“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas”. I think everyone is finally in the Christmas spirit as we have entered December. Perfect opportunity for me to tell you all about our visit to Center Parcs last month.
We were meant to be going to Center Parcs last Winter to see Santa but due to COVID and restrictions, our stay was cancelled. Thankfully it was going ahead this year with everything open in the resort.
Our last stay at Center Parcs was when they opened up in 2019. We booked from Monday to Friday. However this time around, due to the kids not being off school, we only booked Friday to Monday. But to be honest in the Winter time, this is plenty of time to explore the grounds, do a few activities and go to the pool of course.
I’d like to bring you through each day of our stay so you get an idea how much you can fit into one day without going overboard with activities, restaurants and the pool.
Friday
The lodge is available from 4pm, however you can arrive as early as 12pm to use the premises. Our kids went to school that day so we only left when they were finished.
I did book the pool for 5pm that evening but we ended up not going in the end due to the queue heading into Center Parcs for check-in. I think it was just over an hour until we reached the check-in desk. So don’t make the same mistake. I booked it again for the following day instead. For a 3 day stay, you are allowed 3 2 hour slots in the Subtropical Paradise.
At check-in you will receive a map, the wristband to get you into your lodge, as well using it as a lock for the pool lockers and a letter to Santa for each child to post. This can be posted off in Santa’s Woodland Village. After our check-in we ordered take away pizza which was delivered to the lodge. I would advise to book this earlier in the day as slots go very quickly.
Once our tummies were filled, we went for a stroll in the village to check out all the lights including Santa’s Woodland Village and the Enchanted Light Trail. We stayed in one of the Birch Lodges which was only a 5 to 10 minute walk.
Santa’s Woodland Village
The village is covered in artificial snow. Along this walk there are little huts with some of the elves inside representing all the different activities available to book such as Gingerbread making and giant Christmas stocking. Half way through the walk you’ll find the talking post box where the kids are able to post their letter to Santa. If you post this letter on time, the kids will receive a reply in the morning of your departure.
Along the way you get many opportunities to take some lovely photos. If you are an Instragrammer you will be in heaven. 🙂 Don’t forget to check out the singing reindeers.
Enchanted Light Trail
Next we checked out the Enchanted Light Trail. There are crystals hanging down from the trees and lights along the trail, too. These lighten up in tune to the music playing in the background. It is very magical walk that the kids wanted to do every evening of our stay.
Saturday
The next day we started off with a nice breakfast fry which I pre ordered as a package that was delivered directly to the lodge. This contained sausages, tomatoes, bacon, orange juice, mushrooms etc. All the equipment you need to cook up a nice fry is available in each lodge. Even after two years, I do find the lodges are still in remarkable condition.
After breakfast we headed down to the Sports Plaza where we had a table tennis slot booked.
If table tennis is not for you, you can also try out short tennis (essentially the same thing as tennis, just a smaller court) or badminton. My friend was staying over in Center Parcs with her boyfriend at the same time too so we had booked a one hour bowling session with them afterwards.
To kill a bit of time, we went to the arcade room which is right beside the bowling alley. You do not require coins anymore. There is a machine that allows you to purchase Center Parcs tokens paying by card. These can be used for the grabber machines or any other game the kids might fancy. The kids loved Mario Kart and the Dinosaur game.
We booked a table for lunch in the Sports bar after bowling. My friend did too so we could actually all sit together which was nice. The Sports Bar is definitely my favourite in terms of food. They have so many options, especially for kids. Attached to the bar is an adventure playground which is accessible through a door right beside our table. So once the kids were finished, they could just play out there while us grown ups could have the chats. Normally there is an indoor play area but this is shut due to COVID.
Our next activity was short tennis followed by the pool at 4.30pm. They absolutely loved it. They spent most of their time going down the kids slides. There are about 4 to 5 of them. Chloe also enjoyed the lazy river which goes round and round. The outdoor pool is a bit warmer this time of year too than in the Summer. You can spot all the lights in the village while keeping warm in the pool which is pretty much like a hot tub.
I couldn’t find a free restaurant slot each day so we booked another take away for that weekend which was Indian this time. They have other options for children such as pasta or chips and chicken nuggets.
To walk off the food, we once again hit the village and walked around the lake to see all the other lights.
Sunday
Starting off with a nice breakfast, we went to see Santa that morning in his workshop. It’s starting off by checking in the elf at the door before continuing on through the work shop. You reach the door at the end where you slide through the piece of paper for the elves. On the other side Santa awaits you.
Obviously due to COVID Santa is behind a plexi glass but I think it was very well done even with it. The kids were able to speak to him just as normal and the photos that were taken were brilliant too without even noticing that there was a protector in front of Santa. They received their gifts and we headed on to the elves that were printing our photos. We got 2 framed ones but also purchased a snow globe with the kids and Santa in it.
Outside the workshop you can hop on a festive horse carriage that will take you through the village or hop on a horse for the kids. However all this has to be booked well in advanced. We didn’t even get a chance to grab a slot but nevertheless we always had a fun packed day anyway.
We had a bit of time in between during the day and checked out the shops. The kids could pick a toy from the “Just Kids” shops and the day before they pick a sweet from the “Treat” shop beside the pool entrance.
Lunch was meant to be in the Pancake House but it turns out I never booked it in the end. It was the cheaper lunch option instead which was sandwiches, soup and crisps in the lodge.
After our quick pitstop, it was onto playing mini golf at the waterfront. We then met my friend in the Sports Plaza and joined them at a round of pool before having dinner together in the Sports bar once again. I cannot fault the food in this place, it is so good.
We decided to have a late swim as a treat for the kids and so went to the Subtropical Paradise once again at 7pm. This also allowed me to go on the slides with my friend as well as going down the rapids once or twice. Two hours is plenty of time and I don’t think we even spent the full two hours in there the two times we went. Also I would advise to always go after 5pm if you can. The area is so much more quieter.
Monday
It was check-out day. We had to leave the lodge by 10am. So people were busy packing from about 9.30am. It involved having to walk down to the car park first and pick up the car to fill the boot again. We emptied the rubbish and bathroom bins and kept it as clean as we could. Bins are right outside the lodge. Hubby discovered the two replied by Santa on the door handle which the kids were delighted about.
We skipped breakfast in the lodge and instead had breakfast in the Sports bar one last time.
Another stroll around the village with a coffee from the coffee dock and another games session in the arcade room and we then headed home. You can stay all day if you want though, but on a Monday most activities are not on. Most people would stay for another splash in the pool but we couldn’t get the time we wanted.
Conclusion:Â The resort is just as beautiful as it was when we first visited over two years ago. I remember saying at the time that the staff were a bit slow in the Sports Bar but this has improved massively and the service is running smoothly.
Nothing to report on the lodge either, everything is present, we could have done with more toilet paper though. Lodges are nice and warm and even cosier when you have purchase some fire logs to use them in the stove.
The booking of each activity and restaurant was a bit challenging if not even stressful. We really wanted to dine in the Indian this time and also in the Italian again but spaces were gone so quick. COVID restrictions definitely didn’t make it easy for us.
We will be back.
