i think centre parcs is fantastic but as i have a son who is pre-school i can go when it is cheaper. it would probably work out expensive if you have older kids. it is very relaxing but i would take lots of food with you as its too expensive to eat out. take waterproofs and wellies to enjoy the woodlands.

I feel like an expert on Center Parcs Europe in the Netherlands - over the last 9 years we've been to each of the 'Original' parcs at least once, some several times. It started when we wanted to get away the year after the birth & death of our 1st daughter, and that happened over the Xmas / New Year period - so what better place to go than a site full of children? Well - the kids were not english speaking & Xmas is slightly lower key there - it worked well for us, and as an added bonus, there was a really cold spell. The lake at de Huttenheugte froze over - not just skating on it but I was jumping up and down on it (and I'm quite heavy). New Year is a very big celebration there. Lots of fireworks - but sadly no longer offically provided by CP (just all the guests). We've since been back with our 2 children (now 8 & 7) and to Longleat (much closer to us, but we've not been for 6 years or so). Living in the west country (Glos), with my mother in Surrey, we tend to go now via the Channel Tunnel, stopping off en-route. To break the journey, this time we're booked into a hotel near Brugge on the way out & Calais on the way back. We have done the journey in one day quite easily, but thsi way you get most of the first day there, get chance to stop at a supermarket (Albert Hijn) en route, and on the last day have a leisurely pack up while the children are in the kids club, rather than having to be away at a silly time. Back to basics. Center Parcs (CP) in the UK is now run by a separate company from EU, but they do still have a working relationship. Prices in the European parcs are a lot cheaper than UK - at least 40% - however, even then different nationalities pay different prices (supposedly to cover the cost of extra language translation, etc). 3 years or so ago, CP bought up 5 other parcs - 3 in NL, 2 in Germany - these are marketed as CP Free Spirit or Sea Spirit, and are cheaper than the Original parcs. They have less facilities, I believe. As well as the 5 'Original' parcs in Netherlands, there's 2 in Belgium (very close to the dutch border, south of Eindhoven), a couple in France & one in Germany. As in England, each parc has different features. If you can get hold of a dutch language brouchure, there's a handy * system for quality of facilities at each parc (I have one if anyone wants to know). For kids, there is a show called Pe Pe Te Ve - with 4 characters; whilst the show is in dutch (with little bits of german in some parcs), there's a little English especially if they know theres English children in, and are very easy to follow the plot - my children love the characters (all of whom can speak english outside the show). They run the childrens disco, and pop up around the site from time to time. The same actors are also involved in the adult evening shows - basically pop songs with a linking theme - the last show I saw there was entirely in English. While the shows are late, many children stay up to watch. Can be naff, but mildly entertaining - or at least, different! Most also have small 'kinderboerderij' - childrens farms - with toy tractors, goats, sheep, calves, chickens, rabbits. De Eemhof is not very far from Amsterdam - close enough to drive to the Ajax stadium & get the park & ride in for a day trip. Many of the shops are 'outside' - off a courtyard by the pool. The sports center is not too far away. We were on our way there when the Essex parc burnt down - bizarre, as de Eemhof had just reopened after a fire, and we ended up in the company of many English people. Special feature - sailing is available just outside the parc. Surroundings: flat. In fact, most are flat, though there are some slight hills at Het Heijderbos - well, bumps - enough to make a one gear bike annoying. Stars for kids: 0-4 3*, 4-12 4*, 12-17 5*. Het Heijderbos - to east of the country, just below Nijmegen (but in season, take a trip to the Arnhem Open Air Museum - would have kept the children occupied for 2 days - just avoid driving past the zoo first, with its huge play area). Special feature - Jungle Dome - a separate dome with hugh adventure playground & tropical vegetation, small cafe. Next door is sports hall, although that is now mainly kiddies play area - quite good, though (and a bar for a quick coffee). I think this one also has a red & black/white squirrel sanctuary! Stars for kids - (same ages as above - 3*, 4*, 4*) De Kempervennen - just below Eindhoven & probably the closest to UK, so quite a few UK visitors. This was one of the first Center Parcs. Special Feature - Indoor Ski Slope (real snow) - so available all year round. There's also a padi diving school. Open Air Ice rink in nearby Valkenswaard over Xmas. Also use Valkenswaard for shopping, rather than Eindhoven - smaller, but good selection, including an Albert Hijn supermarket (lovely selection of ready prepeared ingredients, rather than so many ready meals). We've been at least 3 times to this one, including Millennium New Year (brilliant fireworks at midnight). Children: 3*, 3*, 4*. De Huttenheughte - North East of NL- haven't been there for 9 years, so may have changed. 25m pool as well as traditional CP pool. Chinese restaurant. Observatory, play ship on lake, close to german border (cycling distance). The lake is very large & takes some time to walk round, & I think this is the most spread out of the parcs. Children 4*, 4*, 4*. Het Meerdal - Just to east of Eindhoven. in-line Skating in summer, ice skating in winter. Nothing really unusual about this parc. 4*, 4*, 3*. We went to Erperheide in Belguim (between Eindhoven & Hasselt) for last Xmas / New Year - A big indoor play area occupied us quite well. Not too far from the Belgium National Gin Museum in Hasselt (closed in January)! 5*, 5*, 3* Restaurants. There's the 'S' restaurant - Sapinnier / Sabine.... which is the ' top notch' one - however, note that they are more laid back that the Longleat one - waiters are not in DJ's, although the food is as good. H - Harolds / Henry's - is the family restaurant - Tex mex.There's also a buffet restaurant with a different theme each night (and great breakfast buffets). There's always a Pannekoek Huisje for pancakes & poffertjes (small puffy pancakes) and a burger kiosk - frites met mayo/fritsaus. Also available at some are pizzas delivered to your door. You can also book a fondue or hot-stone for your cottage, supplied with all the meats (yuck). Some cottages (VIP) come with a free delivery of rolls to the door each day for breakfast, and this can be arranged for others. Sports. People go on holiday to relax, so there's less emphasis on sports. There's say 8 tennis courts when the UK would have 16. But it is still there if you need to work up an appetite. I'm told that when the first one opened in the UK they were stunned that all the facilities got booked up so early & they had to build more. Hints for Xmas/New Year - get bookings in for restaurants before you go (you should be sent a pack a couple of weeks before hand detailing the opening times) - especially if you have special diet needs. We're veggie, which is no problem in Netherlands at all, but the message didn't get through for our millennium dinner - so a very panicked head chef rustled something unconventional but interesting up! Also book up baby sittters if you need one - English speakers can be found - very reasonable prices for an evening out. Down side: Once we had a cottage that stank of pet urine. We had to abandon one bedroom (luckily we'd booked a room each for the children), but the park was full, so we could not be moved. However, they did their best and we got a free meal & toys for the children, amongst other things - that's our only bad experience. Booking. When I last booked, the European web site had odd little discrepancies - different prices depending upon which language you booked in and where you came from. I've been told that there's an extra amount added on if you're not from the country of the park you're booking - to allow for multi-lingual staff costs, translation, etc. Over the years th is amount has decreased. Answer - learn dutch (surprisingly easy) & book from a dutch friends address! Ja, dat klopt? Uitstekend! So hope that's useful. Mark Rogers

I'm thinking of going to one of the UK Centreparcs during Spring time. Does anyone know which one is the best? Thanks

In our experience Elveden Forest suits us best. The pool complex is on a par with Longleat, the accommodation is clean, (unlike some of the UK parcs), the outdoor play areas are slightly better, and the distances between attractions are shorter - all 15 mins walk or less, (useful with toddlers...although they do love going on their bike seats too!)

We went to the Longleat Centreparcs with our two children then aged 8 and 5 and loathed it with a passion ! Nothing would induce us to return. We thought it was poor value for money, booking activities weeks before you arrive is a complete pain, and the food was expensive and artificial. All in all if you fancy spending a long weekend at Gatwick Village then this is the perfect place. If not avoid it ! We vowed "Never again !"

Not helpful, waste of time. Learn to look after customer.

I'm trying to find out whether grandparents can visit the park for my sons birthday tea. Does anyone have experience of bringing visitors on site?

We have been every year for the last 14 years - to all four of the resorts - Elvedon, Longleat, Sherwood and Whinfell Forest. Elvedon is the one we return to more often though. Its great, i cant sing its praises highly enough! Take your own wine into the bars and restaurants, they dont mind uncorking it for you and providing glasses - a great money saving tip!

What are the alternatives to Centre Parcs in the UK? I heard that there was another similar type of holiday park here.

Yes SMAC Grandparents can visit as a visitor. You can buy your visitor passes at the information centers onsite or can probably pre-book on the phone. I think it was ?13 per adult for the visitor pass when we went. One tip though is if you look at the maximum capacity of your villa - if you are not filled to full capacity you can add their names on for no extra charge - just explain that they are arriving on that particular day.