Is it possible for Center Parcs to be a cheap(er) break?

maf20

Evening all

Our family (2+2) are huge fans of Center Parcs. We've been twice now and would like to go at least once every year. Thing is, my wife is a teacher so even if we wanted to take the eldest out of school, it's not much use to us. Having said that, we have gone on the last day of term once before as my wife works Monday to Thursday. This made that particular break significantly cheaper.

I looked at the basic accommodation for 7 nights for a family of four at October half-term and it's over £1600!!!

Does anyone have any examples of how Center Parcs can be a bit cheaper? We've done things like go the first weekend of the school Easter holidays which seems a bit cheaper. I know we can also take our own food, limit the paid activities etc.. But, does anyone else have any tips? Are there any 'loyalty' cards, for example, that offer reward points for CP breaks?

Cheers guys

zagubov

I know lots of people in England who use the Belgian/Dutch ones as they're about 1/3 cheaper at certain times.

Slightly less sport facilities at some of them than here as Europeans apparently belong to more sports clubs anyway and don't always see it as part of the break.

You need to factor in the shuttle /ferry but there's always the cheap booze/cigs etc. for buying on the way back. Petrol's sometimes cheaper across there too.

spiddy100

We have only ever been to Center Parcs for weekends in November/February, booked over a year in advance, because otherwise the price is obscene. I honestly don't know how they justify it considering it is self catering and you pay extra for practically all the activities.

Anyway........... a couple of years ago we went to Sunparks in Belgium (now part of the Center Parcs chain, they weren't when we went). They were less than half the price of a CP break for the same week, even though the standard of accommodation we chose in Belgium was higher than what was available at CP, and factoring in the price of the Eurotunnel (paid for with Tesco vouchers). We were told that one reason why it was so much cheaper on the continent is that they don't have a weeks holiday at Whitsun (our May-June half term) because their summer holidays start so much earlier.

So if you're within reasonable driving distance of a ferry port or Eurotunnel terminal, I would definitely look at the options for CP in Europe, and research whether their school holidays match ours.

pinkmami

The only way to get a cheaper deal is to go during term time. That's what I've done. I've looked at our school calendar till the end of 2012 & all the holidays match CP's price hikes :mad: . My eldest is going to year 5 in Sept so we have another 2 school yrs to take her out befopre she goes to big school & our cheap fun ends!

Personally I woudn't bother with the European ones (takes us longer to get to a ferry than travel to Whinfell!) so we'll stick to that one. My BIL has been yet he lives in Hampshire so a ferry port is easy accessible, and he said they were excellent.

Desperado99

It sounds as if you're doing all the right things.... we always book a year in advance, check the term times for cheaper deals (although inset days have helped alot! not much use for a teacher ).

We have a couple of teacher friends who go to the belgian center parcs and love it.

If you can double up with another family it makes it cheaper per person to have a 4 bed villa than a 2 bed (We go with other family members).

And obviously a midweek or weekend break is cheaper than a 7 day break (they used to give a discount for 7 days breaks but not anymore, so you are basically paying twice for the day in the middle :mad:)

or you could try and win one :
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3372914