Inside Our Suitcase

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Read our full disclosure. I have been travelling from the UK to Orlando, Florida for over a decade. First with my partner, and now with our two children. It’s safe to say I know about the “hidden costs” of visiting. None of these hidden costs are scams. They’re simply how American pricing works.

I’ve been visiting Center Parcs for the best part of a decade. I’ve visited as a couple, with friends and family and now with kids. I’ve also visited during different seasons; especially in winter where it’s typically a little cheaper than in the summer months. For me, there’s nothing quite like lighting the fire in the lodge on a cold evening. It makes the whole break feel incredibly cosy. That said, with young children I’ve found the rain more of a frustration than I used to.

You can take your own food and drink to Center Parcs, and I’d strongly recommend that you do. I’ve been visiting Center Parcs for the best part of a decade and taking our own food has always been one of the most effective ways we’ve been able to save money without compromising on the break itself. There are no restrictions on what food or drink you can bring to Center Parcs. Alcohol is permitted, as are soft drinks, snacks and full meals.

I’ve been visiting Center Parcs for the best part of a decade. Sherwood Forest first, then Whinfell Forest repeatedly, across different seasons, different group sizes and different stages of life. If you’ve never been to Center Parcs and are wondering what it’s actually like, how a Center Parcs break works and whether it’s worth it, this guide covers everything you need to know before you book. Center Parcs is a brand of short-break holiday villages set within areas of natural woodland.

Activities at Center Parcs open 12 weeks before your arrival date. Popular activities sell out quickly, particularly during peak season and at the most sought-after times of day. Book as soon as your window opens. There are four ways to book: Online via the Center Parcs website Via the Center Parcs app By phone In person at the village The same booking system covers activities, restaurants, spa sessions and treatments. The easiest way to view and book Center Parcs activities is online.

Free WiFi is available across every Center Parcs village, including all lodges, restaurants, cafes and bars. You can even connect in the car park. Here is everything you need to know before your break. There is no charge and no password. The network is called “Center Parcs Guest WiFi.” When you connect, your device will redirect you to a browser where you accept the terms and conditions. Once you have done that, you are online for the duration of your stay.

I’ve been visiting Center Parcs for the best part of a decade. Sherwood Forest first, then Whinfell Forest repeatedly. First as a couple, then with extended family, then with a baby and now with a toddler. I’ve stayed in standard Woodland Lodges and Forest Lodges, visited in term time and school holidays, in summer and winter. That breadth of experience is what I’m drawing on here. This isn’t a review of one trip.

Cycling is one of the best parts of a Center Parcs break. The villages are largely car-free during your stay, the paths are well maintained and children can ride around freely without traffic to worry about. We have visited Center Parcs more than ten times across multiple villages and we have brought or hired bikes on every trip. Bringing your own bike is the most cost-effective option.

I was planning a short work trip to Paris to film some content and since I’d be travelling from London I looked up the price of the Eurostar. The cheapest standard ticket I could find on the date I needed was £204. I nearly booked a flight instead, since they were around £50. But after adding on the time and money of getting to and from the airport both in London and in Paris I went back to look at ways I could potentially get my Eurostar tickets cheaper.

Center Parcs pricing during school holidays is, frankly, frustrating. The same lodge, the same duration, the same site — and you can easily end up paying three to five times more simply because it falls in half term or the summer holidays. Having visited Center Parcs more than ten times, including during school holidays and outside them, I understand the frustration.