Parents have spotted a handy way to find out when your kids are returning back to school after the summer holidays – head to the Center Parcs’ website.
A widely shared screenshot of the family holiday’s website showed the steep difference in prices between August (during the summer holidays) and September, when the kids are back at school.
It was much as £1,199 for four nights in Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, compared to just £529 for the same four nights in September.
[Read More: School Summer Holidays: Cheap Things To Do With Kids]
In fact, when HuffPost UK looked on the Center Parcs site to compare prices, we found even more of a difference.
August 2019:
A holiday for two adults and two children in Sherwood Forest in August ranged from £1,049-£1,249.
September 2019:
The same holiday for two adults and two children in Sherwood Forest in September ranged from £429 £499.
It’s an issue that has been brought up previously by parents. One dad wrote on Facebook in 2017: “Please can you explain why your prices rocket when it’s the children’s school holidays?” he wrote. “I really enjoy visiting Center Parcs but I don’t think families with children should have to pay more just because schools are off and that’s the only time they can visit.”
Center Parcs isn’t the only holiday break company that hikes up prices in the summer holidays, of course – many airlines and holiday packages do, too.
In response to the viral photo, a Center Parcs spokesperson said in a statement to HuffPost UK: “In line with many other companies in the travel sector, our prices are set according to demand. Short breaks at Center Parcs are extremely popular and the prices reflect the huge demand that we have during peak season.
“We are 100% full during these periods and in fact have significant over-demand. Center Parcs is an all-year round destination offering guests a choice of both weekend and midweek short breaks in a range of different lodges sizes and styles.”