Regretting booking Butlins, words of wisdom needed!

I only know Bognor but it is not cheap. It is coming in around a grand for 4 nights in May half term

When I was sitting in Bella Italia in Centre Parcs eating a £18 plate of pasta, I was thinking to myself - “this is well classy”.

So many snobs on here! You get what you pay for, arcade machines, old fashioned evening entertainment, characters for the kids. The kids love it, it's just snotty parents who think they are above it

I'd love to say it was ok, but I'll be absolutely honest and say that when I went, it was horrendous and you couldn't pay me to go back. Rough is an understatement.

It’s because so much is free on site locals or people staying on the cheaper sites try and sneak in. It’s the pay off for it 😅

Though if you humour the caravan sales people you can get a day visits for free anyway 🤫😂

Why is Centreparcs classy? Do wealthier people not smoke weed then?

All the wealthier people I know use coke actually. Much classier, obviously.

She will LOVE it! We did the same with Pontins, was a childhood favourite of mine so took my little girl, 4 with my mum and dad. She absolutely loved it! It was pretty awful to be fair but she had the time of her life!

@OhmygodDont haha! That is pretty prisontastic lol. I've been sectioned before and it's more subtle than that!

It's never been closed when we go? My 3 grandchildren love it and always have.

The shows are great. The play parks are great. Swimming is awesome.

Don't believe the MN naysayers, please!

Never been to Skegness but my kids love Bognor, although we only stay in the hotel.

Last time I went in December the activities only opened for booking a week or possibly two before checkin.

Never heard anyone call their kid a cunt though it is a very good spot for people watching.

Just went and found a photo of the beach gate off google haha open 9am-4pm. A man(or women) stands in the shed checking you in or out 😅

We haven’t done Skeggy but have done Bognor and had a great time. My DD6 ranked it above Lanzarote 🤣 Real mix of people but didn’t hear anyone calling their kids that, and people really minded their own business

@OhmygodDont haha! So it's not next to a prison, it IS one! Crikey.

A holiday park next to a prison has really tickled me.

I went there on a 90s weekend about 12-15 years ago. My only recollection is that they had Monster energy drink on tap at the bar.

No there isn’t a prison haha made that sound terrible didn’t I but Butlins it’s fully fenced in nobody gets in without a pass so there’s strong fencing and guards the beach gate is only open between certain hours then you have to enter via the car gates.

Are you going in the school holidays? If nit, I wouldn't worry. I absolutely eoldnt go in the holidays but have been a few times in term time, kids loved it, didn't really do the bookable activities (we did crazy golf and bowling which you can book there. )

Went in Reds at night (no need to book) free fairground, beach, play area during the day.

@OhmygodDont ah, fair enough, lol. Sounds a bit grim if the beach is next to a prison! I kind of assumed the local town might be reasonable.
I've only ever been to the one in bognor as a kid on a supposed school 'maths trip'? This was in the early 90s. In winter?!
I think if you're there for the kids stuff it might be bearable maybe?

Then there’s the reviews 🤦‍♀️ do people really strut around drinking Stella and calling their kids little cunts??! It never used to be like this, what the hell happened ?!

yes it is still like this. We went 2 years ago and will never return. It was like a giant council estate that you see the on TV shows

Have a look at Potters better for older active kids/families but price includes all food

She’s be better off staying onsite 😅 apart from the beach which is directly outside the prison fencing

I joke a bit. I do love a Butlins pool so much better than any park dean or haven or such. Wish they would up their game on pools.

If there's a beach nearby you could make picnics and spend plenty of time there. I think the chalets are meant to be quite grubby, so people say to bring own cleaning products and be prepared to spend an hour on it before you can relax. The beds are uncomfortable too I've heard.
But if you're out most of time, and maybe go off site to a restaurant or cafes in the local town if the food sucks, it should be ok?
Your GD might befriend some of other kids which would be nice for her, so they might be happy just playing without too much structured activity.
But you should check about the activities they actually do have. If it's not at all as advertised they should be refunding you.

Ask if they can transfer you to a different site where the pool is open.

Butlins was rough in the late 80s when we had a family holiday there but I am sure you can have fun. We avoided the bars and mainly just used the pool and fairground rides. Had a trip to a pub outside the park one evening but mainly ate dinner in the chalet.

Never went back but it wasn't horrible, we had a decent enough time. My parents rank it as less rough than the static caravan holiday a few years earlier.

A friend of mine is just back from a trip with family and although they wouldn't necessarily pick it they had a nice enough time. There is lots for the kids to do.