Center Parcs has announced it will order holidaymakers to leave its UK sites on the day of the Queen’s funeral, leaving some customers fuming. The company is being inundated with complaints after it revealed that its five parks will close for 24 hours from 10am on Monday.
Guests part-way through holidays will be forced to spend the night elsewhere or go home early. Those due to arrive on Monday are being given the opportunity to begin their breaks a day later, reports NottinghamshireLive.
Center Parcs said in a statement that it made the decision “as a mark of respect and to allow as many of our colleagues as possible to be part of this historic moment”.
It added: “We hope our guests will understand our decision to support our Queen on her final journey. All guests impacted by the closure will receive an email today explaining the options available.”
Customers who want to cancel their holidays are being offered a full refund, with partial refunds for those whose breaks will be shorter than booked. Many affected people expressed their anger on Center Parcs’ Facebook page.
One wrote: “We were five related families getting together for our annual family holiday – with two small children and two dogs, three hours from home! Where the hell are we supposed to go for one night?! It’s that or cancel some or all of the much-anticipated holiday!
“Sorry, but this is an awful, awful, decision that has left us devastated. By all means close the restaurants and activities, but let us stay on the park!!”
Another wrote: “Center Parcs have left us in a right mess. Party of six – including one toddler and one adult with special needs. Driving four hours for a Friday to Friday break in (a) four-bedroomed cabin.
“Get kicked out of our accommodation at 10am Monday and can’t return until the same time on Tuesday. What the hell are we supposed to do???!!!”
On Twitter, another customer said: "Very angry about this - we are not travelling directly to you, so this has left us stranded half way up the country without accommodation for a night. 30% offered is nowhere near close enough to covering the extra costs."
One man said: "We are at the park now, and are staying for two weeks. What do you propose we do on Monday as we have nowhere to go, and it’s too far for us to drive home, and then drive back the next day?"
Another said: "Pretty disgusted at this. Had my week booked since Jan and you're now telling us less than a week before? Not ideal.
"If you're taking a day off our holiday I would rather be allowed to stay the Friday night than get a 30% discount. And if we decide to go ahead with the holiday we now have to cancel our Tuesday's activities so we have two days to squeeze everything in? I understand this is a ‘historic occasion’ but not all of us are fussed and not everywhere has to close, plenty other places staying open."
