The Center Parcs Experience - Great or Rubbish?

JupiterKid

For the past 25 years or so, there have been a number of family oriented resorts in the UK aimed at the “middle class” market, called Center Parcs. They are basically the Butlins of the 21st century with huge enclosed tropical swimming pools and water slides, lots of outdoorsy activities like tennis, walks through the wooded areas, cycling, and other sports activities. Chalets and self-catering holiday homes provide the accommodation. There is also entertainment in the evenings for adults and children alike.

They are usually located within an hours’ drive of major urban areas but in a forest setting to give them an air of seclusion. The closest thing we would have to them in Ireland would be Trabolgan in Cork but it dates from the 1980s and is on a much, much smaller scale.

But not all is lost - Ireland is getting its first Center Parcs resort in none other than Longford, near Ballymahon, due to open next year.

Have you been to a Center Parcs resort? I’ve heard they are very expensive. Are they worth it?

McMurphy

All these places would be grand if you had them to yourself for the week/weekend or whatever.

It's the sharing with others that puts the dampers on things.

Ubbquittious

Who in the feck needs to hand out 1000s to some megacorp to do outdoorsy things just prop up a tent near a few mountains and a lake and away you go. People need so much handholding these days to do anything

I heard about them, they do sound like fun. will be interested in the longford one prices depending

JupiterKid

A typical enclosed water themed area in a Center Parcs resort... EDIT - can't seem to put it up - can anyone help out?



Link to their website. All over Europe now apparently...
https://m.centerparcs.com

IMO they do look appealing but are really aimed at families.

mad muffin

Their website is an abomination…

Signore Fancy Pants

Bring back Mosney.

McMurphy

JupiterKid wrote: »

A typical enclosed water themed area in a Center Parcs resort... EDIT - can't seem to put it up - can anyone help out?



Link to their website. All over Europe now apparently...
https://m.centerparcs.com

IMO they do look appealing but are really aimed at families.

The Longford locals will be shocked when they hear they are now in "Great Britain".

Edward M

Johnny Dogs wrote: »

The Longford locals will be shocked when they hear they are now in "Great Britain".

I'd say they will be delighted and hope this will benefit the county's tourism industry.
The least visited county, tourism is virtually non existent.
Living next door, just across the Cavan border, I'd say that but for fishing up to now there was feck all else bringing in tourists, apart from coming to meet family connections.
https://m.independent.ie/life/travel/travel-news/revealed-the-irish-counties-most-and-least-visited-by-tourists-37236244.html

Icsics

Very very expensive & once u get there everything u'll want to do is extra!

_Brian

Know a few people who have been to the parks in the U.K. and enjoyed them. They are expensive though.

It’s all horses for courses I suppose, some people will love having everything on one site others hate the notion of being corralled in, the feedback I got was they try and provide everything to dissuade you leaving to spend money outside the site.

That sort of tropical pool setting will appeal here in Ireland but it depends on the numbers of punters there.

It’s a great jobs boon to Longford, fair play to whomever was involved in landing the deal.

Edward M

_Brian wrote: »

Know a few people who have been to the parks in the U.K. and enjoyed them. They are expensive though.

It’s all horses for courses I suppose, some people will love having everything on one site others hate the notion of being corralled in, the feedback I got was they try and provide everything to dissuade you leaving to spend money outside the site.

That sort of tropical pool setting will appeal here in Ireland but it depends on the numbers of punters there.

It’s a great jobs boon to Longford, fair play to whomever was involved in landing the deal.

From what I remember, Longford wasnt the first choice, they were turned down for planning in Wicklow I think, its an ill wind I suppose.

Sky King

Was in one when I was a kid and i absolutely loved it.

They are basically the Butlins of the 21st century

This was about 1993

SEPT 23 1989

Did I hear they want 2k to stay in Longford for a week?

miezekatze

I was in one in Holland in the early-mid nineties. It was expensive from what I remember, but my brother and I loved it at the time! Great pools, lots of activities, etc. It's nothing like a camping holiday (which I for one wouldn't enjoy), you have your own little house on the grounds and can make your own meals etc, and if you want to do any of the activities, go for a meal etc you go to the central plaza thing whenever it suits you. The Dutch one we went to was kind of in the middle of nowhere so we had to buy most of our supplies in the overpriced shop on site, if you go to one of these places you'd be better off bringing lots of supplies with you.

I probably wouldn't go as a couple though, but if you have kids it's nice.

Went to one as a work outing many moons ago. Was great craic.

Feisar

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Did I hear they want 2k to stay in Longford for a week?

Do we have the population for something like this?

1K would get the pair of us a week in Sorrento (that was just a quick google).

Willl yer average spud picker want to go to Longford on hols?

Feisar

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Did I hear they want 2k to stay in Longford for a week?

Do we have the population for something like this?

1K would get the pair of us a week in Sorrento (that was just a quick google).

Will yer average spud picker want to go to Longford on hols?

Badly Drunk Boy

Sky King wrote: »

Was in one when I was a kid and i absolutely loved it.



This was about 1993

The first UK park was opened in 1987, but they've been in The Netherlands since the early 70s. The first UK park was the 10th one opened. They were in Germany and Belgium before 1987 too.

razorblunt

A few lads in work (I'm in the UK) have been and they've always said it's enjoyable but very expensive.
You could obviously rent a cottage for a week and do similar stuff, but I'd imagine even then you'd probably be forking out close to the same.

Trigger Happy

We have been about a dozen times over the past decade and it works for us. With family in various parts of the Uk and kids it’s handy for getogethers etc.
It is expensive enough but you would never be bored there.
My only gripe is that the one we go to no longer does clay pidgeon shooting.

murpho999

Ubbquittious wrote: »

Who in the feck needs to hand out 1000s to some megacorp to do outdoorsy things just prop up a tent near a few mountains and a lake and away you go. People need so much handholding these days to do anything

Why would choosing to stay in a resort with proper accommodation, some food and facilities on site be referred to as handholding and the only alternative is roughing it in a field and sh1tting on grass.

You can't go through life avoiding these "megacorps".

Quazzie

Feisar wrote: »

Do we have the population for something like this?

1K would get the pair of us a week in Sorrento (that was just a quick google).

Will yer average spud picker want to go to Longford on hols?

You'd be surprised how many people hate leaving the country. Personally the one in Ballymahon is about an hour or so from my house, so if I could go there and feel like I was abroad due to the facilities, it'd make more sense than losing a day in an airport.

Financially tho it'll make more sense to go abroad, plus I like to get away from the campsite for most of my holidays. Many don't tho and are happy to spend all their time (and money) on site, so that's where Ballymahon will suit them.

murpho999

Feisar wrote: »

Do we have the population for something like this?

1K would get the pair of us a week in Sorrento (that was just a quick google).

Will yer average spud picker want to go to Longford on hols?

Of course we do. There is over 6 million people on the island so it's well able to support one place like this. Smaller countries have them.

Nermal

Middle class people don't go to Center Parcs. The middle class are not the middle of the income distribution. They're the top 10%.

Feisar

Quazzie wrote: »

You'd be surprised how many people hate leaving the country. Personally the one in Ballymahon is about an hour or so from my house, so if I could go there and feel like I was abroad due to the facilities, it'd make more sense than losing a day in an airport.

Financially tho it'll make more sense to go abroad, plus I like to get away from the campsite for most of my holidays. Many don't tho and are happy to spend all their time (and money) on site, so that's where Ballymahon will suit them.

I hear ya, sure getting my Dad on a plane is a mission! I brought him to the UK recently for a funeral. You'd swear it was Mars we were heading to.

Shenshen

We used to go to one in the Netherlands a few times back in the 1990s - it was quite nice, I thought. We had self-catering accommodation, and the kitchen had all the necessary equipment and then some. There was lots of activities outdoors, but if the weather turned there was also plenty indoors, including the really nice pool areas. I was in my teens and loved those water slides.
There were a good few restaurants on site, offering quite a nice choice of meals out when we didn't want to cook, and at quite reasonable prices.

Einhoven wasn't far away, so we went a few times. I remember that I bought one of my first English language books in a second had bookshop there - a collection of Sherlock Holmes stories. I still have that, actually.
So yes, quite fond memories.

Shenshen

Feisar wrote: »

Do we have the population for something like this?

1K would get the pair of us a week in Sorrento (that was just a quick google).

Willl yer average spud picker want to go to Longford on hols?

I always thought their target market was young families, though?
At the time we would have gone, my mom had to make each penny last, she was raising the three of us on her single income as a nurse. I don't know how much it cost then, but she would certainly have done a lot of comparing before deciding to go there.

mcgovern

I've been to a few of the ones in UK, mostly as a kid but did go back last year.
They are great, but as others have said, quite expensive.
There are lots of facilities on the grounds, tropical swimming pool, restaurants, spa, shops, supermarket etc. I think one even has a cinema.
They are in mature wooded areas with a lot of wildlife. Ducks will wander into your house, squirrels too if you fed them. There are all sorts of other wildlife around like hawks, moles etc.
Cars are only allowed in at certain hours (when you are arriving and leaving) so generally it is very calm and relaxed.

meep

Been to two different ones in the UK over the past 10 years. Both kids would have been under or around 10 at the time.

They were both excellent holidays.

One of the really attractive features is the 'no car' policy. It's a very safe environment and hiring bicycles is a great way of getting around.

The swimming facilities are excellent, and free, from what I recall. Though everything else costs money. There are more activities on than you can shake a stick at, both indoor and outdoor. Adventure or water based. Certainly something for everyone. Though as others have said, it can get expensive but once you know what you're getting into, it's very manageable.

There's a decent selection of eateries on site, though these can get very busy. (The Pancake diner is a revelation). The chalets are of course self-catering and there's a supermarket on site so that's an option. Most people do a big shop in the local Tesco or Sainsburys on the way in and just top up from the on-site shop as needed.

Everything is very clean and feels very, very safe.We went for a basic 2-bedroom chalet each time and it was more than sufficient. You can rack up to more luxury accomodation if you want. Staff are really helpful and manage that great trick of staying invisible, unless you need them. We had a faulty fire alarm in our accomdation one year and the maintenance crew were amazingly responsive, helpful and discrete.

We didn't really parttake in any evening 'entertainment' as we were happy to amuse ourselves with board games and the like. The TV has an external channel showing your back garden and the kids loved wacthing that for a chance to see the wildlife - when they weren't outside nature-watching.

The whole thing is very self-contained,. There's no reason to leave but if you do want to go out for a days shopping or sighghtseeing or whatever, there are no problems leaving and coming back. There's tons of car-parking so that's not an issue.

Overall, we found it to be an excellent holiday. Our kids are older now and I don't think they'd enjoy it so much (or would be a LOT more demanding on packing their day with expensive activities). The whole place is very well organised. They do hit you with 'book next year now' pretty much as soon as you leave and I think you can get a good deal booking like that. Personally, we wouldn't have done it year on year but a few trips with the kids the right age a few years apart were some of the most memorable holidays we had. I would advise that people would probably benefit more with kids who are a little older, from 6 or 7 up I'd say. (I wouldn't like to be hefing push-chairs around the place, for example)

Ubbquittious

murpho999 wrote: »

Why would choosing to stay in a resort with proper accommodation, some food and facilities on site be referred to as handholding and the only alternative is roughing it in a field and sh1tting on grass.

You can't go through life avoiding these "megacorps".

I have avoided these until now and haven't had any bother. Really don't see the appeal at all

steirishrover

Just checked the prices there .. €1200 for 27th til 30th December next year for 2 adults and 3 kids under 6 years old.

I'll pass. I'd get a week away in Lanzarote for them prices

Also checked for Easter and it's dearer again.

I'll pass again I'll get a week again in Spain for that price. We also go to haven in Wales and every Easter and it's only €690 with boat, car and accommodation for a week