The MagicBreaks Blog

What is Center Parcs Europe?

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 08:00:00 Z

If you’re looking for something well and truly different, then look no further than the spectacular resorts of Center Parcs Europe. Leave behind the ordinary and prepare yourself and your family for an unforgettable adventure deep into the heart of nature!

For those unfamiliar, Center Parcs Europe offers an incredible holiday experience across the continent, boasting resorts in all corners of Western Europe’s stunning countryside.

Ideal for friends and families looking for an idyllic escape in nature. Our Center Parcs Europe offerings promise exciting adventures and an endless amount of fun thanks to the abundance of activities guests can experience together.

The Center Parcs Europe concept

Unlike many other traditional holiday experiences and destinations, Center Parcs Europe offers its guests a complete self-contained environment staying in your very own cosy cottage, lodge, or apartment surrounded by nature.

Enjoy mountain biking through the dense forests of France, follow rewarding hiking trails in the Alpine hills of Germany, or stay in the resort itself and splash around in the famous Aqua Mundo waterpark, their waterparks are some of the biggest in Europe and guests of all ages will have a ‘splashing good time’!

That’s not all, all resorts come with a variety of on-site restaurants and a supermarket meaning you have everything you need on your doorstep. You aren’t just limited to one or two resorts either. A whopping 17 resorts are available to book through MagicBreaks, with 7 being in France, 6 in the Netherlands, 3 in Belgium, and 1 in Germany meaning whichever resort you choose, you’ll have a completely unique experience.

If you’re interested in finding out the best ways on how to get to some of our favourite resorts, check out our other blog post.

What about the accommodation?

The fun doesn’t stop with the activities either. Center Parcs Europe’s range of accommodation is one of its biggest selling points, with its main offering of cosy cottages providing a charming home away from home. In most resorts, you have the option of varying degrees of luxury, ranging from Comfort, Premium, and VIP cottages.

Whichever level you choose, all cottages come fully equipped with a kitchen, comfortable living area with fireplace, and private outdoor terraces perfect for relaxing in the evening sun with a barbecue enjoying the scenery.

If you’d like a place that’s a little smaller and less-maintenance, some resorts like Het Heijderbos offer hotel rooms for ultimate convenience. They provide you with a comfortable base for you to explore the resort and come with access to hotel amenities like a daily breakfast buffet and room cleaning.

For something a little more memorable, how does staying in your very own boathouse floating on the tranquil resort lake sound? In addition to the novelty of staying directly on the water, you’ll have your own private decking where you can sit back, relax and take in the view alongside all of the home comforts of one of the resorts cottages.

If that doesn’t appeal, how about staying in a luxury treehouse suspended in the middle of a forest? You’ll have large bedrooms and two stunning bathrooms, in addition to a huge flat-screen TV with Chromecast. It’s the perfect family hideaway, quite literally, in the middle of nature!

Great. So what can we do there?

The majority of resorts have upwards of 60 different activities for you and your family to enjoy, ranging from a leisurely round of minigolf, family laser battle, archery, kid’s safari, climbing walls, and more, including the all-important Aqua Mundo.

Here, you can whizz down the variety of water slides, float along the lazy river, and in some resorts, even go snorkelling with exotic fish! For the adults, there are on-site spa services where you can receive a selection of treatments designed to relax and rejuvenate.

Now I’m hungry. What about the dining options?

All resorts have several mouth-wateringly tasty restaurants for you to enjoy. Fancy traditional home-cooked Italian dishes including a range of pastas and pizzas? Nonna’s has you covered.

Or perhaps you might want a hearty and juicy steak fresh off of the grill, ideal after a hard day of exploration. Fuego Adventure Grill has also got you covered. Lighter bites and lunch are also ticked off the menu too in the Grand Café and Grabber Joe’s Laguna Café.

In short, you’ll never go hungry at Center Parcs Europe. And if you do, there’s always a fully-stocked supermarket on hand for all of life’s essentials.

What about the scenery?

Speaking of life’s essentials, here at MagicBreaks we think it’s incredibly important to spend as much time as you can doing what you love. And for us, that’s being on holiday. Even better if it’s completely surrounded by picturesque landscapes and countryside, which is one of the unique benefits of a Center Parcs Europe holiday.

A great example is the fantastic resort of Center Parcs Europe De Eemhof, perfectly located along the sandy shores of Eemmeer Lake in the Netherlands. In addition to the tranquil lake (and the fun water-based activities that come with it), you’ll also be surrounded by the stunning Horsterwold forest. This is just one specific example, but each and every resort has something special about it’s location.

So, there we have it. A complete run-down of Center Parcs Europe and what it’s all about. A relaxing retreat where we can reconnect with family and friends in the peace and quiet of Europe’s countryside is just what we all need.

Sustainable Travel with MagicBreaks

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 08:00:00 Z

In a world where our travel choices have a profound impact on our planet, it’s important to travel responsibly, and where possible, sustainably. In this blog, we’re highlighting how you can do your bit for the environment, whilst still enjoying your hard-earned holiday of a lifetime.

Did you know that flying is the single-most carbon-intensive forms of transportation, and on average, a round-trip flight from London to New York generates approximately 1.2 metric tons of CO2 per passenger? To put that into some perspective, that is the equivalent to the annual carbon emissions of driving a car for six months straight. On one flight!

We think that choosing a self-driving holiday once in a while is an excellent way of travelling sustainably. Not only does it bring environmental benefits, but you also gain flexibility and freedom with your itinerary too so wherever you choose to travel, you aren’t at the mercy of public transportation or taxis.

Eco-Friendly Escapes at Center Parcs Europe

If you’re looking for a self-driving holiday where nature is at the very heart of the trip, look no further than our brand-new selection of Center Parcs Europe resorts. Pack up the car, cross the channel via Ferry or LeShuttle, and within a few hours of driving through Europe you’ll find yourself in your very own cottage surrounded by the dense woodlands of France, the beaches of Belgium, or the lakes of the Netherlands.

Center Parcs Europe resorts are renowned for being the perfect alternative holiday destination for all of the family, partly due to the incredible facilities you’ll find at each resort. You’ll have the choice between upwards of 70 activities to take part in including archery, bowling, mountain biking and even escape rooms, in addition to several on-site restaurants, a supermarket, and of course, the Aqua Mundo. Here, you’ll discover water slides, lazy rivers, a wave pool, and a heated outdoor pool. What’s more, is that you’ll also have your car enabling you to visit any nearby town, city or attraction making it a seriously diverse holiday within nature.

All Center Parcs Europe resorts are eco-resorts too, meaning that they are semi-pedestrian with guests only being able to get around either on foot, by bike, or in an e-cart. They don’t use pesticides or chemical fertilizers on the resort’s foliage, and water consumption is limited and monitored in the Aqua Mundo.

Alternative Transportation to Disneyland® Paris

Here at MagicBreaks, it’s no secret that Disneyland® Paris is the beating heart of what we do. So naturally, it only makes sense to mention the environmentally-friendly ways of getting to the Disney® Parks.

Instead of flying, you may want to consider travelling by coach. It’s even more environmentally friendly than self-driving due to the much higher occupancy rates of the coach. More passengers are transported using less fuel per person therefore massively reducing the carbon emissions per passenger compared to driving alone or in a family. If travelling by coach is not an option for you, then self-driving to Disneyland® Paris is still an excellent sustainable means of transport, especially if you own an electric car. In fact, that is the most sustainable way of getting to the Parks, unless there’s such thing as electric coaches these days!

Exploring the UK

Our final way of keeping things sustainable on a MagicBreaks holiday is to explore the many options available to you on our very own island. Being our home, the UK is often completely forgotten about when it comes to a holiday which we think is a real shame. We’re blessed with some of the most beautiful surroundings anywhere in the world, which you can find up in the Lake District, or down southwest in Cornwall for example.

We’re pleased to offer a selection of incredible cottages and log cabins in some of the UK’s best locations from just £159pp. Enjoy 7 nights bordering the Lake District National Park, the North Cornwall/North Devon border, Somerset countryside, or even on the small island of the Isle of Wight. All of our UK breaks are self-driving and being based in the UK, perfect for a sustainable holiday!

So, there we have it. If you’re trying to be a little more eco-conscious, MagicBreaks have got you covered with several amazing options for sustainable travel. From self-driving to the eco-resorts of Center Parcs Europe, to environmentally-friendly transport to Disneyland® Paris, right through to keeping things local with breaks away in the UK.

Travelling to Disneyland® Paris

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 09:00:00 Z

Treat your loved ones to a magical trip to Disneyland® Paris, where you’ll be able to join Mickey and friends in an unforgettable adventure like no other. Explore all that the Disney® Parks have to offer, including big thrills and fun for the little ones, as well as plenty of photo opportunities and hugs with some of your favourite Disney Characters!

At MagicBreaks we are here to help you plan the perfect break to Disneyland® Paris, and make it as hassle-free as possible. With our transport inclusive packages you can book everything in one go! We have a range of options to suit all preferences and budgets, so arranging your magical break couldn’t be easier!

Take the Eurostar from London and arrive directly in the heart of the magic at Disneyland® Paris in just 2 hours and 49 minutes*, allowing you to maximise your time in the Disney® Parks! You can enjoy 2 nights accommodation, 3-day Disney® Parks entry and return Eurostar travel from just £409 per person.** You’ll also have the option to upgrade your seats to Standard Premier for a quieter coach experience and additional benefits, including a light meal and complimentary magazines onboard.

We offer flights from all major airports across the UK, with packages from just £259 per person,***. UK travellers can arrive at either Paris Charles de Gaulle airport or Paris Orly airport. We can also arrange your transfers from the airport to your hotel, either by Private Transfer or Disneyland® Paris Magical Shuttle!

We also offer transport inclusive packages with Eurotunnel, one of the fastest ways of reaching France from the UK, with the crossing from Folkestone to Calais taking only 35 minutes! Return prices start from just £139 per vehicle! We also have access to excellent rates on the Flexiplus ticket by Eurotunnel, which takes the hassle out of your channel crossing by giving you flexibility and added extras, including dedicated check-in lanes and priority boarding.

Or why not travel by ferry, a quick 90-minute journey from Dover to Calais from just £99 per vehicle. From here, you’ll be able to reach Disneyland® Paris in just 2.5 hours. We also have those travelling in the North in mind, with the Hull to Zeebrugge route also available, where guests will travel overnight and reach the magic within a 4-hour drive.

Last but by no means least, you can travel to Disneyland® Paris in an executive class coach on a 2, 3 or 4 night Magical Disney Breakaway from just £249 per person.^^ Your trip will include Disney® Park Hopper Tickets, allowing you to explore the magic of Disneyland® Paris, and you can choose from over 180 pick-up points in England and Wales. PLUS, there are FREE child places available on a range of 2022 and 2023 dates!

So, what are you waiting for? Your next magical holiday is closer than you think!

You can book easily online with MagicBreaks, or by calling our dedicated team on 0330 880 5001

We hope to hear from you real soon!

Team MB

*Direct services run once a day on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Please note, direct services may vary depending on the time of year. Indirect services are also available. **Price based on 2 adults and 2 children sharing a Standard Room at Disney Hotel Cheyenne®, plus standard seats on Eurostar. *** Price based on 2 adults and 2 children sharing a Standard Room at Disney Hotel Santa Fe® with flights from Manchester. ^Shuttle services does not stop at Disney Davy Crockett Ranch. ^^Price based on a 2-night break per adult, based on a minimum of 2 adults per room. ©Disney

Disneyland Paris by Coach

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 11:00:00 Z

Get ready to travel in style on board an Executive Class Coach to the heart of the magic at Disneyland® Paris this year.

Here at MagicBreaks we’ve got a wide selection of trips available to suit every budget, and with over 180 pick-up points to choose from across England and Wales, planning your magical getaway has never been so easy!

Treat your family and friends to a 2 night, 3 night or even a 4 night stay at Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe, inspired by the world of Disney Pixar’s Cars, Disney’s Hotel Cheyenne, where you will be transported into the Wild West, with fantastic Toy Story themed rooms, or Disney’s Sequoia Lodge, home to beautiful woodland-themed rooms with a Disney touch, all within walking distance to the Disney® Parks.

Not only will you be able to enjoy big thrills, fun for the little ones and numerous encounters and selfie opportunities with your favourite Disney Characters, you’ll also benefit from Extra Magic Time, meaning you can spend even more time in the Disney® Parks than regular guests! How great is that?

With a 2 nights’ stay, inclusive of accommodation at a Disney® Hotel and 2-day Disney® Parks entrance as well as return coach travel starting from just £899* per family, not to mention, free child places available on a range of departure dates, travelling to Disneyland® Paris by Coach couldn’t be better!**

Call us today for a personalised quote and to book your magical break with our experienced team of specialists on 0330 880 5114.

We hope to hear from you real soon!

Team MB

*Prices are based on 2 adults and 2 children under 12 sharing for 2 nights. Subject to availability. **Free child place applies to the first child only in a room and applies to new bookings. Available on selected dates. Subject to availability