TROPICS IN THE UK................ (Center Parcs)

Member Name: jamespugh

Product:	Center Parcs
Date:	16/01/01 (16529 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good accomidation, Very clean, Good entertainment

Disadvantages: A little costly (Well you get what you pay for), Gets busy in school break time

This would be very close to how I would describe a dream holiday on the continent, which is good because this place is just on our doorstep!

Centre Parcs is the European market leader for short break holidays, operating in the Netherlands, Belgium, Britain, France and Germany. They operate in the best of locations, in luscious forests, to add greatly to the relaxation and enjoyment of their holidays.

The UK has five of the thirteen world-wide holiday parcs, essentially they have the same features, but in a slightly differing setting.

I have personally been to the Centre parcs at Longleat, after being so impressed by it I don’t see that it can be bettered in any country of the world!

The average size of each European Village is about 100 hectares; the sites are combinations of woodland and water, located inland, so there are no brisk winds, with high quality accommodation, individual luxury villas and an extensive range of indoor and outdoor sport and leisure facilities.

The Centre Parcs holiday complexes are split up into a number of different main areas for you to spend your time. I shall explore each one below:

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**THE SUBTROPICAL SWIMMING PARADICE**
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This is the main recreational area of the Center Parcs holiday villages, they are the Subtropical Paradises. These can be best described as very big large dome structures, which can be seen from afar. They are paradise inside, they are heated to a constant temperature of about 25 to 30 degrees Celsius. These large domes have palm trees, cobble stone paths, rope bridges, exotic café’s, you really do think that you are in paradise. But that’s just half of it, for the people who wish to indulge in the subtropical atmosphere and temperature, can take a splash in the pool.

The real fun starts (in the other half of the dome). The &#
8216;WET’ half of the Subtropical Paradise dome has heated pools, Saunas, and a wide variety of log flumes, this pool is the sort that no one will get fed up of. It caters for all ages; an area for toddlers; miniature versions of slides and pools (No so deep). For the ‘young’, but older than the ‘very young’ there is a ‘White water rapids’ which provide fast paced thrills.

The height of the Subtropical Swimming paradise are the ‘White water rapids’, which are for sure, not a good idea for the weak swimmer. The wild water rapids are a long, fast paced sort of river, going from just outside the dome and back in, it takes a good time to complete and the best thing about it is that there isn’t a queue in sight. It’s even better in the dark, as the lights under the water really add to the excitement and atmosphere of the rapids. You will find yourself washed around in circles, stuck in whirlpools, with a constant, massive grin on you face. From my experience of the Wild water rapids is that YOU WILL go down non-stop in the morning and non-stop at night, under the stars, its brilliant it really is!

Adults have the option of ordering food, drink, ice cream etc. from the pool side bars, which you can do in your swimming costumes if you want. I have, in the past found this to be very useful as you will often find yourself getting hungry with all the exercise in the pool. They, very usefully provide deckchairs for you to sit, relax and let everyone get on a do what they want, you will just keep going back and back to this place in paradise!

The areas of the Subtropical Swimming paradise that carry on out side of the dome provide a usual twist; providing something different to the usual swimming pools. The outdoor pool has bubble generators, with underwater seats for you to lounge on outside in the open-air pool. What can be better than sitting in a warm bubbling pools gazing up at
the night sky?

The thrill seekers amongst you will want to try the “Deep Freeze pool” which isn’t freezing but certainly feels like it when you jump into from the heated pool. It’s a real laugh trying to get you mates to jump into it, everyone tip-toes up, dips a toe in and then chickens out, its so funny to watch, but it is really cold!

THE SUBTROPICAL SWIMMING PARADICE; Rating 9/10

WHY?

+ Brilliant pool feature
+ Free entry
+ Very exciting

- Can get a little busy down rapids
- Can get bashed around a bit by others down rapids

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**THE JARDEN DE' SPORTS**
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The ‘Jarden de sports’ area is the sporting area of the Centre parks complex. This is usually a large building containing, Tennis courts, Badminton Courts, Snooker tables, Table Tennis tables, large sporting, squash courts, Televisions with bars for a relaxing drink. All the sporting activities are organised by a computer system in which you can book your activity a day in advance but be warned, BOOK AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE, sporting activities are very popular! You can book at any of the main Centre Parks complexes, Subtropical Swimming Paradise, The Villages etc. You can also hire golf clubs, snooker cues and sailing equipment for the lakes. But keep in mind it all cost s extra to your original payments, they are not included in your entrance fee. (Usually about £3.00 a booking).

THE JARDEN DE' SPORTS Rating = 6/7 out of ten

WHY?

+ Good Sporting area
+ Clean
+ Good condition of apparatus
+ T.V’s, Bars, Plenty to occupy

- Needs more courts etc. to meet demand
- Booking feature needs to be looked at

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**THE VILLAGE AREA**
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This is t
he serious part of the Centre Parks complex, the restaurants and the information centre of the park. This is where you can go for a meal / drink out and participate in mystery night activities etc. There is also a centre to collect extra blankets and amenities for your villa, which can prove very handy, a brilliant addition to their customer relations.

This place is mostly full of classy bars and my favourite of all a pancake restaurant. You have a very nice pancake meal, sweet or savoury, with any toppings of your choice (Chocolate, Maple syrup, even tomato Ketchup if you really want. The food is this ‘One of many restaurant’ is top quality, another part of the park that you will keep going back to.

THE VILLAGE AREA; Rating 8/10

WHY?

+ Good central information site
+ Good food

- Would rather spend time in other areas of the park.

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**THE VILLA’S**
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The place in which you sleep every nigh is the most important. Villa’s can be bought to the size of family’s. Each has very good range of amenities;

Relatvily comfortable beds,
A Fridge ,
An Ovens with a grill
A Microwave,
Sky television,
Bath with shower facilities
Under Floor heating (V.nice)

The villas are of the highest in quality and every time I have been there (four times now) they have been exceptionally clean and tidy, very much like new. The best thing about them is that you only have to look out the window while watching you Sky T.V to see a Squirrel hopping past the pond out side. It’s all so brilliant you really don’t want to leave after you stay.

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**HOW LONG CAN YOU STAY AT CENTRE PARKS?**
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You have the option to stay from Friday to Friday, Mond
ay to Monday or from Friday to Monday, but there are obviously differing costs; the longer you stay the more it will cost you. I do hope that from reading my opinion so far that you have realised that however much you pay, it is really worth it!

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**WHATS THE WIDLIFE LIKE ?**
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A major element of the philosophy of Centre Parcs is the care and development of the environment, which guides and directs every aspect of the company's operations from its selection of new sites, to its day-to-day operating procedures. They put a very large amount of money into the surrounding environment, which is evident from the beauty and diversity of the plant life. This adds a very relaxing element to your stay at Centre Parcs.

Another great addition to the natural environment is the abolishment of cars, on any other day that people are not entering or leaving the site. This is a brilliant as it keeps the park free for walkers and cyclists and keeps the relaxing feel to the park.

WIDLIFE ASPECTS; 9/10

WHY?

+ Forest setting
+ Center Parcs money put into wildlife

- Doesn’t add any more enjoyment to Center Parcs for some people.

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**ARE THERE ANY BAD POINTS TO THE CENTER PARCS COMPLEXES?**
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With the cost of the initial fee, the food costs and the sports costs it can leave you rather empty handed at the end of it especially when the give use such access to on site cash machines.

I would say though that a short break could be very expensive. The basic entrance fee for accommodation and use of the pool is very large in summer, sometimes more than a foreign holiday, but a good deals can be found (about a third of the price holiday can be found in about mid February).

Parts of the Centr
e Parks complex can get very busy, especially my favourite part the ‘Wild Water River Rapids’. If it gets too busy it can be very hard not to crash into people all rushing down the rapids, it might be a good idea to try and go in an off-peak period.

Also I very much found that you did, very annoyingly have to pay a little extra for things. Every sporting activity has to be booked and paid for, every meal and drink was reasonable priced, but you do end up spending as much there as you do paying for the holiday itself.

The bottom line is that yes, the costs are a problem, but to tell you the truth they are all worth it. Your not paying the world for things, your not getting ripped off. Your getting a quality service, it just adds the finishing touch to your holiday.

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***BOOKING***
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Booking a holiday in Center Parcs is extremely easy, and essentially user-friendly. There are two ways in which you can book your holiday in the park.

INTERNET;

Pop along to www.centreparcs.co.uk and click on the “Bookings” button. You can select all your details etc. and a payment method and you will be sent an invoice in the post, which is to be payable within a certain date for the holiday to go ahead.

PHONE;

This is the way in which most will book there holiday because they will feel that they will be actually talking to someone personally. The take all your details, and then sent you an invoice, very much like the internet system.

The phone numbers are;

08705 200 300

Mon-Friday 08:30 - 22:00
Saturday 08:30 - 21:00
Sunday 08:30 - 21:00

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**SUMMARY**
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In my opinion Centre Parcs is the best place you could go for a holiday, it offers plenty to do and
keeps you constantly exited.


As I have said Centre Parcs is a quality, friendly service that makes your holiday that little more special!

I do hope you have gained an insight into what I personally think of Centre Parcs. I have been four times now and will be booking again next year. I hope my experiences have helped you in deciding whether to take a break at "CENTRE PARCS".

Please leave any comment below that may help others or me.

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**UPDATE**
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I recently ordered the latest Centre Parks holiday catalogue and was very impressed with their response. It only took 2 days to come after I requested it on the Centre Parks web-site.

How’s that for customer service!

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***TIPS***
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Order/book well in advance because the park can become fully book very early (as much as 4 months prior). Book especially early if your planning a break durinh a school holiday.

If your a short of money, of find it just too expensive to take a large family, then book a centre parks break in off-peak times. It can be as much a half price then, compared to summer (peak-time) periods)

If you a regular to Centre Parks then make sure you get a loyalty card (Sometimes they need reminding). This will give you priority booking, and money off vouchers on arrival at your next Centre Parks holiday.

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FURTHER REFERENCE;

http://www.centreparks.co.uk
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I hope this information on Centre Parks has aided any reader to find there dream holiday destination.

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