Wednesday 12 October 2011

Center Parcs Luxury Spa Suite Review



My friend Claire and I are just back from a wonderful weekend in Center Parcs superb new luxury spa suites at Elveden. Center Parcs you have outdone yourselves they are pure and simple bliss! We haven’t stopped raving about them since we got home and have a huge smile on our faces when we think about them. We thought we’d put together a little review so people can get a feel for how beautiful they really are.

From the moment we arrived in the spa welcome suite we felt excited, special but immediately relaxed. Your spa concierge service is wonderful with all our needs taken care of prior to arrival. We had arrived early before check in time so the spa concierge stored our baggage securely so we could get on and enjoy an early start in the Aqua Sana. All our bookings like spa treatments, restaurants and special requests were pre-organised by the spa concierge, every little detail was so well thought out even entry to the spa suites is based on keyless wristbands so no keys to remember which was probably best after a few glasses of champagne! For the Aqua Sana we were provided with lockers pre-stocked with robes, slippers and towels so again no need to even remember to take a pound for the locker.

The refurbished Aqua Sana looked great with lots of lovely new loungers which we made extensive use of together with some of the spa experience rooms before taking the included lunch in Zilli’s. We found that an early lunch followed almost immediately by the included full body spa treatment and facial worked well and allowed us to get back to our spa suite to make the most of the facilities.

We headed to the suites to meet up with your lovely spa concierge for a tour of the facilities. We found the suites stunning - like the ultimate hotel room with impeccable décor and discreetly placed mod cons throughout. We were really surprised that the suites were so much more that we expected. For anyone thinking of booking they include flatscreen TV’s in the lounge, bedroom and bathroom (we liked the novelty of the bathroom TV remote control being waterproof and floats in the bath!) Blu ray media systems (blu ray movies provided) with iPod docks in the lounge and bedroom provided all we needed to enhance our mood and relax further.

The beautiful round bath tub is separate to the bathroom and accessed from the side of the bedroom via frosted glass sliding doors. It has folding glass doors to open up the space into the balcony area with discreet but breezy net curtains that can be left closed to provide privacy but we weren’t really overlooked anyway. We had so much fun in that bath and gossiped for over 3 hours whilst sipping champagne and were amazed that the water stayed hot!

On a practical side we found the kitchen area stocked with the essentials such as a fridge, Senseo coffee maker and kettle together with a full range of dinnerware and cutlery - even tea towels were provided. The lounge was luxury all the way having the most lovely unique fireplace (which is duplicated in the bedroom. The separate bathroom area has dual sinks and a rain forest type walk in shower and had ample space for us both to get ready at once, adjacent to the bathroom is a dressing area with good wardrobe space and generous sized safe. All in all it is pure, indulgent, selfish, luxurious relaxation!

After heading to the centre (bikes provided) that evening for a lovely dinner in Rajindas (£20 CP voucher for each guest provided) we headed back to enjoy our favourite fun spa suite feature. On the balcony overlooking the golf course is a beautiful round day bed complete with cushions and hood – we loved lounging on it, chatting, enjoying our quiet time and even falling asleep.

On check out day we got to enjoy a lovely breakfast in Lakeview restaurant but as we’d come to expect we could have chosen to have had it delivered to the suite. We then spent the whole day in the spa taking treatments we had booked separately just relaxing and letting the spa experience flood our senses.

By the end of the day we were so chilled we felt like we’d been at Elveden for a week, we strolled to the centre to enjoy a final meal on site before heading home extremely happy and relaxed - ready to face another chaotic week at home!

We loved them and have already booked to come again next year!

Jo Watts and Claire Potts

Monday 31 January 2011

Treehouse Review


The Treehouse is as good as all the hype promised!, The space, the décor, facilities and customer service are fantastic. Everything we could have wanted or needed was provided. Center Parcs and their Treehouse hosts provided so many special touches it’s hard to choose any one in particular to tell you about….the complimentary bar, the gift basket, the coffees and teas, the token gift for the children, the log fire lit when you arrive and the champagne chilled and ready to go.

So where do I start - the games room – what can I say! The AMBX lighting was just a superb finishing touch to a brilliant entertainment room including the all important bar and dishwasher, there was even a selection of soft drinks for the children. There’s plenty of room for all to play both the Wii and on the pool table at the same time. The TV quality in both the lounge and the games room was superb and the surround sound was awesome if not scary at times :o)

The lounge is divine, so very comfortable and a great room to chill together as a family and chat, watch movies and share special new memories to keep forever and ever! I loved having the log fire glowing, iPod playing and drinking bubbly with my precious family in this beautiful room.

The spiral staircase is a masterpiece, built by one man in Canada and it is every bit as special to walk on as it is to look at. The bedrooms were equally beautiful, restful and spacious with plenty of storage areas and the bathrooms with their rainforest showers with jets from every direction were a pleasure to go in….I had difficulty prising myself out of them because they were so relaxing! There are toilets in every bedroom, one in the hall way and one outside for the “spa” area.

Dining was easy and great – we really didn’t want to move out of the Treehouse and wanted to enjoy every minute so we cooked each night and all mod cons were supplied together with top quality dinnerware, barware and cutlery.

And then after all that there’s the eco factors, heating the treehouse from sources 130 metres below the ground, recycled hot tub water to flush toilets, lights that come on and off automatically….the list is endless and Center Parcs have done a great job here to help protect the environment.

We received the highest quality accommodation; facilities and customer care during our stay in the Treehouse and sincerely wish to thank Center Parcs for a very special and absolutely fantastic break. We hope we can visit again soon!

Saturday 22 January 2011

My Center Parcs Memory

I remember approaching the park, the Center Parcs sign we see
We're are always inquistive, excited and happy as can be
The arrival lodge has staff full of smiles
While the cycle park has bikes travelled miles

We've laughed and we've ran to the centre of fun
I've lost count how many times this memory we've redone
To the original Elveden our memories now rest
Entering the centre the bakery smell was the best

When we learned of its fate, we felt bereaved
To Elveden our holiday cancelled so instead we did grieve
We had watched TV in horror, saw the terrible cost
Our hearts were saddened, an old friend was lost

When the park reopened we just had to be there
So we booked and ourselves we did prepare
With trepidation we travelled to the reinvented park
To see our new friend, a turning point it did mark

Laughing together to the centre of fun we ran
To build a new memory, as fast as we can
We marvelled and drank in the new sites galore
Martin Dalby had given us our Elveden and more

We raced to dive in to the famous water filled dome
My children safe and so free to roam
We've swam and we've splashed for so many days
Thinking back about this, my face smiles always

Late nights walking through the forest so dark
With log fires burning, the smell warms your heart
I get warm and fuzzy when these things I recall
Our kids have grown up at CP seems no time at all

These days are so precious for my family and me
Our photo album bursting for all to see
We shall always collect new memories in your park
Until our lives have ended and become dark

Center Parcs you have given us so many years of good times
From the late nights swimming, eating and fine wines
Our family salute you and all your staff too
For making our time together matter, we truly love you