GETAWAYS
THE ULTIMATE
FAMILY SHORT BREAK
Center Parcs
Start with a leisurely stroll through the forest, throw in
some fun-filled afternoons splashing in the indoor pool,
add a dash of rock climbing and 10-pin bowling, then top
it all off with delicious meals out and a deluxe massage,
and what do you have? The ultimate family short break at
Center Parcs, of course. BY DONNA MARTIN
I’m not one to be tricked by clever holiday TV
adverts like the well-known Center Parcs
commercial. You know the one – it paints a
perfect picture of a weekend with the precise
balance of relaxation and adventure; kids and
parents getting along, spa treatments, good food,
you know what I mean. I wasn’t falling for it.
But now that I’ve been, I can say for certain,
the ads are real! They’re really real!
Set in rural Suffolk, Center Parcs Elveden
Forest is truly any family’s perfect weekend
escape, even during the chilly winter months. I
know it sounds cliché, but it really does cater for
everyone. Mums, dads, kids, grandparents,
friends, couples, singles – even dogs will have
a whale of a time at Center Parcs.
We arrived on a sunny Friday afternoon
and were checked in, directed to our villa and
unpacked without a hitch. Our three-bedroom
‘Woodland Lodge’ incorporates the very latest
in modern interior design with new furnishings,
features and appliances. It was equipped with
plenty of bells and whistles including a full kitchen
(even a dishwasher!), bathroom and separate
toilet, TV & DVD player, fireplace and our own
private patio with BBQ area.
With over 200 activities to choose from,
you would find it quite hard to run out of things
to do at Center Parcs. Whether you’re an
adventure junkie or fancy some R&R on your
holiday, you will (and I mean will) find something
you’ll love.
On our break, we chose to go bowling,
tested our aim at archery, raced for the prize on
the surprisingly challenging treasure trail, and of
course spent much of our time at Center Parcs’
pièce de résistance: the Subtropical Swimming
Paradise.
I would have been more than happy to
spend my entire holiday at this massive indoor
water attraction, and probably would have if my
kids didn't need to eat or sleep. Spend hours in
the 29.5ºC main pool; soak in one of the four
hot whirlpools; enjoy the new Lagoon Pool for
relaxing; try out the white water rapids; play in
the fabulous Venture Cover toddler area (which
was just as fun for me as for my 2-year-old);
or be thrilled on the world-first Tropical Cyclone
- a two-million pound, 30MPH zero-gravity
water ride.
When I was able to coax the kids out of the
pool for some much-need sustenance, we were
spoilt for choice. Center Parcs Elveden Forest
has plenty of restaurants including a pub, a
gourmet burger house, a sports café, Starbucks,
a supermarket for meals at home and a variety
of take away options for lazy nights in. You can
even pre-order a Welcome or Family Grocery
Pack which includes essentials such as butter,
croissants, eggs, bacon, bread and milk – all
waiting for you in your kitchen on arrival.
Our favourite eatery was Huck’s American
Bar & Grill, not only because it offers a menu
bursting with naughty, yummy, diet-killing treats,
but also because it has a special children’s buffet
where kids can help themselves to their mostloved foods without the need to wait. And what’
s
more, when the kids are done (in our case before
our meal was even served), the kids can go have
a ball in the large indoor play area or on Huck’s
collection of Apple Macs while parents enjoy a
little alone time.
The hubby and I were lucky enough to
escape for a morning and visit Aqua Sana – the
on-site luxurious spa tucked away on the Elveden
estate. The spa boasts a spectacular menu of
indulgent treatments and relaxation options
including an aqua meditation room, Tyrolean
sauna, reflexology foot baths, Indian blossom
steam room, Japanese salt steam bath and
outdoor heated spa pool. We enjoyed a Harmony
Dual Treatment – a great way to enjoy some time
together getting pampered with a back, neck
and shoulder massage and a prescriptive facial.
It was just what we needed to unwind and destress before heading off to another Center Parcs
adventure.
By the way, for all you parents out there,
Center Parcs offers a childcare service at the
Time Out Clubhouse, where your little ones will
be looked after and entertained while you enjoy
some time at the spa, a meal out at your own
pace (no food fights involved) or to just chill out.
Center Parcs was, like I said, just like their
adverts. It was the anti-stress holiday (yes, there
is such a thing), and it left our whole family feeling
just plain happy with life and each other We were
.
planning a longer family holiday to Spain next
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