Center Parcs or Forest Holidays

littlethoughts

So as a post PhD break we are looking at having a few days break in Center Parcs or Forest holidays. Any experience of either at this time of year?

EricTheWeary

Much less going on at Forest holidays IIRC. Centre Parcs much better off season ( ie don't go next week - it's half term) as it's cheaper and quieter. Over priced for what it is IMHO but they do what they do well. MrsTheWeary quite keen on going back so I might cost it up for around her birthday in March.

markslade07

Love CP, we have one just 30 mins down the road so go there probably once a year or so. Feels like you're miles away from home, but only 30mins post holiday travel!

Agreed, it can be quite expensive (though there are last minute deals to be had), especially when you start adding in activities, but the 'tropical swimming paradise' is free and you can spend quite a few hours there just chilling out. Nice just to spend time walking around too, if activities aren't your thing. Plenty of eating in/ out options too with the on site shop and multiple restaurants catering for all different tastes.

Looking at your location of Brizzle, I'm assuming you're thinking of Longleat (which is my local). It's great, but be prepared for hills!

CabbageCat

Going to Center Parcs.

*giggle*

vasselmeyer

Mumsnet love Centre Parcs

littlethoughts

vasselmeyer said:

Mumsnet love Centre Parcs

I'd forgotten about that

axisus

Just remember, it is better to give than to receive.

Grumpyrocker

I didn't like our holiday in Centre Parc. We paid for one of the more expensive chalets but it was quite tatty and not very clean. 

The parc felt claustrophobic - the only open space was the edges of a lake. The rest of the time you're either in the wood surrounded by chalets or at the big swimming pool/restaurant area. It all felt very crowded - you could have the same effect by staying in the tent of a mall car park.

frankus

I think you can pay a premium now get one of the newer or reconditioned lodges..

but be sure and mention it to your wife as according to mumsnet that means anal then a blowie.. without using the penis glass.

ESBlonde

There is a CP not too far from here, been a couple of times. It is expensive for what it is and if (like me) you live in a semi rural environment it doesn't seem that big a deal living in amongst trees. But being able to cycle with the kids day or night without the risk of being clobbered by a motor vehicle (but beware other cyclists) is a bonus and feels quite pleasant. The pool area particularly and activities generally are good and you can be 'over the limit' for days on end without a care in the world.
The Monday to Friday (4 nights) deals are quite good away from school hols. But it still matches or exceeds the cost of lots of foreign holidays in Europe.

mudslide73

We've been to Sherwood twice and Whinfell loads of times (got to be 10+). Very expensive but good fun. We always book 2 or 3 activities per day before we go then add/subtract as we go. Halloween is always good too - fancy dress is almost a requirement in the Village Ctr. If I hire a bike I always regret not bringing my own - just depends on how many of us are driving up. Sports bar is brilliant for seeing something then booking yourself on - I tried roller skating again for the first time since the 80s this summer. 

hungrymark

I don't know, my wife's family love center parcs but I always feel a bit imprisoned. It doesn't start off well when you have to drive through the booth that's like a delousing chamber. People tend to look like they're trying to have a nice time but are just a little bit too stressed to manage it, like animals in a zoo.

Have a nice time.

chillidoggy

I can't imagine anything worse than going to a Center Parc. I'd feel like something from 'The Prisoner'.

mart

chillidoggy said:

I can't imagine anything worse than going to a Center Parc. I'd feel like something from 'The Prisoner'.

I hear they're opening a CP in Portmeirion, specially for you.

mart

littlethoughts said:

So as a post PhD break we are looking at having a few days break in Center Parcs ...

CabbageCat said:

Going to Center Parcs.

*giggle*

Brings a hole whole new meaning to the phrase "post-doc position".

littlethoughts

So we booked Center Parcs.

A big part of it is that we could both do with a few days of being cut off from technology! Even if we're a bit bored/closed in we can just enjoy being somewhere different with a box of dvds, and given that we'll bring all our groceries it works out quite a cheap break.

Plus I showed her the Mumsnet Center Parcs Anal thing and she didn't dismiss it out of hand...

Drew_TNBD

littlethoughts said:

So we booked Center Parcs.

I showed her the Mumsnet Center Parcs Anal thing and she didn't dismiss it out of hand...

<:-P

xSkarloey

chillidoggy said:

I can't imagine anything worse than going to a Center Parc. I'd feel like something from 'The Prisoner'.

That's Portmeirion surely. 

littlethoughts said:

So we booked Center Parcs.

A big part of it is that we could both do with a few days of being cut off from technology! Even if we're a bit bored/closed in we can just enjoy being somewhere different with a box of dvds, and given that we'll bring all our groceries it works out quite a cheap break.

Plus I showed her the Mumsnet Center Parcs Anal thing and she didn't dismiss it out of hand...

WTF? Is this some kind of disgusting amateur sex video these women share on that website of theirs? 

:-O

Snap

Centerparcs is good. You'll have a great time. I like it now and again, we often go in a big bunch, and just have a laugh with the kids, get drink ride around pissed and crash into bushes. Good fun.

For peace and queit and getting away from everything though, I'd have neither. Cabin in the countryside would do me, or one of HEather Cottages at Budle Bay, Bamburgh. THey back onto the beach, and there's naff all around but sand and sea, with a pub about a half hour wal down the beach. I'll have that.

Forest HOls look shite - you've made the right choice I think.

Nitefly

When I worked for my last employer, the company paid for us all (four families) to go to CP at Sherwood for the last week before Christmas every year - it was our Christmas bonus.

The kids loved it - they were never out of the pool or the Pancake place.  Our Maud loved it - she stayed in the chalet, did SFA except read.  I loved it - went to the country club bar every day and played snooker.  

In the evenings the boss either did a huge home-made curry night, or took us out to one of the restaurants.  It must have cost a small fortune.  Happy days!

Iamnobody

Nitefly;398951" said:

When I worked for my last employer, the company paid for us all (four families) to go to CP at Sherwood for the last week before Christmas every year - it was our Christmas bonus.

The kids loved it - they were never out of the pool or the Pancake place.  Our Maud loved it - she stayed in the chalet, did SFA except read.  I loved it - went to the country club bar every day and played snooker.

Did you go for the difficult brown or the easy pink?