The Center Parcs Experience

Hotblack Desiato

Holiday = not cooking tyvm 😁

salmocab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122380202#Comment_122380202

Yeah think for the next time we’d just be better organised. Bring a few things that can just go in the oven, can’t be doing real cooking. Nothing was bad just grand but too pricey to be just grand.

Hotblack Desiato

reply to deleted post

markpb

There was a piece about Centre Parcs in the Irish Times last week which was humorous but also fairly balanced. My favourite part was this:

“Ostensibly there are five restaurants in the “village” but really it’s all the same restaurant wearing different hats. There is Huck’s, which is American-themed. There is Bella Italia, which is Italian-themed. There is Cara’s, the theme of which is restaurant … The food, across the board, is neither great nor terrible. It is fine.“

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-style/travel/2024/06/30/a-week-in-center-parcs-in-longford-youve-had-enough-of-holiday-now-havent-you-daddy/

GBX

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122381932#Comment_122381932

Valid point indeed … one serves more pasta than the rest is all I can see different there.

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122381932#Comment_122381932

I thought it was a pretty obnoxious article tbh. The guy ruined his own holiday with his determination to be a dick about it.

Like, what did he expect at a holiday destination that caters exclusively to families, Michelin-starred nouvelle cuisine?

quokula

I'm confused how someone can say Italian food is the same as Indian food is the same as Tex Mex food, regardless of the quality they are entirely different in every way. If they're all the same then you can go into the city centre and see that Nandos is the same as Milanos is the same as Wagamama - they're all just restaurants wearing different hats right?

salmocab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122382800#Comment_122382800

In fairness aside from the Indian the others are quite samey, all do burgers 2 do pizzas. Cara’s is very limited I thought. It all feels like the choices are limited in those 3 restaurants, a lot of something and chips or pizza. There are a few options alright but it does feel very much like the fare is too similar to me. It’s missing something option wise, I don’t really go in for a carvery but it could do with some options from a decent gastropub menu (which I accept would also have a burger on it).

Hotblack Desiato

A tenner for a kid's plate of pasta??

Gusser09

Are the pizzas frozen or fresh?

Really when it's costing so much to go to the place it's not unreasonable to ask for some decent quality restaurants to choose from.

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122384193#Comment_122384193

The restaurants are grand.

I'd say the vast majority of parents that I know have been to Center Parcs and that guy is in a tiny minority of not having enjoyed it.

Gusser09

I see they are frozen pizza. Fxxk that. And the prices they charge for them. As I said it's not unreasonable to ask for a decent option for parents. It's a fair expectation. I think though with centre parcs you either love it or loath it. Those who love it seem to take any criticism very personally which is weird.

fits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122384217#Comment_122384217

he did enjoy it. He said they had a great time. He also said it was expensive and food mediocre which is also true

quokula

I can see how you’d think the restaurants are all the same if you just ordered burgers in all of them, I’ve never tried the burger in any of the restaurants tbh. That sort of thing is usually a lowest common denominator which is something good to have if you’ve got fussy kids or whatever but if I’m in the pasta place I’ll get pasta, if I’m in the tex mex place I’ll get something like ribs or fajitas, and I don’t recall ever having a bad meal in centre parcs (though I’m not expecting mind blowing Michelin star food or anything, they’re casual family places on par with your typical chain in any city)

I guess this is why the Indian is said to stand out as I assume they don’t offer a burger option so they actually ordered the food the restaurant specialises in.

Monokne

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122382800#Comment_122382800

He's a writer, if he's not making himself seem intelligent & above it he's not doing his job. He's banking on you not actually asking this question.

tractorporn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122384233#Comment_122384233

Of course the pizzas are frozen. The speed the food comes out I would assume its a similar operation to Weatherspoons food, although saying that Caras is painfully slow service.

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122385811#Comment_122385811

Thats my point. Serious money for frozen pizzas. Some profit there.

tractorporn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122385829#Comment_122385829

Yeah the food has become extortionate. If you compare it to what Weatherspoons are charging its robbery and its basically the same fare. We ate mostly in the lodge but ate out twice on the last day as didn't have access to the lodge and felt ripped off. It wouldn't put me off going again tho as have had similar experiences in family hotels in Ireland. Your a captive audience same as a motorway service station.

Oscar_Madison

Can recommend the Italian range of stone frozen pizzas in Dunnes stores - very tasty - they originate from Italian recipes - also some of the fresh ones are also very good - it’s probably what I’d do if faced with spending tons of money on the equivalent in a restaurant - Shirley they should have a wood fired stove and the option to takeaway? They’d make a fortune even if only open during the busy summer months and maybe Halloween .

fits

the shop there has a decent enough range. I’m sure they must have nice pizzas.

It absolutely kills me to spend so much money in restaurants that aren’t great. Can’t understand the ‘cos holiday’ thing at all.

thinkabouit

Not entirely convinced about booking a few nights away at Centre Parcs after reading this thread. Better value to be had elsewhere?

893bet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122387128#Comment_122387128

what age are your kids?

The pool and the facilities are incredible. You won’t regret it.

Eating out is expensive and average enough grub. Personally I would rather thrown on a slow cooker in the morning and spend the 100 quid on activities but other people may vary.

JVince

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122387128#Comment_122387128

It really depends on what you want. If you have young kids AND want a bit of a break yourself, its probably worth it as the kids can be whisked away to various activities.

But with weather not great, there are good deals to be had in hotels around the country. Some may offer child activities too (I remember the Ryans Friendly Fellows which gave my parents a break from us brats from about 9am to 4pm each day)

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122386922#Comment_122386922

Nothing worse than getting a crap meal on holidays. Especially when you are in your 40's!! I can eat average or poor food whenever I want in my local or at home.I dislike cooking when I am holidays too. Just because I am on holidays, but yeah I'd throw in a decent frozen or fresh pizza into the over before I'd spend between 10 and 15 quid on one in the restaurant. And the thing is you can bet that the pizzas in the restaurant aren't even at Dunne, MandS or Tesco signature quality.

Nah give me a decent food options. Campsites on the continent can do it.

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122387128#Comment_122387128

I would say ignore this thread and talk to real people that you know in real life.

I've been twice, we loved it, and I know legions of people who've been there and all had positive experiences. The negativity on this thread is not representative of reality, that's the nature of the internet. But don't take my word for it. If you have kids, then loads of their friends (or your friends) will have been so sound them out and get a real person's perspective.

If going out for fancy meals is a big part of your ideal holiday, this isn't for you. If you are very budget-conscious, it isn't for you, the bills do mount up the more activities you do.

There are definitely cheaper holidays to be had elsewhere. Better value is a different question.

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122387263#Comment_122387263

This is what I pointed out a few days ago. It's like people who love Centre Parcs take any sort of legitimate criticisms personally. What I would say to anyone thinking of going is to give a go for a few days and make up your mind then. It's great for younger kids. Brilliant. Most of the add-ons and up selling is seriously over priced though. Absolutely you can self cater. Nothing wrong with that. However a lot of people don't want to do that on holidays especially being tired after activities all day. That is fair enough too. Centre Parcs in my experience offers nothing in terms of dining experiences. That's a big part of my holiday along with many other I know and go away with. I didn't have a pizza there because I love pizzas and knew only too well they were a gouge.

salmocab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122387128#Comment_122387128

It’s a great place especially for the kids, it’s expensive no two ways about it although I think if you price it against other self catering in Ireland I suspect it’s not as crazy priced as it seems.
Food is okay not great but certainly not awful, my son had a pizza last week and loved it, I had a calzone it was very nice.
my kids 6&9 would prefer there to Spain.
ultimately it’s about the water park and that is really good.

thinkabouit

Thanks for all the reply’s & advice folks, kids are a 6 month old and 3 year old.
Would they be too young for it at the moment?

Deep_Six

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122387932#Comment_122387932

We brought a 1.5 and 3 year old and they had a blast (January this year). They can't wait to go back again and talk about it constantly. From a parent's point of view it's the convenience of it all that did it for me. It's easy to drive to from most places in the country, easy and safe to walk around when there and I found the staff to be fantastic. The year before we flew to Spain with them which was a serious stress dealing with airports, flights and delays etc in comparison. When your kids are small and difficult to travel with, then centreparcs is perfect (especially if you can go during off peak dates)

salmocab

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122387932#Comment_122387932

6 month old isn’t really going to get much out of any holiday. 3 year old will have a great time.