Comments on: Is Center Parcs a good holiday destination? http://becomingdomestic.co.uk/2007/03/12/is-center-parcs-a-good-holiday-destination/ Leaving London and downshifting to become a full-time parent and rural homemaker Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:28:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: marianne http://becomingdomestic.co.uk/2007/03/12/is-center-parcs-a-good-holiday-destination/comment-page-1/#comment-91 marianne Sat, 28 Jun 2008 08:28:22 +0000 http://www.becomingdomestic.co.uk/2007/03/12/is-center-parcs-a-good-holiday-destination/#comment-91 We have just returned from our 3rd break at Winfell. We go every year and love every minute. We do so much we only get chance to swim once infact we did'nt go once this last time! Our daughter is now 5 she thinks its the best place on earth we now have a baby who is 5 months he adapted straight away as its a home from home we were able to keep his routine. We have tried alsorts of activities that we would have not have even thought about trying before. The rangers are fantastic my daugher has been pond dipping, searching for creepy crawlies held an owl a milliepede, baby frog to name just a few. She has learnt loads from the rangers [me too!!] We have built rafts learnt to sail, learnt to ride and groomed a pony the list just goes on and on! The spa is fantastic I always save some money over the year so I can treat myself and take some time out! I do agree it can be expensive but not if you plan well. Hire a larger villa and go with family and friends that way you can share looking after the kids aswell as the cost of the villa. Make a meal plan take all the main ingredients aswell as your basics sugar sauce squash crisps etc If you shop at tesco save your deal vouchers and turn them into restaurant clubcard deals Bella Italia and Cafe Rouge both accept them, theres 1 free meal! Learn to be a family again why does everyone need evening entertainment to be laid on. Play games with the kids take a pack of cards and some wine!! REMEMBER A HOLIDAY IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT We have just returned from our 3rd break at Winfell. We go every year and love every minute. We do so much we only get chance to swim once infact we did’nt go once this last time!
Our daughter is now 5 she thinks its the best place on earth we now have a baby who is 5 months he adapted straight away as its a home from home we were able to keep his routine.
We have tried alsorts of activities that we would have not have even thought about trying before. The rangers are fantastic my daugher has been pond dipping, searching for creepy crawlies held an owl a milliepede, baby frog to name just a few. She has learnt loads from the rangers [me too!!]
We have built rafts learnt to sail, learnt to ride and groomed a pony the list just goes on and on!
The spa is fantastic I always save some money over the year so I can treat myself and take some time out!
I do agree it can be expensive but not if you plan well.
Hire a larger villa and go with family and friends that way you can share looking after the kids aswell as the cost of the villa.
Make a meal plan take all the main ingredients aswell as your basics sugar sauce squash crisps etc
If you shop at tesco save your deal vouchers and turn them into restaurant clubcard deals Bella Italia and Cafe Rouge both accept them, theres 1 free meal!
Learn to be a family again why does everyone need evening entertainment to be laid on. Play games with the kids take a pack of cards and some wine!!
REMEMBER A HOLIDAY IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT

]]> By: Jonny http://becomingdomestic.co.uk/2007/03/12/is-center-parcs-a-good-holiday-destination/comment-page-1/#comment-95 Jonny Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:43:22 +0000 http://www.becomingdomestic.co.uk/2007/03/12/is-center-parcs-a-good-holiday-destination/#comment-95 RIDICULOUS! What were you expecting from a commercialised, woodland based alternative to Butlins? Did you not think to check out tthe official website, do some reserch PRIOR to booking? It's no secret that Centre Parcs has a captive audience once you are in. Admittedly they don't get everything right and it does get busy during the kids holiday times, but you must surely have known what you were letting yourself in for?? Pricing is set like that because that is what people will pay - if you object, don't complain AFTER the event, do it there and then! Having just returned from a Spanish holiday (May 2008), I can tell you now that it is the SAME as Centre Parcs IN EXPENSE. Everything has increased 5 fold in Spain and the rest of the Europe are catching up. Why? Because we just accept it and pay. Centre Parcs is a good place, has it's failings in places but to be honest, I still think it represents good value for money... RIDICULOUS! What were you expecting from a commercialised, woodland based alternative to Butlins? Did you not think to check out tthe official website, do some reserch PRIOR to booking? It’s no secret that Centre Parcs has a captive audience once you are in. Admittedly they don’t get everything right and it does get busy during the kids holiday times, but you must surely have known what you were letting yourself in for?? Pricing is set like that because that is what people will pay – if you object, don’t complain AFTER the event, do it there and then! Having just returned from a Spanish holiday (May 2008), I can tell you now that it is the SAME as Centre Parcs IN EXPENSE. Everything has increased 5 fold in Spain and the rest of the Europe are catching up. Why? Because we just accept it and pay. Centre Parcs is a good place, has it’s failings in places but to be honest, I still think it represents good value for money…

]]> By: Notes From The Frugal Trenches http://becomingdomestic.co.uk/2007/03/12/is-center-parcs-a-good-holiday-destination/comment-page-1/#comment-96 Notes From The Frugal Trenches Mon, 05 May 2008 16:21:55 +0000 http://www.becomingdomestic.co.uk/2007/03/12/is-center-parcs-a-good-holiday-destination/#comment-96 Thanks for the honesty! I hate being forced to do paying activities and would probably much prefer exploring the lake district. A friend recently suggested Centre Parks, but I'm thinking of a yurt holiday instead! Thanks for the honesty! I hate being forced to do paying activities and would probably much prefer exploring the lake district. A friend recently suggested Centre Parks, but I’m thinking of a yurt holiday instead!

]]> By: chloe izzo http://becomingdomestic.co.uk/2007/03/12/is-center-parcs-a-good-holiday-destination/comment-page-1/#comment-97 chloe izzo Wed, 20 Jun 2007 13:56:56 +0000 http://www.becomingdomestic.co.uk/2007/03/12/is-center-parcs-a-good-holiday-destination/#comment-97 centre parcs was the worst holiday i have ever been on in my life. the level of customer service was disgraceful. i will NEVER stay there again, although i must say me and my family did enjoy the holiday. some of the activities was delayed or cancelled - i was furious after spending alot of money with the company and then having the staff speak to me as if i was a nobody. i will also be advising people not to visit centre parcs. from chloe in manchester centre parcs was the worst holiday i have ever been on in my life. the level of customer service was disgraceful. i will NEVER stay there again, although i must say me and my family did enjoy the holiday. some of the activities was delayed or cancelled – i was furious after spending alot of money with the company and then having the staff speak to me as if i was a nobody. i will also be advising people not to visit centre parcs. from chloe in manchester

]]> By: Eternal Sunshine http://becomingdomestic.co.uk/2007/03/12/is-center-parcs-a-good-holiday-destination/comment-page-1/#comment-99 Eternal Sunshine Sun, 22 Apr 2007 10:19:41 +0000 http://www.becomingdomestic.co.uk/2007/03/12/is-center-parcs-a-good-holiday-destination/#comment-99 You forgot to mention the red squirrels! The best part about whinfell forest has to be that it's a red squirrel refuge. Just out of interest, did you do any activities at the rangers lodge? The only reason I'm asking is because I'm one of the rangers! I have to agree with a lot of what you say about cp. I am also spoiled like you and live in an idyllic countryside so the peace and quiet is lost on me. You forgot to mention the red squirrels! The best part about whinfell forest has to be that it’s a red squirrel refuge. Just out of interest, did you do any activities at the rangers lodge? The only reason I’m asking is because I’m one of the rangers! I have to agree with a lot of what you say about cp. I am also spoiled like you and live in an idyllic countryside so the peace and quiet is lost on me.

]]> By: Jax http://becomingdomestic.co.uk/2007/03/12/is-center-parcs-a-good-holiday-destination/comment-page-1/#comment-98 Jax Fri, 16 Mar 2007 11:29:19 +0000 http://www.becomingdomestic.co.uk/2007/03/12/is-center-parcs-a-good-holiday-destination/#comment-98 we've never paid full price to go to Centerparcs, and I never would - they frequently have discounts and late booking offers and that's how we've done it, or we've shared larger accommodation with friends. I find that for a family holiday with friends with many young children it's a great place in the winter - there aren't so many places you could go where you can guarantee somewhere to play in the water all day. In the summer I much prefer camping :) Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy it. we’ve never paid full price to go to Centerparcs, and I never would – they frequently have discounts and late booking offers and that’s how we’ve done it, or we’ve shared larger accommodation with friends.

I find that for a family holiday with friends with many young children it’s a great place in the winter – there aren’t so many places you could go where you can guarantee somewhere to play in the water all day.

In the summer I much prefer camping :)

Sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy it.

]]> By: Rob... http://becomingdomestic.co.uk/2007/03/12/is-center-parcs-a-good-holiday-destination/comment-page-1/#comment-94 Rob... Tue, 13 Mar 2007 08:19:21 +0000 http://www.becomingdomestic.co.uk/2007/03/12/is-center-parcs-a-good-holiday-destination/#comment-94 I wasn't impressed with Center Parks either (it was a while ago now, though). We recently bought a folding camper because we want to see this country and like to do our own thing. Regards, Rob... I wasn’t impressed with Center Parks either (it was a while ago now, though).

We recently bought a folding camper because we want to see this country and like to do our own thing.

Regards,

Rob…

]]> By: Libby http://becomingdomestic.co.uk/2007/03/12/is-center-parcs-a-good-holiday-destination/comment-page-1/#comment-93 Libby Tue, 13 Mar 2007 00:42:23 +0000 http://www.becomingdomestic.co.uk/2007/03/12/is-center-parcs-a-good-holiday-destination/#comment-93 gosh am now drowning in oceans of guilt but hope you booked hol before my raving and not as result of it:-) I went to the other center parcs so don't know if that made a difference. Because of Jacks anaphylaxis we always self cater so never look to restaurants etc and ditto child care...we never feel safe leaving our kids anywhere alone so that part prob wouldn't apply to us. i have to admit to having 2 kids who happily stayed in the pool for the entire time and as it was so super that's rather the impression we were left with. we also went with my two sisters, husbands and kids so it was an 'event' before we even got there. I hope you can salvage some lovely memories :-) gosh am now drowning in oceans of guilt but hope you booked hol before my raving and not as result of it:-) I went to the other center parcs so don’t know if that made a difference. Because of Jacks anaphylaxis we always self cater so never look to restaurants etc and ditto child care…we never feel safe leaving our kids anywhere alone so that part prob wouldn’t apply to us. i have to admit to having 2 kids who happily stayed in the pool for the entire time and as it was so super that’s rather the impression we were left with. we also went with my two sisters, husbands and kids so it was an ‘event’ before we even got there. I hope you can salvage some lovely memories :-)

]]> By: Freelance PHP and AJAX programmer. Bealers.com » Blog Archive » Why I didn’t like Center Parcs http://becomingdomestic.co.uk/2007/03/12/is-center-parcs-a-good-holiday-destination/comment-page-1/#comment-92 Freelance PHP and AJAX programmer. Bealers.com » Blog Archive » Why I didn’t like Center Parcs Mon, 12 Mar 2007 23:09:54 +0000 http://www.becomingdomestic.co.uk/2007/03/12/is-center-parcs-a-good-holiday-destination/#comment-92 [...] blogging - we were were in different parts of the house and unaware of what the other was doing - The Mrs posted something up about the holiday at the same  time as I was writing mine. As expected hers is is slightly more [...] [...] blogging – we were were in different parts of the house and unaware of what the other was doing – The Mrs posted something up about the holiday at the same  time as I was writing mine. As expected hers is is slightly more [...]

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