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The Center Parcs Experience

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Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 748 ✭✭✭Johnnyhpipe


    I expect it to be a Paddy version of what could have been something good. Like most of the attractions in this country, two steps up from the fair in father ted


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,371 ✭✭✭Westernyelp


    It's a product looks like something new for the Irish market. All the best to them Longford is certainly a new one for most people.


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,695 ✭✭✭StupidLikeAFox


    That's quite the logical fallacy to try explain the price disparity between the UK and Ireland when it comes to similar goods and services :/

    Tbf if you wanted to do a proper analysis you would have to look at the wages, taxes, cost of living etc if you want to compare like with like. It all boils down to whether people are willing to pay the price or not, and centerparcs will probably have done their research and if they got it wrong they will find that out fairly quickly.

    I can see the attraction. Have no kids myself but for families this is a good proposition. Kids don't care where they are on holidays as long as they are occupied, they have no concept of Longford


  • Registered Users Posts: 11,247 ✭✭✭✭salmocab


    It's a product looks like something new for the Irish market. All the best to them Longford is certainly a new one for most people.

    Longford is a shrewd choice I would think, less than 2 hours from Dublin so well placed from the largest population base in the country, also they want you staying in the place spending money not heading off to well known tourist spots.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,653 ✭✭✭✭Plumbthedepths


    salmocab wrote:
    Longford is a shrewd choice I would think, less than 2 hours from Dublin so well placed from the largest population base in the country, also they want you staying in the place spending money not heading off to well known tourist spots.


    It's actually located just outside Ballymahon which is 15 miles from Athlone, which is in its own right quite a large shopping hub.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 11,247 ✭✭✭✭salmocab


    It's actually located just outside Ballymahon which is 15 miles from Athlone, which is in its own right quite a large shopping hub.

    I was thinking more like cliffs of moher, giants causeway, ring of Kerry. There is no major tourist attractions nearby, very few people are going to head to Athlone if they are there for 3/4 nights. Maybe a week stay you might head off for a day trip.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 421 ✭✭Folkstonian


    Center Parcs is nothing like Butlins - It’s not really where you go for that ‘bingo, cabaret and unlimited chips at dinner’ vibe. It’s a bit more expensive with a different ethos so usually attracts a different type of visitor to the type of people who could be background extras in ‘Benidorm’

    My parents took my sisters and me a fair few times when we were quite small. We went to Sherwood Forest, Longleat and somewhere in Europe too.

    Never for more than 3 days, but you don’t need any longer. We were always an active family, so it was brilliant as kids to be able to cram archery, rock climbing, cycling, swimming, canoeing, forest walks and a whole lot more into one weekend.

    Maybe it’s changed over the last couple of decades, it’s been so long since I’ve been. But I expect not, and it will be a great option for families here


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,653 ✭✭✭✭Plumbthedepths


    salmocab wrote:
    I was thinking more like cliffs of moher, giants causeway, ring of Kerry. There is no major tourist attractions nearby, very few people are going to head to Athlone if they are there for 3/4 nights. Maybe a week stay you might head off for a day trip.

    That's the point CP don't want you heading away which is why all activities are extra.


  • Registered Users Posts: 11,247 ✭✭✭✭salmocab


    That's the point CP don't want you heading away which is why all activities are extra.

    Yeah I get the model that’s why I said it was a shrewd move putting it in Longford. They are a business, of course they want to get as much money from customers as they can. I don’t see the issue with the price, if people will pay it then good luck to them.


  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 12,467 Mod ✭✭✭✭JupiterKid


    I think there is a market and demand for Center Parcs but I doubt Ireland, given our much smaller population than Britain, could support more than one.

    Anyone remember Trabolgan? Built in the late 1980s and a bit like an early, much smaller version of Center Parcs for an Ireland of much more limited means.

    But the average Irish holiday maker will not be attracted to a Center Parcs resort. I suspect they will appeal to upper middle class young families (the ones who managed to actually afford a house...) who are very sporty/active and have plenty of dosh to spend whilst there.

    Think of those families who all go out cycling together in the park at weekends...


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  • Registered Users Posts: 1,124 ✭✭✭joe swanson


    I like the idea of it but it's just not good value compared to other holidays on the market


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,158 ✭✭✭facehugger99


    Trabolgan with a zero on the end.


  • Registered Users Posts: 10,525 ✭✭✭✭OwaynOTT


    Trabolgan with a zero on the end.

    Trabolgan0?


  • Registered Users Posts: 14,930 ✭✭✭✭Fr Tod Umptious


    JupiterKid wrote: »
    I think there is a market and demand for Center Parcs but I doubt Ireland, given our much smaller population than Britain, could support more than one.

    Anyone remember Trabolgan? Built in the late 1980s and a bit like an early, much smaller version of Center Parcs for an Ireland of much more limited means.

    But the average Irish holiday maker will not be attracted to a Center Parcs resort. I suspect they will appeal to upper middle class young families (the ones who managed to actually afford a house...) who are very sporty/active and have plenty of dosh to spend whilst there.

    Think of those families who all go out cycling together in the park at weekends...

    Trabolgan still exists.

    we have been a few times, primarily because it's close and the kids love it.

    But it is a bit dated and to be honest, full of skangers from Dublin.

    It is not cheap, but the kids love it.

    I agree that CP will attract a different clientele.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,563 ✭✭✭stateofflux


    Had a look online today at pricing. 23rd of Aug to the 26th for 3 adults 929 euro self catering. Same dates in Malaga Spain flights and accommodation coming in at 824 euro plus gauranteed sunshine.

    This is the main thing for me.. ive been to many a caravan park in ireland where it rained torrential for weeks..some 'holiday'.


  • Registered Users Posts: 13,175 ✭✭✭✭fits


    When you have very young kids strong sunlight can be difficult to manage too. We couldn’t go outside in last summers hot spell until after 6 pm as my old house was fully south facing and had no shade at all. It was a heat trap.

    We have rain overalls for the lads so it’s actually easier to go out in wet weather than hot weather for us. But obviously would prefer a nice few dry days while we are there.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,756 ✭✭✭demanufactured


    The thing is, I don't think Center Parcs Langford is actually aimed at The Irish market.
    I have a friend working there, who has told me the majority of the bookings for next year are from European countries.


  • Registered Users Posts: 13,175 ✭✭✭✭fits


    ^ I don’t get that. Wouldn’t you just go to the closest one as I’d imagine they are essentially the same.


  • Registered Users Posts: 21,065 ✭✭✭✭Odyssey 2005


    fits wrote: »
    When you have very young kids strong sunlight can be difficult to manage too. We couldn’t go outside in last summers hot spell until after 6 pm as my old house was fully south facing and had no shade at all. It was a heat trap.

    We have rain overalls for the lads so it’s actually easier to go out in wet weather than hot weather for us. But obviously would prefer a nice few dry days while we are there.

    You should relocate to longford so ;)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 689 ✭✭✭ Yaretzi Thousands Sandbox


    JupiterKid wrote: »
    This will be a huge economic boost for Longford.

    How so? People go there and don't leave...


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  • Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 10,432 Mod ✭✭✭✭xzanti


    LirW wrote: »
    Ireland is hugely popular with Europeans, Asians and Americans, so I believe that one will do well enough. People are willing to pay money for the peace of mind and ease of a resort holiday.

    Yeah we went to Trabolgan a few years ago for the craic. The place was full to the gills of very, very well travelled folk*.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,653 ✭✭✭✭Plumbthedepths


    How so? People go there and don't leave...


    All the minimum wage job workers in the Parc will spend some of their income locally, there's the economic boost. They certainly won't be able to afford to stay in the Parc.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,756 ✭✭✭demanufactured


    xzanti wrote: »
    Yeah we went to Trabolgan a few years ago for the craic. The place was full to the gills of very, very well travelled folk*.

    Would they have been fairly good at travelling?


  • Registered Users Posts: 21,065 ✭✭✭✭Odyssey 2005


    How so? People go there and don't leave...

    Local Tesco will do well, end of.


  • Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 10,432 Mod ✭✭✭✭xzanti


    Would they have been fairly good at travelling?

    The best.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 689 ✭✭✭ Yaretzi Thousands Sandbox


    All the minimum wage job workers in the Parc will spend some of their income locally, there's the economic boost. They certainly won't be able to afford to stay in the Parc.

    Is there that much unemployment in Longford already?


  • Registered Users Posts: 872 ✭✭✭Get Real


    fits wrote: »
    ^ I don’t get that. Wouldn’t you just go to the closest one as I’d imagine they are essentially the same.

    I don't think so. I mean there's center parcs in France that are huge with the UK market and yet the UK have center parcs of their own.

    People still might want to go on a family holiday abroad but like the "all in" bit, particularly with young children.

    I could understand why Longford will be bigger with families from abroad than with Irish families themselves (although you'll get a good few Irish families too)

    Families from France, Germany etc with young children who may not have entertained travelling to Ireland until they're retired etc but understand the Center Parc model and can use Longford as a base. Or can leave the kids there with the grandparents while mam and dad do x.

    There were a few press releases in French media two years ago about the project
    https://lepetitjournal.com/dublin/tourisme-feu-vert-pour-la-construction-du-premier-center-parcs-irlandais-102585


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 17,642 Mod ✭✭✭✭Graham


    How so? People go there and don't leave...

    1,000 local jobs is going to have a fairly significant impact.

    To put that into context, the combined population of the closest towns Longford, Ballymahon and Edgeworthstown is around 15,000. This is in an area that has some of the highest unemployment in the state (approaching 20% iirc).


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,653 ✭✭✭✭Plumbthedepths


    Is there that much unemployment in Longford already?


    No idea but new employment opportunities usually give an area an economic boost, even if the jobs are minimum wage.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 10,969 ✭✭✭✭alchemist33


    I've been to 2 Center Parcs in Ebgland and enjoyed them both. They do make it hard for you to get out though. Your cabin is probably a long way from the car park and the car park is massive. I heard of one family that made it to the local tourist office and said they'd "escaped" from Center Parcs, which would be quite accurate


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