12 hours ago
Woman praises lavish holiday park that 'looks like The Hamptons' - and it's CHEAPER than the UK version
A tourist has revealed how she enjoyed a Center Parcs experience in France that left her feeling like she was in the poshest part of Long Island.
TikToker @Joannewhitworthh shared footage of a recent family holiday at Center Parcs Le Lac d'Ailette in the Picardy region of France and told her followers she was left surprised by just how lavish it was - and the savings to be made compared to UK parks.
In a short clip, she shared a post showing off her stay in a plush lodge at the pretty lakeside resort, which is close to Reims in the country's Champagne region.
A vision of pale blue clapboard lodges, Joanne compared the setting to the glitzy New York coastal region beloved by celebrities.
She captioned the clip: 'Honestly could be in the Hamptons, it's so gorgeous out here'.
The video sees the family touring their luxury accommodation, which looks out across the lake and includes an in-property sauna.
Joanne wrote: 'Our VIP lodge in a French Center Parcs was cheaper than a standard wood lodge in the UK'.
Last summer, Which? research found that Britons deterred by the cost of a Center Parcs break in the UK could save up to £800 on their accommodation by opting for a European site.
The consumer champion compared the costs of four-night stays for a family of four at 32 Center Parcs sites across England, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany during five separate weeks of the school holidays - in May, July, August and October 2024.
It found that the average prices paid in UK Center Parcs resorts 'were considerably higher than prices paid elsewhere in Europe', claiming Brits could save 'hundreds of pounds by holidaying abroad'.
Across the dates Which? checked, the average price for accommodation in UK Center Parcs is £1,435, while the average cost in Germany and the Netherlands is a fraction of that, averaging £857 and £866 respectively.
According to the watchdog, substantial savings could also be made in France and Belgium, where average stays cost £1,098 and £1,121 respectively.
Which? revealed that France boasted the most significant savings in the May half-term where, without factoring in travel costs, a family could save £852 on average compared with booking in the UK.
The consumer group found that at £1,449 on average for May, a UK Center Parcs stay costs 143 per cent more than the average cost of a comparable break in France (£597).
Over the same week, Which? found British families could save an average of £788 in Germany, £742 in the Netherlands and £672 in Belgium.
Naomi Leach, Deputy Editor of Which? Travel, said: 'While UK holiday parks offer families an easy way to explore the great British countryside, our research has found that casting your net further afield could make your break more affordable.
A holiday in the Picardy park worked out cheaper than staying in one of the UK's five Center Parcs - and with an accommodation upgrade
'Those holidaying in the May and October half-terms stand to make the most significant savings, but even during the summer, a family could save hundreds of pounds on their accommodation costs.
'Do factor in the cost of transport and travel insurance to ensure the swap is worthwhile and always double-check European parks have the facilities and activities you expect.'
Center Parcs UK responded to the research at the time by saying: 'Despite sharing a brand name, Center Parcs UK and Center Parcs Europe are entirely separate companies which operate very differently.
'At Center Parcs UK, our unique offering attracts loyal guests, a high number of whom return year after year – last year, we welcomed approximately 2.2million guests and had continued occupancy of around 97 per cent.
