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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Milo Boyd

Couple who honeymooned at Center Parcs blocked from checking-in over Queen's funeral

A couple who spent their honeymoon at Center Parcs have had to cancel their trip after the company refused to check them in because of the Queen's funeral.

Amy has visited the famous holiday park six times before and even spent a romantic post-wedding break in one of its cabins with her new husband Ben.

The Center Parcs enthusiast has been left filled with "so much anger and disappointment" after the company closed check-in for 24 hours from Monday.

With no where to stay on Monday evening, and with a hotel reservation they no longer need on Sunday, Amy and Ben have cancelled their stay at the Woburn Forest park and opted for a caravan break instead.

Has Center Parcs' decision affected you? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

Center Parcs made the decision out of respect to the Queen (Getty Images)

They are just two of the customers let down by Center Parcs, with many taking to its social media accounts to say they won't be booking stays there again.

"(I feel) so much anger and disappointment," Amy, who lives in south east Kent, told The Mirror.

"They won’t cover any costs for a hotel Monday night and wont refund the cost of a hotel Sunday night that now isn’t required.

"Just a straight refund for the break and they're washing their hands with us. (We are) cancelling and avoiding.

"I used to love Center Parcs. It used to be a luxurious treat."

When asked if she thought the company had handled the situation well, Amy said: "No way, they've been really inconsiderate.

"To announce it not even a week before... Some people have no choice because they cant book another holiday while they wait for the refund."

Center Parcs first whipped up an outrage storm when it announced it was closing its villages on Monday "as a mark of respect and to allow as many of our colleagues as possible to be part of this historic moment".

When people staying at the park on Monday pointed out that they'd have nowhere to go, the company partially u-turned on the plan.

Those who were due to check-in on Monday are still not able to however, meaning many have had to significantly alter their trips away.

For those who will be at one of the villages on the day of the Queen's funeral, all restaurants and activities will be closed.

Center Parcs made another u-turn yesterday when it quickly went back on a suggestion that guests would be required to stay in their cabins for the whole of Monday.

"We were going to book for Christmas however following this news we won’t ever return to a Center Parcs with our family," one irate customer-to-be wrote on Facebook.

Another wrote: "You have just ruined the only holiday I have this year and my mum's birthday.

"We have now just cancelled our holiday as we have two dogs that were meant to come too, so we would lose two days.

"We would only have a day's holiday. Bloody useless holiday park."

Yesterday Center Parcs explained that it decided to close its villages as a mark of respect, and to "allow as many of our colleagues as possible to be part of this historic moment."

"We have contacted all the guests due to arrive on Monday 19 September and offered them a number of different options.

"Our villages will be open to welcome guests on Tuesday 20 September.

Amy had visited Center Parcs six time before (Solihull News)

"The vast majority of our guests are either due to arrive or depart on Monday 19 September. We have however, reviewed our position regarding the very small number of guests who are not due to depart on Monday and we will be allowing them to stay on our villages rather than having to leave and return on Tuesday.

"The villages will still remain closed on Monday and we will be offering a discount for the lack of facilities available on that day."

The company has been contacted for further comment.

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