to spend £500 on one night at the Legoland Castle Hotel?

[BaldricksTrousers]

I always seem to be asking AIBU about money matters. Anyway, here goes...

I wanted to take DD7 to Legoland this summer. At the distance we are I would like to do an overnight where you get the next day's entry free, we also don't plan on going back anytime soon so I thought it better that we could relax and enjoy the park at our leisure (as much as humanly possible at a theme park in August).

To stay at the on-site Legoland hotel, it's roughly £250 for my husband, DD, and myself, which is a lot but includes the admission for both days. We can stay in another hotel 5 miles down the road for even cheaper and still get the deal. BUT we can stay in the new swanky Legoland Castle Hotel for £500. This place looks awesome, the rooms are themed, etc.

Part of me feels like, heck with it, go big or go home. The other part of me thinks that it's crazy spending double on the hotel when Legoland will already be very expensive, and we probably won't spend loads of time in the hotel anyway if we are going to the park both days.

So, AIBU to book this crazy expensive holiday? Should I go for the cheaper option and save my money for the overpriced food and tat we will inevitably be buying?

[user1488721675]

My DS is 7 and would much prefer the cheaper option and then spend the remaining £300 on actually Lego to take home.

[EB123]

I think it really depends on your financial situation. For us it would be a huge no, £500 is nearly a whole months rent for us. But if you are in a good situation then why not?

[SarahBeeney]

Stay in the cheaper hotel and spend the money on Qbots.

[EB123]

Btw we have been and stayed in a travel lodge. That was 2 years ago and my now 4 and 6 year old still talk about like it was yesterday.

[NotPennysBoat]

You'll hardly be in the hotel, and all the excitement will be about the theme park. Save your money!

[handsfree]

What sarahbeeney said. Use the money to get the ultimate q-bot. It will make a huge difference to your time there.

[Me4You]

£250 sounds cheap. The lowest I can find it for 1 night (just before main school hols too) is £326!

[BaldricksTrousers]

I sort of want to stay on site so we don't have to faff with getting there parking, or using transport, etc. Also interested in the extra time for entry in the morning.

[KoalaDownUnder]

Unless I was incredibly loaded, I'd consider that a waste of money, tbh.

[handsfree]

Stay in the normal legoland hotel and use the extra money for the ultimate q-bot. I honestly can't stress enough what a difference this will make.

[2014newme]

God no.
Stay in a cheaper hotel and get q bots.

Go big or go home doesn't mean wasting money when there's no need. 🙄

[BobbyGentry]

Legoland hotel for £250 (including breakfast & early hours opening) sounds good 😊

[TheNaze73]

I'd go for broke. If you can afford it, do the £500 option

[siilk]

We've stayed at a localish Premier inn and a Marriott to visit LEGOland. Both not far away and the Marriott was extra lovely. I would also say spend the extra on the ultimate q bot. Will make for a much easier day!!! I have been in the LEGO hotel before and I was glad we hadn't paid the extra!

[HandbagCrab]

You can do legoland in two days even if it's really busy. We've a week at a premier inn and merlin passes for the year for £50 more than you're paying.

[Whiskeywithwater]

That's actually not bad money for the normal Legoland hotel - it's obviously come down in price with the new one opening. I'd do that. Is handy being on-site, & the rooms are still themed and pretty cool.
And as for getting in early, think it was only for the driving & boats (might be wrong about that though), but was useful to get those out if the way before the hoards descended .....

[WishfulThanking]

Agree with the posters talking about Q Bots. We used these one year and the difference it made to our trip was well worth it.

[User06383]

Is it actually a nice hotel? I've no problem paying for nice hotels but I don't want to waste money on just paying for a 'name'

[tendence]

For that money I'd go to Legoland in Denmark instead, and get the benefit of spending time in a Legoland without thousands of other people, since Danish schools go back in early-mid August.

[Joolsy]

If you can stay onsite I'd go for the cheaper option. We went 2 weekends ago and it was quite busy. We got there just after it opened and it was quite a long walk from the car park, plus £6 a day to park. The queues to get in are horrendous

[2014newme]

How would 3 people go to Legoland Denmark for the same money 😂😂😂😂

[TrollMummy]

Can't think of anything worse except for overpriced Disney hotels.

[RoseandVioletCreams]

Op I am not a mad fan of Legoland. The rides have limited capacity meaning long queues then when you get on them they are over very very quickly.

If your prepared to go for £500 for only ONE NIGHT I would urge you to think about this place instead. Legoland is OK but its nothing compared to this place that any 7 year old would be blown away by. I am sure you can get entry and stay night for not much more than that in fact two nights in brand new Loonsche land is £506 incl park tickets, far better rides, capacity, longer....and gorgeous ammd.

www.efteling.com/en/loonsche-land

www.efteling.com/en

[Allthewaves]

We did it last year as it was our only big trip. We stayed 1 night in cheap hotel then 1 night in legoland hotel. Legoland hotel (old one) - the rooms were very worn and no better than premier Inn. However the bunks beds were good and lego tv. Play area outside was tiny - we went in english school time and it was still busy in hotel playground.

What sold it for us was being able to stay late in the park then just walk into the hotel with exhausted dc - no driving, getting in and out of the car. Dc loved novelty of staying in the hotel and if u get into the park a bit earlier. Also great if u need to nip back during the day

We stayed in a family room.in this hotel
www.phcompany.com/de-vere/beaumont-estate/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=local&utm_campaign=localSEO

[BaldricksTrousers]

Thanks for the advice everyone! I got it wrong as usual, the £250 hotel was the one five miles down the road, not the Legoland one. Ended up booking the £250 one and buying a Qbot for us for one day. I figured that this holiday will be expensive enough and I will end up spending the extra £200 anyway for food and lego bits!!!