Center Parcs Het Meerdal

This family-friendly resort is highly regarded for its Aqua Mundo, a subtropical swimming paradise featuring slides, a wave pool, and a wild river, providing extensive entertainment for all ages. Its natural setting, complete with free-roaming deer and a vast array of activities, creates a memorable and engaging experience. The resort is particularly well-suited for families with young children and teens, who benefit from the diverse recreational options and aquatic features. Couples can also find a peaceful retreat amidst the natural surroundings. To maximize your stay, it is advisable to bring your own groceries due to the higher prices of on-site dining and shops, and to secure popular activities like pony walks by booking them well in advance.

Facilities & Amenities
The Aqua Mundo stands out as a central and highly praised facility, noted for its consistent cleanliness, comfortable water temperature, and diverse range of pools, slides, and a thrilling wild river. While most guests enjoy the aquatic offerings, some found the hot tubs to be insufficiently warm or overly crowded with children, and a few reported non-functional showers in the pool area. The resort provides a convenient Cycle Center offering various rental options, including bikes and e-cars (golf carts), which are highly recommended for navigating the expansive, car-restricted grounds. Additional amenities include a bowling alley, an arcade zone, and several indoor play areas, though some found the Baluba area less suitable for older children. Guests should note that while Wi-Fi is available, in-room televisions do not support streaming services.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
Most cottages are generally described as clean and well-maintained, with many having undergone recent renovations. Guests frequently commend the comfortable beds, although some found them to be quite firm. VIP cottages often feature desirable amenities such as hot tubs and saunas, enhancing the comfort of the stay. However, some guests reported issues with the cleanliness or functionality of the hot tubs, and a lack of proper ventilation in some sauna areas. Recurring concerns include the presence of ants and other insects, particularly during warmer months, and some older cottages exhibiting signs of wear, such as gaps allowing bugs entry, rusty radiators, or suboptimal insulation. A few reviews also mentioned the absence of basic items like bath mats or mops, and some kitchens had worn utensils or dirty dishwashers.

Dining & Food Quality
Feedback regarding on-site dining is notably mixed, with many guests expressing considerable disappointment. Most visitors found the restaurants to be overpriced given the poor quality and often small portions of the food, which some described as tasteless, unappetizing, or lacking freshness. While specific venues like Fogo and Nonna's received varied reviews, with some guests finding them acceptable, others reported a grim dining experience. The Evergreenz buffet was particularly criticized for its limited selection, cold dishes, and infrequent replenishment. The supermarket on the premises is well-stocked but widely considered very expensive, prompting many guests to advise bringing their own groceries or utilizing external supermarkets for better value.

Location & Accessibility
The resort is set within a beautiful natural environment, featuring a serene lake and extensive forests, which provide abundant opportunities for walking and enjoying the outdoors, including frequent sightings of free-roaming deer. Its overall location is considered convenient, with nearby towns and popular attractions like Toverland, Efteling, and Irrland easily accessible by car. As the park maintains a largely car-free policy within its residential areas, guests are often encouraged to rent bikes or e-cars for convenient travel, especially when their cottages are situated further from the central facilities. While designated parking areas are available, some guests have reported minor inconveniences related to temporary parking for loading and unloading.

Staff & Service
The staff generally garners high praise for being consistently friendly, helpful, and attentive. Guests frequently highlight the efficiency of the quick check-in process and the staff's proactive response to various concerns, such as addressing a mouse sighting or assisting with a child's injury in the pool, which were handled promptly and effectively. However, a few guests reported isolated instances of unhelpful or rude staff interactions, particularly at the reception desk or within certain dining establishments. Service at the bar was occasionally noted as being slower. Despite these isolated issues, the staff's overall dedication to guest satisfaction is a recurring positive theme, significantly contributing to a pleasant and enjoyable experience for many visitors.

Additional Information
Guests should be aware that despite the park being advertised as firework-free, some visitors have reported instances of unauthorized fireworks being set off within the premises. The resort maintains a dog-friendly policy for its cottages, allowing pets to accompany guests, though dogs are generally not permitted inside the central Market Dome or dining establishments, which can be a consideration for pet owners. Certain cottages, especially the VIP accommodations, may come equipped with additional amenities such as infrared saunas and jacuzzi baths, enhancing the overall comfort and luxury of the stay. It is strongly recommended to bring mosquito repellent during warmer months due to the resort's natural, wooded setting. While the park is largely well-maintained, some guests noted that outdoor greenery around cottages could benefit from more consistent upkeep.