Most middle-class holiday _evar_

[andrewducker]

Julie and I were looking for somewhere to go away for a week.  And had decided to basically wait until the last minute and book somewhere that had a good deal.  And then we decided that travelling abroad was going to be a faff (especially with my total failure to get my passport renewed. 

And _then_ Julie had the thought of Center Parcs (holiday villages built around a large swimming complex, in the woods, with lots of activities) - and we discovered we could get 5 days there for very cheap, as they were getting rid of a last few places.

So we're off there 15th-19th - to the Lake District, so it's only 90 minutes away by train.  For five days of lazing around, throwing ourselves into the pool occasionally, eating out, going for walks, and probably having a go at the archery, climbing, etc.  If we can be arsed.

I'm really looking forward to it.

Comments

[marrog.livejournal.com]

Is that middle class? I always thought going anywhere with a purpose-built tourist village thing was a bit... common...

Have I just found yet another pocket of insufferable snob?

You'd never know my mum worked in a co-op, would you?

[andrewducker]

Butlins is common. Centre Parcs is full of middle class people.

Admittedly, not upper-middle class people (all off skiing). But when I was young, my parents and two sets of their friends (all doctors) would go with their families, get two villas next to each other, put all the adults in one, all the kids in the other, and because it's "safe" and no cars are allowed into the area outside of arrival/departure times, we could wander off to do stuff without supervision.

Someone else I know who's high up in the civil service has also used it - it's great if you've got kids. Check out the website :->

[marrog.livejournal.com]

Which reminds me, I have a favour to ask:

Erin'n'me move next Tuesday. On Wednesday I'm supposed to be working from home as the lab we use out at the college was already booked out on the Wednesday before Health Scotland booked their block.

Of course, our new place won't have internets yet. Rather than sit in Simon Square, empty of everything bar a couch, could I (and possibly Erin as she'll be off uni and keeping me company) possibly hang out at yours for the day and steal your internets?

[andrewducker]

Not a problem for me - I'll clear it with Scott, but I can't see him having a problem either.

[laserboy.livejournal.com]

No problem here. :-)

[nmg.livejournal.com]

Not the Center Parcs I've been to...

[fannymagnate.livejournal.com]

"my parents and two sets of their friends (all doctors) would go with their families, get two villas next to each other, put all the adults in one, all the kids in the other, and because it's "safe" and no cars are allowed into the area outside of arrival/departure times, we could wander off to do stuff without supervision."

This sounds earily familiar . . .

[poisonduk.livejournal.com]

It's not common at all m'dear - prices are way higher than Butlins, tends to be a common short break destination for middle class folks in between their summer break and winter skiiing.

[meaningrequired.livejournal.com]

Skiing terrifies me. Flinging yourself off a cliff covered in snow and ice wearing noting but two wooden planks strapped to your feet!

[cdave]

They're fairly sophisticated bits of wood these days. Designed to flex into parabolas when you put weight on them, so they carve the turn for you.

And it't not just skis. The boots protect your ankles from being twisted while allowing some fore/aft flexing.

And don't forget the bindings. They hold you on through tight turns, but pop off with too much pressure, so the skis don't stay attached if you take a tumble.

But ultimately flinging your self down an icy hill is just fun, even if all you have is a tea tray.

[communicator.livejournal.com]

Center Parcs is very middle class, but in a good way I think. I had a good hol there with the kids when they were little. We were in a little cabin on the edge of a pine wood and the squirrels were very bold and came in the house, which delighted the kids. Also lots of pancake restaurants. I like the lack of cars over the site.

[surliminal.livejournal.com]

I love Centre parcs actually, but it will be over run with children y'know!
I love the way you can swim out of their pools into the open night air - or is that just the one I went to? I haven't been to the Lake District one. You have to hire bikes as soon as you get there, I warn you..

Alison and I are still talking about the fannish trip to belgian centre parcs..

[meaningrequired.livejournal.com]

but it will be over run with children y'know!

Kids I can handle, but I'm not convinced it will :)

I know N.Irish and Scottish kids are back to school. I searched to see when the English kids are back to school, and one school informs me that they go back this week *crosses fingers & packs ear plugs*

[bohemiancoast.livejournal.com]

Won't be overrun with children -- that's why they're selling it cheap. Midweek breaks in school terms are very very cheap, especially at Whinfell Forest. You'll have some families with tiny kids but the activities will be very civilised with few or no schoolchildren. Whinfell Forest is also the only Center Parcs with a proper pub (because it used to be independent) and it has a really fab raft ride. And red squirrels.

Madly middle class, though I know people who've tired of outrageous Center Parcs prices and gone instead for Butlins, with quite good results. As surliminal mentions, we've done a Belgian Center Parcs holiday, which gives you the bonus of good beer, and euro-centerparcs are cheaper in euros than the UK ones are in pounds, especially in those special times which are school hols in the UK but not on the continent.

We love Center Parcs to bits and it would be my number one recommendation for people who go 'we really need to do something to celebrate xxx family occasion; there are 16 of us aged between 2 and 70 and none of our houses are big enough for everyone to stay'. We went there for my dad's 70th and everyone had a splendid time. And the carvery restaurant where we had a celebration lunch could not have been nicer to us.

Either take bikes or hire them. The first time we went we just walked, it rained all weekend and my abiding memory of the weekend was forced walks (of the 'we need to be at place xxx in 12 minutes' variety in the rain. I was well pissed off by the end of the weekend, and as we drove home, putting it down to experience, Marianne, then five, said 'Mum, that was the *best* weekend *ever*.' So we relented.

The restaurants aren't dreadful, they're just 20% more expensive than you expect for the quality of food. (This compares badly with the activities, which typically cost the same or slightly less than the same thing elsewhere; they're dealing with this by gradually replacing their inhouse restaurants with established chains.) The supermarket had improved dramatically last time we went.

The spa is fab, and is *much* cheaper than similar things elsewhere, plus it's mixed. It's cheapest on arrival and departure days though honestly if we were going for five days without our kids I think we'd do it more than once.

[nmg.livejournal.com]

You can also spin out a game of crazy golf to about four hours if you adopt a strict 'play it where it lies' rule. Best value ever.

[andrewducker]

I meant to reply to this at the time - damned alzheimers!

Thanks very much for this comment - it's very reassuring, and has some useful hints/tips for the trip!

[nmg.livejournal.com]

Center Parcs belongs on one of the innermost circles of hell. The restaurants are uniformly dreadful (I still wake at night in a cold sweat at the thought of Fondue Night), and most of the food on sale in the on-site shop was of the packet sauce variety. If I ever go to one again (and I don't intend to), I shall take a week's worth of food with me.

[meaningrequired.livejournal.com]

I shall take a week's worth of food with me.

All part of the plan ;)

[nmg.livejournal.com]

Also, take a sharp knife and a good frying pan.

[meaningrequired.livejournal.com]

I read this comment in my email, and the context didn't immediately come to me; instead I thought "what am I going to have to do on this holiday to stay happy? Murder Andy??" :S :)

[ashfae.livejournal.com]

Actually ever since I heard about it I've wanted to go there. Tell us how it is!

[celiaka.livejournal.com]

Hannah and I were discussing doing that (while on a trip to waterworld) with a bunch of people. How did you find the cheap days?

Went on a few trips there when I was kid. Spent most of the time in the swimming pool.

[andrewducker]

The site itself had a "special offers page":
http://www.centerparcs.co.uk/prices_booking/specialoffers/index.jsp
But it had more stuff on it two days ago. I guess we were just very lucky!

[pigeonhed.livejournal.com]

I should be around some of that week and am local-ish if you might need to break out at all...

[andrewducker]

Cheers - really appreciate the offer, but we're looking forward to five days of seeing nobody :->

[johnbobshaun.livejournal.com]

I went to Center Parcs when I was about 13. I had a great time, although I did spend most it pretending I was Patrick MacGoohan in the Prisoner.

[surliminal.livejournal.com]

Yes it really is very like The Village! But in a good way :)

[daisy-stitch.livejournal.com]

Sounds good. Have fun.