Centerparcs tips please - when to arrive etc...

[Fel1x]

We are off to Centerparcs tomorrow. I am sure that I've seen on here before a thread with advice on good times to arrive to beat the rush for bikes/apartments etc but cant find it again.

Any top tips??

Its the Elveden one.

Main things are what sort of time to arrive is best..
and also, have booked no extras so have to take our own towels I think. Is there anything else we have to take (I forgot what I ticked!) are sheets provided as standard or might I have opted out of that too??

Thanks!!

We usually get there between 9-10am, Paid all that money - might as well get the use out of it!

The details say you can't swim until after 2pm, but they won't know - we always park the car, take swim stuff and go to pool/cafe/walk in the woods until about 2/2:30 when DH goes to collect car and meet us en route to villa. Then, you need to rush as fast as possible to unload car and get back to car park to find a space! Sounds tricky but don't worry - you'll find a space.
I'm 32 and have been going since 11 and nobody has ever asked us why we're using the pool before 2pm. Monday and Friday are the busiest days for the pool as you have double the number of people in there as guests don't have to leave the park until 10pm/midnight?
Yes, sheets included so don't panic. If it's a standard villa, you don't get towels and make sure you take enough for villa and swimming.

We have only been to resorts on the continent, but I would say to arrive sooner rather than later. You can then get your bicycles and activity booking sorted out. They allow you to use the facilities while you are waiting for your room.

My instinct would be to check in just after the limit for checkout so you allow the reception staff space to process the guests who are leaving.

My best tip would be to eat your main meal (if eating out ) at lunch time, restaurants are really busy from 5pm but we never had trouble eating at lunch time.

but Mmmetrublue - that would mean you missed a whole day as most people who are still there from the weekend don't check out (in the UK) until after lunch/teatime/evening.
You can book daytime activites before 2pm but they say you just can't swim until after that.

As I said, I have only been to resorts on the continent, but ISTR a checkout time of 10am. I think even if someone elects to stay on after that time, they still have to vacate their cottage and checkout.

book bikes online before you go - saves one queue (then you have to queue again...)

ah - yes - you have to be out of the villa by 10am you're right. See what you mean.
We normally stay until about 7pm on the last day or later if we go night swimming.

defo take a torch - got really lost as it's really hard to see smaller signs/villa numbers in the dark. There aren't lamp posts on all minor paths and there are areas of open water (large ponds) between villa groups.

oh and also, at Elvedon, lock your bikes in your villa at night or when you're going out for a long time and not using them. Bike theft has been rife in elvedon in the last year with hundreds of bikes going missing.

We've just come back - loved it.
If you've got little ones you need to bring cot linen, otherwise everything except swimming towels is provided.
They give you a kitchen clean kit - tea towel, small sachet of washing up liquid, a sponge and about 3 dishwasher tablets. Also they provide a couple of teabags, coffee sachets, sugar, milk (long life), and some soap.
We were in a woodland lodge, think it can be different depending on which accomm you choose.

We got there about 1515 so prob the worst time, but we had to queue for about 20 mins so no biggie.

Shop has got everything you need so no worries if you forget anything.

Have fab time.