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 in 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.