The Center Parcs Experience

fits

It’s very accessible. I’m not sure if anywhere on site is more than a 15 minute walk to activities but you can pay to get a house closer to centre. We had a super close house last time and didn’t pay for it. Didn’t need bikes at all.

salmocab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119642662#Comment_119642662

They’ll manage fine walking. There are things like pottery painting that they can do/help the kids with.

quokula

Has anyone gone in the winter? We're considering going in January when they have forest illuminations on, but not sure if it's worth it. The heated pool will be great of course as will a bunch of the indoor activities, but a lot of outdoor stuff that's a big part of the centerparcs experience would be off the table with the weather.

rodmn2377

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119664285#Comment_119664285

we were there late November last year and it was great... yes the weather was cold and there was some rain but with the right clothes and lights for the bike it was great.. the lights were savage and because of it getting dark early it made a lovely experience and atmosphere.... as for the activities..... the weekend we were there everything was running as normal.... id say it would have to be extreme weather before they would cancel most things..personally i would have no issues going back during the winter months

fits

Well worth it in January. It’s gorgeous.

quokula

Has anyone used tesco vouchers to book CP? I followed the links through the tesco clubcard boost website, filled in all the voucher details and converted them, then when it was done it said I'll receive the CP voucher within 5 days. I've had no confirmation email or anything in a couple of days since, it all seems like quite a poor user experience. I've been trying to figure out when they would expire too but no sign of that info anywhere on the website.

Planning to put them towards a last minute booking but it's getting increasingly last minute the longer we wait, if I knew whether they have a long expiry I might just go ahead and book and use them for our next trip.

Mr. Guappa

Currently booking some activities for a trip to Center Parcs next March. Neither the Sports Bar or Hucks Grill appear as options to reserve for food - what's the story there? They were both open when we went this February

salmocab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119962997#Comment_119962997

I believe that the sports bar is walk in only now

rubberdungeon

….

Star Bingo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120600823#Comment_120600823

Its continuation is indefinite from what I gather

DownByTheGarden

Is the pool still limiting the amount of time you can spend in it and the amount of times you can go?

KeRbDoG

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120603546#Comment_120603546

Nop, all restrictions are gone

gabbo is coming

Would you get away booking the 8 person lodge and having 4 adults and 5 kids stay? Youngest kid 4

893bet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121687220#Comment_121687220

Probably if you lie at security, they are unlikely to check, you can’t book activity for that 4 year old (might not be an issue if there is a 4-5 yr old on the booking that you can use their name. And ye won’t be able to go book a restaurant for the nine people at one as one doesn’t exist.

salmocab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121687220#Comment_121687220

They check you in in the car so you’d have to make one child hide, if you were caught that’s the end of the holiday be very difficult to explain to the kids that thats that and you are heading home. I’m sure some have got away with it but it’s a big risk. It’s not like a hotel where people are milling around in reception, you’d be pulling up in 2 different cars and they’d be checking you in off the list.

Former Former Former

The only thing you could do is leave your partner and one child in the nearest town to have lunch. Arrive at reception, check-in, tell them your wife is unwell and she'll be down tonight or tomorrow.

Get your keys, maybe unload a few bags, go back to town, get the wife and child and then re-enter via the lane for returning guests with no checks. Done.

Bawnmore

Seems like a good place to ask. We're looking to make a booking for a 4 bed (which have an 8 people maximum + 2 infants). We'll have 4 adults, 4 children, a 3 month old and a 3 year old. What's the likelihood they'd cause a fuss? I called Centre Parcs and the girl said she reckoned it'd be fine if we weren't planning on doing activities with the 3 year old, but how strict are they in reality in Longford from peoples experience?

salmocab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122334985#Comment_122334985

Site is acting up tried to answer this already so it might pop in again.
it’s under 2s are free so even a 2 year old would be over age. I’d imagine there’s a reasonable chance of you getting caught at the gate and that’s very close to be telling the kids the holiday is off.

Bawnmore

Ya I was thinking the same originally alright and was worried about it, but Centre Parcs support saying it should be fine has thrown me off a little which is why I was checking for others experiences here.

touts

We've been there twice. Never had more than the max number in the lodge so can't advise on that exactly. I do know that when we arrived to check in 2 years ago there were three of us in one car and 3 in the other. The second car had stopped at a filling station for a toilet break so were about 15 minutes behind us. The security guard on the gate refused to process us until everyone arrived. Apparently it was in the small print that everyone had to check in together. We were ordered to pull over to the side and wait until the 2nd car made their way up the queue. They couldn't come up to us. We had to wait for them.

So what I'm saying is the guys on the gate can be VERY strict on the rules. I would get an exact agreement from the booking office that all 10 can be in the lodge and have it in writing and printed out when you arrive at the gate.

All in all

you

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122334985#Comment_122334985

You won’t be able to book if you put down the correct age of the 3 year old.

Bawnmore

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122340940#Comment_122340940

That's good to know (not great news for us obviously, but better off knowing now).

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122341310#Comment_122341310

Ya, the customer support girl on the phone advised us to put down the age wrong on the form. My concern is obviously that it's easy for her to say that and for someone else to think differently.

Feisar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122342673#Comment_122342673

We've been a few times, never done that but they aren't checking kids ages on the way in or anything. Last time one of the lads was under two and they didn't look for proof or even look in the car at him or anything.

Bawnmore

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122343549#Comment_122343549

That's good to know - appreciate it.

enricoh

My top tip is hop into car n 5 minutes down the road the hotel in ballymahon does savage food. Any of the restaurants in centerparcs were a bit meh- sports bar was the pick of them, maybe due to the few drinks first! Lovely chipper n good super valu in ballymahon too.

Ryath

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122358909#Comment_122358909

Skellys Bar is excellent and Jolly Boys is a good spot also to eat in that also does takeaway.

touts

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122358909#Comment_122358909

Depends what you're into I suppose. We found the resturants excellent. Especially the Indian and Cara's Diner. The Sports bar was really just burger and chips type of stuff and we would have rated that one the lowest of the resturants.

Former Former Former

Yeah I was pleasantly surprised by the dining options, the Indian in particular is excellent but Cara's and the Italian are also really good. The sports bar and the tex-mex place were the least appealing to me.

salmocab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122362279#Comment_122362279

I was there this week and the Indian was very good, Cara’s for me is the worst.
Find the food very samey across the restaurants aside from the Indian and it’s poor value for what you get.
had a great few days though and the kids love it.

fits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122378955#Comment_122378955

if you’re happy to cook it’s the only way to go imo. I Hate spending money on mediocre fayre.