Tips for centre parcs

plumpmouse

Hiya everyone

Going to Penrith centre parcs in next few weeks for a midweek break.


Just being reading positive comments on another thread but does anyone have any specific tips.

What to do, not do etc

We are going with a 20 month old and a 14 year old boy

Thanks

Edinburghlass_2

Frizz is at one this week until Friday so perhaps she will be able to give you some tips when she gets back

skr80ab

suggest you book up now any 'extras' that you may want to go on eg horses - as they fill up v quickly

Woby_Tide

just got back from Penrith CP last Friday. First time ever been to a Center Parcs but some thoughts which may or may not be accurate!

Swimming pools seemed quietest on Monday and Friday i.e. changeover days, we went once we had parked car and before you could get it on site etc. and left everyone else to mad panic at 3.30 to get unpacked, again on the Friday seemed quietish as people don't want to get wet before leaving etc.! On the reverse side, Tuesday morning was chaotic as everyone thought "First day, lets go swim!".

If you're going to do barbecue etc.(or even for most food) don't use Parcmarket, try and take a cool bag and go to Morrisons in Penrith, coming off M6 at J40, head up into Penrith past the hotels you can see on roundabout, should come to it about 1/2 mile further along road(or ask a local they seem to all know where it is), most stuff is cheaper including the BBQ's! 2 x Morrisons own = £3, 2 x Centre Parcs(which have the same packaging bar the Morrisons offer on the box!) = £6.

If you intend using the creche etc. for the young one, book in advance, was completely full when we checked on Tuesday for full week. Likewise for any activity you class as must do for the tenneager etc, would be awful to miss out, though the weather can sometimes put paid, luckily it was glorious all week for us.

Look out for daft gimmicks on some activities, i.e bowling has small signs on wall that if one of you gets over 175 you get a free session again, likewise there is a bingo version and if you get a random score from a selection(i.e. 54, 76, 111 or something) you win a mystery prize, i.e. some free drinks or another game or something, we had more fun trying to get to land on 111 in the end(and won some free drinks!)!

Beware of low flying planes and sleeping children!!! Cover ears, quickly!

Takeaways can be fairly expensive in comparison to normal 'home' prices(indian better than Chinese personally!)

Check the settings on the lodge central heating when you arrive, ours was kindly set to vary between 22 and 24 degrees all day and night, nearly boiled us all.


(and one tip only for me, don't go to Center Parcs in Penrith when yo ucurrently live on the South Coast, even if you're going with friends from back home in Preston! it's a long way)

Can't think of anything more offhand but will have another think

plumpmouse

Thanks Woby for the tips.

Don't plan on using the creche, but was wondering about booking activities.

Interesting what you said about parc mart, thought it would be more expensive but some people have said it isn't.

Don't have the problem of travelling from the south coast as we aren't too far from Preston ourselves so its not a long journey

Spendless

Hi

We've been twice to Penrith mw last year and w/e this. You can use facilities from a certain time but cars can only go in from a later time (can't remember details-soz), so if you want to go swimming straight away pack all your swimming stuff in seperate holdall (remembering swimming nappies) that you can just grab and go.

Always take enough nappies out with you-one of the restaurants was selling them in vending machine for £1 each!!

As already mentioned we took our own food. I planned each days meals so I knew what to take.

We've not had problem booking anything but have gone earlier in year -May-so might be worth looking thru booklet now to see what you want to do.

If you want to do the aqua-sana they do a ladies only day (think Thurs but check) they also do an offer where you get 2 hours instead of 3 at a reduced rate if you book kids in the Time out club at same time.

My little girl was 25 months when we went last time and we put her in Time Out club day we went home so we could get packed quicker (without her-lol). She had whale of a time and you're given sheet telling you what they've been doing, what they've drank/eaten and any nappy changes they've had.

It might be also worth taking a torch for walk back if you're out for evening

Kitikat

When going to the dome bring your own sandwich and drink with you, as the quality of the food in the dome is terrible as is the price.

I found the supermarket on site slightly more expensive than at home but no more than I had expected.

If you have old swimwear use that as going down the slides can damage anything decent you have.

born_blonde

We've just got back from Sherwood and went to Penrith in January.

The resturants and especially the drinks have become even more expensive. A small childs drink is £1.20 ! Take your own for the children when you visit the bars, they don't mind if its something like fruit shoot or in a kiddies beaker or for the older child buy one and refill the container. Look out for special offers, we had buy two glasses of the house wine and get the rest of the bottle free. Platform five is the cheapest place to eat. Look out for the free activities for your 20 month old, Baby Dolphins, childrens entertainment and the free soft play areas. Don't forget to be slightly discreet on Monday in the Dome - you are not suposed to go in untill 2pm but we have never had a problem.
Have fun the Red Squirrels are brill - but take your own nuts.

superteach38

We have been to Sherwood a lot, Elveden & Penrith once each. Out of school hols, we haven't had a prob getting into activities. We have found that as our kids got older, the breaks have cost more!
Roller blading is pretty good value, usually.
Cycling is FREE!!!
Take your own rackets etc.
We always go swimming evening - quieter & tires kids out for bed!

Parcmart is expensive because it's all expensive brands & not own brands - we tend to take own stuff & just pick up few extras each day, as going round the shop with a dinky trolley is part of the break for our kids! We have always budgeted for one breakfast, one lunch and one tea out in a mon- fri break. We have the breakfast & lunch late so that we skip the next meal or have a snack. We have the tea early (skipping lunch or having v little) so the kids just need a toast supper!

Have a super time - I love it. You will want to go back again & again.

simes

Came back from Whinfell on Monday.
It was my first time to centre parcs and was fortunate to go with a friend who works for CP ( staff get very cheap rates and a welcome 20% off on site food and services)..

Eating out is expensive, there are just no cheap options other than taking your own food and cooking it in the lodges ( which are very good - but then they should be given the prices). The restaurants were all good quality though . Take-aways from the italian or indian are almost as expensive as eating in the restaurant ( e.g. £8.95 for a chicken tikka masala to take away)..
No burger king or pizza-to-go onsite ( as it states on the website). Its now a " Cafe Refesh" which sells similar things to burger king ( and was by far the cheapest place to eat). For pizzas you have to go to the italian - Lucianos.

If you intend to use bikes then take your own if you can. They are expensive to hire. The family in front of me in the queue payed £75 for bikes for 4 of them for the weekend ( though £30 was refundable deposit for baby buggy).

Our lodge also had the central heating set at a very hot 24 degrees.

If you get given a lodge in Three oaks, be aware there are builders in the vicinity renovating lodges that may be noisy midweek. Fortunately they were not working at the weekend ( and they had kept many of the lodges closest to the work empty).

Don't waste your money on the rubbish crazy golf ( £3.20 for 9 holes). Its probably the worst crazy golf i have ever seen. And we didn't have to pay !!

Have a drive out to the lakes while you are there . Its only about 15 mins to the nearest one ( Ullswater)..The road from there to windemere is an experience...

plumpmouse

Whats the cinema like?

Are they showing new films?