The Superior Dome (Center Parcs)

Member Name: claretel

Product:	Center Parcs
Date:	16/09/03 (1939 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great for all ages, relaxing, fun

Disadvantages: expensive

I have been to three Center Parcs ? Sherwood Forest, Elveden Forest and Longleat.
I can barely remember Sherwood Forest, so my comments are really based on several stays at the other two.

As a bluffers guide to Center Parcs, you need to know that you go everywhere around the Parc Village by bike or on foot, the dome is at the centre of the action and contains the swimming pool (sorry, ahem, subtropical swimming paradise) and you had better like pine trees.

Accommodation is in villas (do not call them chalets ? the man on the barrier was less than impressed saying something along the lines of ?This is not Butlins, you know!?). Although breeze blocks are a somewhat unorthodox style for luxury apartments, the interior of the villas is very nice. There is an open-plan kitchen, bath with Jacuzzi in most villas, satellite tv and a patio area. You can also stay in the apartment blocks, although I have never done so. They are clean, have most of the essentials (cot, high chair, all the necessary kitchen bits for self-catering).

Longleat is huge and undulating. If you find it difficult getting around but are not disabled, I would recommend Elveden or Sherwood Forest. You need to be quite fit to get around Longleat, especially up and down the wooden walkways to the sports centre. It is pretty but was a struggle with a babe in arms and less than a full night?s sleep!

You can relax and get involved in lots of sports, even if you have never tried them before. There are boating lakes for canoeing, windsurfing, and pedaloes. There is golf, riding and clay pigeon shooting if want to live it up a little. Various racquet sports are available and plenty for the kids too including bowling, and crazy golf. If you want to unwind, you can be pampered, try the sauna or sun beds. The most notable feature of a Center Parcs holiday has got to be that pool. There are wild water rapids (for strong swimmers only), a large pool with wave machine, slides,
children?s pools, bars and lots of rocks and palm trees to create the whole effect. It is worth a day trip just for the pool.

You can hire bikes and may need to because cars are only allowed in for the disabled and on arrival and departure days. You can, of course, bring your own too. Dogs are welcome and there are dog toilets to keep the village clean. There are plenty of bars and restaurants on-site and a supermarket so you will probably never venture outside the village during your stay. A word of caution though ? the prices in the shops and restaurants do reflect having a captive audience so make sure to bring plenty of spending money. There are usually discos, jazz bands, fondue nights and other activities organised during the week. The TV tells you what is going on.

The atmosphere is really pleasant, the staff are friendly and professional and the other guests seem much more relaxed and likeable on a Center Parcs holiday than you may find elsewhere. To date, I have been to Center Parcs five times and would go again in a flash. It is quite expensive unless you get a large group of adults to share a villa, however it is ideal for families and for people with dogs. That said, couples, adolescents and adult groups would enjoy it just as much. It is the ideal solution for families with kids are too young to travel alone but at that awkward age where the old folks are an embarrassment. The lack of cars help to relax parents with young children too.

Summary: