Centre Parcs 4 Night Stay

saver03 · 2 February 2008 at 2:39PM

We are thinking about going to Centre Parcs (Whinfell Forest, Cumbria) in September and staying for 4 nights midweek as this is the cheapest option and hopefully will be quieter. We are unsure of the cost when we get there for food, activities etc and was just looking for some advice from people who have been. We want to experience all we can and really want to do a lot of activites, abseilling, climbing etc but cannot find the prices online we need some help on how much to take and also is it cheaper to take your own food.

saver03 · 2 February 2008 at 7:46PM

A shameless bump!

Need to be booking soon to get a reduced rate but if it will prove to be very expensive once there may have to rethink.

BillScarab · 2 February 2008 at 8:06PM

Activities and meals out are not cheap at Center Parcs, they're not outrageous but it's not a cheap holiday. Doing lots of activites will bump up the price dramatically.

We gave up on Center Parcs in the UK a couple of years ago and go to the ones on the continent now. The holidays are cheaper and so are all of the activities and dining out. As an example 8 of us are going to Het Heijebos in Holland for four nights over half term, the total cost of a Deluxe Villa plus bike hire is £420 for all of us.

When we used to go in the uK we never did many activities preferring to spend time in the pool but we always used to to the Aqua Sana Spa and from memory that was £20 for 2 hours if you booked your children into the Kids club.

RoxieW · 2 February 2008 at 9:07PM

I think (never been) I read on here that they send you a brochure AFTER (v sneaky!) youve booked with the activity prices. They range from £5 to £35 per person. You could call them and ask for the brochure in advance. Search the forums on centreparcs and you should find out a bit more. Of course, you can save money by eating in as you have the facilities in your cabin. Bit of a busmans holiday for mum though (or dad - whoever does the cooking to be totally pc lol)

waddy80 · 2 February 2008 at 9:32PM

I just came back from centre parcs. Shop before you go. Over £1 per loaf of bread etc etc. The restaurants vary from a chippy (£4 meal deal I think) Sports bar, (burger and chips etc £5 - £10), american (£8 - £15 per dish), pancake house (£4 - £8), italian, indian, also cafe rouge etc.

Cafe rouge and bella italia at centre parcs do take tesco deals vouchers for payment. I have also found a useful thread on PTS see here.

We go to the sherwood forest one and tend to go to Go Ape next door which do the tree trekking activities at half the price! There is one in cumbria see the link HERE

Try and book one of the new woodland lodges, as these are a lot nicer. And they have a dishwasher. The customer service tends to be good, I'm sure if you called they could send you an activity pack.

pandora205 · 2 February 2008 at 9:57PM

We went there for a weekend break in the summer. To make the most of the time available and arrive early on the Friday we travelled up the day before and stayed overnight in a youth hostel in Windermere (which was very basic but fine). I took a coolbox and icepacks which were frozen overnight.
We stopped to shop at Penrith in a supermarket and bought just about everything for the whole weekend. I'd planned a menu before hand including a barbecue. The supermarket at Centreparcs is expensive so it's best to avoid if possible. We didn't eat out at all, having been several times before and finding we'd rather spend money on activities than meals.
With regard to activities, yes they are expensive (especially if like me you have teens who want to do things like paintballing and horse riding) but fun. For adults I would definitely recommend the Aquasana as a place to unwind.... Some of the cheaper activities including table tennis, badminton, crazy golf... We try to build those in as well as the others. We made a rule that we'd each do something individually plus a family activity of each person's choice. One of the most successful was having a family photoshoot. I can't remember how much it cost but it wasn't extortionate and it was one of those with natural fun poses. We had other activities booked directly afterwards so we avoided the sales pitch and were able to look online when the pictures were ready - and they were fantastic. I did end up buying a disk with the ten best shots and they print very well .
Many of the activities get booked up really quickly so it's a good idea to have some ideas about what people want to do before you arrive, then check prices and plan. The swimming pool gets very busy so go early in the morning or later in the evening (though I've always been there during school hols so you might be lucky).
And hiring (or taking) bikes is almost essential and all part of the fun. Take ribbons or something to mark hired bikes as they all look very similar when you come back to them. Oh yes and take cagoules and wet weather gear.. it's car free and spread out so you could get wet.
You'll have a great time... my kids have loved it since they were toddlers and I do too, though three or four days is plenty.

feclmum · 16 February 2008 at 6:53PM

we take all our own food too usually cook a couple of meals day before to take with us,this time we did eat out once at the pancake house which was yummy.
we have only been in term time and swimming pool is fine then anytime,sometimes have to wait few minutes for a family changing cubicle but thats all,its also worth knowing that you can take your own food drinks bags etc into the swimming pool there are chairs and tables you can leave them on if you didnt want to pay for food which in swimming pool is just fast food rubbish
we have never hired bikes,never felt the need,our children enjoy walking through the forest,playing on the different adventure playgrounds etc

Centre Parcs 4 Night Stay

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