A woman who spent almost £2,700 on a family holiday to Center Parcs has revealed why it was the price of ketchup that shocked her the most.
It's well known that in the UK, if you wait to take your kids out of school and save your summer holidays for the summer, you're going to have to pay a premium.
While some folks prefer the fine from the local council, or even the prospect of being taken to court, Vicky Smith wasn't willing to risk it with her two young children, aged seven and nine, as they headed to Center Parcs, Elveden Forest, in August 2024.
They spent time together at the holiday park in a new-style Executive Lodge with two bedrooms, which cost £2,648 for one week, also giving them access to a swimming pool and outdoor playground, but the many other activities on offer at Center Parcs came at an added cost.
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Speaking on a YouTube video, Vicky explained: “We went during August, which is the school summer holidays, which is when Center Parcs and let’s face it all other holidays are at their most expensive, and you really do pay a premium here.
“I checked how much exactly the same accommodation would cost us during September once the kids were back at school and it was over £1,000 cheaper."
While the swimming pool was 'amazing' and the playground kept the kids entertained for hours, she did question why other activities on the site were so expensive, as they can all add up when you're already paying a premium for the accommodation.
But it was the on-site supermarket that she felt most let down by when it came to money, as despite doing a small shop before arriving, they had to visit to pick up essentials during the week.
And naturally, with the kids wanting ketchup, that was on the list to pick up, but much like airports and cruise ships, any on-site stores know that they can charge far more because of the lack of other options for people staying there.
Personally, I think that ketchup is the devil's condiment and wouldn't really have much clue about its normal price since I never buy it.
However, a quick look at Aldi's online store suggests you can usually pick up a bottle for less than a quid, so it's no surprise that Vicky was so astounded by the £4 she paid for the tomatoey privilege.
She said: “The prices in this supermarket are wow, just wow. They were charging £4 for a bottle of ketchup."
Overall, she estimated that prices were 'anything from like 10 per to 40 per cent more compared to normal supermarket prices', which just goes to show how prepared you should be if you're going to spend an extended period at a holiday park like this.
Vicky urged other families to 'bring key supplies' with them if going to Center Parcs, and considering she also paid over the odds for shampoos, soaps and a disposable barbecue, it's definitely sound advice.
LADbible has contacted Center Parcs for comment.
Topics: Center Parcs, Cost of Living, Travel, UK News
James Moorhouse