Center Parcs - Elvedon

meggles

Afternoon - just booked our first Center Parc holiday. Going with:
Myself
My Husband
My Father
My Sister
My Brother in law
My Nephew (nearly 4)
My Niece (nearly 2)

A few questions....
1- We're checking in 20-Aug. My niece turns 2 on 15-Aug. Because she still sleeps in a cot, we only need 3 bedrooms. When making the booking, I put her down as infant (0-2). However, when 'checking in online', and it asks for birthday details. When we check in she will be 2 (by 5 whole days). Is this going to cause any issue - ie they want us to have a 4th bedroom?

2- Arrival Time. Reading online, it looks like the ques to enter get quite long. Does anyone have any recommendations on when we should arrive to 'miss the rush'?

3- Any 'must' have activities? Especially looking for ones that 2 kiddos can do without parents, as my sister & BIL need a bit of a breather.

4- Anything else we should know?

Thanks!!

Pennylane

Not sure about the niece part of your question - I'd just ring them and ask!

I'd arrive a couple of hours later than the "opening" time. It is deadly boring waiting around.

Bike hire is fun but can be very expensive. If you can take bikes, I think I'd do so.

There are some lovely safe play areas where the parents can supervise their kids but might relax a bit. Obviously at CP there is loads of water, woodland and so on, and kids do have to be watched all the time. At their age you can't take your eyes off them can you?

charis18uk

meggles wrote: »

Afternoon - just booked our first Center Parc holiday. Going with:
Myself
My Husband
My Father
My Sister
My Brother in law
My Nephew (nearly 4)
My Niece (nearly 2)

A few questions....
1- We're checking in 20-Aug. My niece turns 2 on 15-Aug. Because she still sleeps in a cot, we only need 3 bedrooms. When making the booking, I put her down as infant (0-2). However, when 'checking in online', and it asks for birthday details. When we check in she will be 2 (by 5 whole days). Is this going to cause any issue - ie they want us to have a 4th bedroom?

2- Arrival Time. Reading online, it looks like the ques to enter get quite long. Does anyone have any recommendations on when we should arrive to 'miss the rush'?

3- Any 'must' have activities? Especially looking for ones that 2 kiddos can do without parents, as my sister & BIL need a bit of a breather.

4- Anything else we should know?

Thanks!!

1. Strictly speaking you should have a bed for her, however there just going to wave you though a barrier so won't really see your nieces to scrutinise her age. A little white lie about her birthdate might be in order if filling out her date of birth. I don't think they are really going to care too much.

2. Yes the queues do get very long and here are some tips. Get there as early as you can. Preferably as early as you are allowed which I think is 10? Plan to queue regardless of arrival time. We arrived at 11 and queued for about 20 mins. Didn't feel that long though as we were all buzzing about the hol.
Another tip if you are located within walking distance of the car is to walk your luggage to your accommodation rather than drive the car there or avoid doing it until later in the day.

We packed all our stuff in backpacks, got our bikes and cycled to our accommodation. We also packed a separate bag with swimming stuff and grabbed this on arrival and left the unpacking til much later.

The above advice goes for departure day too. Avoid taking your car to your villa at all costs.

3. There are some excellent activities. As a family we thoroughly enjoyed the family quiz (and won despite never having won a quiz before). Free activities such as the playgrounds for all ages, playing on the beach, feeding the wildlife and swimming can take up more time than you realise. For the activily minded Laser combat was worth every penny we paid but expect to get covered in bruises. Cycling is great for getting around an exploring the park. Can't comment on kids activities.

Other: Starbucks by the lake is nearly always empty and lovely surroundings and has a pet peacock.

Some good BOGOF offers on food each night at the sports cafe which is adjacent to childrens play areas.

Biggest tip is make use of the last day, we stayed until 1700 and then went home. Don't be in a hurry to leave.

The spa is superb if thats your thing and you can get good prices on two people.

Animal food available from parc market, ducks love plain peanuts as do squirrels and deer (my son fed one from his hand!)

Hire 4 dvd's from blockbuster to take with you (keep them for 4 days) cheaper than parc market and cheap evening entertainment, wine optional!

Best holiday we ever had, have fun.

GEEGEE8

Oh god I love Centre Parcs! Been about 11 times over the years when I was a kid, it's awesome

The queue's to get keys etc aren't too bad, but like others have said, park up, go swimming and do the moving in later on. Everyone is parked up outside the villa's and the roads aren't very wide, so everyone is driving very slowly and it will take you ages to get to your villa. Leave it a few hours and it should be much better and less stressful.

There are various play areas that the kids can go to and parents can just watch.

We used to love the swimming pool, the watersports and just going cycling in the forrest..

Oooh, getting all nostalgic now.. lol.

Have a great time!

moneypooh

meggles wrote: »

Afternoon - just booked our first Center Parc holiday. Going with:
Myself
My Husband
My Father
My Sister
My Brother in law
My Nephew (nearly 4)
My Niece (nearly 2)

A few questions....
1- We're checking in 20-Aug. My niece turns 2 on 15-Aug. Because she still sleeps in a cot, we only need 3 bedrooms. When making the booking, I put her down as infant (0-2). However, when 'checking in online', and it asks for birthday details. When we check in she will be 2 (by 5 whole days). Is this going to cause any issue - ie they want us to have a 4th bedroom?

No problem, if the child is in a cot they don't actually count on the bed numbers. We shared a 4 bedroom villa with friends on many occasions when 2 of our childrern were 2+ but sleeping in cots. We filled in all the forms truthfully and no problems, We did check before hand with each site, and were told that this was allowed.

2- Arrival Time. Reading online, it looks like the ques to enter get quite long. Does anyone have any recommendations on when we should arrive to 'miss the rush'?

Arrive about 9.45-10.00am and you should only have a small queue, if one at all. Park the car and go and enjoy your day. Take your swimming stuff with you if you want to go swimming. The pool is quieter between 3-5pm - that's when the cars are allowed onsite. If you collect your car after 5pm most will have unpacked and you should get easy quick access to your villa.

3- Any 'must' have activities? Especially looking for ones that 2 kiddos can do without parents, as my sister & BIL need a bit of a breather.

If they want a complete break go for the children's clubs but book before you go as they are very busy. If you want to go out together the babysitting service is excellent.

4- Anything else we should know?

If you want a special treat then the revolving Lakeside restaurant is a definite!
If you definitely want to do certain activities then book before you go to guarantee slots.
Checkout the early meal deals for children eating early evening.
The Sports cafe does some good deals on different nights.
Make the most of the free play areas inside and out.
The children's area in the main pool will keep them busy.
You can hire a trailer for the adult bikes, our children loved them.
Aqua sana does some good deals for couples. (usually booked in advance)

The parc market is priced like a small shop but does have some offers. If you spend £40 they will deliver to your villa (chilled/frozen things put away).

They do have a take-away service but I've found these a bit hit or miss in the past.


Thanks!!

Have a great time. We go about 3-4 times a year, 1 or 2 weeks and 2 mid-weeks. Our children are teenagers now and have been going since they were 18months old. We go to all 4 and our next visit will be Elveden in October.

mum26

We love Centreparcs!

Our usual plan of action is arrive around 12pm ,get parked up, go and sort out any bike hire (there are 8 of us so a limit to how many bikes we can fit on the car,lol) then we have a little walk near the lake or go to one of the parks, then we go bowling (if you look online you can find really good bowling bargains for arrival and leaving day and this works out as a v cheap activity for a large group) and if feeling flush we go to bella italia and get some pizza!

By that time I walk the kids to the accomodation while dp goes to get the car, usually the queues have died down around now (it is manic when they open the barriers unless you have got in your car and lined up for a while) so it doesn't take long, the kids explore and look out for wildlife while we unpack and that is it, full holiday mode.

They do do activities for little ones where they stay with the trained staff, I don't have any experience of that as mine are a little older and it's not the sort of thing we choose, ours tend to do archery, making t shirts etc.

pinkmami

A few questions....
1- We're checking in 20-Aug. My niece turns 2 on 15-Aug. Because she still sleeps in a cot, we only need 3 bedrooms. When making the booking, I put her down as infant (0-2). However, when 'checking in online', and it asks for birthday details. When we check in she will be 2 (by 5 whole days). Is this going to cause any issue - ie they want us to have a 4th bedroom?

I think all the lodges come with a fold-down cot (well all the ones I've stayed in do.) I don't think a little white lie will do harm!

2- Arrival Time. Reading online, it looks like the ques to enter get quite long. Does anyone have any recommendations on when we should arrive to 'miss the rush'?

We tend to arrive at CP (whinfell) around 3pm & ther are quese but we've gone through, queued in the car park & gone to unpack within an hour of arriving. I have a break booked for next year & we plan to stay in a Premier Inn the night before cos it'll be a BH so don't want to drive. So we hope to arive at 10 that day!

3- Any 'must' have activities? Especially looking for ones that 2 kiddos can do without parents, as my sister & BIL need a bit of a breather.

I've never used the creche facilities cos as my kids are Welsh, at the ages your niece & nephew are there was a bit of a language barrier!

4- Anything else we should know?

The supermarket is open late for the arrival days & its well stocked. Not that expensive & has plenty of choices. I also agree with hiring the trailers for the kiddies. Don't bother taking heels with you - you need wellies & walking boots (well I take them!). Its very casual. I guess you can dress up if you like to but not many do! You'll need £1 for the lockers in the swimming pools.

strawberry_laces

everyones answered all the questions.

But, if u want to leave your child in a club there is one called Bumblebees for that age group, it's £18.00 for 3 hours.
We have used the babysitting service, up to 3 children it 's £6.00 an hour iirc, anymore than 3 children u need 2 babysitters.

We are going Elevedon BH week. Monday 30th August, it's our second time there. I've booked bumblebees for my little one. I'd advise doing it now though as spaces are going, fast.