As an avid flyer, the thought of a holiday in the UK would not have filled me with much excitement five years ago. Now armed with a three-year-old, the option to load the car up with as many home comforts as possible makes going away that bit easier.
That’s why for the first time ever, instead of jetting off to a sunny resort in Europe, I decided to book a long weekend trip to Centre Parcs in the Elveden Forest, Suffolk. Just a mere two-and-a-half hours from home, and the option to take my dogs, it was a no-brainer.
Holidays are supposed to be a break from life, from reality, but leaving behind my pets with a sitter and trying to pack as little as possible to get on a plane isn’t as appealing as it once was.
Plus, I’d heard nothing but good things about the array of activities to take part in at Center Parcs – with the option to do as much or as little as you like. Earlier this month, we set off with our dachshunds safely strapped into the back of the car, and a boot loaded with a food shop, suitcases, and countless ‘just in case’ items.
A smooth journey in, and a really seamless check-in process awaited. The gorgeous countryside surrounded us as we drove into the main entrance and the enchanted woodland presented a picture-perfect setting for our mini-break.
The parks brand themselves as being dog-friendly – and they are, mostly. People bringing their pets are charged an extra £109 for the privilege of staying in a designated dog lodge.
This, it says, is to cover the cost of a deep clean between visitors which is completely understandable. Our lodge smelt fresh and clean – you’d never know who or how many dogs had used it beforehand. The furniture is all dog-proof, and with laminate flooring throughout, it’s easy to clear up any accidents.
And for those who have loud dogs who like the sound of their barks, these lodges are also situated on the perimeter of the site, most likely to distance them from the rest of the complex.
While dogs must be on a lead around the site, there are enclosed dog exercise pens where they can run wild for as long as you (or they) like.
But there was one issue I still can’t get my head around since being home, and that’s the lack of secure back garden space for them to safely roam and toilet.
The patios for all of the standard lodges are perfectly adequate – they come with tables, chairs and even a stand for portable barbecues. Another really lovely perk is the wild deer who are extremely tactile and will get close to windows and doors for a real magical close-up look.
They seem totally unfazed by roused dogs barking at them through patio doors. But, who is to say someone’s dog gets too close and gets defensive? Also we experienced a very brief encounter where a dog from the lodge next door bounded up to one of ours, on a lead, and spooked her.
The whole thing was totally innocent – dogs are mostly used to having a back garden to run around in. All of a sudden they’re on a lead next to their home, where they must be tied to a special dog post.
But, they can also walk freely up to next door’s lodge, if you let them. If you turn your back for a second, they may even walk in if they fancied the opportunity and the door was open.
I can’t help but think all of these slightly possible scenarios could be avoided by a simple pull-out, retractable, fence which can contain a dog or two briefly while they go out for a morning or evening tiddle.
The ironic thing is, those with a bigger budget to splurge can actually opt to stay in a detached lodge with all the bells and whistles – and their own secured garden. But a quick search shows that these state-of-the-art apartments are not open to guests with dogs.
Our break to Centre Parcs was, despite this glaring hiccup, a really enjoyable weekend and I am already looking to book again. But our experience was tainted, albeit slightly, by having to lead-up our dogs in the middle of the night if they needed the toilet, or first thing in the morning.
While the issue to me was immediately obvious, it appears reviewers haven’t ever really touched upon this before. When approached about this issue, a Center Parcs spokesman said: “In keeping with our company ethos and our forest locations, none of our dog-friendly lodges include enclosed patio areas and at present there are no plans to do so.
“However, we have recently included a tethering point outside of these lodges so dogs can enjoy the patios.”
Overall, if you are booking to go away and want to take your dogs, Center Parcs still ticks a lot of boxes, and I will be taking my furry pals again with me next time.
