Life at your own pace (Center Parcs)

Member Name: RAPIDO

Product:	Center Parcs
Date:	15/05/01 (466 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Choice, Things to do, Service

Disadvantages: Only 3 sites in UK, 10am checkout, Some activities expensive

My wife and I have just returned from a weekend break at Elveden Forest in Suffolk. We first went to Center Parcs at Longleat almost exactly three years ago and just enjoyed the feeling of freedom that you get to do things at your own pace. Since then we've had a daughter but we're so selfish that we left her with the grandparents so we could unwind ourselves!

It has to be said that Center Parcs are really aimed at families with children between about 4 and 12 (my opinion only) and I would think that a visit works best if you go as a group so the kids can just do their own thing together.
The big plus for Center Parcs in my opinion is the lack of cars. They are excluded from the site after unloading and only allowed back in when you pack up to go home. This means that children can play (relatively) safely almost anywhere they like without parents having to be worried about them being run down by a lunatic. However, you still have to watch out for other lunatic children on bikes as any concept of roadsense goes out of their heads when they realise that there are no cars around. For adults the big plus is no chance of drinking and driving (I didn't see anyone being breathalysed for being drunk and dangerous in charge of a push bike) and have to put some effort into getting around.

Whether you participate in the activities is up to you (and, presumably, your resistance to pester powe if you take kids along) but no-one forces you to do anything and you can spend the whole day in the swimming pool if you want. It has to be said that the activities aren't cheap, especially for a complete family, but I think that they probably offer reasonable value for money. For many people it may be their only chance to try archery or sailing and it has to be looked at in that context. You don't have to buy or rent any equipment and if you decide you don't like it then you can put it down to experience.

A lot of people seem to have
formed the impression that Center Parcs is very expensive. Personally I think that you get what you pay for and probably the best idea is to make sure that you budget accordingly before you go. If you have a villa then you can have every meal there and it won't cost you any more than being at home. If you want to eat out then you can and although the prices are (in my estimation) about 10% - 15% higher than the high street, they're not extortionate. The great thing is that you have the choice which is why I think Center Parcs is a better alternative than a hotel with an add on leisure bit.

It'll probably be at least another couple of years before we go again and we'll take our daughter with us then. I'm sure that will make it a very different type of break but I'm sure that she will love it.

As a final point, both times we have been in May we have had fabulous weather so I have no idea what it's like in the rain!

Summary: