centerparks
Author
Discussion

7x5tony

Original Poster:

171 posts

225 months

Saturday 3rd January 2009
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has anyone stayed at a centerparks? i was just thinking it seems quite nice , all the activities under one roof and all that. anyone got opinions?

Taita

7,995 posts

232 months

Saturday 3rd January 2009
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I've been there on a family holiday a few years ago, nailed the girl staying at the lodge next door.

Would go back smile

Missed a company trip there last year, everyone else said it was good, if overpriced. If you go don't buy anything from the on-site Spar as it is v expensive.

Hedders

24,460 posts

276 months

Saturday 3rd January 2009
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A cruise might be a better way of spending a captive holiday?


stifler

37,069 posts

217 months

Saturday 3rd January 2009
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Used to work there as a lifeguard. If you like paying for your holiday and then paying through the nose for every little thing apart from swimming then its the holiday for you.

Oh and if you take any females with you they will get shagged by a lifeguard. Guaranteed. Its in the smallprint.

smile

Hedders

24,460 posts

276 months

Saturday 3rd January 2009
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Taita said:
I've been there on a family holiday a few years ago, nailed the girl staying at the lodge next door.

Would go back smile

Missed a company trip there last year, everyone else said it was good, if overpriced. If you go don't buy anything from the on-site Spar as it is v expensive.
No Lidl?

camgear

6,941 posts

223 months

Saturday 3rd January 2009
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i've been twice. Funnily enough on the company trips that Taita didn't go on wink full of ruperts and their entitled children, activities are expensive for what they are but the swimming pool is ace and it's a great place to chill with a beer. The spa was also really good suprisingly but I would only like to go in the summer really as you couldn't really do half of what makes it good (all imo)

Edited by camgear on Saturday 3rd January 18:12

Taita

7,995 posts

232 months

Saturday 3rd January 2009
quotequote all
camgear said:
i've been twice, full of ruperts and their entitled children, activities are expensive for what they are but the swimming pool is ace and it's a great place to chill with a beer. The spa was also really good suprisingly but I would only like to go in the summer really as you couldn't really do half of what makes it good (all imo)
+1 I'd guess half of the fun activities would be shut or ste in the winter. Paintball, archery, horses, MTB etc.

JazD

284 posts

217 months

Saturday 3rd January 2009
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We went for the first time last year. Had a great time but it's pricey. There are some great activities though and I'd recommend the rally driving lesson. Take your own food though as the supermarket is limited and expensive. The other good thing is that its excellent for kids

EvoBarry

1,903 posts

294 months

Saturday 3rd January 2009
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Its like a prisoner of war camp imo, relaxed my ar$e. You have to find the cabin in the woods, following a one way system that seems intent on leading you all over the forest first, empty car, take car back to the huge, badly laid out, carpark, find a space (easier said than done) leave it there, walk three miles back to cabin. The food is appalling and overpriced compared to the real world, the activities aren't all that, and you pay for everything extra (£22 for a bike for a weekend?!!) and after charging the earth to let you stay there in the first place you're still expected to remove the bedsheets and follow countless other annoying rules. In short, not relaxing at all, but if you have kids they might enjoy it...

Was there last month, the in-laws organised it thinking it would be a nice weekend away for us all. I'll never go back.

10 Pence Short

32,880 posts

246 months

Saturday 3rd January 2009
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I live close by to one and the brother in law is in management there. If you want to spend an absolute fortune in a huge Brewers Fayre, surrounded by thousands of other people's annoying whiney kids, whilst paying an absolute fortune for everything except breathing out, spending a fortune, then go for it.

Just an an example- the guests staying there pay £32 for a 3 hour session in the Aqua Sana (a few different themed saunas and a quiet, small pool. Locals and friends of the staff pay £5.

sday12

5,067 posts

240 months

Saturday 3rd January 2009
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Butlins for Chavs in the Forest

FFS!

DrTre

12,957 posts

261 months

Saturday 3rd January 2009
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EvoBarry said:
Its like a prisoner of war camp imo, relaxed my ar$e.
I would seriously think about rephrasing that....unless it is actually what you meant?!

ETA: it made me laugh out actually. Read it totally incorrectly. Sorry.

Edited by DrTre on Saturday 3rd January 18:31

whirligig

941 posts

224 months

Saturday 3rd January 2009
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We took the kids to the one in the Lakes last year and they all enjoyed it but 3 nights is the max I would do. The pool is great and so are most of the activities but it is expensive.

diesel head

391 posts

238 months

Saturday 3rd January 2009
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Went as a child and loved it, we very rarely spent any real money on the expensive activites, but did a lot of swimming, biking (took our own so free also very safe as no cars around) Would occasionally hire a badminton or tennis court, but they were just a few quid. When I was a little more grown up i.e. a teenager my Parents would pay or my brother and I to do one of the more expenive activities.

I think that there are a lot of very expensive activites, but no need to do them, its a fantastic place for kids and adults alike. I have been to the ones in europe as well and they tended to be a little cheaper.

Darkslider

3,084 posts

218 months

Saturday 3rd January 2009
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DrTre said:
EvoBarry said:
Its like a prisoner of war camp imo, relaxed my ar$e.
I would seriously think about rephrasing that....unless it is actually what you meant?!
rofl

croyde

26,314 posts

259 months

Saturday 3rd January 2009
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It has been the twice yearly trip that my wife insists on taking our family of three youngsters on. Its fine if the weather holds but expensive for what it is.

There is nothing Chavvy about it apart from the one in East Anglialaugh as I would say that it is Butlin's for the Middle Classes.

Personally I have got sick of it as we go too often and last few times the weather has been sh!t so the whole population tries to cram into the pool, horrible.

When we go, as I said family of 5, it normally costs us £1500 for a Friday to Monday. Too much!

Edited by croyde on Saturday 3rd January 18:44

voyds9

8,490 posts

312 months

Saturday 3rd January 2009
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Go regular can be as cheap or as expensive as you want. Bigger villas far more fun if you can get enough to fill it.

Full of kids all called Tarquin who have everything explained to them rather than get a slap.

Early meal in Rajinda Prashad?sp is a bargain.

Pickled Piper

6,452 posts

264 months

Saturday 3rd January 2009
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10 Pence Short said:
I live close by to one and the brother in law is in management there. If you want to spend an absolute fortune in a huge Brewers Fayre, surrounded by thousands of other people's annoying whiney kids, whilst paying an absolute fortune for everything except breathing out, spending a fortune, then go for it.
Spot on. Stayed at one a few years back. Food and service was appalling. Manager really couldn't give a st when we complained..

pp

gti tim

1,633 posts

230 months

Saturday 3rd January 2009
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have been several times. Went two years ago to Nottingham. We booked online using discount codes and paid around £100 for mon-thurs for a 6 berth chalet. just used the time to go biking and swimming. Not that much to do on site other than that really, unless you want to spend the earth. Shall be going again in Feb/March with the boy, as he loves swimming, and it would cost me maybe £50 to take him every day to our local pool let alone somewhere like CenterParcs.

Puggit

49,790 posts

277 months

Saturday 3rd January 2009
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croyde said:
When we go, as I said family of 5, it normally costs us £1500 for a Friday to Monday. Too much!
WTF?! confused