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Original poster

Talk to me about Butlins...

34 replies

Boobahs · 07/01/2023 22:31

Never been before. Looking to go Mon - Fri during Feb half term to Minehead. On a very tight budget, so looking at the most basic rooms which have no cooking facilities.

Could you take an electric cool box and an air fryer? I have no idea!

Please hit me with your suggestions/hints and tips! Many thanks 👍

OP posts:
HunkieDorie · 07/01/2023 22:32

Don't bother

beccahamlet · 07/01/2023 22:34

I've been to butlins once. It was grim. Never again.

MaverickGooseGoose · 07/01/2023 22:35

Only been to Bognor and only stay in the hotels, kids love it. You couldn't pay me enough to stay in a chalet

Sux2buthen · 07/01/2023 22:47

Been to Skegness butlins 4 times. Loved it every time, the kids will have a blast

Sux2buthen · 07/01/2023 22:47

If you are taking kids, just realised you didn't say that

Original poster
Boobahs · 07/01/2023 22:50

Sux2buthen · 07/01/2023 22:47

If you are taking kids, just realised you didn't say that

Yes, sorry, didn't mention that. 2 boys, 6yrs and 3yrs.

We have done Pontins a few times and lived to tell the tale. Yes, it's not our top choice but the kids absolutely love it and sometimes a cheap break is better than no break at all.

OP posts:
TravellingSpoon · 07/01/2023 22:52

We love it, we go to Skegness every year for DS's birthday and he will be 16 next.

It's not everyone's cup of tea, and plenty on here will be snobby about it, but if you pick the right accommodation ( we stay in the fairground apartments) and don't do the dining plan (bad value and quite busy IME) you will have a great time.

IfCanCanICan · 07/01/2023 22:53

We've stayed in one of the cheap rooms once before for a last minute trip. Skegness though. It's good value and well worth it if you make the most of the activities and shows, then just back to the room to sleep. We got a dining package that year, which made staying in the rooms easier. I'm sure people do take air fryers and the like though. Otherwise, there's a kettle, so pot noodles, pasta pots, etc. is a cheap way of eating. The little supermarkets onsite have sandwiches, crisps, pastries, etc. which will obviously be cheaper than the restaurants on site.

If your DC are anything like mine, they'll love it.

Do you have any Tesco Clubcard vouchers? They triple up for Butlins. We go every year in term time and often get accommodation for free by using Tesco vouchers.

idontknow54789 · 07/01/2023 22:58

We went last year and loved it. It is what you make of it - just don't expect it to be relaxing! We're stayed at Bognor so not sure what's at Minehead but I don't see why you couldn't talking cooking things - they'd never know. We did the food option - food was better than I expected but the dining room was quite chaotic with young children. A lot of things are free so you can have a great time with very little money

itsnevertolate · 07/01/2023 23:00

We went in the summer holidays to Minehead. We usually go to Centre Parcs or abroad but the kids really wanted to try Butlins, after their cousins has been. It was better than when I went as a teenager. My kids 4&10 loved the arcade so we spent a lot of time in there, the swimming pool was ok, killed about an hour a day. There is a good amount of evening entertainment and activities throughout the day. We had a standard room which was 2 bedrooms and a bathroom, it was very basic but clean. The worst part was the noise, the walls are paper thin! We were on the ground floor and could here the people above us, to the side of us and everyone outside. The kids want to go back again this year so I think we will get a apartment with a kitchen and request the top floor.

ChocHotolate · 07/01/2023 23:02

We've been to all 3 Butlin's and there is not much between them. It really depends what you are used to/expecting. If you are used to 5star all inclusive luxury you are going to be disappointed. For us it is an easy break and the kids absolutely love it.
The restaurants are not cheap though, for us it works out cheaper to book at apartment with cooking facilities and do a food shop on the way in rather than eat out in their restaurants 2-3 times a day

Sodie · 07/01/2023 23:04

We go 4-5 times a year to minehead. Get the best accommodation you can afford, nothing under comfort plus. We take our ninja with us.

kittenkipping · 07/01/2023 23:06

It is all hell and filled with seemingly the worst of people. Drunk laity adults who give no shits about the well being of their children. Plenty of children who have been raised by those adults who act accordingly. Dirty lodgings- I take my own sheets towels and expect to clean on arrival. Overpriced, tacky and awful. I realise the irony and hypocrisy of these statement's as a customer myself. But still I return.
To my children it is the absolute best of places! The filthy overcrowded pool? Best pool in the world! - waste of all that money on Orlando then.
The shitty pitchy show tunes and cabaret? The literal best thing they've ever witnessed!!! - why the hell do I spend hundreds on theatre and cinema every year?!
The panto? They cry laughing and can't get enough, properly engaging "oh yes it is!" They shout- whereas the annual Christmas panto I take them to has them barely muttering "oh no it isn't!"
The overpriced and laughable prizes in the overpriced and dirty arcade? Brilliant! They spent £40 to "win" a million tickets to "buy" a ten quid neon bedroom light? Best thing ever! It's been two years since they got that piece of crap and they still both LOVE it.
So until they are old enough to not enjoy it, I spend the £200 or so to take them once a year, and they inevitably prefer it to the other trips. Abroad or not.

IncognitoIsMyFavouriteWord · 07/01/2023 23:08

Went to Minehead Butlins in 2010 when DS was 9.

We went half board, don't know if it's changed since then but it was only half-board you could book and we had a basic room.

We loved it. There is so much to do. We were entertained.
You can fill up at breakfast and tea so you don't need to pay for extra food to save money.

As its been 12 years since we went I don't know what is different but if I still had small children I know I would have gone back.

NewNovember · 07/01/2023 23:11

Butlins are is far better than pontins people are being snobby. Skegness is the best site but the hotel is best accommodation at Bognor. You can hire a mini fridge in the rooms book in advance as they sell out fast.

NerrSnerr · 07/01/2023 23:12

We like Butlins. It's not exactly where I'd choose to holiday if I had loads of money but the children always have the best time.

We're actually going to Minehead in Feb half term and used Tesco vouchers so got a good deal. We always do premium dining as too.

2Rebecca · 07/01/2023 23:13

We went as kids in the 70s and loved it. Skegness and Minehead. I haven't been as an adult

TulipTuesday · 07/01/2023 23:18

Butlins Minehead is brilliant! We took the kids every year from 2005 to 2016. Then returned last year for a ‘goodbye’ with the kids aged 21 and 16 😄
We have so many happy memories there.

For the last few years we stayed in a caravan. Privately owned rented ones are actually really good value and mean you get more space, your own parking and better kitchen facilities etc. Worth looking in to op. Look at ukcaravans4hire.

maddog1996 · 08/01/2023 09:46

I would rather set fire to my hair 🤣

Blabla81 · 08/01/2023 09:55

We have been going to Skegness Butlins every year since my now 12 years old was 4. We have 2 children now and they love it. We always stay in the “New Style Silver” as I find they’re the most solid / sound proof. Not sure if the other resorts have that accommodation- I think each resort is different. We always have the premium dining too, which I appreciate isn’t the cheapest, but it is very good. The entertainment is, in my opinion, excellent. So much to choose from and some really high standard shows. The swimming pool isn’t quite what it used to be - it needs a bit of a facelift, but it is still great.
we’re going again at the start of Easter - I’m just looking forward to not cooking for a few days.

PeskyYeti · 08/01/2023 10:10

Mumsnet can be very snobby about butlins but if you've survived pontins you'll love Butlin's!

It's great fun, we always add the food package on so I get a break from cooking but not necessary if you're after a budget break.

We normally go February half term as it's such a bargain.

We don't tend to leave the site, spend our days swimming, mini golf, four person bikes, fairground, high ropes, sedgeways, archery etc and our evenings in all the entertainment. The panto is normally a firm favourite but the shows are all good quiality.

We usually book for our break and pay using clubcard points. £100 in clubcard points normally pays for a week at February half term, so check if you have any to help bring the cost down.

x2boys · 08/01/2023 10:19

Been a coup!e of times to skegness ,it's fine and the kids will love it mumsnet i indeed very snobby about Butlins ,I t think some people either haven't been or last went in1975 and assume it's still.the same .

shinynewapple22 · 08/01/2023 10:44

We went to Butlins at Minehead several years running when DS was younger and always had a great time . If you've been to Pontins it will seem like a palace! We mainly booked an apartment though - and I think the time we did book the room only we had a dining plan . Assuming you have two rooms with a bathroom in between.

I probably wouldn't take the air fryer TBH - I would worry about a fire risk using in a cramped space in between beds - but there will be a kettle so you could certainly take pot noodles etc - and if you have an electric cool box this may be useful .

There is a large Tesco and Morrisons (I think) very close to the Butlins and Minehead itself is about 20 mins walk along the front - and eating places in Minehead are likely to be cheaper than similar within Butlins itself . We used to go in a pub on the left hand side of the high street which has a children's play area.

Make the most of all the free activities - as things like the bowling and games arcades can end up being very expensive .

shinynewapple22 · 08/01/2023 10:47

@TulipTuesday that's a good tip about the caravans - but don't you have to pay on top for the activity pass ?

shinynewapple22 · 08/01/2023 10:53

Also thinking - there is a Wetherspoons in Minehead but it's a bit of a walk at the top of the high street . And if you like crazy golf- the one in the town is cheaper than the one at Butlins itself (used to be anyway).

From memory I think the beach at Minehead is decent and there is a long flat walk along the front - eg if the children have scooters.

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