2. Bluestone Wales – Closest Alternative To Center Parcs
Bluestone Wales is probably one of the closest alternatives to Center Parcs because it has similar accommodation, facilities, and overall feel.
However, one of the biggest differences is that much of Bluestone Wales is located in wide open space, rather than in dense Forests.
Free activities include a family film night and the village green playground.
While there is a swimming pool, it is open to the public and isn’t exclusive to Bluestone guests. Unlike Center Parcs, Bluestone Wales does not allow dogs, other than assistance dogs.
Is Bluestone Wales Cheaper Than Center Parcs?
When comparing prices for the most basic type of accommodation during the May half term for a family of four, I found that Bluestone Wales was around £400 cheaper than Center Parcs.
However, as there is only one UK location, you might find travel costs outweigh any savings.
The site is large and some guests may wish to hire a golf buggy to get around which is another additional cost.
In comparison, Longleat Center Parcs provides a land train free of charge.
The cost of flexibility is also more at Bluestone – £99 compared to just £25 at Center Parcs.
We stayed at the Flagship Haven site in April 2022 and although we wouldn’t book that particular site again (due to extremely poor phone signal and no wifi in the caravans) we definitely wouldn’t discount Haven for a budget break in the future.
Haven has recently invested a lot of money in many of their sites and while the experience of being on a caravan site is different to staying in the woodland tranquillity offered by Center Parcs, they do offer many of the same onsite activities.
The majority of Haven sites are located at well-known seaside resorts and have large swimming pool complexes.
You can also book a discounted break where only your accommodation is included if you don’t think you’ll make use of the facilities such as the pool and evening entertainment.
Haven Devon Cliffs Review (April 2022)
8 Awesome Things To Do Near Haven Devon Cliffs Holiday Park
4. Center Parcs Europe
Did you know that Center Parcs has locations all across Europe? European locations include France, Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands.
European Center Parcs breaks almost always work out cheaper than a break in the UK, especially if you’re travelling during the school holidays.
However, there are additional costs to consider such as travel (flights, transfers, petrol, and ferry crossings), ensuring your family all have passports and travel insurance.
This also may not be the easiest option if you have dogs that you’d want to take with you on your break.
If you’re planning a trip to Disneyland Paris but don’t want to stay onsite, the Villages Nature Paris is close enough for a day trip or two.
Find out more: Center Parcs Europe Website
5. Ribby Hall Village, Lancashire
Ribby Hall Village is a family-owned business that provides various luxury holiday accommodation and offers many of the same facilities as Center Parcs including a swimming pool, spa, onsite restaurants and a range of activities.
Fancy a trip to the Pancake Hut, anyone?
While it’s probably one of the more expensive options on this list, there are still ways to save, especially if your school has slightly different half terms to other parts of the country or if you can split your accommodation with family and friends.
One of the benefits of staying at Ribby Hall Village is that it’s close to the coast.
So, if you’re someone who loves a stroll along the beach during their holiday, this could be a great option as none of the UK Center Parcs locations are coastal.
Another thing to consider is that you can buy lodges at Ribby Hall, something which is not possible at Center Parcs. This could be a long-term investment option if you love the location and facilities
6. Hoeseaons
Hoeseaons have a range of locations across the whole of the UK with some sites offering Center Parcs style woodland lodges.
As there are so many different sites, amenities at each can vary and of course, this is reflected in the price of breaks.
For example, not every Hoeseasons site has a swimming pool and some locations are geared more towards luxury adult breaks than family fun.
However, if it’s hot tub lodges you’re looking for then it’s worth comparing prices with Center Parcs to see if you could make a saving.
7. Butlins – Minehead, Skegness, Bognor Regis
I wasn’t sure whether to include Butlins in this list, because, let’s be honest, Butlin’s is nothing like Center Parcs. It’s not even like Center Parcs but cheaper. It is an entirely different kettle of fish.
However, Butlins does offer excellent value family breaks so if you’re looking for cheap and cheerful, it might be worth considering
We booked a last-minute Butlins break for October half-term 2022 and I’ll admit I was dubious about our stay.
The price difference between Butlins and Center Parcs (which would have been my first choice) was almost £1500 and I couldn’t justify the extra when comparing what was on offer at each resort.
Plus with Butlins, we were able to book half-board dining which saved us money on eating out.
And do you know what? We had a lovely time.
So much so that we went back again in October 2023.
While the swimming pools at Butlin’s are never going to compare to the Subtropical Swimming Paradise at Center Parcs, the amount of free activities and entertainment on-site more than makes up for it.
Just like Haven, Butlin’s are also investing millions of pounds on improving their sites, including the opening of huge and inclusive Sky Parks this summer.
While I’m the first to admit some of the accommodation at Butlin’s is quite dated, there are plenty of more modern offerings too, for example, the Lakeside Villas at Minehead.
Plus, if you’re on an extremely tight budget, room only for a Monday – Friday term time starts from as little as £60 for a family of four.
