The Center Parcs Experience

Supertoucher

Monokne wrote: »

The onus definitely isn't on you to clean up that type of thing. I have stayed in Center Parcs a number of times and while I make an effort to leave the place presentable - as it sounds you did - it still needs cleaning & I've never had anyone moan at me. Perhaps she was just having a bad day!

That's the strange thing - she was very pleasant aside from this and worked around us, very chatty and asking about our kids, then just saw the grill and said "Oh can you not do this in the future, it makes it very difficult for me etc. etc.". It was like a pretty decent way to be given out to but still a bit odd nonetheless! She wasn't rude at all - if she was we would have given as good as we got for sure!

fits

I honestly don't know how they turn around all the accommodation in 5 hours. The cleaning staff must be under huge pressure. Our accommodation was spotless on arrival. If Id had a chance I would have cleaned up more before leaving (ie empty the dishwasher, strip the beds, and hoover) but not always possible with my two.

Cyrus

fits wrote: »

I honestly don't know how they turn around all the accommodation in 5 hours. The cleaning staff must be under huge pressure. Our accommodation was spotless on arrival. If Id had a chance I would have cleaned up more before leaving (ie empty the dishwasher, strip the beds, and hoover) but not always possible with my two.

to be fair, while its decent to help the cost of readying the accommodation is built in to what you paid.

fits

Cyrus wrote: »

to be fair, while its decent to help the cost of readying the accommodation is built in to what you paid.

Well they do ask that you leave the accommodation in a clean and tidy condition. I also worked as a hotel cleaner for a time and its bl00dy hard and for poor pay so Ill do my bit to help where I can.

Edgware

dazed+confused wrote: »

Yep, people knocking things either because it's not to their personal taste or they can't afford to do it themselves.

Losers.

touts

dazed+confused wrote: »

Yep, people knocking things either because it's not to their personal taste or they can't afford to do it themselves.

Well I suspect that's the main thing. Too many people in Ireland are militant socialists against the things they can't afford and hardline capitalists for the things they can.

fits

We were there last weekend with our 2 year old twins - one of whom has special needs.
We stayed in a 2 bedroom woodland lodge and it was spotless and had everything we needed. The twin beds are quite high off the ground and it wasnt possible to push them against the wall so we pushed them together to make a large double with bed rails on either side. We brought our own bed rails.
We also brought our own bikes and trailer and were glad to have them. The only thing was we could have done with the attachment to convert our trailer to a buggy (halfords trailer) so that is the only thing I would change.

Both boys loved the pool and we spent a lot of time there. They also did the pony riding which was a 15 minute walk around. I visited the spa, which was really lovely. We had dinner out on Saturday night in Bella Italia (68 euro for the four of us including beer) and the Pancake house before we left yesterday. Service was prompt in both places. The kitchen was well equipped for self-catering.

We had a great weekend and will go again in 18 months-2 years time. Might even try the winter wonderland next year.

One thing I will say though is, there are lots of comments here about groups of adults going on lads/girls weekends away. I personally wouldnt see it as suitable for that type of holiday. In my opinion, its really for families with children under the age of 12.

theteal

Just back home after a really good week. Not perfect but very enjoyable. I won't go into a big yarn just a few quick good/bad points.

Good:

-The place is lovely. Granted everything is new but it looks to be of a high standard all around. It'll look even nicer when the trees and grass are given a good Spring to grow out.
-We had a 3 bed ex cabin which was spotless and nicely isolated on one side by a small stream. TVs in each room and a bubble bath thingy - not one of the bedroom TVs was turned on and we were all too busy to care about messing with the bath. A standard lodge will do the job next time (unless going full on games room lodge).
-Pool is smaller than expected but really good. Our 2yr old loved it. Plenty of little slides she was able to handle herself. Also enough for us big kids to enjoy. The biggest slide needs a minimum of 2 people, don't let this put you off if alone, just wait at the top and bunk on with others who haven't the full complement of 4 - also go backwards on your first go, trust me. The outdoor pool is a pleasure, so warm. The whitewater bit can be avoided, it's a bit pointless, you end up walking most of it as the current isn't strong enough.
-Aerial adventure was very enjoyable. The safety harness takes all the fear out of it. Just go for it, I wish I had a camera with me.
-We didn't plan on getting bikes but glad we did in the end. Great time saver and the little one loved sitting on the back shouting at me to "go faster Daddy!"
-We ate out in the Indian (Experience I think), it was nearly as nice as our favourite place over here, I've never been able to say that a lot about Indian places in Ireland.

-I'll leave a big mention for the staff. From restaurants to bar staff to the adventure guys, bike centre and the cleaners, every single one of them I met was more than happy to help and full of chat. Even the life guard who gave out to me for going down one of the kiddy slides. . .


Bad:

-I've seen mention about restaurant prices being reasonable in previous posts and maybe they are but as a visitor from England we found it very very expensive (exchange rate not helping there!). €15 for a cheese and bacon burger in the sports bar stood out - I'd expect closer to a tenner.
-Also on a food note, I just don't get the pancake place. Is it desert for lunch you're supposed to be getting? We ended up here quite a few times as some of out party liked it. It wasn't cheap either, €11ish for a small stack of flower and eggs with a bit of whipped cream on top.
-As always, it's mainly down to people. There are 6 "normal" sized pool tables in the sports bar (plus a few larger one up the far end), the place has been open no time and 2 of these are ripped already.
-One of the days on the way out of swimming, we found ourselves in a cubicle that was a bit of a state. A bunch of clothes tags strewn on the floor along with some other rubbish. There's a bin in every cubicle!
-Were the kids not supposed to be back in school last week? There were lots of them about and weirdly still up running around the sports bar at 10pm (well, on the two nights we popped in at least).

For all the rave reviews about the excellent quality, this very much brought it home that it's just another camp site tbh.

Also in absolutely no way is this place suited to older groups on the session. If you don't have kids (up to say 15ish) or a dog in your party, it's not really aimed at you. It's an early start, early to bed kind of place.

Plumbthedepths

theteal wrote: »

Just back home after a really good week. Not perfect but very enjoyable. I won't go into a big yarn just a few quick good/bad points.

Good:

-The place is lovely. Granted everything is new but it looks to be of a high standard all around. It'll look even nicer when the trees and grass are given a good Spring to grow out.
-We had a 3 bed ex cabin which was spotless and nicely isolated on one side by a small stream. TVs in each room and a bubble bath thingy - not one of the bedroom TVs was turned on and we were all too busy to care about messing with the bath. A standard lodge will do the job next time (unless going full on games room lodge).
-Pool is smaller than expected but really good. Our 2yr old loved it. Plenty of little slides she was able to handle herself. Also enough for us big kids to enjoy. The biggest slide needs a minimum of 2 people, don't let this put you off if alone, just wait at the top and bunk on with others who haven't the full complement of 4 - also go backwards on your first go, trust me. The outdoor pool is a pleasure, so warm. The whitewater bit can be avoided, it's a bit pointless, you end up walking most of it as the current isn't strong enough.
-Aerial adventure was very enjoyable. The safety harness takes all the fear out of it. Just go for it, I wish I had a camera with me.
-We didn't plan on getting bikes but glad we did in the end. Great time saver and the little one loved sitting on the back shouting at me to "go faster Daddy!"
-We ate out in the Indian (Experience I think), it was nearly as nice as our favourite place over here, I've never been able to say that a lot about Indian places in Ireland.

-I'll leave a big mention for the staff. From restaurants to bar staff to the adventure guys, bike centre and the cleaners, every single one of them I met was more than happy to help and full of chat. Even the life guard who gave out to me for going down one of the kiddy slides. . .


Bad:

-I've seen mention about restaurant prices being reasonable in previous posts and maybe they are but as a visitor from England we found it very very expensive (exchange rate not helping there!). €15 for a cheese and bacon burger in the sports bar stood out - I'd expect closer to a tenner.
-Also on a food note, I just don't get the pancake place. Is it desert for lunch you're supposed to be getting? We ended up here quite a few times as some of out party liked it. It wasn't cheap either, €11ish for a small stack of flower and eggs with a bit of whipped cream on top.
-As always, it's mainly down to people. There are 6 "normal" sized pool tables in the sports bar (plus a few larger one up the far end), the place has been open no time and 2 of these are ripped already.
-One of the days on the way out of swimming, we found ourselves in a cubicle that was a bit of a state. A bunch of clothes tags strewn on the floor along with some other rubbish. There's a bin in every cubicle!
-Were the kids not supposed to be back in school last week? There were lots of them about and weirdly still up running around the sports bar at 10pm (well, on the two nights we popped in at least).

For all the rave reviews about the excellent quality, this very much brought it home that it's just another camp site tbh.

Also in absolutely no way is this place suited to older groups on the session. If you don't have kids (up to say 15ish) or a dog in your party, it's not really aimed at you. It's an early start, early to bed kind of place.

Nice to see the bad being mentioned with the good. No place can be as good as the gushing reviews particularly as it's only opened and will experience 'teething problems'.

Monokne

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

Nice to see the bad being mentioned with the good. No place can be as good as the gushing reviews particularly as it's only opened and will experience 'teething problems'.

Surely it's down to individual perception?

If you're used to Dublin prices, have kids of your own, and don't play pool then all the 'bad' in the above wouldn't be 'bad' in your eyes. Or if you do 'get' the pancake place.

theteal

Monokne wrote: »

Surely it's down to individual perception?

If you're used to Dublin prices, have kids of your own, and don't play pool then all the 'bad' in the above wouldn't be 'bad' in your eyes. Or if you do 'get' the pancake place.

Well not really that subjective, seeing multiple ripped pool tables (in fairly prominent positions i.e. inside the main door of the main bar/facility) is not a great start whether you want to play or not. The place is only open a matter of weeks. Then throw in the senior infant age kids running around at 10pm. Or a pile of rubbish in a changing cubicle - which does have a rubbish bin. It doesn't paint a "good" picture in anyone's eyes.

Anyway, I wouldn't want to dwell on that as overall it was a great week and our little one loved it. I'd just rein back on the glowing hyperbole I've seen floating about.

Plumbthedepths

Monokne wrote: »

Surely it's down to individual perception?

If you're used to Dublin prices, have kids of your own, and don't play pool then all the 'bad' in the above wouldn't be 'bad' in your eyes. Or if you do 'get' the pancake place.

Centre parks is not for me or my family and the comment I responded to validates my perception for my family and I. My comment was acknowledging the fact it wasn't the usual gushing review.

Cyrus

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

Centre parks is not for me or my family and the comment I responded to validates my perception for my family and I. My comment was acknowledging the fact it wasn't the usual gushing review.

Have you been ?

Cyrus

theteal wrote: »

Anyway, I wouldn't want to dwell on that as overall it was a great week and our little one loved it. I'd just rein back on the glowing hyperbole I've seen floating about.

I suppose it's unique in Ireland hence the positive reviews

griffin100

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

Centre parks is not for me or my family and the comment I responded to validates my perception for my family and I. My comment was acknowledging the fact it wasn't the usual gushing review.

Given you’ve been negative about the thing before it even opened I’d say it’s more of a case of confirmation bias than validation.

Dave_The_Sheep

I've been to Centre Parcs several times in England. Heading with a group from work (four couples, no kids) next month so I'm curious as to how it compares, given Ireland's general amateur-hour approach to things like this. We shall see.

wally79

Dave_The_Sheep wrote: »

I've been to Centre Parcs several times in England. Heading with a group from work (four couples, no kids) next month so I'm curious as to how it compares, given Ireland's general amateur-hour approach to things like this. We shall see.

Seems weird to me to go without kids. I thought it was more a family place but each to their own. Enjoy

Plumbthedepths

griffin100 wrote: »

Given you’ve been negative about the thing before it even opened I’d say it’s more of a case of confirmation bias than validation.

Not really, I just was pleased to see a review that offered both the good and bad points instead of the gushing reviews from people that got a 'freebie'. Finally your claim about me being negative about it before it opened is slightly misleading. I have said the prices are outrageous but it is not aimed at certain sections of the public. As this is a discussion forum I like others have the right to express an opinion. 5 or 6 hundred euro for a weekend in the forest in Longford versus a week in Italy, not a hard choice for me tbh.

Plumbthedepths

Mr.S wrote: »

If those are the only bad things being reported, then it's off to a glowing start tbh. Cost was always going to be a sore point - it's expensive so your cutting out a lot of people who simply can't afford it.

We have a weekend booked in December, more curious than anything and it's an easy meeting point for 3 families based in different locations. No chance in hell we would do a weekend abroad with 3 sets of kids :eek:

You're also cutting out alot of people who don't believe the cost is value for money. I have a trip booked to Prague end of November with my wife to enjoy the Christmas market. Excluding spending money the cost for 5 days is 320 euro. A forest in Longford doesn't hold the same appeal tbh.

Fr Tod Umptious

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

You're also cutting out alot of people who don't believe the cost is value for money. I have a trip booked to Prague end of November with my wife to enjoy the Christmas market. Excluding spending money the cost for 5 days is 320 euro. A forest in Longford doesn't hold the same appeal tbh.

I just got to these two fruits out of the press.
One is an orange the other is an apple.

They look and taste completely different.

They are not a bit the same.

Dave_The_Sheep

wally79 wrote: »

Seems weird to me to go without kids. I thought it was more a family place but each to their own. Enjoy

It can be a family place. It can also be (if it's like the ones in the UK/Belgium) a place for adults to go for a pissup weekend.

Cyrus

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

You're also cutting out alot of people who don't believe the cost is value for money. I have a trip booked to Prague end of November with my wife to enjoy the Christmas market. Excluding spending money the cost for 5 days is 320 euro. A forest in Longford doesn't hold the same appeal tbh.

What accommodation are you getting for that kind of money

Plumbthedepths

Cyrus wrote: »

What accommodation are you getting for that kind of money

Hotel right beside Charles bridge, stayed there before nice place . It's called the Charles Hotel. Flights were 72 euro return with RA and the balance is the hotel cost.

BuboBubo

Dave_The_Sheep wrote: »

It can be a family place. It can also be (if it's like the ones in the UK/Belgium) a place for adults to go for a pissup weekend.

Of all the places to go for a pissup, a children's hoilday camp wouldn't be on my list!

theteal

BuboBubo wrote: »

Of all the places to go for a pissup, a children's hoilday camp wouldn't be on my list!

I can't agree more with this. Such an expensive piss up, you'd be much better off in Prague with the other poster!

Also one more thing that irked me - don't be a foreigner in need of cash while you're there. For what ever reason, the supermarket couldn't do cashback with my English cards (both Revolut and Natwest) and the ATMs (which were both out of action for the first day or two of our stay) charge €3.95 a transaction, I sh!t you not.

Graham

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

Centre parks is not for me or my family and the comment I responded to validates my perception for my family and I.

Fair play to your unwavering determination.

You only had to wait 8 months and 650 odd posts to find the validation you were seeking.

Are there any other places you're not going that require validation?

Plumbthedepths

Graham wrote: »

Fair play to your unwavering determination.

You only had to wait 8 months and 650 odd posts to find the validation you were seeking.

Are there any other places you're not going that require validation?

Intrigued as why you feel a snarky response is required to someone who doesn't share your opinion?

Graham

No snark intended, genuinely impressed with your determination.

Equally intrigued as to why anyone would need to validate a decision not to go somewhere but there you go. To each their own.

Cyrus

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

Intrigued as why you feel a snarky response is required to someone who doesn't share your opinion?

To be fair your opinion isn't based on any experience, rather some sort of snobbery against it

Plumbthedepths

Cyrus wrote: »

To be fair your opinion isn't based on any experience, rather some sort of snobbery against it

Must someone experience something to be allowed have an opinion? As for snobbery, not at all I just feel it is a rip off / poor value when the UK prices and mainland European prices are considerably less.