Comments for The Pursuit of Quality http://thepursuitofquality.co.uk One man's journey of discovery Fri, 11 May 2012 21:46:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on So, talk to me about CenterParcs… What’s your view? by Ewan http://thepursuitofquality.co.uk/2012/05/08/so-talk-to-me-about-centerparcs-whats-your-view/#comment-83 Ewan Fri, 11 May 2012 21:46:00 +0000 http://thepursuitofquality.co.uk/?p=514#comment-83 David, that is really good feedback! I really can identify with what you say about 'being on holiday immediately' vs transfer / flight / transfer / etc. I think we'll do it! David, that is really good feedback!

I really can identify with what you say about ‘being on holiday immediately’ vs transfer / flight / transfer / etc.

I think we’ll do it!

]]> Comment on I do like the look of IKEA’s UPPLEVA TV solution by Ewan http://thepursuitofquality.co.uk/2012/05/09/i-do-like-the-look-of-ikeas-uppleva-tv-solution/#comment-82 Ewan Fri, 11 May 2012 13:19:00 +0000 http://thepursuitofquality.co.uk/?p=524#comment-82 I wonder if they are to help you plug in stuff like phones? e.g. the Nokia N8? I wonder if they are to help you plug in stuff like phones? e.g. the Nokia N8?

]]> Comment on I do like the look of IKEA’s UPPLEVA TV solution by Sam Machin http://thepursuitofquality.co.uk/2012/05/09/i-do-like-the-look-of-ikeas-uppleva-tv-solution/#comment-81 Sam Machin Fri, 11 May 2012 11:30:00 +0000 http://thepursuitofquality.co.uk/?p=524#comment-81 I like, but why are the extra HDMI ports still on the side of the TV, surely these would be better placed inside the space for the extra boxes so that I can use short HDMI 'patch' leads from the appleTV etc into the cabinet? or even better just have 1 or 2 fly leads in the cabinet hardwired direct to the screen? I like, but why are the extra HDMI ports still on the side of the TV, surely these would be better placed inside the space for the extra boxes so that I can use short HDMI ‘patch’ leads from the appleTV etc into the cabinet? or even better just have 1 or 2 fly leads in the cabinet hardwired direct to the screen?

]]> Comment on So, talk to me about CenterParcs… What’s your view? by David Ellis http://thepursuitofquality.co.uk/2012/05/08/so-talk-to-me-about-centerparcs-whats-your-view/#comment-80 David Ellis Fri, 11 May 2012 05:58:00 +0000 http://thepursuitofquality.co.uk/?p=514#comment-80 Do it! I always had this impression of Butlins until we went for it a couple of years back and now we go pretty regularly. You pretty much know all the positives already - no airport, short journey time, fantastic accommodation (assuming you book at least executive quality), really good activities and perhaps one thing you haven't found out - 1 hour after leaving my house, my mind is off work. That doesn't usually happen until the plane touches down on foreign land. Do it! I always had this impression of Butlins until we went for it a couple of years back and now we go pretty regularly. You pretty much know all the positives already – no airport, short journey time, fantastic accommodation (assuming you book at least executive quality), really good activities and perhaps one thing you haven’t found out – 1 hour after leaving my house, my mind is off work. That doesn’t usually happen until the plane touches down on foreign land.

]]> Comment on So, talk to me about CenterParcs… What’s your view? by Ewan http://thepursuitofquality.co.uk/2012/05/08/so-talk-to-me-about-centerparcs-whats-your-view/#comment-79 Ewan Wed, 09 May 2012 13:57:00 +0000 http://thepursuitofquality.co.uk/?p=514#comment-79 That's more good perspective Raam. Can you see yourself considering it? That’s more good perspective Raam. Can you see yourself considering it?

]]> Comment on So, talk to me about CenterParcs… What’s your view? by Raam http://thepursuitofquality.co.uk/2012/05/08/so-talk-to-me-about-centerparcs-whats-your-view/#comment-78 Raam Wed, 09 May 2012 13:50:00 +0000 http://thepursuitofquality.co.uk/?p=514#comment-78 Apparently they're at 98% occupancy - and that says a lot, particularly when you're talking about a place that charges £150-£200 per night, just for the room. Similar - we've not been, but been hearing about it from quite a lot of people recently who couldn't stop raving about it. Apparently they’re at 98% occupancy – and that says a lot, particularly when you’re talking about a place that charges £150-£200 per night, just for the room.

Similar – we’ve not been, but been hearing about it from quite a lot of people recently who couldn’t stop raving about it.

]]> Comment on So, talk to me about CenterParcs… What’s your view? by Ewan http://thepursuitofquality.co.uk/2012/05/08/so-talk-to-me-about-centerparcs-whats-your-view/#comment-77 Ewan Tue, 08 May 2012 22:09:00 +0000 http://thepursuitofquality.co.uk/?p=514#comment-77 Fantastic Gareth, thank you! :D Fantastic Gareth, thank you! :D

]]> Comment on So, talk to me about CenterParcs… What’s your view? by garethjames http://thepursuitofquality.co.uk/2012/05/08/so-talk-to-me-about-centerparcs-whats-your-view/#comment-76 garethjames Tue, 08 May 2012 17:04:00 +0000 http://thepursuitofquality.co.uk/?p=514#comment-76 Hello Ewan. Yes it wasn't until we set about finding a good off season holiday for us one year that the whole car seat thing clicked with us as well. When we did the UK for the first time we had my parents go out and buy the car seats, so we ended up paying for all the car seats at various ages twice. That drove me mad! OK. In Finland we use http://www.holidayclubresorts.com/resorts/ and our "local" one is at Salla: http://www.holidayclubresorts.com/resorts/salla/ which is more your dedicated "all in one" sort of thing and is very popular during the winter months for the skiing and in the other times for the nature hikes. It is all of just 90km from us so we can often decided to leave in the afternoon after having had the idea in the morning. Beauty of living in the wilds of Lapland. We stay in the "Salla Star" cottages there as they offer by far and away the nicest experience and even allow us to "host" a few friends, or take them with us, if it is more of a planned thing. http://360hosting.biz/holidayclub/resorts/salla_star/index.htm Our preferred choice though is their, Holiday Club that is, resort in Saariselkä. What they claim to be the most northern most Spa hotel in Europe. 220km from us. http://www.holidayclubresorts.com/resorts/saariselka/ The place of Saariselkä itself is tiny! But my god it's good! Skiing, hiking, eating, relaxing, wildlife, shopping (if you don't mind fighting with the crazed Russian and Chinese tax free shoppers) it's a very small, well contained little holiday resort. There are at least seven big hotel complexes there each with their own USP. We prefer the Holiday Club resort for their 100m2 "Laavutieva" cottages. Then there is the Sami cultural centre in Inari http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inari,_Finland just up the road. And all round brilliant family holiday destination! As I said, incredible bit of accommodation. Both places are very pet friendly as well, so our four legged family members do not have to get shunted off to a kennel or left with friends. Which is a bonus for us. We have used their "city" resort in Tampere as well for visiting old friends there. http://www.holidayclubresorts.com/resorts/tampereenkylpyla/ Felt a little odd going to stay there as we had lived there for so long, but agreed that the apartments were every bit as good as the chalets in the other resorts and those who maybe wanted a pure "city" break, then it would be perfect. Hello Ewan. Yes it wasn’t until we set about finding a good off season holiday for us one year that the whole car seat thing clicked with us as well. When we did the UK for the first time we had my parents go out and buy the car seats, so we ended up paying for all the car seats at various ages twice. That drove me mad!

OK. In Finland we use http://www.holidayclubresorts.com/resorts/ and our “local” one is at Salla: http://www.holidayclubresorts.com/resorts/salla/ which is more your dedicated “all in one” sort of thing and is very popular during the winter months for the skiing and in the other times for the nature hikes. It is all of just 90km from us so we can often decided to leave in the afternoon after having had the idea in the morning. Beauty of living in the wilds of Lapland. We stay in the “Salla Star” cottages there as they offer by far and away the nicest experience and even allow us to “host” a few friends, or take them with us, if it is more of a planned thing. http://360hosting.biz/holidayclub/resorts/salla_star/index.htm

Our preferred choice though is their, Holiday Club that is, resort in Saariselkä. What they claim to be the most northern most Spa hotel in Europe. 220km from us. http://www.holidayclubresorts.com/resorts/saariselka/ The place of Saariselkä itself is tiny! But my god it’s good! Skiing, hiking, eating, relaxing, wildlife, shopping (if you don’t mind fighting with the crazed Russian and Chinese tax free shoppers) it’s a very small, well contained little holiday resort. There are at least seven big hotel complexes there each with their own USP. We prefer the Holiday Club resort for their 100m2 “Laavutieva” cottages. Then there is the Sami cultural centre in Inari http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inari,_Finland just up the road. And all round brilliant family holiday destination! As I said, incredible bit of accommodation. Both places are very pet friendly as well, so our four legged family members do not have to get shunted off to a kennel or left with friends. Which is a bonus for us.

We have used their “city” resort in Tampere as well for visiting old friends there. http://www.holidayclubresorts.com/resorts/tampereenkylpyla/ Felt a little odd going to stay there as we had lived there for so long, but agreed that the apartments were every bit as good as the chalets in the other resorts and those who maybe wanted a pure “city” break, then it would be perfect.

]]> Comment on So, talk to me about CenterParcs… What’s your view? by Ewan http://thepursuitofquality.co.uk/2012/05/08/so-talk-to-me-about-centerparcs-whats-your-view/#comment-75 Ewan Tue, 08 May 2012 15:57:00 +0000 http://thepursuitofquality.co.uk/?p=514#comment-75 You know what Gareth, the car seat thing 'sells it' for me -- it's a very, very good point and one of the last things you think about (at least for us) when we're discussing holidays. Very good points. For those reading -- what's the name of the Finnish place? You know what Gareth, the car seat thing ‘sells it’ for me — it’s a very, very good point and one of the last things you think about (at least for us) when we’re discussing holidays. Very good points. For those reading — what’s the name of the Finnish place?

]]> Comment on So, talk to me about CenterParcs… What’s your view? by garethjames http://thepursuitofquality.co.uk/2012/05/08/so-talk-to-me-about-centerparcs-whats-your-view/#comment-74 garethjames Tue, 08 May 2012 15:48:00 +0000 http://thepursuitofquality.co.uk/?p=514#comment-74 While we have never done Centre Parcs, we have done pretty much the Finnish equivalent. Top notch cottage, everything but the hot tub and games console. 52" flat screen in the TV area, smaller 23" jobs on moveable, extending arms in the kitchen/dinning room area and two of the four bedrooms. Then just up the road (500m max) the spa complex. Pool for us all and then a gigantic range of pampering treatments for the wife and when we want a tiny bit of alone time some incredibly good quality child care/entertainment services. Great range of eateries for all tastes and budgets too, from the the basic local everyday grub to the "if you've got to ask the price you can't afford it" champagne and caviar sort of thing. Yes I know that bit about the childcare may be a bit redundant for you right now Ewan but it does make a difference when the boys grow up a bit. It really does work. Yes we too go for the whole "throw everything in the car" and just drive thing. Yes it's nice as you have your own car and your own child car seats and everything set up just right (I personally can't stand the whole hire car plus child seat thing, I feel like I can never trust them) while you are away. While we are away we always make the point of going away from the site at least one day to see the local area, and that way it keeps the kids from becoming bored with the idea of the pool etc. Every time we have come back from a visit to the UK it take us a week to just regroup and recover. When we holiday here at one of these resorts everyone comes back full of happy stories and laughing away. Even if we have work/school less than 48hours later! As far as I am concerned it really is the best type of family holiday with young children! While we have never done Centre Parcs, we have done pretty much the Finnish equivalent. Top notch cottage, everything but the hot tub and games console. 52″ flat screen in the TV area, smaller 23″ jobs on moveable, extending arms in the kitchen/dinning room area and two of the four bedrooms. Then just up the road (500m max) the spa complex. Pool for us all and then a gigantic range of pampering treatments for the wife and when we want a tiny bit of alone time some incredibly good quality child care/entertainment services. Great range of eateries for all tastes and budgets too, from the the basic local everyday grub to the “if you’ve got to ask the price you can’t afford it” champagne and caviar sort of thing. Yes I know that bit about the childcare may be a bit redundant for you right now Ewan but it does make a difference when the boys grow up a bit. It really does work. Yes we too go for the whole “throw everything in the car” and just drive thing. Yes it’s nice as you have your own car and your own child car seats and everything set up just right (I personally can’t stand the whole hire car plus child seat thing, I feel like I can never trust them) while you are away. While we are away we always make the point of going away from the site at least one day to see the local area, and that way it keeps the kids from becoming bored with the idea of the pool etc. Every time we have come back from a visit to the UK it take us a week to just regroup and recover. When we holiday here at one of these resorts everyone comes back full of happy stories and laughing away. Even if we have work/school less than 48hours later! As far as I am concerned it really is the best type of family holiday with young children!

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