With the summer break just around the corner, And while a UK holiday park like Center Parcs may seem like a seemingly easy, effortless, and no-brainer option, it may well burn a hole in your pocket.
Prices at Center Parcs during the summer months start from a whopping £1,500 a week for the lowest category of accommodation, going up to as high as £9,000 and beyond. While the family-friendly holiday parkand top-notch facilities, they come at a price. Especially for families looking to book holidays on a budget.
Fear not, because we’ve got a list of cheaper alternatives in gorgeous locations that are a fraction of the cost. From the stunning locales of the Rhône-Alpes in France to the stunning Moselle Valley in Germany, all the way to the vibrant Costa Dorada in Spain — Mirror Travel has collated an affordable list of family-friendly holiday parks that you can visit this summer.
What’s great is even if you aren’t looking to head down during the summer months, these family-friendly holiday parks are, on average, 30 to 70 per cent cheaper than Center Parcs at most times.
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Location: Rhône-Alpes, France
Dates: July-August
Group Size: Family of four (two adults, two children)
Prices: Starting from £733 for a mobile home
Things to do: Enjoy an outdoor swimming complex and a diverse range of activities such as football, tennis, volleyball, the classic French sport Pétanque, a plethora of sports tournaments, shows, live music concerts, and Aquagym lessons. There are also theme parties, karaoke, and leisure activities in the surrounding local area, including horse riding, golf, a treetop adventure park, canoeing/kayaking, and fishing. For children, there's a Kid’s Club with treasure hunts, sports competitions, and dance parties, ensuring fun for the whole family.
Location: Normandy, France
Dates: July-August
Group Size: Family of four (two adults, two children)
Prices: Starting from £554 for a stylish range of mobile homes or super-spacious pitches for your own touring caravan, tourer, or tent
Things to do: Set in the heart of Normandy’s countryside, Domaine de Litteau offers fun for all ages with fishing ponds, a covered pool complex, an outdoor play area with BMX tracks, climbing ropes, and a zip wire. A mini-farm, day and evening entertainment, several sports activities, game rooms, and a mini-market add to the excitement. The location is ideal for exploring Normandy, with beautiful beaches and historic sites like Bayeux and Cherbourg, home to the incredible Cite de la Mer with a three-level aquarium, nuclear submarine, and Titanic exhibition, all nearby.
Location: Moselle Valley, Germany
Dates: July-August
Group Size: Family of four (two adults, two children)
Prices: Starting from £761 for a six-person mobile home
Things to do: Enjoy the indoor swimming pool with water attractions, an indoor playground with a climbing wall (chargeable), mini golf, and bowling (for an additional fee). Savour culinary delights at the brasserie or snack bar, and participate in sporting competitions at the Sports Arena. The park also features a game park with a deer enclosure where visitors can feed the deer. Kids will love the bug mansion, Bollo Club, indoor play paradise, ball pit, and air trampoline.
Location: Vilanova i la Geltrú, Costa Dorada, Spain
Dates: July-August
Group Size: Family of four (two adults, two children)
Prices: Starting from £362 for a 2-bedroom comfort home
Things to do: With multiple pool complexes and a wellness center (including a Jacuzzi and sauna for an additional fee), there's plenty of relaxation and fun to be had at Vilanova Park. Other activities include tennis, table tennis, boules, football, and volleyball. Enjoy twisting waterslides, crazy golf, and a jumping pillow on site as well. The nearby Port Aventura theme park offers even more excitement.
Location: Limburg, The Netherlands
Dates: July-August
Group Size: Family of four (two adults, two children)
Prices: Starting from £1,152 for a family of four (2 adults, 2 children)
Things to do: Features include an outdoor pool, Escapebox ‘pyramid’, sauna, and exciting activities such as laser gaming, bubble football, children’s shows, and a bat safari. The Fun Heroes (travelling entertainers who come to the park) and Fun Crew provide family-friendly entertainment for all age groups. Nearby attractions include the caves of Valkenburg, Natural History Museum Maastricht, the Steam Train 'Miljoenenlijn', and Castle Hoensbroek.
In comparison, Center Parcs comes with a hefty price tag, although it has top-tier facilities and locations within the UK, which would be extremely convenient and hassle-free for families in the UK to travel to.
Location: Whinfell Forest (Cumbria), Sherwood Forest (Nottinghamshire), Longleat Forest (Wiltshire), Elveden Forest (Suffolk), Woburn Forest (Bedfordshire)
Dates: July-August
Group Size: Family of four (two adults, two children)
Prices: Starting from around £1,728 for a 2-room lodge
Things to do: The Subtropical Swimming Paradise offers activities like mini-jet skis, Tropical Cyclone, Lazy River, Typhoon, Aqua Jetting. There's also a luxurious Forest Spa. You can also enjoy cycling, shopping, kids' play areas, and a variety of activities like archery, squad bikes, laser clay shootouts, paintball, owl encounters, building a nature house, teddy bear making, woodcrafts, pottery, and cupcake making. Water sport activities include kayaking, katakanu, paddleboarding, and the AquaParc for an adventure-filled experience.
