How to cut £900 from the cost of a Center Parcs break

Consumer champions as Which? have highlighted the simple ways you could cut £900 from the cost of a trip to Center Parcs. The popular family holiday destinations charge different amounts depending on what time of year you go - and which destination you chose.

Which? experts have shown that the difference on a four night stay between May and October this year could be as much as £900 - and potentially even more. Taking to Instgram to share their findings, they wrote: "Our research has found that families can save hundreds of pounds by heading to Center Parcs EU instead of Center Parcs UK.

"We compared the cost of a stay for a family of four in 16 Center Parcs in the UK, Belgium, Germany, France, and the Netherlands in school holidays – and the UK parks were consistently pricier. The average cost of a four-night break in the Netherlands was £549 less (prices don’t include travel costs, just accommodation). And it was still cheaper after factoring these in."

The researchers found that the savings event stay i place during school holidays - when the price of a break at Center Parcs in the UK and Ireland rises significantly.

Lauren Bell at Which? said: "Going to a Center Parcs Europe resort in the school holidays can cost less than half the price of the UK version, our snapshot research found. We compared the costs of four-night stays for a family of four across 32 parks in the UK and Europe on five dates within the UK’s school holidays — May, July, August, and October — and the UK parks were significantly pricier every time.

"The average price of a family stay for all five dates across the five UK parks was £1,435. You’ll pay a fraction of that in Germany (£857) and the Netherlands (£886). France and Belgium’s resorts were also cheaper, where a holiday was £1,098 and £1,121 respectively.

"The most significant price disparity we found between Center Parcs UK and Center Parcs Europe — two separate companies — was in the Netherlands during the October half term. This is likely due to differing school holiday calendars.

"Between 28 October and 1 November this year, the average price across the Netherlands’ nine resorts was £645, a staggering £804 cheaper than in the UK (£1,449). After factoring in ferry costs from Harwich to the Hook of Holland (£188 return), it was still £616 cheaper than a UK break."

Which? pointed out that flights from the Uk to airports near the parcs can take as little as an hour and start from £280 for a family of four. Some parks in France and Belgium are easy to reach by ferry.

Lauren added: "In the summer holidays, we found the best prices in Germany’s parks. Costs ranged from £803 to £1,175 on average over the three weeks checked, compared to the UK’s £1,409 - £1,439." But she added that most German parcs are not close to airports.

Almost all Belgian, French, Dutch and German Center Parcs also have tropical-themed pools and lots of kid-friendly activities that cost extra – but prices aren’t as steep. For example, archery costs between £20.50 and £29 at Nottinghamshire’s Sherwood Forest, compared to £13 at Belgium’s De Vossemeren.

If you want to stay in the UK, visiting Whinfell Center Parcs can cost £400 less than visiting Longleat Forest during school holidays, Which? said.