Please tell me Butlins is better than Haven

Back in the early eighties when our DCs were small, for several years we and up to 12 families with whom we were pals used to go, at Easter, to a special weekend at Pontins when worthy activities were organised by the WEA (Workers' Educational Association). We were all trendy lefties in those days.

As well as the diligent workshop attenders, there were ordinary customers there too. We must have been easily identifiable since when one chap went into the shop, without his even opening his mouth, the shopkeeper said "We don't stock the Guardian".

Another couple, anticipating the sexist racist jokes from the camp evening entertainers, lugged their typewriter along ( well before word processors etc) so that they could fire off complaining letters immediately rather than waiting until they got home.

These days we remember those cold wet and windy holidays fondly while reclining on tropical beaches. Not keen to repeat, though.

It totally depends on which site you go to. Was this the Prestatyn one?

Sorry OP, I preferred Haven to Butlins. I went to Primrose Valley as well. It was lush and I didn't notice any bad behaviour at all.

Sorry OP, I preferred Haven to Butlins. I went to Primrose Valley as well. It was lush and I didn't notice any bad behaviour at all.

Take lots of money with you to Butlins, you will need it! Haven not so money grabbing in my opinion but the one we went to didn't have much there to be honest. Centre parcs equally money grabbing, nothing but the pool is free.

Let's face it, when you have kids, you're doomed to be bled dry.

I have never been to either a haven or butlins site but have been persuaded by friends to try the Haggerston castle sure in Berwick. I was apprehensive before reading this thread but now am cacking myself!!

I've been to both butlins and haven a few times when ds1 was younger and found yes you did get the odd rougher family there. we went back to butlins earlier this year after getting a really cheap deal and couldn't believe the difference. I didn't witness any bad behaviour at all but did spot lots of Jules, boden, and Kath kidiston wearing familys which I didn't expect

Never been to butlins. Went to Haven in N.Wales when dc were small (about 16 years ago). From my point of view it was hell on earth

Butlins in Skeggy is supposed to be really good though.

We have stayed at Haggerston, and it was awful. We arrived too early for our allotted checkin time, but were told we could play in the park out the back. We were met by people drinking alcohol out of large milk bottles, who wouldn't get off the equipment to let children play. There were children running about in nappies that desperately needed changing.

Our caravan was thankfully situated in a quiet area, but had seen much better days. Such a shame as Northumberland is such a beautiful area, we spent our days off site and only slept in the van.

My friend raves about how good Craig Tara is but I'm too apprehensive to try it.

Haven Primrose Valley and Devon Cliffs are both nice. Have been to them for the last few years.

Must be rough then. Me and the DCs loved Haggerston and Berwick Havens.

There is another even worse option...

Park resorts/hoseasons. The one in Towyn was an experience to say the least. Fighting, swearing, pissing up walls and that was just the adults.
Walking into Towyn was a scary experience of an evening I'm telling you.

This was a few years ago mind, not been back since. Kind of put me off for life.

Committed not commented. Stupid phone!

Committed not commented. Stupid phone!

We've holidayed at Primrose Valley for the past decade now and it's been lovely. The park is immaculate and security excellent. There was some raised voices from a few vans down from us on the last night but a patrol van soon arrived and all went quiet.

You get divs everywhere sadly. We were in Scarborough for Armed Forces Day in June and a child has commented the heinous crime of paddling in the sea. Her Mother, clearly cross, proceeded to call her a silly little fucking bastard and she should 'get here now! ' I wanted to drown her. The Mother not the child.

As I said, divs get everywhere. All you can do is ignore them.

We're at haven primrose valley at the moment and have had a lovely holiday so far. Caravan and facilities spotless, plenty to do, hardly any oiks, dc have had a blast and we'll be sad to go home.

All sorts of people holiday with haven and/or butlins. Go with an open mind and don't let your judgy pants give you too big a wedgy.

If I want to hear someone being horrible to their kids I have my next door neighbour...

And that op was gold or premium or something!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2133131-to-be-incredibly-annoyed-with-Butlins-right-now

why would any one go there!

I go to Minehead Butlins twice a year. In all that time I only saw one family like you describe. It was a swimming pool incident too and the way the man spoke to the children was really abusive. Not just swearing but putting them down in the most awful way.

It was an exceptional incident not typical.

Haven at Primrose Valley in Filey is lovely. My kids loved it. However the one near Blackpool is horrendous. The caravan next to ours seemed to have the family from hell in it. They were sat on those plastic chairs smoking weed and making nasty comments about everyone that walked past. We complained at reception and found out that they had sneaked some people in. That's clever huh? Take the piss with your booking all you want but rather than keeping low key why not draw attention to yourself by abusing your fellow patrons? Dimwits.

I,m not all that keen on the entertainment at night very long ques but then I,m not that keen on any entertainment where you have to sit in a very,loud room and pay extortionate prices for drinks but all in all it was fine been to pontins too which is just awful!

I have been to haven and butlins I would say butlins is better ,better pool, fairground etc therewas a recent thread on here where op had a bad time with accommodation at Butlins , ours was fine we had a silver self catering it was very clean had everything we needed we have been twice the first time there was a small extra fee for a lot of activities the fee wasn't that small at fifteen quid a pop but when we went again in June the fee was a fiver for most things we enjoyed it !

I've not been to Haven but Minehead Butlins isn't like that.

It was Haggerston we went to once Tweasels - never again. I naively thought it would be like the South lakeland caravan sites we'd been to, and it has such lovely signage when you pass it from the road