to book BUTLINS when I hate it??

[lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs]

I cant stand Butlins at all, I much prefer CP but the kids really want to go. Should I book it and just put up with it??

[Pheebe]

I have this dilema too. The kids love haven holidays etc and I'm much more of a CP/self-made holiday girl. I figure they'll grow out of those sort of hols soon and will want the CP-activity hols eventually anyway. Go with the flow and enjoy them enjoying

[belgo]

We took the children to Butlins Minehead last year. I hated the Butlins part of it, but we had a great time, a nice apartment and Minehead itself was good.

I wouldn't go to CP in the UK, far too expensive.

[Poshpaws]

Have you been before?

I really don't like it, but my children love it and as long as they are happy, then I can tolerate it.

There are activities there, such as archery, football, swimming complex, shows, etc, which are all free.

I agree with belgo, CP too expensive for what it seems you get tbh. Would rather go abroad for the money I'd pay to go there.

[PlentyOfParsnips]

I loved Butlins when I was little and booked to go there a few years ago with the DCs. It was horrible - like being on holiday in a shopping centre.

[lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs]

WE go to CP once a year, the week before christmas and for 6 of us its about £230, so not too costly.
I loved butlins as a kid and have taken DD1 when she was younger but it was all targeted at spending extra money, the way things were placed resulted in "I want" all week and drove me mad. Also weirdly enough, I never felt safe there :(

[PlentyOfParsnips]

Yes, we got through loads of money when we were there. A holiday abroad would have been much cheaper.

[MillyR]

We go to Haven, due to no dogs allowed at Butlins. We used to go camping in fields and I wish I had realised how much children enjoy Haven and started taking them there earlier. I think you just go and do a balance of things. You can use the facilities like the swimming pool but also go out for part of each day and do other things, like you would if you were camping or staying in a cottage.

[Poshpaws]

PoP, that is this thing I hate most about Butlins - that eveything was under that big, bloody tent and after 3 days, I was suffering a form of cabin fever.

Lisa, £230 is a good deal. If I could get that price, I would do CP too. Whenever I do a quote, I get a price of about £1000+ for 5 of us...

[goingroundthebend4]

lisaasd

I dont like butlins but dd and ds3 love it.Ds1 and ds2 like Cp .we do Cp in winter with mum stepdad and i take little 2 in June to butlins .There quite happy with the free stuff

[MsKalo]

Go to the one in Bognor and stay in the hotel in a family room - top floor is best. The hotel is fantastic and they have a spa. I know what you mean bur wr went last year and kids loved in - I would only stay inbthe hotel though! It is really nice

[glassbaublescompletelybroken]

I don't like Butlins but it's cheap and you don't have to keep forking out for extras. We've been a couple of times and one bonus is that the food is awful and I lost weight while we were there!

[earwicga]

Know exactly what you mean. My kids love Haven holidays. I'm not so keen. But we do it anyways. Can't afford Butlins, but remember going as a teenager and loving it :)

[HecTheHallsWithBoughsOfHolly]

Nah, you're being lovely.

We're going to hoeseasons or haven - can't remember which one. Ah, it's in the booking email never mind . My idea of hell. But lots for the children to do.

Oh dear god I hate holiday camps.

[lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs]

the trick with CP is to book way in advance, and if you book as soon as you get back you get £25 of vouchers and free insurance

I think Haven would be better for us, I hate the big tent! and we have a dog too.

hmm might have to look at Easter? any suggestions??

[CerealOffender]

i think holidays are for everyone to enjoy. there is no freaking way i would go to butlins

[hystericalmum]

Butlins is vile. No way on this earth would anything or anybody make me go there!
Or Centre Parks either. That place is over rated. IMO!

[lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs]

my girls love the swimming and the outdoors of center parcs and thats its never crowded (both have asd). They love the walking and the bed, I like the fact the villas are like home and your not left hunting for a good pan or extra equipment that should be there in the first place (like at Butlins)

[midori1999]

I too hate Butlins. My DC however, think it's the best place ever and when given a choice to go anywhere they wanted at all, they chose either Disney Florida or Butlins.

I can cope with it for the DC.

[earwicga]

Hafan y Môr has a wonderful swimming pool - even I enjoyed it. The evening is rubbish though as they have segregated entertainment places, one for kids (dreadful) and one for adults (less dreadful) It is in the middle of nowhere though.

[NestaFiesta]

We have been to Butlins Bognor twice. The standard accommodation was disgusting and appalling but the silver apartaments are really nice and made a big difference once we'd moved. Next year we are booked into the hotel half board as we found self catering got really expensive with cafes, sandwiches and supermarkets etc. Worked out about the same cost.

If you've never been and you have small children, then give it a go, they absolutely love it. There's massive soft play, and free fairground rides, as well as Splashworld and TV charactrs and shows, all free. My best advice would be defintiely go out for a few day trips though as you do get cabin fever stuck under the pavilion roof for too long.

Even if its not my dream holiday, my kids love it and have happy memories and they will grow out of it one day so I know I can do my dream tour of France when they do.

[MillyR]

Lisa, it depends what you are looking for and how far you are prepared to travel. I like Haggerston Castle as it is at a nice location in Northumberland and has beautiful beaches nearby (all of which are open to dogs all year round). There is also horse riding at that site too.

I have looked at the info before for the one Earwicga suggested, and I really want to go to that one because it does look good.

I think Haven is particularly good for children of about 3-8, as they have all the free clubs like cookery and games. Mine went at age 9 and 11 and they were getting a bit big for the club, but there was lots of other stuff to do.

[MsKalo]

Nesta - you'll love the hotel but the food ain't great, it's ohhhh k... But the hotel is great. Book top floor if u can, much nicer

[NestaFiesta]

Thanks MsKalo! We're staying in the Shoreline not the really posh one. I'll try anything I didn't have to cook- got so sick of supermarket pizza last year...

Another perk of Bognor is gorgeous West Wittering beach about 20 mins drive away. Wonderful!

[sailorsgal]

We stayed in the nicer hotel at Butlins. It wasn't cheap, over £600 for 3 nights bed and breakfast. Yes the food was diabolical but ds thought it was fab.

We have done centreparcs twice and I prefer it but the hotel was nice.

Next is Lapland and Disney. As long as there is enough for him to do and there is wine for me its a win win situation.

Just wish he wouldn't mention he had been to butlins to everyone at school.