Am using ciao more for consumer purposes only now. I still sign in and read ops and may occasionally...
Am using ciao more for consumer purposes only now. I still sign in and read ops and may occasionally write one for the database, but no longer consider myself part of the community. Timmy/Mike.
Member since:28.04.2001
Reviews:55
Members who trust:124
Center Parcs is regarded by most customers as one of the best family holiday places around, and certainly one of the more original (although it has been around in the UK for 20 years now, and was in Holland for many years before that)! The key element of the holiday village is that it is good for most ages and most types of people; the break can be as active or as peaceful as you like.
There are three Center Parcs in the UK, at Sherwood in Nottinghamshire, Elveden in Cambridgeshire (I think, around about there at any rate) and Longleat in Somerset (again I think). At all three locations the surroundings are fantastic, each ‘village’
is set in attractive woodland and comprises of several hundred villas (for 2,3,4,5 or 6 people) in which you can stay for a weekend, a week, 10 days, two weeks etc. but you must start and end your stay on a Monday or a Friday. This is because for the rest of the week the village ia car free and you must get around on foot or more popularly on bikes.
The majority of shops and facilities are located in a central plaza (which is indoors at Elveden and Longleat). The central attraction is the ‘Subtropical Swimming Paradise’, a fantastic pool which you can go in or lounge aroun all day. It is inside a massive transparent dome and the temperature inside really is subtropical (indeed there are many subtropical plants that make it very attractive). As well as a large main pool area with frequent waves) there is an outdoor pool, a fantastic baby pool (with miniture but not bog-standard slides that toddlers love), two normal waterslides, some steep, short slides, the jungle/wild water rapids (downhill rapids starting outside- they are fantastic fun), an indoor ‘lazy river’, a salt pool (Elveden only), jacuzzis, sunbeds, sunloungers, a pool bar/café etc.
However there are many other attractions; Center Parcs is particularly good at offering a large range of sports, including clay-pigeon shooting, archery, horse-riding, sailing, caneoing, windsurfing, golf, tennis, short-tennis, teble tennis, badminton, snooker, ten-pin bowling, football, basketball and many others. It is good fun just to have a sociable knock about with friends and family but for most sports there are competitions if you are keen or just want to play somebody else for a change.
If you fancy a more peaceful time sampling gastronomic delights or shopping then you are catered for too. The ‘Country Club’ in the middle of the forest provides good food in comfort and with fantastic views while also providing a play area for the kids (both indoor and outdoor). Back in the plaza there is an Italian, an American, a smarter looking restaurant, a tasty café, a fast-food joint and a pancake house (which is especially good), although sadly no Chinese, Indian or Mexican. The Parcmarket provides food and other necessities for the villa while there is a sports shop and a souvenir shop, but they are not particularly great or cheap. Of course you are not locked in Center Parcs for the duration of your stay; you can take your car from the car park and go whever you choose, but remember that you cannot take your car to your villa except when you arrive or leave. There are also plenty of trails through the woodland should you desire a peaceful scenic walk. There are also many events throughout the week, such as a treasure hunts or medieval banquets that are of interest to some and can be good value for money.
I have been to each of the UK Center Parcs at last three times and believe that they are excellent for most ages; families with young children are especially well catered for with small size ‘lifejackets’ for wear in the sub-tropical swimming paradise, small trolleys for children to push in the parcmarket and lots of adventure playgrounds etc. Unfortunately I have to say that although still good it is not as good as it used to be; sadly there plaza and sub-tropical swimming paradise are no longer as clean and tidy as they used to be and the service at the pool bar and fast-food place is terrible. There are also a few silly rules such as some of the restaurants do not take bookings of under ten people, but all in all it is a good value holiday for just about everyone (teenagers wanting a ‘laugh’ with their mates excluded, there are certainly no pubs!), despite poor service and poor cleanliness in places.
All I can say is have fun. For more information or to order a brochure visit www.centerparcs.com. Two adults and two children (under 14 years) staying for a week in late July in a two-bedroom villa costs £826, pretty reasonable really!
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A really thorough review which makes me want to go there myself!
cool_bob 16.06.2001 00:14
Another great op. Ive been to centreparcs twice and i agree with your opinion. It is definitely more family orientated. The only bad thing i found with it was that there was nothing to do at night! (no, im not gonna gatecrash the under 12's disco :p) - **cool_bob**
stinky2 05.06.2001 20:26
Great op just one small point though . Longleat is in Wiltshire and Elvedon is in Suffolk near Thetford.
I think Longleat is terrific. I have to use a wheelchair now and then and it is perfectly designed. Also the staff were extremely helpful. Just a shame it is a bit on the pricey side.
BW Andrea
NH Hotels, the hotel chain leader in Europe, with more than 300 hotels in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. Enter into our web site and find the best available tariff at all times
Advantages: Great family holiday, perfect for kids, lovely natural setting, plenty to do Disadvantages: Lodges can be shabby, you will wear yourself out with all the activity!
fallen121 20.03.2006 (20.03.2006)
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