Center Parcs Hydrobath: Everything You Need to Know

One of the most popular Center Parcs lodge features is a hydrobath. A hydrobath is a bath with several jets that recirculate the water to massage your skin – similar in concept to a hot tub, but the size and shape of a regular bath.

They were a common feature in UK homes throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, so if you’re of a certain age, you may already be familiar with the experience.

Center Parcs Lodges With a Hydrobath

Hydrobaths come as standard in lodges across all Center Parcs villages:

• Forest Lodges
• Executive Lodges
• Waterside Lodges
• Treehouses

As a result, you won’t need to upgrade specifically to get one. Although for reassurance you can always check the details of your accommodation choice before booking to confirm.

The only Center Parcs accommodation without a hydrobath is the apartments and hotel rooms. These accommodation types are only available at selected villages and are typically designed for one to two people, with an infant where applicable.

How To Use the Center Parcs Hydrobath

In my experience, the hydrobath is straightforward to use. It’s essentially a simple button to turn the jets on and off. That said, there are a few things worth knowing before your first use:

• The bath needs to be more than 70% full before the jets will activate.
• To turn the jets on, press the button at the side of the bath.
• To turn the jets off, press the button again.
• After use, the jets will automatically run a self-cleaning cycle around 30 minutes later — once complete, you can turn them off at the isolator switch above the bathroom door.
• Avoid draping towels over the hydrobath as this can activate the sensors.

Is the Center Parcs Hydrobath Worth It?

Personally, I’m not a bath person, so a hydrobath wouldn’t be a specific reason for me to book a particular lodge. That said, if you enjoy a long soak it’s a genuinely relaxing bonus — and given that it comes as standard in most lodges, it won’t cost you anything extra.

If you have the budget for a lodge with an outdoor hot tub, that would be my preference — especially since lodges with a hot tub will also have a hydrobath, so you won’t have to choose between the two. However, lodges with a hot tub typically come at around double the cost of the cheapest lodge, so it’s worth factoring that into your total Center Parcs budget.