CentreParcs - Cost once you're in!

sundin13

Hi,
The Sundin13 family are off to Centre Parcs for a weekend soon, and I just wondered if anyone could advise how much its going to cost for activities and suchlike when we're in.

1. Is it cheaper to rent bikes, or buy a bike carrier and take our own?
2. How much do the activities for teenagers cost? Archery and Quad biking and that sort of thing.
3. I was planning on taking all our own food, but if we do decide to eat at the restaraunts, how pricey are they (I imagine they're 'service station' prices - is that about right).

Thanks in advance,

S13

TBeckett100

Hi I went to Cp recently and we stayed at the Elveden forest. some people told me stories about the price, but:

The swimming pool was free and provided hours of free entertainment
Bring your own bikes, you will need them. It will save you also as their bikes look the same.... and you will spend half your time hunting.

The restaurants were varied. the cost of dining out really only can be matched to average high street prices, try the pancake house.

they should send you a pack before you go with the prices etc and things you can prebook. the paintballing was good fun and i got the impression we could have stayed all day if it wasnt for CP telling us it would finish at 1pm and we booked to meet the others in the afternoon so couldnt stay longer. (the drive to the paintballing is interesting!)

didnt do archery etc, but these are fairly priced about 15 pounds i recall. Ring them though and ask for a proper itenary of what can be done and the prices.

i loved it there, definatley middle class and not as riff raff as i imagined.

p.s. big supermarket there, slightly dearer but not rip off prices.

ckerrd

Been a few times and the last time I went to Whinfell the food was of such an improved standard I thought I was in the wrong place. Supermaket on site is fine.
You should get a list of prices and booking options prior to going.
Some are good value and some not.
Quad Biking for example - expensive at CP for what you get but there was a local place which did a much longer better cheaper version. This did involve going off-site which kinda defeats the point. I have done both with regard to cycles. I can't beleive how many people "lose" the hired ones and forget where they put them? Take some ribbon and tie it round the handle bars - makes identification easy.
The pools are great fun (and included in the price)
The Action adventure stuff is good too.
If you think you want to do something my advice would be book it before you go - things do get booked up very very quickly in my experience.

TASHMA

Hi there, have just come back from CP Sherwood Forest - Bikes for adults cost 9.50 per day and there was a weekly rate of about 20.00 (can't quite remember). You should definitely get a booklet of activities/prices before you go as I am sure you can book things before you get there. I think quad biking is expensive but then i wouldn't know how much it costs normally!! You didn't say which CP you are going to - Whichever one it is I hope you all have a great time - We love it and have been 8/9 times - If your kids love the wildlife then take plenty of bird seed (although mine are a bit younger than teenagers). I do have the Inside Guide 2006 to Sherwood Forest which has the prices for some activities but not all and i would be happy to post it to you if you think it would help - e-mail me!!

simes

Take your own bikes.
They are approx £18 each for a midweek/ weekend break. Take good locks if taking your own bikes though because thefts happen regularly.

Meals in the restaurants are around £8-£12 per main course but are good quality ( the pub venue is no cheaper than the others). They usually do family meal deals for early evening ( for example £20 for 2 adults and 2 kids) at a couple of the restaurants. Remember there is no cheap take out option ( the itialian and indian do take aways but they are as expensive as eating in)

You will get the activity price book before you go. They are all slightly above the usual price ( from off-site equivalents).

Yes its definately middle class. It way too pricey for the working class

sundin13

Thanks everyone....I shall have to start looking for deals on bike carriers and bird seed :rolleyes: Plus, as I'm taking two teenagers, it looks like I may have to shop for a second mortgage!

S13

ps
we're going to Whinfell Tashma, but thank you for the offer,

marksward

We took food for breakfasts. Ate out for lunch (hight street prices really) and bought in food each day for evening meal. Pretty good priced supermarket and have discounts on the 'todays the best before date' goodies that doesn't matter if you cook it that day. I've been there loads and sometimes spend about £80 for the week then next time spend £400+ - all depends on what you do and how mad you go.

We normally hire bikes. Time before last took our own, but not worth the hassle. Everywhere is walkable to no real need for a bike (and safer after a beer or two!)

ckerrd

Been to Whinfell loads of times, started going just after it opened, before it was a CP place
The pool is great although long queues for the flumes are not uncommon.

The quiz in the pub is okay if that's your thing.
There is tons to do on site but as I mentioned earlier book up early.

Tennis, table tennis and stuff is always a good bet at keeping the youngsters amused.

And you can always treat yourself to a nice relaxing time in the spa.
Be prepared to spend money.....

Edit - if the weather is good do have BBQ - most people seem to do that

conradmum

We went to Elevden in June and got a free upgrade to an executive villa! We didn't take bikes because we weren't far from the centre (you can see where you are on the map they send you).
The two teenagers got £50 each to book/buy/do whatever they wanted. We were there 4 days and this was adequate to keep them occupied - and also a good lesson on budgeting.
We took our own food and only ate out once. This is because we're fussy eaters and the one time we did eat out we were disappointed. Between us we tend to cook better meals than we get eating out anyway, so took loads of luxury foods and ate very well! Takes a bit more organising though.
One teenager did the High Ropes and found it too short in time for the cost, but they both did climbing and really enjoyed it and thought it was worth the money. Other things they did were archery, American pool, basketball and badminton. So for their £50 each they did pretty well.
And of course the swimming pool is free.

simes

Expect the teens to want to do the action challenge. If they haven't done that sort of thing before and are brave enough to try it then its an experience they should not miss.

Just watching 4 people try to climb onto a tiny 2 foot square platform 80 feet up on top of a telegraph pole is scary enough


Whinfell has the "Cafe Refresh" which is a bit like a mc donalds with a bigger range of foods. This is the cheapest place to eat by a good margin ( and the type of place most teens like).

You could manage without bikes at Whinfell because it is one of the more compact sites. It depends how far out your villa is. Travelling around by bike is part of the fun though.

havekidsamskint

Hi,

I just bought a 3 bike carrier at Halfords yesterday at half price. should
have been £99.99 and was £49.99. i did chcheck on ebay but by the time you paid postage this was a bit better deal.

good luck