butlins shoreline hotel or parkdean luxury lodges

[pinkkoala]

has anybody stopped at butlins shoreline hotel in bognor or any of the lodges parkdean have.

we have done butlins loads of times our dd loves it, not my cup of tea though.

We have said we wouldn't go back this year but she really wants to go.

What are the hotel and the parkdean resorts really like, they look lovely in the brochure but i would like some honest mums/dads feedbacks.

thankyou

[DLI]

i stayed at a parkdean resort in Newquay a few years ago. it was very clean. we stayed in a caravan and it was well equiped. There is not as much to do on site like there is with a butlins. from what i can remember there was a cafe selling limited food, a bar area, an outside pool and water slide, a crazy golf, a mini shop and a launderette.

[Karam]

I've done both. Personally, I think the hotel is the only way to do Butlins. Lets face it, Butlins is a holiday for the kids really, there's not much in it for the grownups. So I like a little bit for me when I can get it. The food in the hotel is nice (much better than the fast food junk) and if you can get the DB&B deal, then that is usually worth it. But Butlins is a holiday where you go and that is your holiday.

On the other hand, Parkdean is okay, but has nowhere near the facilities that Butlins has got. It makes a good base for exploring, and my DDs enjoyed the evening entertainment (they had a lovely evening disco and kids show which my 5 and 2 year old love). Its pretty much Butlins on a smaller scale, but less in your face too. You couldn't spend your whole day at Parkdean (We went to Sandford one), but used it to explore the local area.

So depends on what you want from a holiday. We went to both last year (we tend to do lots of long weekends rather than a big holiday) and will probably do both again this year. They're both good, but offer different things. HTH

[pinkkoala]

which parkdean would any of you say was the best, we have looked at sandford, croyde, looe bay, st minver and trecco bay.

[womblingfree]

When were you planning to go? They are opening a new hotel at Bognor Butlins in October which will have a spa for the grown ups, and I've heard the nursery there is v. good.

We've just been for Easter weekend and really enjoyed it, but will be looking forward to making use of the above facilities when we go back next year !

Just a word of warning though, if you are thinking of doing it on the cheap for as it's mainly for your DD's benefit, don't for God's sake opt for the standard accommodation - it's like something out of Hi-de-Hi!

[pinkkoala]

we were thinking of either june/sept, we usually have gold or silver accommodation but this year if we go i have said i would only go if we have shoreline hotel, the columbus rooms or deluxe rooms and eat in the yacht club restaurant.

the new hotel looks lovely, think it opens end august.

how have you all found the food at butlins if you go half board, we have done the yacht club at skegness and the food was nice and the restaurant a bit better than if you go silver/standard half board.

[womblingfree]

Standard food was not up to much when we went to be honest. There was nothing 'wrong' with it as such, but struck us as a bit 'processed'. Starters were not up to much and dessert choices v. limited. That said, there was lots of choice of main course, no major queues and v. nice Mr Whippy ice cream. They have Annabel Karmel meals for kids if you're into her stuff, and she was there in person on the Sunday night so we got a free signed copy of her spring recipe magazine which was a bonus!

And I'm only referring to the evening meal - the breakfasts were very good.