Center Parcs Oasis Whinfell

1 reader found this review helpful

Excellent acomodation - brilliantly designed in a minimalist fashion. Everything carefully thought out.
Whinfell Forest is a lovely site and facilities have enough capacity such that you can have a great time even if it pours with rain and everyone heads for the village parc.
The one thing that lets it down is bike security. My bike was stolen and I overheard another group complaining that a cable lock had been cut. I saw someone riding up and down the bike aisles suspiciously examining the bikes. Centre parcs rules prevent you from securing your bike to anything other one of their bike stands - which are 'fixed' to a piece of timber with a standard nut and bolt. These can easily be removed with a spanner. Centre parcs should address this as anyone with a nice bike will naturally want to take it on holiday with them rather than hire one from the very mediocre range of mountain bikes on offer. Despite this, my advice would be don't take your own bike to centre parcs as it is clear that thieves target the place. If you have a nice bike you really want to take on holiday then don't go to centre parcs as it seems to me there is a very good chance you'll never see it again. Having your bike stolen will pretty well ruin your holiday and you'll wish you'd flown to Greece instead.

2 readers found this review helpful

Just came home two days early from whinfell forest as the supposed executive lodge we where tying in was so dirty there was a constant sell of baby poo in the living room area, kitchen was filthy and I had to clean it before using it and the sheets had blood stains on them which I informed the cleaners about on our arrival day and was told they would be changed the same sheet was on this morning when we left we had to put a towel over the stains. Carpets throughout where dirty. Won't be going again and would not recommend to anyone I know. Either the cleaners need looking at or more probably they need more time to clean!!!

Our Christmass was excellent as we all enjoyed every part of the holiday. Ranging from the Christmass Eve breakfast with Santa, Pantomine and Christmass Lunch in the Green Room. The Food and Service was well worth it three generations of our family would recoment this Christmass experience. The staff were only to happy to please and make this an enjoyable christmas holiday

1 reader found this review helpful

We have just had our third midweek break in 3 years. I booked this in Feb; as we are s/employed it is not always easy to get away during the course of the year, so I wanted something to look forward to that wasn't going to cost the earth - booking early meant we got a good deal, so we could then stay in a higher grade of accommodation.
We had a 2 bed New Style Woodland Lodge, but I wasn't sure about the modern decor (the forest mural dominated the living area). Also the positioning of the low energy ceiling lighting needed to be a bit better thought in terms of the livingroom area (you have to have all the lights on if you want to read - the old style lodges have wall lights). However, the kitchen was well equipped and the bedrooms and bathroom were nice. It was also a bonus having DVD and another TV in the double bedroom (although a few more Freeview channels would be good in the evenings).
I did some yoga and relaxation classes which I booked online and was very impressed. This was the first time we had used the Fitness Studio. Whilst small and on 2 levels, it had all the equipment we use at our home gym.
I first went to Whinfell when recuperating from illness as I needed a holiday where I could just relax and have peace, but where there were activities for others to be involved in. After I had been ill it was lovely to be in a place where I could just sit outside and watch the world go by with all the lovely birds and wildlife. I also like the fact there is no real late night drinking culture. You hear people walking home from the pub and bars, but nobody seems to be falling around drunk - I guess they perhaps don't attract that type of person. As a once in a while short break it suits us fine.

3 readers found this review helpful

we visited Whinfell in Oct 10 and have been to center parcs many times before and were very disappointed with the cleaning in the centre all very dirty and shabby looking. We all came home with horrendous viral sickness bug 2 children requiring hospital treatment. Called Center Parcs to report it and told not a problem as we were the only ones!!!! Instead of coming home refreshed we spent £1000 to come home feeling very ill. Will not be back, and will not recommend to anyone.

2 readers found this review helpful

At Whinfell for 1 week in August. Fantastic place if you have children. There is something for all ages. There was our 12 year old, 7 year old and also a 1 year old, Hubby and aunt and uncle all went. Restaurents are a little pricey but i had taken enough food with us. We did have one take away and it was really nice. Stayed at 33 Badger wood, very basic but nice. It could do with a dishwasher and also a washing machine though, especially when you've got a baby with you. Kids loved the wildlife coming right up to your patio window, they were so tame. Pool was fantastic, in 3 hours each day. Something in there for all ages, indoor pool, outdoor pool, baby pools.
TV went off and it was replaced within a couple of hours. All the staff are REALLY helpful.
Returned home and have booked straight up for the christmas and also for a couple of weeks next summer. Would highly recommend it for a good family acticity holiday.

We stayed Fri to Mon with 2 kids aged 2 and 3 and they had a blast. Plenty for the kids to do, and adults too! The lodges were quaint and comfortable and very clean. Eating out can be costly, but you will find that anywhere. The lodges have cookers, microwaves and fridges so we selfcatered a bit too to save money. Would highly recommend and looking to go back next year! The pool is great, the kids loved it, a baby pool for the young uns and a bigger area for older kids and adults.

13 readers found this review helpful

I've been going to the Centre Parcs in Cumbria since it was the independantly owned Oasis Forest Village. I even got engaged there in 2003 - so it is a family favourite and obviously, a very special place.
This year we went for our first family holiday with just us and our baby daughter for a 4 night break.
Accommodation was lovely and, without asking for it, they had provided us with a high chair and travel cot - despite the fact that Executive apartments don't come with them as standard. We found this to be very nice and thoughtful.
We had a week of activities (mostly for the baby) booked, but on the Tuesday decided to brave the pool. It turned out that what appeared to be every other family on the site had had the same idea. After our time in the pretty crowded pool, we went to get changed only to find families wandering round like refugees draped in towels looking for somewhere to change. It ended up with us having to use a disabled cubicle, which took us 15 minutes or so to queue for, to change our by then shivering baby.
The pool on the second and last occaison we went was a bit better in terms of crowding and the waiting for a cubile was slightly shorter. If you don't have children, go as late as possible to the pool.
The activites were wonderful and owl babies was lovely and my baby thoroughly enjoyed it. The also enjoyed the Make a Memory too.
We went to Bella Italia and had a lovely meal and the staff their were very nice indeed.
We tried not to eat out very much because the prices were astronomical and the food wasn't that great or worth it. The price of drinks was absolutely obsurd too. As someone wrote in a review I read a few months ago about this place - they have a captive audience and don't they know it.
The takeaway food was a bit yak too, so I won't be getting that again next time we visit.
We booked the spa online, and here is where Centre Parcs let themselves down. We had booked the spa online, and then the Time Out club for our daughter. There is no off eronline for the Spa or the Time Out club HOWEVER it is there in the brochure and on the notice boards round the village. As we didn't see the offer, we paid £26 more than we should have done. I wrote an angry e-mailt centre parcs about this on my return, who replied that it was in the brochure so there was no excuse for me not to have seen it.
When I said that most people do everything online, I was told that no, everyone reads the brochure and they all sit round with the family and read it. I said no-one I've ever met does that as we all tend to live in the modern era and you can start booking things BEFORE the brochure arrives. I was then told that the customer feedback was that the brochure was a great help and that using this and phoning up to book was the main way of booking. I was utterly amazed by this - it must just be me and every one I know that live in modern times and do everything online. The rest of their customers are clearly living in the trees they have come to visit.
So, all I can say, is that - if you want to book something DO NOT DO IT ONLINE as the online facility IS NOT THE SAME AS THE BROCHURE. The offers in the brochure are not all online (which is absolutely REDICULOUS).
I never entertained that they would have the brochure and the website NOT saying the same thing - therefore, that is my fault and not theirs.
I never ever complain about anything but did about this and at the end was made to feel like a whining idiot by the patronising person I got on the phone from customer service who wasn't really interested in my thoughts and more about telling me why I was wrong.
This episode definitely spoilt things for us and left a very sour note at the end of what was a lovely holiday.

2 readers found this review helpful

i have just come backfrom a hoilday with ese and it was a load off crap dont go there everwaste off money and time and efort

9 readers found this review helpful

Booked 77 Seven Pines, a Comfort Detached Lodge for a Mon-Fri. Arrived about 3.30pm and only had to queue for about 15 minutes to get through the arrivals reception. Then drove straight to the lodge. The lodge was a lot more spacious than i was expecting. It was clean until we brought all our gear in. So i requested a vacuum cleaner via the internal phone and a powerful commercial machine was delivered within a couple of hours. I reported a blown bulb and a loose radiator too which were put right the following day. The staff were always polite and helpful. This hilly site is well thought out. The pool is good for kids to play but not for serious swimming. The Chinese and Indian takeaway were good with generous portions. The only negative thing we experienced is beyond Centre Parcs control. There was regular, low flying and very loud military aircraft, which is great if you are a plane spotter, but not so great when it wakes your young child up in her afternoon nap.