ketchup

A family who visited Center Parcs Elveden Forest in the UK during the school summer holidays in 2024 has shared their brutally honest review of the popular holiday resort after spending nearly £2,700

A mum who forked out nearly £2,700 for a week-long summer break at Center Parcs has voiced her astonishment at the prices in the on-site supermarket, particularly for a bottle of ketchup. Vicky Smith, speaking on her YouTube channel, gave a candid breakdown of the costs, cautioning that while the experience can be enchanting for kids, the food prices on site might give parents a jolt.

The family, who holidayed at Center Parcs Elveden Forest in August 2024 with their two children aged seven and nine, had strong views about whether the popular UK holiday resort truly justifies its hefty price tag. “We have just come back from a week’s holiday at Center Parcs with our two children aged seven and nine,” Vicky detailed, stating their intention was to provide “very-very honest views on staying at Center Parcs” for families contemplating a booking.

The primary concern, she highlighted, was the expense. Visiting during the school summer holidays meant dealing with peak prices, which they described as unavoidable for many families.

“We went during August, which is the school summer holidays, which is when Center Parcs — and, let’s face it, all other holidays — are at their most expensive, and you really do pay a premium here,” she remarked.

The family lodged in a new-style Executive Lodge with two bedrooms, which cost them £2,648 for the week. This figure didn’t cover food or additional activities, with only access to the swimming pool included in the accommodation cost, reports the Express.

“I checked how much exactly the same accommodation would cost us during September once the kids were back at school, and it was over £1,000 cheaper,” she revealed, describing the price gap as “really significant.”

However, there were upsides. Entry to the outdoor playground — revamped in 2023 — is included, and it went down a storm with their youngsters.

“There’s a really nice mixture in that playground for younger and slightly older kids,” Vicky noted, highlighting climbing frames, swings and slides that kept the children occupied for hours.

The swimming pool also proved to be a major highlight. “The swimming pool is amazing. I can’t say enough good things about the swimming pool,” she enthused, explaining that unlimited access, from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m., was part of the package.

They suggested families could easily fill an entire week at Center Parcs by making use of the pool and park amenities without splashing out on additional activities.

Nevertheless, the mum cautioned that to experience the “full experience,” most families will be tempted to book activities — and that’s when expenses can spiral rapidly. “Those activities really, really add up,” she warned, questioning whether it represents genuine affordability and value for money.

Food shopping on site emerged as one of the most contentious elements of their visit. The Park Market, situated in the Village Square, offers everything from fresh meat to ready meals, which Vicky appreciated as a practical alternative to restaurants and takeaways.

However, the costs left her gobsmacked. “The prices in this supermarket are wow, just wow,” she remarked.

One product particularly caught her attention: “They were charging £4 for a bottle of ketchup.”

She also drew attention to an £8 disposable barbecue as shockingly pricey, alongside inflated costs for toiletries including shampoo and conditioner. In total, she reckoned prices were “anything from 10% to 40% more compared to normal supermarket prices.”

Whilst she recognised Center Parcs was “capitalising on the fact that they have a captive audience,” she provided straightforward guidance to fellow families. “Bring key supplies with you,” she advised, reeling off essentials including milk, spreads, table sauces and barbecue supplies.

The family made a pit stop at a local supermarket roughly 10 minutes away before their arrival, loading up on fresh fruit and children’s snacks. This approach enabled them to avoid depending excessively on the Park Market — a tactic they claimed made a significant difference to their total expenditure.