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[quote=mrhoppy ]That's £150/night for a whole family, it'd cost you that to stop in a shitty premier inn
I'm guessing premier inns are beneath you and you've never stayed in one - they're way, way cheaper than that.
£165 for a March 3 night weekend, £55 a night
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Go midweek outside of holiday time and it can be very cheap, we paid something like £170 for 4 nights sharing a chalet with 2 other couples and their 6month olds.
I actually really enjoyed it, dads packaged the mums off for a morning to the spa as a reward for the hard work they have been putting in looking after the little ones.
Generally just wandered round and chilled out.
Yes I would have liked to have been belting around on the mtb, but it wasn't that type of break and the family really enjoyed it.
Need to be positive it will be fun!
£450 for a weekend? 😯
Shit the bed, I never realised it was that expensive.
You're clearly not middle class enough, you urchin!
How much is it for a weekend at Centre Parcs? is one of the first questions on the exam, just after the trick question: How much is a coffee in Watrose? but before: list the address of your nearest Audi dealership? 😉
[quote=binners ] the trick question: How much is a coffee in Watrose?
Priceless?
aracer - Member
mrhoppy » That's £150/night for a whole family, it'd cost you that to stop in a shitty premier inn
I'm guessing premier inns are beneath you and you've never stayed in one - they're way, way cheaper than that.
I frequently stop in them, through work and went to London with the family recently. Stopped in Slough, was about £80 for the three of us in one room. Add on the cost of getting into a swimming pool for all of us and its not that dissimilar and they're ideal rep locations not going on holiday locations, usually by a major road or in the town centre.
The ones I've stopped in with work have been brand new but managed to give the wrong room details so walked in on someone sleeping, not changed soiled sheets, not cleanded the bathroom and not changed the towels so I've been faced with a skiddy as I started to dry myself.
Plenty of people here saying that not going is unreasonable / ungrateful (and he arguably is, but then I like CP). But in what parallel universe is the OP's OH still going reasonable?
The missus has booked a holiday she, presumably, knows the OP won't like. Which is a shitty thing to do straight out of the gate. She then dresses it up as his 40th birthday present, which is doubly shit.
The OP expresses his disinterest / disappointment, [i]surely[/i] the only sensible, rational thing to do next is to cancel it and use the money to book something different that they'll both enjoy? But no, she's going on her own, demonstrating admirably who the present was actually for all along. If my missus booked herself an expensive present for my 40th birthday, said "this is the way holidays going to be from now on so get used to it" and then sodded off on her own, I'd have changed the locks by the time she got back. Cheeky mare.
Mmm I've not read any of the responses but yes you are ungrateful! However stating that this is how it is from now on is rubbish.
My kids are just 11 and nearly 14. In that time we have done everything from centre parcs to canal boats to beach holidays to surfing holidays to biking to festivals to Castle hunting in Scotland. I've loved everyone of them because it's precious time I get to spend with my little tribe....
The ones I've stopped in with work have been brand new but managed to give the wrong room details so walked in on someone sleeping, not changed soiled sheets, not cleanded the bathroom and not changed the towels so I've been faced with a skiddy as I started to dry myself.
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The missus has booked a holiday she, presumably, knows the OP won't like. Which is a shitty thing to do straight out of the gate. She then dresses it up as his 40th birthday present, which is doubly shit.
More likely to be miscommunication or oversight, no?
Regardless, I haven't forgotten what it was like to have a four month old baby, and of course it was harder for my wife. Some tolerance and understanding is required, I think.
What can I say, people in Wigan are animals.
There's an idea, Linton isn't that far away, perhaps I suggest I go the the Travel Tavern instead of CP. Sally Fields could entertain me whilst Mrs CD looks after the baby. It's all about ME after all.
Ungrateful - possibly
Honest - yes
Why pretend, esp if your other half knows its something you wont like? She has made the error...
I'd certainly hope that Centret Parcs wouldn't be taking bookings from Wiganers. Or people from Blackburn or Burnley come to that. How frightful!
Well,now that this thread has gone full Mumsnet,it's well and truly knackered the surprise party she had planned all along.
Well,now that this thread has gone full Mumsnet,it's well and truly knackered the "surprise" [s]party[/s] she had planned all along.
FTFY.
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OP I'm afraid I'm in the 'you are being a selfish tw*t camp', but then you are a new dad at 40 so it's a well know phenomenon.
Centre Parcs is fine, I can't understand how you will be so miserable there as at most basic it is simply a cabin in the woods with access to a swimming pool.
Firstly I'd like to say this has nothing to do with a certain vintage Mums Net thread, sorry to disappoint you.
/kicks dog.
Why you kick my dog?
My wife wants to go to CP but would know not to do this as knows I hate the idea and would make a fuss. Indeed last year the extended family all went but us lot didn't. Having said that we might end up going to a French one this year albeit with me disappearing on the bike some days as at least the family will have stuff to do without me around. And foreign things are always more fun - and cheaper.
I've not read pages 2 - 4 but Cougar has it about right:
The missus has booked a holiday she, presumably, knows the OP won't like. Which is a shitty thing to do straight out of the gate. She then dresses it up as his 40th birthday present, which is doubly shit.The OP expresses his disinterest / disappointment, surely the only sensible, rational thing to do next is to cancel it and use the money to book something different that they'll both enjoy?
Of course - as fasthaggis suggests - this could be an elaborate surprise birthday party that is now on a fast track to being ruined 😆
£450 for two nights has seen me in three different quality pub restaurants with high quality food and wine . All recommendations off here . or a cottage at portmerion with meals . I'm sure taking a baby would not have increased the cost much or reduced the fun at all.
I hate the idea of centerparcs and can understand your frustration at being landed with it as a significant birthday present but it's booked make the most of it it is a weekend away with those you love and who love you , you may be pleasantly surprised if you go along and will certainly be miserable if you don't and i predict your misery will be deeper and last longer than a duff weekend in CP.
May be she has a surprise treat planned for you!!
Could you imagine the outpouring of grief if the shoe had been on the other foot. Husband books holiday that the wife didn't want.
Mumsnet would be rounding up a lynching party as we speak (type) and the internet would be in meltdown about the oafish husband who didn't listen to his wife.
Because it's the other way around the OP is being told to suck it up.
**** that. Put your foot down now or be walked over for the rest of your time together.
Are you man or mouse?
Coming dear............
The surprise is that her parents are coming as well.
The surprise is that her parents are coming as well.
Well there over from Denmark this week, and we'll being visiting them the week after CP for 2 weeks. So somehow I've ended up with 2 non holiday holidays in succession.
Crankboy - I think £450 is for 3 nights of fun
I'm probably going over old ground here but...
MTFU, it's quality time with your wife and new kid. You'll have fun if you let yourself.
I've been I think 4 times.
CenterParcs is super easy and hassle free even when you have a little un.
There are reasonable trails round the corner so take a bike.
Waterslides are fun.
MILFs on waterslides are funner.
Take a bottle or two of good stuff for the evenings.
Take the little one to the swings. Hear the giggles.
I like the Hucks restaurant because Burgers.
I'll probably get flamed for this but new mums aren't known for logical thinking and fore thought, she has probably booked it with the best intentions and is probably so knackered she can't see straight.
Your wife has got it very wrong, you need to have a chat. Flog the holiday on Classifieds, you take the money and do what you want to do.
So somehow I've ended up with 2 non holiday holidays in succession.
Hmm, I'm no psychologist but this is the internet so here goes...
Whilst I have sympathy for your situation, if the idea of a weekend with your wife and new(ish) born child at CentreParcs and 2 weeks in Denmark with the in-laws is that horrific, you really do need to have some open, honest and frank conversations with your wife. It sounds like you have many years of unhappiness and resentment building up otherwise.
</melodrama>
PS I'm happy to say I'm not speaking from experience.
I think you're being ungrateful.
I didn't like the idea of centre parcs. Helen booked us in when the boy was 4 months old for a 3 day break. We went and we enjoyed. Baby liked the pool. The restaurants are catered for families. The walks are pushchair friendly.
Took me a while but I'm now realise life isn't about just me now. It's about the family. Kid is 15 months now and we are going again in July. For a week. With in-laws. Sounds horrific but this time I can take my bike and hit the trails.
You never know. You might enjoy it.
I don't think the OP is being ungrateful if it's something they genuinely didn't want. I would have probably done the same, and actually have done so...albeit on a birthday present.*
However, sometimes honesty is not the best policy, and for the greater good you got to suck things up. Just be sure to get her tickets to something you really want to go to for her birthday 😈
*I feel bad about it still, but damn, it was a really awful belt I am never going to use.
[quote=dragon ]Centre Parcs is fine, I can't understand how you will be so miserable there as at most basic it is simply a cabin in the woods with access to a swimming pool.
This - hence why I'm still struggling to understand the hatred. I agree with those who say it's too expensive, but it appears that the very concept upsets some people, including for instance the OP, on which the whole justification for him being upset seems to be based.
Oh and we've stayed in numerous Travel Lodges as a family - sure they might be located for reps, but reps also go near places where there is holiday type stuff. IME they've always been clean and with nice fresh linen. I also gave the equivalent prices for the nearest TL to CP, £55 a night, which even after you've paid for a swimming pool is still less than half the price (unless it's Waterworld, which is somewhere we visited when staying in a TL, but even including our meal out the day was less than £150). I suppose I can envisage reasons why a separate room from the kids might be preferable for other people, but then those don't really apply to us 😕
This!Took me a while but I'm now realise life isn't about just me now. It's about the family.
BUT! Make sure you carve out a bit of time for yourself be that during your normal week or on holiday.
It occurs to me that the OP should be asking the wife if she thinks he is being an ungrateful sod. Even if the OP got a consensus on here, is it really relevant?
OP, bear in mind there *could* be good creche facilities at Centre Parcs 😉
dragon » Centre Parcs is fine, I can't understand how you will be so miserable there as at most basic it is simply a [b]massively overpriced[/b] cabin in the woods with access to a swimming pool.
IMO
I might be miffed at getting a holiday I wouldn't have chosen, but I'd be more annoyed at what [u]we[/u] could have done with the money instead.
But she is probably exhausted with the little one and desperate for any break, anywhere, at any price.
But she is probably exhausted with the little one and desperate for any break, anywhere, at any price.
Sure. But there's a vast difference between "sorry honey, I know it's your 40th coming up but I really need a break and I love Center Parcs," and "I've bought myself a weekend away, bollocks to your birthday and get used to it" is there not?
Granted we've only got a snippet of the story here, but it sounds more like the latter from what's been posted.
Don't get your hopes up for Father's Day either. For mother's day dad's will come in abd spend at least £10 on chocs then add a scarf or a piece of jewellery.
Mums will come in and spend about £5 on chocs and those will all be the ones she likes.
CentreParcs is ace, you love it.
in the pool you instantly know the name of peoples kids as
a) one (or both) parents is bellowing it out across the pool
b) one (or both) parents has the names tattooed somewhere on their flabby person.
suck it up, live as you know it ended 4 months ago.
Only read the first few posts but I'm with the OP
If my partner booked my idea of hell on earth for a couple of days for my birthday I'd be very unhappy.
All those spouting about family time? Balls!
Birthdays are for kids though, aren't they? A nearly 40 year old man upset about not getting the celebrations he wants? They may let you take your balloon dog on the bouncy castle if you smile, so chin up little dude.
You are not being unreasonable.
Wife's birthday = she does what she wants
Children's birthday = they get to do what they enjoy
Your birthday = you get to do what you enjoy
As a parent yes, doing things that are reasonably child-friendly is important. You haven't said you don't want to do that. Your wife knows you don't like it (CentreParcs). She obviously does and perhaps sees parenthood as a way to do it more....? Seems a bit selfish of your wife to be honest. A few months old baby is no excuse for ignoring your preference and favouring her own as someone earlier in the thread suggested either.
Kids nearly grown up now, but we discussed what holidays we wanted with each other and the family. I would never ever have booked a weekend I knew the OH wouldn't like and vice versa.
Either the OP has communicated his views rather poorly, or his OH has screwed up badly.
Only the OP knows which it is...
If the former, go with an open mind
If the latter, he should dig heels in now and cancel, providing he can come up with a better alternative.
A lot of women become seduced by the idea of the perfect family. My wife seems to have this vision of me happily pushing a trolley full of flowers around a garden centre while we spend hours choosing garden ornaments.
No doubt yours has this image of you in nicely tailored slacks with your jumper tied around your shoulders pushing a pram while pointing happily at someone on minimum wage dressed up as a furry animal.
Fight the power,brother.
Would this be an opportune moment to mention that my wife bought me a CX bike for my 40th?