I took my dogs to Center Parcs and there was one major issue (2024)

Center Parcs is an excellent choice if you're planning a holiday with your pets, except for one thing

When reporter Victoria Chessum was deciding on a holiday, she wasn't exactly thinking of a staycation. But the idea of packing up the car with home comforts made going away much easier.

So Victoria packed up for Center Parcs with her three-year-old and her dogs for what would be a "truly enjoyable experience". she wrote about her stay at the popular resort and had one major issue...

So, for the first time, instead of flying off to a sunny resort, I booked a long weekend at Center Parcs in Suffolk. Holidays are meant to be a break from life, but leaving my pets with a sitter and trying to pack as little as possible for a flight isn't as appealing as it used to be.

I'd heard nothing but positive reviews about Center Parcs, so I set off with our dachshunds safely buckled in the back of the car, and a boot filled with groceries and all those 'just in case' items.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by a seamless check-in process, stunning countryside, and enchanting woodland, which promised to be an idyllic setting for our mini-break.

Center Parcs markets themselves as dog-friendly - and for the most part, they are. A dog lodge costs an additional £109, which they claim covers the cost of a deep clean between visitors - a completely understandable charge.

Our lodge smelt fresh and clean, the furniture is all dog-proof, and there's laminate flooring throughout, making it easy to clean up any accidents. These lodges are also situated on the perimeter of the site, most likely to distance them and the potential noise of barking 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: the lack of secure back garden space for the dogs 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 and if you're lucky, you'll get wild deer getting close to windows and doors for a real magical close-up look.

They seem totally unfazed by the dogs barking at them through patio doors. But what if someone's dog gets too close and gets defensive? And we also had a moment where a dog from the lodge next door bounded up to one of ours and spooked her.

I can't help but think all of these 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.

In Center Parcs, those with a bigger budget can 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.

Despite this minor inconvenience, my weekend getaway to Centre Parcs was thoroughly enjoyable and I'm already eager to book another visit. However, the lack of an enclosed patio at our lodge meant we had to leash up our canines for late-night or early morning toilet breaks.

This shortcoming seemed to be overlooked in reviews, but when raised with a spokesperson, they responded: "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."

All things considered, Centre Parcs remains an excellent choice if you're planning a holiday and intend to bring your dogs along. My furry friends will definitely be accompanying me on my next trip.