Center Parcs, a holiday for the whole family (Center Parcs)

Member Name: awizzbang

Product:	Center Parcs
Date:	08/06/01 (311 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good for the whole family

Disadvantages: expensive in school holidays

Want a relaxing/exciting/energetic/different holiday for the whole family? Well Center Parcs can be all of these. We started going when our children were babies and are still going now, twelve years later. Clearly our needs have changed over time but always Center Parcs has been able to provide what we need.
We have been to two of the three sites in England, those at Elveden (nr Cambridge) and Sherwood near Nottingham. Each offers differnt things, Elveden is flater and the facilities are located all together, much better for families with young children, Sherwood is more open, probably better for Summer Visits. I understand that the one near Bath is more spectacular but also hillier.
From the outside the accomodation looks tatty but inside you will find most things you need and you have a reasonable amount of privacy.
We always have to go in school holidays, and it can be quite crowded, you will also need to book at least 6 months in advance.
Take as much as you can with you, especially sports equipment if you use it. I would also recomend taking your own bikes, but don't forget your locks, they do get stolen.
If you go on a mid week break Mon-Fri, get there as early as you can on the Monday and stay as late as you can on the Friday, that way you make it into a really long break.
If you try and book school holidays or find it too expensive at that timetry booking one of the Center Parcs on the continent, we are going to one in Holland this October. It has all the normal facilities plus an indoor ski slope (like the snowdome) and it is cheaper than England.
If anything goes wrong complain, we have found they are usually willing to help and often offer compensation in the form of vouc

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