to anyone with kids of any age for a relaxing, hassle free UK holiday where you can chill out with your family without worrying that everyone will "tut tut" when your baby cries!!!!

I agree with it being a winter destination. We've been in Autumn and February and I loved the spa , we all loved the restaurants! we found the lodge too open plan and disturbed each other ( 3 DC under 3 as went with relatives) I personally feel pool, bowling and most of the aactivities better suited to 5+ aged children.

I reccomend Isle of Purbeck and swanage beach for a good british holiday with little ones so many places to go and things to do, plus a lovely caravan (lookout park) cost us less than £600 for a week in August, was fab.

I can't believe nobody's mentioned the European ones.

The British prices are basically designed to keep the great unwashed out, and the Jeremy and Jemimas in.

European prices are about 50% lower.

The thing with Center parcs is it's not just expensive to stay. It's everything else!

You might have forked out £746 for 3 nights in a 2-bed over Easter, but don't think that means you're going to get value inside.

The shops are not so bad, but the activities are horrendously expensive. Try £7 for mini-golf. Plus all the Jeremies and Jemimas book everything with military precision. Don't imagine that you can just cycle off and play badminton. Nope, you need to book before you even arrive! (At least at peak times.)

And it's so developed that it's hardly natural.

I'm tempted by the Forestry Commission sites.

www.forestholidays.co.uk/

We're not middle-class at all!
I'm confused as to why a lot of people think that it's for "Jeremy's & Jemima's" (love the phrase btw).
I've only been to Whinfell though, perhaps it's a bit more trampy up here than in Surrey.

I agree the activities are expensive. We generally only do the free stuff, like spend the days outdoors searching for squirrels or swimming all day, the stuff we wouldn't normally get to do at home.
If we wanted to go bowling, to craft sessions etc we could do that at home.

I think it makes a difference if you're sporty as well because then you get more out of it.

I think some of the activities are good value as well compared to what we pay in London - childcare for example or the babysitting - the mini football courses are quite good as well...but the nwe only do one thing a day - the rest of the time we are in the pool.

The other thing I forgot to mention before is the bliss of having your own rooms and not sharing with your dc as in a hotel - then you have the going to bed early option or the keeping them up with you option - neither which really work for us...

It does depend which one you got I'm sure. The catchment area for the Longleat park (which we went to) is the home counties. Whinfell (which is an unfortunate name given its similarity with Windscale) is going to attract Oop North types. I daresay that more expensive times will attract more middle class people as well.

I haven't got anything against Jeremies and Jemimas, less likely to disrupt your holiday than chavs, just an observation. For my money the European park we went to was not only cheaper, but also less overcrowded - Longleat was not only very expensive, but lacking facilities to cope with a full park.

I found Longleat very disorientating, all the accommodation looking the same, all the trees looked the same. Even the direction signs look the same. I got lost several times cycling around and around looking for house numbers.

My kids loved the pool rapids and slides but I preferred the quiet grotto area with a nice book to chill out.

I found the food ok but not great, we did the indian restaurant and the italian place.

DS did football saturday and sunday morning, DD did horseriding sunday, the horsriding is off site and I had to go with her, if I'd been on my own with the kids it would have been a nightmare cos DS finished his football while DD was still out on the horses.