Calling all Center Parcs fans!

[Pushbutton]

Originally Posted by Bunnykins

I've recently returned from a truly fantastic Christmas and New Year at Center Parcs. Have been for either New Year or Xmas before but it had been my ambition for some time to stay for both so this year I treated myself to 12 nights there. It has to be one of the best Christmasses & New Year's I've had. I won't go on about it now as I know there are few Center Parcs fans on here, but if anyone wants to ask anything please feel free to do so.

Happy New Year everyone!

Have you ever been to Butlins for xmas / new year Bunnykins, and if so which do you think was the best experience overall?

[Bunnykins]

Hi Push

Yes, I have been to Butlins twice for Xmas. For me the better of the two experiences has to be Center Parcs, I'm afraid, because to me it is the best place on earth (in the UK). I feel the same way about CPs as you do about Butlins!

However, not everyone would agree as it of course depends on what you like to do and CPs is not geared up in a big way to evening entertainment like Butlins, so I can see why it wouldn't appeal to many people on this website. A typical evening at CPs is more about a nice meal out and maybe a couple of drinks, or a game of bowling or swimming or sport perhaps, or a cosy evening in by a log fire with a DVD and bottle of wine. However, at Xmas and New Year there are of course parties and plenty of things going on at CPs.

The accommodation options are also better for my personal situation at CPs. As I have mentioned before, I would like the option to go self-catering at Butlins but this is not technically possible because there is the minimum occupancy thing and there are only 2 of us, whereas at CPs they are not concerned with minimum occupancy plus we get all home comforts and more. Take for example the 1 bedroom lodges we stay in, which come with a more than ample ensuite bathroom which includes a Whirlpool bath with shower plus a separate walk-in shower, and there is a second WC in the lodge too. The kitchen includes dishwasher, separate wine cooler, microwave, full oven, coffee maker, smoothie maker, toaster, kettle, etc. (Not that I use all of those gadgets - they just happen to be there!) Then there is a large L shaped sofa in the open plan lounge area with plenty of room for stretching out on (flatscreen TV, DVD player and open fire included). The lounge looks out through patio doors on to your own patio area which includes a BBQ and outdoor table & chairs. We love to watch the birds, ducks, squirrels, deer, rabbits and other wildlife feeding on our patio and this seems to be a popular pastime with other guests too. Back inside the lodge there is a large bedroom with kingsize bed and 2nd flatscreen TV, whilst there is also a table and 4 chairs in the dining area plus 2 bar stools that overlook the kitchen area.

Whilst I appreciate some people say they don't spend much time in their accommodation so don't really care what it's like, I see things from a different perspective and want somewhere nice where I can comfortably sit with a glass of wine and read or watch a DVD. At Butlins there really isn't any comparison to CPs accommodation, except perhaps Blueskies (which I have never seen so can't comment, however, I only go to Bognor so Blueskies is of no interest to me). Having said that, I don't go to Butlins expecting it to be Center Parcs and I hope any Butlins fans would not do the same. I appreciate the two places are totally different and cannot be compared as such (albeit they both aim to make holidaymakers happy)! I have not stayed in the Bognor hotels and although they are probably very nice, they seem to lack (as far as I can see) the space you get in a lodge/apartment - ie. a separate lounge area. This just leaves me with Deluxe at Bognor, which I have stayed in many times and am quite happy so to do except they insist on selling it on a half-board basis ... and I want to eat out at restaurants of my choice! Deluxe room only would suit me perfectly at Butlins because I'm not bothered about cooking on a short break.

Anyway, sorry that went on a bit and I got off subject!! I expect you have gathered that I could talk about CPs all day, much like the passion you have for Butlins. It's a shame there aren't more forums like this on the internet about CPs as all I have seen have been very general and boring and I don't really like the Facebook discussion groups as much as this format. Oh well, thanks for looking in and asking a few questions ... it gave me a chance to ramble on about my favourite place for a few minutes!!

[Bunnykins]

I’ve recently returned from a great week’s holiday at Center Parcs, Longleat. One day I must try and work out how many times I’ve been to Center Parcs - I guess it has to be approaching 30 now!

Again, I appreciate not many members on here are interested in Center Parcs but for the few who are here’s some observations from my visit. I won’t go into too much detail about Longleat itself as I’ve mentioned a lot of general stuff in earlier posts.

Over the years I’ve been at all different seasons of the year but one advantage I found in this heat is that it doesn’t feel anywhere near as hot in the accommodation as at home. I need a fan on all night at home as it gets unbearably hot but at Center Parcs there never seems to be any need for that in the lodges we’ve stayed in, as they are sheltered under the trees so much cooler inside … so that’s one good point to start with!

I don’t know how long this has been going on for, but I noted the pool now closes at 9pm. I didn’t use the pool facilities on this visit but have done so in the past and liked the fact it used to close at 10pm for those who like to spend a quieter time in there. On the outside pool area (near where the sun-loungers are) staff appeared to be building a new deck area. I can’t remember if there was a deck there previously and they were simply replacing it, or whether this is something new. Outside the pool (on the footpath from the Plaza land train stop to the Plaza itself) they have added a decking platform so you can stand almost above the rapids and spectate.

Once again they are in the process of building more accommodation. From looking at the noticeboard outside the building site area it would appear they are building more of the posh 2-storey 4-bed lodges with the separate pool table/games room, but these ones are near the top of the hill instead of being down the bottom. There was scaffolding up at the rear of the Pinewood apartments, possibly for maintenance on the balconies.

On the first 2 days the land train was doing a shorter circuit as there were some kind of road works going on up the hill approaching the Pinewood apartment area, so the train had to go up the hill by the giant redwoods and missed out the Pinewoods and Plaza stops. I didn’t investigate what was going on but wondered if it was anything to do with the new lodges being built. By the third day, the full circuit was back in use again.

New for this year will be quad bikes on site. Some will know that Longleat has offered this activity for a while but run by a third party offsite. I spoke to a member of staff who said they are going to build the quad bike track near the entrance drive but it didn’t look as if work had started yet as they need to remove some trees first.

It appeared as if the snooker tables have been reduced in number to just 5 and they have now crammed the pool tables amongst them and taken away the attractive wooden pergola above the tables, so the area now appears much more open and bland now. I don’t think any serious snooker player would be too impressed having the pool tables so close.

On the watersports lake they had an inflatable tube thing (sorry can’t remember what they called it) which you get inside and run round inside like a hamster. It wasn’t one of those round balls, it was cylindrical shaped. Sounded mildly interesting at first until we saw it and realised it’s tethered either side so all you can do is run round like a hamster and it doesn’t go anywhere. I guess they have to tether it for safety. I think a session is only 5 mins too, though maybe that’s enough!

My other half, who always enjoys Archery, tried his hand at “Crossbows” which was a new activity since our last visit. The crossbows themselves were fixed to a rail, so you didn’t actually have to hold the weight of the crossbow, which in hindsight was probably just as well as even pulling the bow back is quite hard work and very likely to pull the stomach muscles and make you tender for a few days, even for strong men! Interesting to try it but I think he still prefers Archery, and at least with Archery you can watch where your arrow lands.

We started our week’s break with a weekend and noticed there were 3 or 4 hen weekends and/or parties of females enjoying a weekend break together. Don’t remember seeing that many groups of females before but it all seemed to be in good spirit and is obviously CPs is becoming an alternative choice for some ladies.

On every visit we take a massive amount of various types of bird food and scatter it liberally over the patio to attract the wildlife. (As much as I’d love to live there, I don’t think I could afford the wildlife food - lol.) Being summertime, we had some lovely mummy and baby animals visit to feed (deer, rabbits, ducks) and one deer spent virtually all day sat under the shelter of a tree by our bedroom.

Well that’s all I can think of for now ... quite enough methinks!!