| Product: |
Center Parcs |
| Date: |
12/08/08 (349 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: -
Disadvantages: -
On arrival at Center Parcs we unloaded everything at the Chalet and left our car in the central car park. Here the car would stay until it was time to depart. This is great, a chance to holiday without driving everywhere. Better still it makes it a safe place to cycle around. When you arrive you get a book which includes a plan of the site and how to get the most out of your stay. It includes a daily planner as you will need to be quick and efficient if you want to play some sports at peak time.
The first tip would be to take your own bikes - as we did - as hiring them can be expensive. Make sure if you are taking them on the back of your car that you have your number plate, lights and indicators visible. Just how many cars do you see where the owner has just put a bike rack and the bikes on the back without any regard for lights or indicators. The other attraction is to be able to walk with everything you need within a reasonable walking distance.
It was winter when we went to Sherwood but the chalet was warm enough. It was reasonably spacious for a young family and had satellite TV and anopen fire. It also had a barbecue but it was too cold for that. I would imagine at other times of the year there would be a bit more wildlife about but it was too snowy for that. Another drawback was that the heavy snow had closed a lot of the outdoor attractions. This had 2 effects one that you were not able to do them and also that the indoor attractions got busy. In fact for busy, read almost impossible to book.
The subtropical swimming complex got very busy and I must question the subtropical bit here. They must know some pretty luke warm tropics. The floor was heated but I felt another 5 degrees on the water temperature would have been nice. It also has some great Wild water Rapids which I could have enjoyed all day and there is also a spa within the same complex. You can also try Archery, Badminton, Squash, Golf Driving Range, Bowls, Pool, Tennis, Ten Pin Bowling, the lot.
As well as eating in your chalet you can try one of the many restaurants. Food quality was a bit iffy for the price. Huckleberrys is an American themed diner including Fajitas, Steaks etc. Then there is a trattoria with Pasta dishes and pizza and Le Caprice which pretends to be an up market restaurant which welcomes 'well behaved children'. If you have kids stick to Huckleberrys which has an excellent play area which is supervised and also has close circuit TV's should you wish to eat in peace while watching the kids.
Of the 3 Center Parcs locations in the UK we visited the Sherwood Forest complex near Nottingham. The facilities make it an excellent place to enjoy a weekend break. I would have to say a 3 or 4 day break is enough though. It does get tiring if you are in a sedentary job all year and you suddenly do a years exercise in 3 days. Its not cheap and it has the atmosphere of 'middle class England' at play. Its full of over-parenting dads who hardly see their kids for 11 months of the year and over-enthusiastic mums charging about and exhausting themselves. Bit like us really.
Summary: -
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