Thinking caps on please

There is no point staying in an (expensive) cabin at somewhere like a Centre Parc if you are going to drive off elsewhere for 5 days out of 7.

Better to stay somewhere else I think.
It depends on your family preferences.
Only the OP actually knows what her various family members generally like to do when on holiday.

Monica have you been The sites are acres and acres it’s far from confining and you aren’t locked in 🤣you can go out and about to explore the bigger area if you want I don’t find a weekend long enough they are all located in such beautiful green places forests etc and you are quite free to go to the historic town next door if you want to.

icanhandthemback

The thing with places like CenterParcs is that you don't have to do the things on site. We used to go with other families and they were very activity enthusiastic but we used to head out to see the local life. We'd meet up in the evenings for the buffet meal and have a great time. For years we did "Sun Holidays" in the various hideous holiday camps and just used them as a base.

Simply put, our family are happier, around historic attractions, following personal passions. We are not inactive, we count a wild swimmer, kayaka and cyclists among our merry crew, but for most of us our passions are bette catered for in a cultural setting.

Every person's, family's holiday choices are based on those of the sum of the individuals and we choose our destinations accordingly, but ti is always interesting to know what other peole do, just in case they have discovered that we would enjoy and did not know about.

The thing with places like CenterParcs is that you don't have to do the things on site. We used to go with other families and they were very activity enthusiastic but we used to head out to see the local life. We'd meet up in the evenings for the buffet meal and have a great time. For years we did "Sun Holidays" in the various hideous holiday camps and just used them as a base.

We took our 2 sons, their partners and our grandchildren to a hotel in Portugal 2 years ago. It was far cheaper than a holiday in the UK. The grandchildren were quite happy playing in the hotel pool all day and didn't need entertaining (so no need for expensive trips out). Everyone got on and Mums and Dads appreciated a rest as members of the family took turns in seeing to the children. We've just booked another trip for us all - we've picked a hotel with a 'waterpark' in the hotel grounds, so don't expect to see much of the children! Granted, it's not like the 'couples' hotels me and DH would usually choose, but it will be lovely to see the family enjoying themselves.

There is no accounting for taste, but I would find an extended family holiday that was largely confined to one site, claustrophobic. Not everyone wants a holiday of physical activity.

The advantage of choosing an historic town, and having a town centre location, is that the range of activities available is varied and I did not have to do anything to entertain our guests beyond collecting a huge mound of guide books and leaflets, The active ones found activities, bike hire, swimming pools, walking and the older less active found gardens, museums, shops very close at hand - and everything inbetween. But as I said it i a matter of personal preference.

I'm with M0nica on this one.

Centre Parks is loved by many I know - but not my choice to be honest and with lots of children it is very expensive if the things they want to do most are paid-for "add-ons".
Almost all activities are an additional cost Archery, Climbing, Bowling, Gym - and even crafts.

You also have, in my experience, to book these in advance and this makes it difficult I feel.

My friend loves them however two days there is quite enough for me.

Admittedly if you are wanting to use the pool area it's good but (the two I've been to) are massively overcrowded in season.

There are so many things you can do at centreparcs Monica have you ever been? As well as all the fantastic pools pampering, hot tubs, saunas steam rooms etc etc there are lovely walks and lots of wildlife to be close to and amongst You can have cycles if you don’t want to walk around There are shops, restaurants, coffee shops etc There are inside pursuits as well …table tennis, climbing walls, volleyball courts, billiards Etc The chalets are really lovely with everything possible you could want / need You just take your own food they aren’t small we had a three bedroomed one and everyone did their own thing if they wanted then came together evenings to play simple card games or watch TV
The little muntjacs squirrels ducks and geese came up to the door to say hello and ( look for handouts of course)
I definitely recommend it for all ages we were three different generations

A lovely cruise with DH and then a family and friends meal when you come back.

I would be wary of a holiday in somewhere like Centerparcs bcause a centre like that is not necessarily everybodies idea of an enjoyable holiday.

We chose a holiday in the centre of a historic town because people could go off and do what they liked. The twocycling enthusiasts hired bikes on three days to see the surrounding countryside, we took our grandson, who is animal mad to a nearby safari park. Other people went to museums, went swimming and enjoying a spa day. Everyone found something they enjoyed and did it on their own, or with a different subset of people each day.

It meant that there were no rows or tensions because we were not all together all the time, with some people resenting it.

Turdiplonk46

I don’t know what your budget is but a lot of the suggestions above sound like they might cost quite a bit. We’ve just come back from a half term break with our adult kids and their families at a CenterParcs in Belgium. It was half the price of a UK CenterParcs and the whole family loved every minute. There was the usual range of activities you’d find in the UK, a great pool complex of course, and the vibe was so friendly and relaxed. We all said we’d go again. Highly recommended and definitely cheaper than a cruise!

This would be my choice too.
We have been to CP in Belgium quite a few times: loads to do, relaxed and much cheaper than in the UK. One time we paid for our travel by ferry with Tesco points, so a real bargain!

SpanielCuddler

In England taking holiday in term time will not be authorised. Any unauthorised absence of more than 5 days will lead to a fine. Parents will probably be aware of this and take it into consideration.
You could always have a big family meal out and the cruise or special holiday with DH.

This depends on your local authority. Some authorities will fine for 1 days unauthorised absence. There's no 10 session rule anymore. Also be aware the LA can choose to go straight to court for prosecution.

My friend did this, went overseas for their golden wedding The two daughters fell out big time, ending in one storming off home with husband and children in tow and them not talking for years My poor friend and husband wished they d just just gone away alone
However that’s just a negative example Im sure you ll have a lovely time
Some of us went to centre parcs for my 80 th one daughter two grandkids and partners so 6 of us went, all of us paid our share and all brought food (my other two children and grandchildren live overseas)

Not sure what you mean Momac

That’s what most people say when they are trying to justify taking their children out of education.

My son’s parents in law did this. About 12 of them over 3 generations went on a beach holiday in a hotel in the Azores. The parents in law paid. My son wasn’t at all appreciative and was resentful he had to use his holiday days on something not of his choice. I felt very disappointed in him and stored the info in order never to suggest anything like that myself.

I rented 2 large cabins at center parcs for us for my 60th midweek in the school holidays was great we only used the free facilities and the most basic cabins which were perfectly fine for us . Had bbqs outside a couple of days made our own breakfasts and a couple meals out .

Everyone arrived separately: some flew, some trained, some drove.

We mostly all ate together in the evenings and each family unit took responsibility for shopping and cooking on a particular day - and they had fun planning menus, going to markets and preparing a meal.

Whatever was spent on food, the receipts went into a basket and we did a bit of balancing out on the last day.

Sometimes we went out as a group and other times each family went out and did something they enjoyed, then we all came back together in the evening.

It was a joyous time for all.

After my OH died 5 years ago I treated all the family to a holiday by renting a large property in Provence using this site: www.provenceholidays.com/en/

It was my way of saying thank you for all their support.

I rented a 12 bed property near Bonnieux and it was magic.

18 months time is April, so possibly Easter holidays. Maybe rent somewhere in France for a week and invite people to stay for as long or short a time as they wish. Also they can choose to fly, drive or take train. Sounds like a great idea.

Why not have a holiday with DH and a big meal out with the family on a weekend, that won’t eat into working folks holiday and no school missed either

I took 14 of us to The magic Robin Hood, just outside Benidorm. it went down great as even the older ones loved it. xx

It looks as if you have enough ideas.
I would just add that over last w/e the family that could make it joined my youngest brother for his 80th celebration.
As he lives near Valencia we stayed in a hotel in the centre. Enjoyed walking the streets with the fantastic graffiti and shops also dancing by the cathedral
We also went on a 2 hour ride in a Tuk Tuk when we were shown the highlights of Valencia with its fantastic modern architecture. by the coast.

I am going to investigate Centar Parcs

Will you be eating out all the time eg breakfast, evening meal? A large villa would probably fit the bill as long as easy access to activities for all. Otherwise a hotel or cruise. A lot will depend on whether or not you are paying for everything or only specific parts of the holiday.