Looking for a getaway not too far from home in Alsace, we set our sights on the Center Parcs Les Trois Forêts. After doing some digging online, we were sold by the presentation and reviews on this guide. Here is a detailed account of our stay.
Practical Info
Rates and booking
Booking couldn't be easier: in just a few clicks, our duo getaway was locked in on the park's official website. Choosing the right accommodation is straightforward: photos of the cottages and various housing tiers are provided, allowing you to choose based on the number of guests, the cottage type, and the length of your stay. Another huge plus: all activities can be booked in advance on the site. That way, there’s no stress about doing it once you arrive, you can head out with peace of mind. If you need to, kiosks are available at various strategic points to book any activity at any time. If you aren't sure which Center Parcs to choose among the 7 locations in France, here is a comparison that will give you a quick overview of rates, customer reviews, and travel routes from major French cities.
Personally, we are a couple in our fifties, our children are young students (they didn't join us this time), and we have no professional constraints, plus 2 small pet dogs. We were in desperate need of a break from the frantic pace of our daily lives.
We opted for a midweek stay in March, 3 days and 2 nights, from Monday to Wednesday inclusive (outside of school holidays and in the low season): a great opportunity in terms of rates, which are significantly lower at that time. Check-in is from 4 PM and check-out is at 10 AM.
Staying in a VIP cottage
It was a bit of a headache choosing our cottage from all the options! They all have a view of the forest and are equipped with a magnificent wooden terrace with patio furniture and a barbecue. The difference comes down to the interior furnishings, some are more luxurious or newer than others, though all units are renovated or in the process of being updated. If you have young children, or if you're feeling adventurous, the "Forest Animals", "Adventure", or "Kingdom Tales" cottages are absolutely wild, with thematic decorations in every room and breathtaking layouts!
Since we wanted to treat ourselves, we went for the largest cottage available: 8 people, 4 bedrooms, and 5 bathrooms, including one with a steam shower and one with a sauna. The VIP Cottage was simply sublime: 120m2 in total with an open-plan living area featuring an equipped kitchen and bar, a dining space, and a lounge with a fireplace. Floor-to-ceiling windows across the entire width of the cottage offered an open layout and a magnificent view of a pine forest. It immediately put us in a "nature cocooning" mood.
The cottages are semi-detached but staggered, which makes you forget you even have neighbors. You almost feel like you're the only people on earth, and that’s the truly extraordinary side of this place.
Dining
For meals, there are several options: bring your own groceries, shop on-site, or take advantage of the restaurants, which offer various possibilities and packages. We opted for a mix: cooking lunch to take advantage of the super-equipped American kitchen in our cottage, and letting someone else do the work in the evening at the various restaurants: the "Il Giardino" pizzeria, the "Le Marché" buffet restaurant, or "Le Grill". Everyone can easily find their favorite dish at one of these three restaurants; the menus are very varied, so there's something for every taste.
To pick up groceries, there is a Carrefour Express supermarket that even offers delivery of your purchases to your cottage (Deli'very). The Deli'very Lodge service is also very practical: you choose from a series of meals that are delivered directly to your cottage based on your preferred dates and times. It ranges from a simple breakfast to pizzas, raclette, or fondue, as well as a nice brunch. A handy idea for hassle-free meals.
For small, friendly breaks, "Le Colibri", a bar/café area, offers drinks and light snacks throughout the day, perfect for an aperitif or afternoon tea. The place is lush and green, as if you were in a jungle in the middle of a tropical forest. A little corner of pleasure and zen.
Activities during our stay
The Aqua Mundo and its pools
You should know that access to the Aqua Mundo is included with your stay, with unlimited entry. It is also possible to book day tickets for an Aqua Mundo online. But first, what is it? It’s a large water park, indoors under a giant dome, but also outdoors. The water is a comfortable temperature (around 30°C/86°F), just how we like it, and even heated outdoors. Very popular with families for its tropical warmth, you can spend hours in the water or lounging on the chairs provided for relaxing between swims.
There is a wave pool with a beach-style gradual entry. Waves start up every 30 minutes for the enjoyment of swimmers, both young and old. It also provides access to an outdoor pool.
The wild river offers a rapid descent through a whirlpool corridor, set in a tropical backdrop. It gets pretty bumpy, so it's better to be careful unless you want to come out with a few small bruises. I’d say avoid it with the youngest ones, but definitely do it if you’re a bit daring and love splashes, because it’s quite a thrill.
An area is dedicated to water slides, both open and closed: whether solo or with others, the descent is done on large inner tubes. You have to be patient, as the wait can sometimes be long to get a tube and stand in line for the stairs that climb up to the top of the slides. But the ride down is really fun!
There are truly water attractions for all ages, with areas for babies and toddlers (like the Water Tree or the children's wading pool). Everything is well-secured so that no one gets hurt. Parents can really feel at ease. An impressive team of lifeguards is constantly watching over everyone. For what it's worth, here are other reviews of the Aqua Mundo at Les 3 Forêts.
Not all activities are free, however: Aquafun, for example, is an extra charge. If you like paddleboarding, which is very trendy right now, you can practice it here in total tranquility, paddling through the palm trees. Unfortunately, we couldn't test this activity as it was closed for the season.
Our relaxing spa break
The ultimate world of decompression! If, like us, you are spa enthusiasts, you are going to have a great time. The Deep Nature Spa area brings together all the wellness you could expect in one single place. With the advantage of being separate from the Aqua Mundo, it’s much quieter, without children jumping or diving into the pools. It is partly reserved for adults, though time slots can be booked for families.
Massages, relaxation, facials, balneotherapy, several indoor and outdoor saunas (including a panoramic sauna and a volcanic sauna), a steam room, a salt cabin and pool, a sensory shower... a top-notch experience for us.
The Deep Nature Spa is by reservation only, for a 2-hour window that passes far too quickly. Admission is not included in the park price, nor are the various treatments. But we highly recommend a visit to this spa; it's well worth the detour.
Tree-top adventure course
With all the possible activities, you’d need a week to manage to do everything! And also a nice little budget, because many activities are paid.
Nevertheless, being big fans of tree-top obstacle courses, if there was one must-do activity for us, it was this one. In this pre-spring period, we were very lucky to have a small window of sunshine at just the right moment. So, well-dressed and harnessed up, we set off. And honestly, we were not disappointed at all, quite the contrary. The course is fairly athletic and, above all, magnificent through the pine forest. Different levels of difficulty are offered; you must respect the height requirements (1.20m minimum) so you don't get stuck in certain places due to the height of the equipment. We had a wonderful time, both acrobatic and bonding.
Pedal boats: a tour of the park on the water
Still on the theme of water, the park offers pedal boat rides on a course set up all around the dome for several kilometers. Here again, you feel an inexplicable sense of escape, moving on the water through the vegetation and the forest. You get a good breath of fresh air, far from the city and the infernal noise of traffic. You find yourself listening to the birds, the wind, and even the silence. And everything is an excuse to splash each other a little, even if we are adults and it’s only 10 degrees (50°F)!
In conclusion: a real relaxing break available nearby
Center Parcs is truly a wonderful discovery. It is actually teeming with countless activities to do, both outdoors and indoors. The main activity remains the Aqua Mundo, which has the advantage of being usable all year round since everything takes place under a dome. It is even possible to get a day pass if you are just passing through or live nearby.
We really appreciated this feeling of being "elsewhere," of having gone a thousand miles from home, when in reality we were only a short hour's drive from our house. An idyllic getaway that provided a total change of scenery where we didn't look at our watches for a single second. Time stopped when we crossed the entrance to the domain. We can't wait to schedule another getaway very soon.
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