The more research I did for this review, the more I started to wish I lived in the United Kingdom! Pontin’s is a chain of family resorts all over the U.K. that provide a place for families to go during short breaks from school or work and enjoy all kinds of fun activities. There are seven different centers, and from what I can tell from the websites, each one is a complete resort, with entertainment, activities, restaurants, shopping, some even have amusement parks.
One big difference between the way we look at vacations here in the U.S. and how holidays in the UK are viewed is that in general, we just don’t take enough time off. We might go someplace over Spring Break, and maybe take a trip in the summer, but in general, Europeans take a lot more time to unwind than we do. Wouldn’t it be great to spend a weekend at an all-inclusive family resort? Where the focus is on fun family entertainment like musical entertainment? One resort has a theater just for 80s groups like T’Pau and Howard Jones to perform, and they put on parties just for kids every day!
I have to admit, I’m jealous of people who can go to Pontin’s resorts for UK breaks! Taking a vacation always seems like such a big deal, and these Pontin’s getaways seem so relaxed and fun. Too bad plane tickets for five people is out of my budget at the moment 
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Weirdly enough, my husband and inlaws always make fun of places like that. I guess they’re not considered “cool.”
We used to have those kind of resorts here (ever see “Dirty Dancing”?) but they went out of style when air travel became more readily available.
Now, I think you have to do a family vacation at a resort that offers kids’ activities or go to Club Med to get that kind of experience. The closest I’ve ever had personally is when we took our Alaskan cruise three years ago. We could put the kids in the kids’ club and do our own thing, inbetween exploring the different ports. It’s expensive, but a wonderful vacation for everyone in the family.
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I agree with Donna. Places like Pontins may look good to the outsider, but they are really uncool, and not a desirable place to go. Standards are very low, and would not be enjoyed.
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Wow..thanks for the tip about Pontins. I will definitely have to look into that for my next trip to England
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We’ve been to the CentreParc’s in The Lake District and it was fantastic! I would highly recommend them for families.
I haven’t been to Pontins, but I know CentreParc’s is good fun!
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Mimi-Don’t you think the U.S. needs places like that? I do!
CentreParcs in the Lake District is great for familes – just got back with my 2 (9&11yrs) and they loved it!
Wow.. that’s interesting, I was thinking of going for a family vacation and you really made it happening.