centre parcs a bit nondescript (Center Parcs)

Member Name: nickp1234

Product:	Center Parcs
Date:	08/07/03 (2477 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: quiet

Disadvantages: expensive, remote location, boring

I have been to two different Center Parcs, three times to Elveden Forest and once to Longleat.

My experiences are fairly mixed, and to be fair, it is unlikely that I will bother to go back.

Checking in is chaotic, with all the hallmarks of a holiday camp - everyone arrives at the same time. You have to have a bike, as cars are not allowed (save for disabled people). This of course entails extra cost - as just about everything does in the place.

The individual "cabins" are dotted around all over the place, and there is generally good privacy. They are concrete prefab type structures (no, I'm not that old, I have seen them on tv) and have all the charm of a Peckham council estate, albeit surrounded by lovely woodland.

You quickly discover that very little is actually included in the very high price charged, swimming and access to their very limited and incredibly expensive shops is about all. The pool facilities are excellent, and that is after all what you are paying for. The other facilities are pretty fair but extortionate. OK, we'll all pay a couple of pounds for Starbucks coffee once in a while, but it feels like living in a motorway service station - both in terms of quality and price.

The chalets are well equipped, most comfortable and extremely cosy. It was fun going around on a bike, and the absence of noisy youths made it quite a relaxing experience. For my money the quietness was perhaps the best thing. Longleat is extremely hilly, and you are too exhausted to do anything with all that cycling.

A word of warning to people. Check your bike out thoroughly before you use it. Out of the 5 of us, 2 bikes broke down. One of them crumpled under me and very nearly cost me my ankle and ruined our last stay there. To be fair the management refunded the cost, but now I have qualified, I would take them to court rather than let them get away with it.

Overall a very very expensive middle
class family version of Butlins. Fine for a long weekend, but quite boring for any longer. Incredibly expensive in terms of extras, with bowling for 5 of us entailing a 2 day wait and a cost of over £60! I shall not be returning, as it worked out as costly to spend 5 days there as to fly to Florida and to rent a villa and car for 2 weeks.

Summary: