Centre of the universe! - for four days anyway. (Center Parcs)

Member Name: JIL123

Product:	Center Parcs
Date:	05/07/01 (5222 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Safe, Relaxing, Fun

Disadvantages: Insects, Pricey Extras

It was my birthday on Wednesday! 26 and feeling older by the minute!

I had a really special brithday treat this year, my parents agreed to look after Pierce while I went off with four friends to Centre Parcs for a long weekend of complete rest and re-charging! Wow. I haven't left Pierce for more than one night before since he was born, so it was a bit daunting, but I really needed it. Even my most polite friends were telling me how frazzled round the edges I looked!!

So, early Friday morning we set off, all squished into one car because Elvedon Forest didn't look much further than an hour away. Tip #1: Allow for all the other people doing long weekend breaks at Centre Parcs. Journey took two hours. It didn't matter though because we were finally off (the 12 bags of sweets helped too mind). When we finally arrived the first impressive thing is the booking in experience. Having swept through the beautiful forest (which looks so undisturbed you'd never guess there was a holiday village at the centre) you come to a little hut, where they check your name, hand you your keys and direct you to your villa. We had to wait about three minutes!

The next bit was the villa. You can drive to it to unload your bags, then you have to return your car to the carpark and you don't see it again till you leave. We were so taken with our little villa, we kept taking photos! They're really clean, comfortable and cosily decorated. Set right back in amongst the trees, there's a constant stream of wildlife past the patio windows - we adopted a squirrel and two ducks and two pheasants during our stay! The kitchen was modern and full of everything you could need - microwave, cooker, toaster, stereo! There's an open fireplace (we put candles in ours as it was too hot for a fire), and a digital satellite t.v. which you won't have the opportunity to watch! Tip #2 the teletext option on the telly gives you informatio
n on things going on in the parc.

My only complaint was the insects but then if you're in the middle of a forest in summer what can you expect? I got my friend to move a large grey moth outside for me, but she ended up killing it (not intentional but it put up a fight you see?) we were horrified the next day to read in the Parc booklet about the endangered grey carpet moths they are trying to preserve in the forest!! Ooops, I do feel guilty, honest.

The holiday cost us £77 each for a villa that could have held six. If money isn't too much of a problem you could really do almost anything you like at Centre Parcs. They have a huge adult adventure trail, various climbing/absailing options, golf, crazy golf, simulated golf (!), dance classes, archery, fencing, any type of sport you fancy, bowling - green and ten pin - aerobics, horse riding, the list just goes on. If your not sporty you could indulge in the spa, they have male only and female only spas where you can swim naked if you want to. We didn't. Or you could pay for one of about 20 different treatments ranging from basic manicure to Ionitherme massage and wrap! We all really fancied a facial, but the prices start from around £35 and wasn't an option. Instead we took a selection of face masks from Boots, and had our own little salon. Not as beneficial prehaps, but really good fun, and they say laughter is the best tonic, so there!!

Without a doubt the crowning glory of Centre Parcs is the Subtropical Dome. At Elvedon all the shops and most of the restaurants are under the dome, and it really insures your holiday against the British weather! We spent the best part of our four days in the Swimming Paradise, and never got bored of it once. The changing rooms really set the tone of the place - warm, clean and spacious. Once inside you have to choos from the rapids, the flumes, the lazy river, the main pool with the waves, the outdoor salt pool, the little jacuzz
is and whirlpools and the white slide. If you're a bit of a wimp about getting into the water, do what my friend and I did - go down the white slide - it's so fast you don't have time to worry about adjusting, you're in and you're soaked! The whole atmosphere is lovely, there's hundreds of chairs so you can always get a little base area for your party, there's a bar and cafe so you really can stay for hours without any problems. If I had to moan about anything it would be that the staff occasionally leave one of the doors to the outside open. So, just when you're feeling all lovely and subtropical you have to walk past an open door and a blast of British weather wraps itself around your neck!! But the water is so warm, you soon recover!

I need to mention kids, because I know a lot of you have them and Centre Parcs is fantastic for Kids. These four days were meant to be children free, but the friend who was driving had to leave early on the Monday and the rest of us wanted to make the most of the day, so my Dad (having taken the day off to look after Pierce) drove down with my son and they had the day at the Parc with us. This was free because we had a six berth villa (only five girls) and children under four go free anyway! It was such a new experience to just let Pierce go and run where he liked, the forest is so safe and peaceful, there were cyclists but they're all seemed so careful and responsible I just relaxed. He loved the Dome, which has baby pools

("Not going in there Mum, I'm a big boy now, I want to go on that huge blue slide!")

and lots of lifeguards everywhere! And we had time to visit one of the playparks, which are really imaginative and (again) safe! I so enjoyed having him there - it was the perfect end to the holiday really.

Eating is always a big part of every holday for me. And there a re loads of places to eat at Centre Parcs. However we were det
ermined to behave, so we hit the Parc Super market on the Friday and bought what we thought we'd need to eat in at least two evenings out of the three. I was pleasantly surprised with the super market. It had a huge choice - including a bakery with fresh bread and yummy cakes - and wasn't too expensive either. We decided to eat out once and headed off to check out the ultra posh french reloving restaurant. Then we promptly headed back again! £40 each for a four course dinner, and we didn't even recognise what was in it! No we plumped instead for Huckleberrys. This is a Southern American style bar and restaurant with a beautiful relaxed feel to it. They do a Jazz brunch on a Sunday for £13 per person - eat as much as you like - that you have to book in advance for. I have to say, without reserve, it was fantastic. They had every type of food you could want for a breakfast or lunch and you really could eat as much as you liked. I had two savoury platefuls and two sweet platefuls! We were there for two hours and the band played that really mellow kind of Jazz in the background that really chills you out. I would really recommend this.

Other foody recommendations would be the barbecue by the salt pool on Saturday afternoon with a steel band playing, and Crispins pancake house - which has the most mouthwatering collecion of savoury and sweet pancakes you'll ever find (my lovely Dad treated us on Monday!) Don't be fooled by the nougat in the sweet shop though, it's not real nougat, like the one your Granny buys you from the supermarket (while mine still does anyway!) but more like a block of icing! Strictly for suger monsters only!

Speaking of shops, there are several under the dome as well as the supermarket. I would recommed a thorough search of the gift shop because there are some real gems tucked away behind the overpriced rubbish! Avoid the toy shop if you're allowed. It's really over priced, although
again, if you've time to dig there were some really different little things in there. The clothes shop was just very expensive, we spent five minutes in there, laughed heartily at the price tickets and left!

So there you go, I would really recommend Centre Parcs, either for a family or a group of friends. We had a wonderful time and are planning our next trip already. I also got the impression it would make a great winter holiday. The Op has turned out rather long. Hope you're all still awake. I still haven't worked out whether it's better to go into detail and witter on for ages, or keep it concise and risk missing some useful fact! But anyway, go to Centre Parcs you'll love it!!

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