Center Parcs?

bexsta-star

We booked a week at Centre Parcs last September for June this year. Paid approx £630 for a Comfort Plus for four people. In April began to notice that a lot of negative comments about the Comfort Plus accomodation were appearing on websites including this one. Contacted CP about my concerns and was assured that my accomodation would be clean and in good condition. Was given a bottle of cheap red wine and a box of 8 chocs as a gesture of goodwill. The accomodation was awful....thin, ripped sheets, lumpy duvet, thin stained carpet, dishwasher was broken and took three days to be sorted out, toilet was blocked on four occassions, main bedroom had a horrible smell which I ws informed by the cleaner was damp!! Kitchen had no space to put food, woodwork around the door frame was rotten and falling apart, we were near the main road into Nottingham and it was noisy all the time and...a hen party was in the villa 2 doors down. They were loud...very, very loud and one member was seen urinating in the woods by my children....lovely!!
After writing a letter of complaint I got a lovely response saying basically.......tough...terms and conditions.......lastly and hope to see you and your family again soon. NOT...... Oh and by the way...dust all along the skirting boardS and someones broken false nails under the bed and no I wasn't looking for faults. Did not like having to constantly go to Guest Services to complain....would just rather have had a nice holiday (in term time) in a nice, clean and well maintained villa. Also agree with the comment about a Merlin Pass and have bought one ourselves this year. Have had a fab time for a fraction CP's cost.

ukjoel

Oh Dear -have just booked for a week in Jan....

To be fair for the five of us its was only going to cost £239 for a 4 night midweek stay so not too bad.

I say WAS because they then added £55 if we wanted to take the dog (its not like she is allowed on the waterslides or in the spa).

They then charge you more to choose which cabin you stay in and thats when I realised that with 3 kids under 3 being miles away from everything wasnt a good idea.

Ended up upgrading to a posher cabin although refusing to pay the £45 to select a specific one. Paying £269 now but all the woodland ones are closer to the centre and now we also get free towels and the use of a bbq in january

Anyone know what else there is to do there that is free or low cost apart from the pool complex.
Thanks

Spendless

lynnexxxo wrote: »

I have been a center parcs regular for a number of years now but have more or less decided not to go back. There is no way it is worth the money particularly at peak times.

Yes the swimming pool is good but the basic accomodation is not good. At sherwood forest in particular the comfort accomodation is verging on shabby- old dated and looks from the outside like a portacabin. Also, yes i know its a forest but I don't think it is unreasonable to expect the patio area to be swept. On various visits in different accomodation styles the patio is never clean, granted its leaves and 'nature' stuff but I do not want my small children playing next to swan/duck poo - for the money I have paid I expect a nice pleasant area to sit.

the restarants are ok, but you get standard mass catering style food (the same as you would in any mid priced chain (think ask, bella pasta, cafe rouge). A meal out for four will leave you with little change from £50 and with the feeling you could have rustled up the same for a tenth of the price.

None of the kids stuff is included - £7.50 for my toddler to learn fencing - which involved giving him a foam sword and letting him hit his brother - you are having a laugh - he does that a home for free!

The worst thing though is the stunned silence if you dare complain about anything, or good forbid suggest that you are not enjoying your 'leisure' time. 'this is center parcs, it cost us a fortune and we are going to enjoy it. The accomodation is not shabby, its RUSTIC'. That wasn't just any overpriced burger and chips, it was locally sourced frozen french fries.

I agree with the majority of this even though I do like Center Parcs.
The basic accommodation at Sherwood does look horrible as it is breeze block and the 3 bed that includes a bunk bed room is a laugh as there is nowhere to store clothes, only something that resembled a bookcase as furniture in the room. I also agree with the poster that commented on the small kitchen and whilst I don't have a problem with the leaves, twigs round the patio area I have never found the patio table and chairs to have been cleaned when we stop- I have always done them. We self cater for the reason given above about the prices from the food chains located there. I also don't book the kids into activities which are 'child must be accompanied to watch child participate in' then charge the adult that has to be there. I only pay for them to do something when I don't have to be.;)and am paying for the break from them.

This is why when they did discount codes I thought them worth it, without I'm struggling. Though my kids school have helpfully plonked 2 inset days together...meaning I could take up a hol cheaply.....

shariatlanta

I've just returned from a week at Center Parcs in Elvedon with my family and we're already looking at booking for next year ( it will be our 4th visit ), we were thinking of trying Sherwood but after reading these posts I think we'll stick to what we know, seems there isn't as much to do as Elvedon.

Yes it can be expensive but I do feel it's a bit better than a glorified Butlins, we've always had a great time and as far as paying for stuff as the advert states you can do as much or as little as you like.

My grandchildren are aged between 6months and 14 years so the younger ones are quite happy with swimming and the park or playing by the beach, weather permitting.

As far as the Parc market is concerned we only buy the occasional bits in there, our preference is to go to the local Sainsburys in Thetford, about 10 mins drive, and get a weeks shopping there, one tip, remember things like teatowels, bin liners and take some wasp spray, this time of year there's an awful lot around the villas.

One thing, could someone please clarify what they mean by chavs, I have a sneaky feeling my family would be classed as such as we have numerous tattoos between us, myself included and all live on the local council estate lol.

Hope you have a great holiday.

holidaysforme

I've only been to Centre parks once, quite a few years ago, and had a lovely time. Personally, i'm just not willing to pay those kind of prices anymore, when i can go abroad for less, but each to their own.
Having said that, we always holidayed at home till my dd was about 5, as i really couldn't be bothered with all the hassle of going abroad, so i can see that if you're staying in the uk, then this would be a real option for a very child cented holiday.
On the subject of Butlins, sorry i take it back. Hubby (who wouldn't be caught dead in butlins) has said that he would go to cp's ,- inflated prices and all 100 times before he would ever go near a butlins.:D
i haven't ever been here so i suposse i'm being a bit unfair, but having heard various stories and accounts from people, i dont think it would be my kind of thing.

Spendless

shariatlanta wrote: »

I've just returned from a week at Center Parcs in Elvedon with my family and we're already looking at booking for next year ( it will be our 4th visit ), we were thinking of trying Sherwood but after reading these posts I think we'll stick to what we know, seems there isn't as much to do as Elvedon.

Yes it can be expensive but I do feel it's a bit better than a glorified Butlins, we've always had a great time and as far as paying for stuff as the advert states you can do as much or as little as you like.

My grandchildren are aged between 6months and 14 years so the younger ones are quite happy with swimming and the park or playing by the beach, weather permitting.

As far as the Parc market is concerned we only buy the occasional bits in there, our preference is to go to the local Sainsburys in Thetford, about 10 mins drive, and get a weeks shopping there, one tip, remember things like teatowels, bin liners and take some wasp spray, this time of year there's an awful lot around the villas.

One thing, could someone please clarify what they mean by chavs, I have a sneaky feeling my family would be classed as such as we have numerous tattoos between us, myself included and all live on the local council estate lol.

Hope you have a great holiday.

I've been to both Sherwood and Whinfell and there are pros and cons to both. Sherwood is certainly uglier accommodation than Whinfell which has log cabin looks (it wasn't originally a CP).We were also able to get the car right up to the door at Whinfell whereas you can't get as close at Sherwood. I dislike Sherwoods bunk bedroom (comfort accom I think??) for the lack of space and the kitchen isn't as big as Whinfell. Whinfell also has a seperate shower room in basic accom- very handy for when we take 80+ granny with us as she can't get into the bath. I found whinfell accom to be further away from the main part of shops/restaurants/swimming which is all under cover. Sherwood shops etc is spaced out and not all under 1 cover but it isn't as far from the cheapest accom.
Pools- I think Whinfell has better pools for swimmers and sherwood has better pools for toddlers/young non-swimmers.
Nightlife -I think Sherwood is better with kids discos and Robin Hood banquets you can book on.
Parks for kids I think I thought Sherwood better. There's also a beach there that the kids loved.

Overall I find Whinfell prettier, possibly cos of the red squirrels Sherwood spoils itself by ugly and smaller accommodation (IMO). Whether you like the shops etc all together or apart is personal preference.

I haven't been to the others but thought if I could tell you the difference I found between 2 of them, it might help you decide which you would prefer.

shariatlanta

Thanks for the info, I did go to Sherwood the first year it opened and I know what people mean about the bunk bed accomodation, very small. Thought they might have given it a facelift by now as we went in the 80's, Whinfell sounds nice but coming from South East London really don't fancy the drive with small kids, saying that I've just been looking at the ones in Holland, far cheaper but has anyone stayed at any of them, would be interested in any feedback please

moneypooh

Sherwood has changed a great deal in the past few years. They have upgraded many of the villas, not many if any bunk bed arrangements anymore. They have the new style lodges and executives.

The pool is better for older swimmers as Whinfell doesn't have a rapid ride just tunnels. It's always colder in their swimming plaza too.
Sherwood has a ride called cascade in the pool complex where you go down a flume in a big ring.

All the CPs have different appeals and we move around them all. Our favourite is Longleat for the swimming plaza, Elveden for the restaurants, Sherwood for the Aqua Sana and Whinfell for the squirrels and the outdoor activities like quad biking.

We adore the Whinfell lodges as they are so spacious, but it is very hilly. Longleat as the land train as the terrain is very steep.

If anyone want to celebrate Christmas and need the ideal villa, we can recommend the town houses @ Longleat. A huge lounge/dinner/kitchen even with a huge tree

We haven't stayed in the comfort or comfort plus accommodation for a few years as we prefer the executives.

lemonpopcorn

hi all new to this so please be kind, I've been to sherwood and whinfell, although sherwood was 16 yrs ago didn't really like it then and have never been back.
we go to whinfell nearly every year as it's less than a two hour drive from home but feels a world away, with three kids, at the moment abroad is not an option due to cost of passports for all of us (5 in total)
We always go in term time but try and restrict it to either beginning or end of term, I refuse to pay the ridiculous prices in the holidays.
I like whinfell or I wouldn't keep going back but the holiday can be as cheap or as expensive as you make it.
we always tend to shop in the local morrisons and don't eat out much unless it's a treat and we've usually had good service when we've been there and had no problems with other guests, as all the kids are water babies, they love the swimming pool and this year we are taking our own bikes.
so i would recommend whinfell over sherwood imo

gadjah543

shariatlanta wrote: »

Thanks for the info, I did go to Sherwood the first year it opened and I know what people mean about the bunk bed accomodation, very small. Thought they might have given it a facelift by now as we went in the 80's, Whinfell sounds nice but coming from South East London really don't fancy the drive with small kids, saying that I've just been looking at the ones in Holland, far cheaper but has anyone stayed at any of them, would be interested in any feedback please

We have been to De Eemhof twice and stayed in the vip villa with sauna.It was MUCH cheaper than UK prices during school holidays.Staff were lovely esp the really cheap kids club and accommodation was clean.Queues were minimal and most things you could book on the day.Pool was also great .WE would definitely go back again.I would also look at Kemmpervennen as they have an all year round snow/ski dome which looks really good depending on the ages of your party.