Same concept, different Worlds

A Look at Holiday Parks

It’s funny how three holiday parks, all promising roughly the same thing, can feel like completely different worlds.

We’ve stayed at Landal, Roompot, and Center Parcs, and what struck me most is how strongly the first impression shapes your idea of the whole brand. One stay, one experience ... and suddenly you feel like you know what the brand is about.

But the truth is, they’re not interchangeable. They all offer “parks” and “cottages,” sure. But the feel, the focus, the tone ... that’s where things really diverge.

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Center Parcs: memories & multigenerational fun

My history with Center Parcs goes way back. My student days. Back then, it was the perfect formula: great group offers, affordable off-season rates, and the freedom to just get away from it all. Their advertising leaned into that: escape, reset, and play.

For us, it was all about the swimming pool, the exotic greenery inside the Aqua Mundo, and the big group-friendly cottages. It was fun, familiar, and kind of iconic.

Now, years later, we still go. About once a year. It’s a place that tries to cater to everyone:

• My husband gets his fill of sport and fitness

• I get a break from cooking and cleaning

• We all enjoy the calm of a car-free park (though they’re stepping away from that lately, which is a bit of a shame)

That said, I do feel like they’ve lost a bit of focus recently. The foundation is still strong, but the brand feels like it’s drifting. They used to be razor-sharp in knowing who they were and what made them different. If they could reconnect with that vision, I think they’d have room to grow again.

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Landal: all about the kids

When we first booked Landal, I half expected it to be a lot like Center Parcs. It’s not.

From the very first park we visited, you could feel the difference ... and most of it came down to the child-centered details.

• A little stair at the check-in desk so kids could see what’s happening

• Another stair at the ice cream counter so they could pick their flavor

• Playfulness, everywhere ... but thoughtfully done

It was clear that Landal designs with children in mind. And as a young family, that was great. But as our own vacation preferences shifted, we started to feel a little out of place.

Because while we are a family with kids, we don’t want our entire holiday to feel like it revolves around that. We like calm. We like balance. We like quiet too. Landal felt more like kid-central than family-focused, and that subtle difference made it feel less “us” over time.

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Roompot: the staycation sweet spot

Then came Roompot. We stayed there during that strange post-COVID, half-locked-down period, when all we really wanted was comfort and space.

And in that sense, Roompot delivered.The houses were huge, the setup clean and cozy. Perfect for a slower-paced holiday. It was less a "holiday park" and more a holiday home, which was exactly what we needed at that time.

That said, Roompot isn’t really about the extras. No grocery store, no big central pool, no bustling activities.It’s more like a peaceful, gated neighborhood of holiday homes. Ideal for a staycation, less so if you want built-in things to do. And that’s okay. There’s a concept in that too. Not every holiday needs a schedule.

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Same Shape, Different Spirit

They all call themselves holiday parks.

They all have cottages, websites, and seasonal deals.

But they couldn’t feel more different.

Center Parcs is the full-service resort, with something for everyone, but it needs to refocus to stay relevant.

Landal is designed for families with young kids, and they do that incredibly well.

Roompot is all about calm, space, and comfort. A staycation in the truest sense.

And that’s what fascinates me: how much brand identity shows up in the little things.

The stairs at reception. The layout of the houses. The way a park makes you feel the second you arrive.

Sometimes, it’s not about who does it best.

It’s about who fits you right now.