a frosy idyll

• By Alison
• 24 February, 2008
• Comments Off on a frosy idyll

I think that going on holiday in February in Britain is always going to carry the risk of freezing conditions. Canoeing and sailing were out of the question.
But overall, a five day jaunt at Center Parcs turned out to be quite pleasant.

I don’t think I’d rush back, not unless the cost was drastically reduced. But having said that, there were a lot of nice aspects to the whole
experience. The indoor pool area was perfect for the girls, with two small slides, a salt water pool that went outside, and salt water rapids, a lazy river and
wave pool. There were also hot pools dotted about the place, and a toddler area with another two mini slides.

The villa was clean and tidy, with crisp white linen and towels. They had that scent-free starchedness that is the hallmark of hotel pressing. The layout was
curious, with the bathroom leading off the back of the kitchen, and our bedroom off the side. The toilet was back out past the front door (in order i guess to
fulfill the two doors between kitchen and bathroom rule). Each villa had bike stands out the front for locking your bikes up to, and around the main are where
huge bike parking areas. The whole place was designed to be ridden around.

We booked the girls in to the time out clubhouse for 3 hours one afternoon, while harried husband and I retreated to the spa for a glorious two hours of hot
and sweating sitting. (In small smelly rooms with other people!) They had a huge choice of steam and heat rooms, including a balinese steam room, a japanese
steam room, greek herbal bath, traditional sauna and Indian steam room. The spa was in an outside courtyard in the centre of the complex, which meant going
outside to get in it. I think it was about 6 degrees C out there! Once in it was lovely, with massive taps pouring water over you, as well as bubbles and jets.

We managed to stick to our guns, buying our shopping on the way up rather than in their overpriced mini mart, and only eating out one night for dinner. We had
our lunch on the last day at cafe rouge, but the children’s play area broke as we walked in, and we didn’t get served for about 40 minutes. That
wasn’t too pleasant.

I can’t see us going again in the near future, but maybe once the girls are old enough to take part in some of the adventure activities we’d consider
it. If we ever do go again, we need to remember that on the last day, the pool is NOT the place to be – as everyone else thinks that’s a great thing to do
after checking out too. It was overcrowded and difficult.

I have to say though – the staff were very friendly. And we did have a lovely time.