The majority of Denmark’s many Holiday Centres are just a stone’s throw from the sea, but you will also find great holiday centres further inland. Holiday Centres are a safe bet for any time of year, because they all share the same great features: quality time together, closeness, fun times, relaxation and active pursuits, all under the same roof.

How about a town holiday

A town holiday in a holiday centre is a new leisure concept in Denmark. At two centres – in Ribe and Kolding – there are holiday centres right in the heart of town, so you have a real chance to explore the towns and their attractions, but also of course to see something of the surrounding districts. You will not find quite so many activities on offer at these holiday centres, simply because the towns already provide plenty of entertainment for you to take advantage of.

Search for holiday centres in Denmark

Your holiday accommodation may be an apartment or a detached house with its own terrace or balcony. As a rule the there will be sleeping accommodation will for 4 to 8 people. In addition to good, practical furnishing the standard equipment will include colour TV, bedding, and often a telephone. Bed-linen, towels and tea towels can be rented at the holiday centre if you prefer not to bring your own. Also the kitchen is well equipped and to spare the labours of the duty cook there is a dishwasher and a coffee machine.

Holiday centre accommodation can be rented for one or more weeks, usually from Saturday to Saturday, but weekend breaks are also popular. Outside the high season and school holidays it often also possible to arrange a midweek break. The cost will naturally depend on the season and the length of your stay, but it is worth remembering that the prices generally are considerably lower outside the high season.

The great variety in holiday homes means that they work just as well as a base for a peaceful and relaxed holiday for two as they do for a family holiday or an action-packed holiday with friends.

Pets such as dogs and cats are welcome at most holiday centres, but please show consideration for your fellow guests and keep an eye on your pets – and especially on their droppings.

One thing is for sure – you will never be bored at a holiday centre. Many centres have both an outdoor and an indoor swimming pool, a sauna and a fitness room, and several have a subtropical aqua park. Some offer a dedicated activity centre where you can get in on the surfing, diving, golfing, horse riding and tennis. Especially during the high season the holiday centre’s sports team is there to give helpful advice and instruction. If your preference is for something gentler, you can usually play table tennis or billiards.

Fun for little kids too

Children have a whale of a time at holiday centres. Giggling and shouting fills the playgrounds, where there is often a play supervisor to get games started and keep an eye on the children so that things do not get out of hand.

Good and tasty food can make a holiday unforgettable. The holiday centres have done themselves proud in this respect and have eateries to suit every taste. There are often several restaurants to choose from, and cosy cafés if you just want a snack. You and your family can also do your own cooking in the well-equipped kitchen of your holiday house or apartment. There are usually great shopping facilities on or near the holiday centre, so the daily shoping will not be a problem.

The holiday centres that are members of the Danish hotel industry's central organisation, HORESTA are all classified on the basis of a long list of objective criteria and awarded from 0 to 5 stars. A 0 star-rated centre only meets the most basic requirements while a 5 star rating guarantees you luxury accommodations. The classification system is made up of one mandatory and three optional classifications.

Read more about the classification system

If you want to help protect the environment you should look for The Green Key symbol as a guarantee that the holiday centre satisfies a number of stringent environmental requirements. This certificate is regarded by many as the world’s best environmental concept in the accommodation sector.

Some periods are naturally more popular than others. The most popular periods include:

• Summer, particularly during the Danish school holidays, which run from around 20th June to 8th August.
• The autumn holidays (school half-term, week 42)
• Easter holidays
• Winter holidays (school half-term, one week in February)

In these very popular periods the holiday houses/apartments are rented out mainly on a weekly basis, Saturday to Saturday, and you are therefore recommended to book well in advance. At other times of year it is usually possible to book shorter stays, e.g. weekend or mid-week breaks.

A typical holiday centre has the public facilities of a hotel for the enjoyment of all the family. It offers a wide range of activities for children - the beach is generally never far away - and a restaurant or cafeteria. Add to this the freedom of a holiday home where you can arrange the days to your family's liking. Families have their own well-equipped apartments, which sleep 2 to 8 persons.

Prices vary from DKK 3,700-10,000 / EUR 500 - 1,350 depending on size, standard and situation for a week during peak season. You make your own beds and do your own cleaning. Kitchen facilities are available for those who want to do their own cooking. You will find holiday centres throughout Denmark, usually in beautiful settings. The centres compete in offering activity holidays - all you have to do is make your choice.

There are excellent facilities for meetings and conferences at many holiday centres. This is why the centres are particularly suitable venues for meetings and conferences outside the holiday periods.

All holiday centres with 3 or more stars have an option to let their conference facilities be classified as 3- to 5-star. So, next time you are looking to plan a
meeting or a conference, keep holiday centres in mind and look out for the star rating.

When you wish to use a holiday centre for a meeting or conference you can, as a rule, hire holiday houses/apartments as single or double accommodation. And get all your meals served on a platter!

The trade organisation of Danish hotels and holiday centres is:

HORESTA
Vodroffsvej 32
DK-1900 Frederiksberg C
Tel.: (+45) 3524 8080
Fax.: (+45) 3524 8088
Internet: www.horesta.dk
E-mail: horesta@horesta.dk