Five years ago, the idea of a holiday in the UK would not have appealed to me as a keen traveller. However, now that I’m a parent with a three-year-old, it’s much easier to travel because it’s easier to pack our car with all the comforts we need.
For the first time, instead of flying to a sunny European resort, I opted for a long weekend at Center Parcs in Elveden Forest, Suffolk. It’s only a two and a half hour drive from home and I could bring my dogs with me, so it was an easy decision.
Vacations are meant to be a break from reality, but leaving my pets with a sitter and trying to pack minimally for a flight won’t have the same appeal. Also, I’ve heard great things about the range of activities on offer at Center Parcs – you can do as much or as little as you like.
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Earlier this month, we set off with our dachshunds safely tucked up in the back seat, and a boot full of groceries, knick-knacks, and lots of ‘just in case’ items.
We had a smooth journey and a seamless check-in process. The beautiful countryside surrounded us as we drove into the main entrance, and the enchanting woodland provided a picturesque backdrop for our short break, reports the Express.
Inside the dog lodges
The parks brand themselves as dog-friendly – and they are, for the most part. People bringing their pets are charged an extra £109 for the privilege of staying in a designated dog lodge. You can get more story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
This, he says, is to cover the cost of deep cleaning between visitors, which is completely understandable. Our lodge smelled fresh and clean – you wouldn’t 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 clean up any accidents.
And for those with loud dogs who like the sound of their barking, these lodges are also located on the perimeter of the site, most likely at a distance from the rest of the complex.
Although dogs must be on a leash around the site, there are enclosed dog exercise pens where they can run wild for as long as you (or them) want.
But there was one issue that I still can’t get my head around since I’ve been home, and that’s the lack of a secure back garden space for them to roam safely and a toilet.
The patios for all the standard lodges are perfectly adequate – they come with tables, chairs and even a stand for portable barbecues. Another really nice bonus is the wild deer which are very tactile and will get close to your windows and doors for a magical close up look.
They seem completely unfazed by roused dogs barking at them through patio doors. But, who is to say that someone’s dog gets too close and becomes defensive? Also, we had a very brief encounter when a dog from the lodge next door went up to one of ours, on a lead, and chased her.
It was all completely innocent – dogs usually get used to a back garden to run around in. Suddenly they are on a leash near their home, where they must be tied to a special dog pole.
But, they can walk freely up to the lodge next door, if you let them. If you turn back for a second, they can walk in even if they wanted the chance with the door open.
I can’t help but think that all of these slightly potential situations could be avoided with a simple, retractable fence that could briefly contain a dog or two when they go out for a morning or evening cleanup.
The irony is that those with a bigger budget to splurge can opt to stay in a secluded lodge with all the bells and whistles – and their own fortified garden. But a quick search reveals that these state-of-the-art apartments are not open to guests with dogs.
The break to Center Parcs was a really enjoyable weekend, despite this huge peak, and I’m already looking to book again. But our experience was messy, albeit a little, because we had to lead our dogs up in the middle of the night if they needed the toilet, or first thing in the morning.
Although the issue was immediately obvious to me, it seems that critics have never really touched on this. When contacted about this issue, a spokesperson for Center Parcs said: “In keeping with our company ethos and our forest locations, none of our dog-friendly lodges have patio enclosures and there are currently no plans to there to do that.”
“However, we have recently included a tethering point outside the lodges so dogs can enjoy the patios.”
All in all, if you’re booking to go out and want to bring your dogs, Center Parcs still ticks a lot of boxes, and I’ll be bringing my furry friends again next time.
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