WHEN you're planning your UK staycation, you want to make the most of every minute.
That's why, whenever my family of five head to Center Parcs, we have a cheeky trick to getting an extra day at the park for £42.
We aim to stay nearby the night before our break begins, just so we can have a fun-filled first day for a fraction of the price of the whole holiday.
We're spoilt for choice, as we live halfway between Sherwood Forest and Woburn Forest, so we can get to either in little more than an hour.
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But our favourite park is Elveden Forest and we love staying at a local Premier Inn the night before check-in, despite living only two hours away.
It means everything is already packed in the car, everyone
is in holiday mode and you're on the doorstep of your destination from the moment you wake up.
I'd rather spend the day in the pool or wandering through the woods than rushing around packing, driving and queuing to get in.
If you turn up at 10am, there's barely anyone else arriving that early, so you're not sat in your car waiting to get your welcome pack when all you want to do is make a start on your staycation.
It's easy to find a space in the car park because everyone else has driven to their lodge to pack up. And you're welcome to use all the facilities on site, even though your accommodation won't be ready until mid-afternoon.
Changeover days tend to be a bit quieter in the subtropical swimming paradise and it's nice to enjoy a peaceful stroll around the park before it fills up with other guests over the course of the day.
It's also a great way to avoid any travel problems, especially if there are roadworks or bad weather.
The Premier Inn in Thetford, just 10 minutes from Elveden Forest Center Parcs, has family rooms for just £42.50 and kids can get a free breakfast if adults are eating.
Or en route from hotel to park along the A11, you'll pass a big Sainsbury's where you can stock up on holiday grub and then enjoy a breakfast in the upstairs cafe for less than £5 per person.
One trip, when there was no room at the inn, we headed to an Airbnb in Snetterton instead and that was a nice change from our usual routine.
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We had a bit more space to spread out, as there was a separate double bedroom for us parents, while the boys were very taken with the sofa that converted into a bunk bed in the lounge.
It cost a bit more than the Premier Inn and was a little bit further away, but had a kitchenette where we could make our own breakfast, so we saved money on food.
Having made an extra overnight stay a staple of any Center Parcs trip, I can't see us doing it any other way now.
Who wouldn't want an extra night away and a fun first day full of splashing around not dashing around and surrounded by trees not traffic?
This year, we've taken our holiday hack one step further and booked an overnight DFDS ferry from Newcastle for our Easter trip to Center Parcs in Holland.
We bagged a hefty 20 per cent discount on the ferry fare by booking early, which brought the cost of the journey down to just £125, including a cabin for the five of us.
And the boys are excited about exploring the boat and setting sail in one country to wake up in another.
Here are some other Center Parcs hacks that could save you as much as £500.
