A mother has shared a brutally honest review of a popular UK holiday resort after her family spent nearly £2,700 for a week's summer break, with her astonishment particularly focused on the price of a single bottle of ketchup.
The Eye-Watering Cost of a Summer Getaway
Vicky Smith, speaking candidly on her YouTube channel, detailed the expenses her family faced during their stay at Center Parcs Elveden Forest in August 2024. Visiting during the school summer holidays meant peak prices were unavoidable. The family, including their two children aged seven and nine, stayed in a new-style Executive Lodge with two bedrooms, which cost them £2,648 for the week alone.
This substantial sum did not include food or any extra activities, with only unlimited access to the subtropical swimming paradise covered in the accommodation price. Vicky revealed that checking the price for the same lodge in September, once schools were back, showed it was over £1,000 cheaper, a difference she described as "really significant."
Highs, Lows, and Spiralling Activity Costs
The holiday was not without its highlights. The family praised the recently revamped outdoor playground, which kept their children entertained for hours, and were effusive about the quality and access to the swimming pool. They suggested that a week could be enjoyably filled using just these included amenities.
However, Vicky cautioned that the "full" Center Parcs experience often tempts families into booking additional activities, which is where costs can rapidly escalate. "Those activities really, really add up," she warned, questioning the overall value for money and affordability for the average family.
The "Wow" Factor of On-Site Supermarket Prices
The most contentious part of their experience was the cost of groceries at the on-site Park Market. While appreciating the convenience of the store in the Village Square, Vicky was left gobsmacked by the pricing.
"The prices in this supermarket are wow, just wow," she remarked. One item stood out as a symbol of the inflated costs: a standard bottle of ketchup priced at £4. She also highlighted an £8 disposable barbecue and steep mark-ups on toiletries like shampoo and conditioner.
Vicky estimated that prices in the resort supermarket were typically 10% to 40% higher than in regular UK supermarkets. While acknowledging the resort was "capitalising on the fact that they have a captive audience," she offered straightforward advice to other families planning a trip.
Her top tip was to bring key supplies from home or stop at a local supermarket en route. Her family made a pit stop at a store roughly ten minutes away, stocking up on essentials like fresh fruit, children's snacks, milk, spreads, and sauces. This simple strategy, she said, made a significant dent in their overall holiday expenditure.
