Family holidays can be expensive, with week-long breaks in the height of the summer holidays costing multiple thousands of pounds. For many families, the sunny abroad holiday may be swapped for something a little closer to home, but these staycations can be costly.
Enjoying a bit of fresh air in the adventure haven that is Center Parcs is a fond memory for many. Learning to swim, doing archery or just playing in woodland adventure parks are big hits on the nostalgia train.
But the costs can quickly mount up and often exceed those of a summer holiday abroad. So does it make sense to get the best of both worlds, mixing the fun of Center Parcs but heading abroad?
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For many parents, picking a Center Parcs abroad is easily the right choice. Parents on Mumsnet agree that most sites have fabulous facilities and are surrounded by luscious nature.
One user said: “We’ll always pick Center Parcs abroad over the UK now. Most of the time they work out much cheaper and the weather is obviously better.”
Another added: “My children loved doing the spa days as well as eating at lovely buffets and restaurants. It was the best holiday we’ve ever had.”
Here, we’ve compared the cost of a seven-night stay for two adults and two children aged five and 10, from July 31 to August 7. All prices are correct at the time of writing but these will be subject to change depending on availability and demand.
United Kingdom
France
Center Parcs Le Lac d’Ailette - €1,683
Ferry crossing from Dover to Calais with your own vehicle - £185
The Netherlands
Center Parcs Limburgse Peel - €1,317
Ferry crossing from Newcastle to Amsterdam with four-bed cabin and your own vehicle - £1,139
Belgium
Center Parcs Erperheide - €1,564
Fly from Manchester Airport to Brussels - £190 with Ryanair
Car hire from Brussels airport - £300 with Europcar
Germany
Center Parcs Bispinger Heide - €1,521
Fly from London Stanstead to Hamburg - £277 with Ryanair
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