Reasons to Visit:
- domed tropical pool/village
- many activities for kids
- large outdoors setting with many recreation opportunities
- location near Paris
- easy way for North Americans to visit Europe with kids
Center Parcs Les Bois-Francs - Background
- Center Parcs is a chain of "holiday villages" in northern Europe that offer getaways for families
- Les Bois-Francs, near Paris, has 310 hectares, a lake, horseback riding, nine holes of golf, and a chateau.
- The centerpiece is a beautifully landscaped tropical dome, with indoor waterpark (with slide, kiddie pool, waves), restaurants, grocery store, etc.
- Activities, free or at modest cost include: horseback riding, trampolines, archery, wall climbing, ATV, tree-climbing kids programs during holidays, minigolf, golf, bowling...
Center Parcs Les Bois- Francs - Review
Please note - this review is based on a family trip some years ago; always check a site like TripAdvisor for recent visitor comments.
Note to North American: sure, we're drawn to Europe for its great cities, great sightseeing, art, and history. But there's much to be said for also visiting a place with built-in kid-fun-- the type of place where European families head for their own holidays.
Center Parcs has "holiday villages" in France, Germany, England, Belgium, and the Netherlands. My three boys and I visited Les Bois Francs, 120 km west of Paris, and found that every aspect surpassed our expectations.
Though it's possible to arrive by train from Paris and be met by a special shuttle, we rented a car and arrived late in the evening. Hungrily seeking a restaurant, we hurried to the dome that's the center-piece of every Center Parcs. There we found a jungle-themed restaurant; my boys played in a pirate-boat while we waited for dinner. Voila: they had kids' meals with plastic parrots in their ice cream; I dined on moules a la creme. (Note: check recent visitor comments about restaurant experiences and hours.)
Center Parcs: Cottages
Our cottage had three large bedrooms, a good-sized kitchen, dining area, large living room with fireplace, and split bathrooms. Many of Center Parcs' visitors are three-generation families: grandmama and grandpapa come along too. Newer villas have since been built.
Note to North American: sure, we're drawn to Europe for its great cities, great sightseeing, art, and history. But there's much to be said for also visiting a place with built-in kid-fun-- the type of place where European families head for their own holidays.
Center Parcs has "holiday villages" in France, Germany, England, Belgium, and the Netherlands. My three boys and I visited Les Bois Francs, 120 km west of Paris, and found that every aspect surpassed our expectations.
Though it's possible to arrive by train from Paris and be met by a special shuttle, we rented a car and arrived late in the evening. Hungrily seeking a restaurant, we hurried to the dome that's the center-piece of every Center Parcs. There we found a jungle-themed restaurant; my boys played in a pirate-boat while we waited for dinner. Voila: they had kids' meals with plastic parrots in their ice cream; I dined on moules a la creme. (Note: check recent visitor comments about restaurant experiences and hours.)
Center Parcs: Cottages
Our cottage had three large bedrooms, a good-sized kitchen, dining area, large living room with fireplace, and split bathrooms. Many of Center Parcs' visitors are three-generation families: grandmama and grandpapa come along too. Newer villas have since been built.
Center Parcs: Prices
Restaurant tables, inside the tropical dome.
All this fun and comfort came with a good price-tag for a weekend that included three nights. Check the Center Parcs site for current rates, and also read visitor comments for tips about discounts.
A note about price: "Kids Stay Free" pricing, common in North America, is rare in Europe; often you'll pay for a bed for each person, even a six-year-old. So Center Parcs has bargain-pricing built into its cottage rates.
Our visit to Center Parcs Les Bois-Francs, but it served as a good introduction to the Center Parcs "holiday village" type of family vacation. Key features:
A note about price: "Kids Stay Free" pricing, common in North America, is rare in Europe; often you'll pay for a bed for each person, even a six-year-old. So Center Parcs has bargain-pricing built into its cottage rates.
Our visit to Center Parcs Les Bois-Francs, but it served as a good introduction to the Center Parcs "holiday village" type of family vacation. Key features:
- tropical dome with indoor waterpark, restaurants, etc.
- easy logistics for North American families to visit Europe (stay in one place, explore from a home base)
- outdoors recreation, kids programs, golf
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodation for the purpose of review. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
