center parcs-is it really that expensive!

missindecisive

what I mean is, is it possible to go there for a break, and not spend THAT much? how can it be done on the cheap??!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ecraig

You could do it cheaper if you:

Took your own food with you (cold stuff in a cool box don't forget - as you cant get into your accommodation until 2pm).

If you have an open fire in your accommodation, they are sold in the ParcMarket for about a fiver each, but you can buy them in supermarkets for about £1.50 each.

Pre-book your itinerary - you can see the differences in prices and you're not so pressured into going with whatever price if you book at the desk. You can find that going 30 mins earlier at about 11.30 to play Badminton can save you about £2 over going at mid-day.

Use your cashback credit card. I used my Amex cashback card the whole time I was in CP - it's handy!

You can usually find vouchercodes to make the booking cheaper, but it is best to book up about a year in advance of your desired holiday dates!

I'll think of some more. I hope this helps for now.

mrbrightside842

The pool is free, and our kids love spending time in there rather more than all of the activities we book for them.

TBeckett100

to be honest, i usually rent a fishing rod and spend most of the week fishing.

a) it is cheap
b) The OH is on her own and my wallet remains in my pocket.

Jack's_mummy

We have never spent that much once there. We take our food with us. Make the most of the pool, woodland walks, beach areas, play parks.

strawberry_laces

I thinks it's as cheap or as expensive as you make it.

This is our first family holiday in about 6 years so as far as i'm concerned the children can do the activities and we plan to eat out a bit too.

But, if we were going every year and money was tight we would take our own food, take our own bikes (these are quite pricey) use the free pool all day, make our own entertainment (pack of cards, a board game), go for forest walks and go on a bug hunt (free), picnics by the lake and take a football again free

We are having our first CP hioliday this december:j:j:j

angie_baby

Ive been a couple of times in early January, its usually the cheapest week As other have said, if you can take your own bikes, and remember the chain for them and make sure you have lights, as its pretty dark riding home.

The pool is great, one year it snowed and was lovely, it was really magical in the outside pool. But its really pretty too once it was dark, lots of pretty lights. (Ive only ever been to Longleat)

Also take your own food or stop of at a supermarket before you get there.
And if you do want to do the things you have to pay for, book ahead, plus it saves you the time queing when you first get there. Also if theres no DVD in your appartment, check i think most do now, take your own and have a cinema night one night with the fire going and get all cosy.

Rachie_B

yup take your own food and bikes if you can
then just cycle,walk,and go in the pool etc ( hard to get the kids out of the pool once they get in ! lol)

we tend to just book cheaper activities,like badminton / football etc anyway

The spa is good though and sometimes get a good deal on that

Rachie_B

angie_baby wrote: »

Ive been a couple of times in early January, its usually the cheapest week As other have said, if you can take your own bikes, and remember the chain for them and make sure you have lights, as its pretty dark riding home.

The pool is great, one year it snowed and was lovely, it was really magical in the outside pool. But its really pretty too once it was dark, lots of pretty lights. (Ive only ever been to Longleat)

Also take your own food or stop of at a supermarket before you get there.
And if you do want to do the things you have to pay for, book ahead, plus it saves you the time queing when you first get there. Also if theres no DVD in your appartment, check i think most do now, take your own and have a cinema night one night with the fire going and get all cosy.

It snowed when we were there in Jan 2007 ,it was mad being in the outdoor pool in the snow ,kids thought it was great

strawberry_laces

ecraig wrote: »

You could do it cheaper if you:

Took your own food with you (cold stuff in a cool box don't forget - as you cant get into your accommodation until 2pm).

If you have an open fire in your accommodation, they are sold in the ParcMarket for about a fiver each, but you can buy them in supermarkets for about £1.50 each.

Pre-book your itinerary - you can see the differences in prices and you're not so pressured into going with whatever price if you book at the desk. You can find that going 30 mins earlier at about 11.30 to play Badminton can save you about £2 over going at mid-day.

Use your cashback credit card. I used my Amex cashback card the whole time I was in CP - it's handy!

You can usually find vouchercodes to make the booking cheaper, but it is best to book up about a year in advance of your desired holiday dates!

I'll think of some more. I hope this helps for now.

I'm assuming you mean the logs? are they a special type of log? We are going in December so it will be chilly. Also how much 'burn time' will one give you? I dont want to buy 1 log and it only lasts 3 hours i'd rather buy a few

sorry if this question seems really daft:o

angela110660

we haven't been for a few years but agree with all the above re taking own food etc. re booking activities. I remember that there were a couple of things I wanted to do but they said they were all booked up. When I walked along at the time anyway - one keep fit class only had about 6 people waiting to take part - that was supposed to be booked up! They let me in and I paid on the spot for it. Must be people who book everything up and then don' worry about the money if they don't feel like going.