Center Parcs: Did David Miliband get it right?
Joanne O'Connor, Freelance travel journalistHow odd that David Miliband has felt the need to defend his decision to take his young family to Center Parcs in France. On his website the former Foreign Secretary explains that his choice of holiday venue was met with “a few raised eyebrows” from friends and colleagues, one of whom described it as an “open prison” and swore he would never let his children persuade him to go there. After setting out his justifications (it’s what the children wanted), Miliband concludes his blog with a somewhat plaintive plea: “No more snobbery, please.”
Let’s get some perspective here. While Center Parcs may not have the cachet of a £9,000-a-week private villa in Tuscany with its own olive grove, vineyard and personal chef (yoohoo, Cameron), we’re not exactly talking about a week in a caravan in Rhyl. A week’s stay in a “VIP villa” with private sauna (don’t call them chalets: people will think you’ve been to Butlins) in one of Center Parcs’ French sites this August will cost you upwards of £1,500 (organic grocery pack not included). So although Miliband is right to dismiss the snobbery of colleagues who sniggered at his holiday choice, he’s not exactly slumming it.
Why the sneers, then? Is it because a holiday in Center Parcs displays a certain lack of imagination? A bit like choosing to shop in Tesco when there’s a great farmer’s market up the road. Or does the choice lack gravitas and glamour? Perhaps we don’t like to picture our politicians whizzing down water slides with big grins on their face or playing family bingo (albeit in French). Either way, David shouldn’t take the bait. I would suggest that the critics a) don’t have children and b) have never been to Center Parcs. Because the whole point of Center Parcs, the genius if you like, is that we all think we will hate it, until we get there.
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