Make savings on Center Parcs holidays by visiting Europe

Heading to a Center Parcs resort in Europe can actually cost you less than half the price of the UK version, according to research by Which?.

The consumer champion compared the costs of 4-night stays for a family of 4 across 32 parks in the UK and Europe during 5 different school holiday periods (May, July, August, and October). The UK parks were significantly more expensive every time.

The average price for a family stay at the 5 UK parks was £1,435. But you'll pay much less in Germany (£857) and the Netherlands (£886). Resorts in France (£1,098) and Belgium (£1,121) were also cheaper than the UK.

Cheapest Center Parcs for School Holidays

• The biggest price difference Which? found was for the October half-term. The average price across the 9 Netherlands resorts was £645 - a staggering £804 cheaper than the UK (£1,449). Even after ferry costs, it was still £616 cheaper to go overseas.
• France was the cheapest for the May half-term at £597, even with £165 return ferry fees.
• While Germany had the best prices in the summer holidays, ranging from £803 to £1,175, compared to £1,409 - £1,439 in the UK.

To get the best deals, Which? recommends to book through local Center Parcs websites (e.g. Centerparcs.fr, Centerparcs.de) instead of the generic EU site.

Cheapest UK Center Parcs Resort

If you'd still rather stay in the UK, Whinfell Forest in Cumbria was the cheapest on average at £1,299 for a 4-night break. And Longleat Forest in Wiltshire was the priciest at £1,649.