Nice people thread part 4 - sugar and spice and all things

lostinrates

zagubov wrote: »

Just got back from Center Parcs. A nice break from home! There's a nice illusion of peace and quiet and space, the way the place is landscaped -feel there's nobody overlooking you. Got a free upgrade but missed out on kayaking as DS had a cold and the "lake" was icing up.

Glad we brought our car round before 8 AM. The traffic gets horrible after that in their one-way system, and there's not enough spaces to park in front of the villas. I' ve been to all three older Center Parcs now and noticed they're all easy to miss from the main road (wonder if that's a requirement for planning permission- low visual impact).

Next time might go to one of the ones in Europe - a workmate went and said it was about 60% of the cost, but had less sporting facilities (but we don't use them much anyway)

there is one not too far from us. dh and I went there for a spa day a couple of years ago. he's wanted to go back ever since. I'd book an afternoon over christmas but for the fact I think it might be heaving...ther people escaping for warmth.

zagubov

lostinrates wrote: »

there is one not too far from us. dh and I went there for a spa day a couple of years ago. he's wanted to go back ever since. I'd book an afternoon over christmas but for the fact I think it might be heaving...ther people escaping for warmth.

I don't think that need be a problem. DW has been at other times of year and reckons it was about half- full this time. When it's the summer (and even the autumn), you really do have to book everything well in advance as it's apparently mobbed (in which case, as they say on the telly, I'm out!).

Your nearest one has not bad facilities (Longleat I'm guessing?) I think but the one I visited has fewer. In fact yours makes me think of the description of Switzerland- a lot bigger if they flattened it out!

Wheezy_2

zagubov wrote: »

Just got back from Center Parcs.

I've never been to Center Parcs, and don't even know where our nearest Center Parcs is, so can't give you info on the mileage of a potential round trip

zagubov

Wheezy wrote: »

I've never been to Center Parcs, and don't even know where our nearest Center Parcs is, so can't give you info on the mileage of a potential round trip

I think they started in the Low Countries! Your nearest is possibly in France or Belgium TBH. or maybe Longleat or Elveden. It's like a v posh caravan park. But with log fires, plumbing, satellite telly,sports etc. cycle paths and lots of peace and quiet. Has wifi and patchy mobile reception.

You'd have to leave westie I think unless you book a villa that takes dogs!

lostinrates

yep, longleat is the nearest. I've never been to one apart form that, and you wouldn't know it was there.....which I think is quite magical, you just go down and down and down into the forest and appear at a roman spa with typically excellent roman parking facilities.

Its a nice idea. the aromatherapy was a bit hit and miss tbh....smelled quite a lot of swimming pool and pee in some places I seem to reember.....as one might expect in a swimming pool/wet/public environment.

so...do you think it will be quiet the week after christmas.....I haven't got dh a gift yet.....

lostinrates

hmm, maybe I should try the posh one in Bath.....less to do there though, once you've seen th view....

the thing is,sloshing around in water is nice, but they make money on the treatments I'd guess, and thats what I really want after christmas, a slosh in water, a facial and a massage.....it gets more expensive the more I think about it.

zagubov

lostinrates wrote: »

yep, longleat is the nearest. I've never been to one apart form that, and you wouldn't know it was there.....which I think is quite magical, you just go down and down and down into the forest and appear at a roman spa with typically excellent roman parking facilities.

Everything's well -hidden You don't get any idea of how many people there must be there until you see a map and realise how much thought and planning must have gone into the layout. Also reminded me of this article about a project near Stroud which can't be a million miles away from you

lostinrates wrote: »

so...do you think it will be quiet the week after christmas.....I haven't got dh a gift yet.....

Not sure -there might be more on other threads or other NPs might have more info. Although it occurs to me does it hold the same magic for people who already live in relatiively "quiet" locations?

lostinrates

hm...maybe able to slosh around and have mud pack here.....foundation holes are in in the room that is to be a dining room...there is water, there is clay.

GDB2222

We took the kids to Center Parcs every summer for about 5 years. It's truly excellent for that, but it's not great in December as everything is 'outside'. Even the swimming pool involves cycling through whatever is pelting down at the time from your 'cabin' to the pool.

lostinrates

GDB2222 wrote: »

We took the kids to Center Parcs every summer for about 5 years. It's truly excellent for that, but it's not great in December as everything is 'outside'. Even the swimming pool involves cycling through whatever is pelting down at the time from your 'cabin' to the pool.

unless you go as a day pass to just the spa, where everything is inside that one building! The joy is we are close enough to feed, go for the morning, and then get back to the chickens before dakfall.