Center Parcs les Bois Francs

We went with another family and booked approx 12 months ago so we got a great deal, picked a prime location and received a credit for activities which was great! We used the credits for, bowling and mini golf but you had a few other choices during the stay. Check in was easy, quite quick. Our lodge wasn’t ready when we checked in (we were a little early) so we went to the supermarket and got some bits. There is a huge inter-marche, a maccy ds and a fuel station less than 5 mins down the road. Our lodges were great, 254/255. Outside one of the smaller lakes but located great for everything. Directly outside the sports hall and a few minutes from the soft play and main dome/lake and everything else. We had four (almost) teenagers with us so we hired them bikes for 5 of the 7 days we stayed, we had plans for the other two. These were €41 per bike. That was a little hard as the guy on the desk didn’t speak any English but we got through it. The buggies were so popular with guests but it was over €400 for the week, as we were so close we didn’t bother. The soft play was brilliant! Hours of entertainment and all free except a few things. The only annoying thing about this area was that parent just don’t control their kids so they just get in the way. We paid for bowling (don’t do it! You get 5 mins for the credits) and kids just come along and try to play. The language barrier wasn’t that hard telling them no, but still more of a struggle when trying to be nice. We didn’t pay for the trampolines in the end as we noticed random kids just jumping onto paid trampolines ruining it for the children that had been paid for. This purely was down to parents just not paying attention, nothing to do with CP directly. There is a machine to add credits too, these credits can be used for bowling, the safari cars, trampolines etc (as stated). You get a card to tap and spend credits on. I did the €28 for 60 credits and it lasted all week for all three of my children. We used them in the soft play and also in the arcade. The arcade is better for them as they get tickets which can then be traded for items. The outdoor sand park just outside the back of the dome was fantastic! Aswell as the summer vibes area. This had several activities during the day; jenga, four in a row etc as well as the gym equipment. ACTIVITIES We did proper bowling as part of our free activities, this was great but not very self explanatory, luckily another English family were on one of the lanes so we asked them how it worked. Half the barriers didn’t work so the kids found it stressful but overall it was okay. Just glad we didn’t pay €38 hours per lane for 55 mins. We had two! We would have been annoyed if this was the case. We also did mini golf outside with our free activities, this was pretty good. You can go anytime, some people were in large groups so it took a while on certain holes but that’s to be expected. We paid for; Kids haven - these are little battery boats that the ki

Currently here at Les Bois. Our 2nd visit with our first 4 years ago. We can say for certain the quality throughout of the park has risen in that time. Our 1st visit was good this time even better. The cottages we stayed in 667 and this time 654. Both perfect locations for getting to the centre 4 min walk and 5 min to car park, so if you nip to the Intermarche you’re not having too much of a walk with shopping. The cottages 667/654 were refurbed 4 years ago and in 654 things are holding up well. They do not have a modern ‘look’ as a UK cottage but just ‘French’ and perfectly clean. The main swimming complex has for sure had the biggest improvement- 4 years ago it was tired and of those areas we said needed updating, and last winter they’ve done it. The layout is pretty much the same as Elevdon Forest CP. They replaced the roof, the whole place has been painted and cleaned throughout and pool area re-tiled to a look and feel of UK standards - complete refurb of changing rooms too and all very clean. It’s brilliant. The shabbiness is no longer an issue, we noticed a few other things - the kids soft play area is refitted and far better by the looks of it. Restaurants also were busy (good sign) and looked now modern. Pony trekking is now in the middle of the resort not at the Chateau. There is new rebranding all through the park and place is looking tidy. You can see that the resort has been given investment to make it a place to enjoy and return. Only the sports hall needs some love - all functional just an odd building. Getting around the park is easy all flat, height of summer hardly any cars moving about. Activities are half the price of UK equivalent- our kids loved the high wire. Not as many staff in the park as a uk resort but not missed. Those staff we spoke too were all friendly and helpful and I would say since our last visit improved their international welcome - far more now speak English and you can tell that they worked out the UK guests are as important as Dutch, Belgium and French guests. I estimated that 20/25% are from the UK during late July/ early August. The park has great trails for riding bikes and recommend taking bikes if you can. We also went to Paris for the day which was super super easy to do - local train station 10mins away is direct to Paris and you can book tickets on the UK Trainline app! Great stay and looking to return based on our experiences.

If I’d listened to the reviews, we’d never have come. As it happens, we’re having a lovely time in a VIP pagoda and it cost €700 for a family of 3 for a week. Is it perfect? No. Has it exceeded my expectations? Yes. It’s clean, the beds are comfy, the staff are friendly and the newly renovated aqua mundo is a big hit with our son. I recommend it, just don’t be expecting a 5-star holiday experience, that’s not what it’s about, you’re in a nice cabin in the woods, surrounded by wildlife.