Butlins - honesty please!

[Lionsandtigersohmy]

Hi

So we have a tots break booked for September at Minehead Butlins. My colleagues have been very negative about it one even suggested just cancelling it!

Looking for honest reviews! We have booked a comfort plus apartment and are intending to self cater with odd meal out.

Is it really that awful? Surely the kids will love it?

My sister and her family (kids late primary) holiday all over and regularly (quite expensive holidays, california, dubai, Thailand etc) and given the choice her kids would choose butlins every time. From an adult perspective it might not sound great but the kids absolutely love it.

It's not about being snobby. I've been, and based on my own lived experience I would rather gouge out my eyes with a rusty spoon than even think about going to Butlins, ever again.
Kids loathed it too.

We went to the Skegness one about 9 years ago. Don't expect too much and you'll have a good time, essentially it's a fun break for kids benefit. Our apartment was pretty gross but I was in early stages of pregnancy so may have just been over sensitive to smells and dirt. If I was to go again I'd take my own bedding.
We just went for the weekend, kids had a blast at the pool etc. If I'm totally honest I'd rather have a weekend camping than go again but I'm sure the kids will love it which is what matters.

We’ve been on a Tots break to Skegness, we had a fab time. Little one absolutely loved it!

Me and my best friend went to that exact resort when we where 13 (admittedly quite a bit older then you child, op) along with her mother. It was the one of the best weeks of my life, I kid you not. Was is slightly camp and cheesy? Yes. What is part of the fun? Yes (although a toddler would likely not care, nor understand about that).

I know this was over 10 years ago, but it hasn’t changed since AFAIA. Your friend may be confusing Butlins with Pontins, which I have a completely opposite opinion about. we (same people) went the year before and left a day early. It has notoriously got worse since and I personally would avoid it like the plague.

I am so sorry people exist with EDL tattoos and alike. You should never be made to feel uncomfortable for being you!

I took my DD a few years ago to Minehead and we stayed in the very cheapest accomodation. It wasn't luxurious by any means but was cosy and had a certain faded charm. DD absolutely loved Butlins. It's very child friendly.
Probably one of her favourite trips ever. She really liked the buffet style catering plan we bought too. I also liked no cooking or cleaning!
Everyone was really nice and friendly, kids really well behaved. It just had a really nice vibe.
I was quite surprised as I hadn't really been expecting much and it was great. I can remember going in the 1970's as a kid. It was quite different but the changes fit well with how people holiday now.

Do not do it!

Drove 7 hours last June and checked out after one night. It was awful! So bad they eventually fully refunded me because I kept putting pictures on their socials and I think they were embarrassed. The whole site is run down and dirty and the accommodation was horrendous. Beds not changed , stained mattresses, sick stains on carpets, hairs on bathroom walls, piss all over the floor, dirty ovens etc etc

I’ve been to Butlin’s in Bognor twice and both times had an absolutely fantastic time, as did my kids! The shows alone are brilliant and we really liked the buffet food. Lots of options, kid friendly plus more adventurous options, huge range of puddings and pink pear juice which we’d never come across before but is delicious. We would highly recommend Butlin’s!

I've just come back from my first break at Butlins (DC 13 & 10). We stayed in the cheapest accommodation at Bognor & it was exactly as it said on the tin!
We went with friends & all of the children loved it.
The accommodation wasn't luxurious but for £260 for the 3 of us it was fine. I wouldn't bother with anything more expensive. We didn't have any meal plans but the food was well priced & good portions, we grabbed baguettes & ham from the shop for lunch & went to Morrisons for bits & pieces (10 mins walk). We explored the beach too but the children all wanted to stay on site.
It's not my idea of a holiday but I've booked to go back next year, with DH too, same silver apartments etc. It was a break that my children & all the others in our party absolutely loved.

We go to Bognor every year and have done for the last few years. We were there last week and the kids loved it. Just go with an open mind and leave any preconceptions at the gate!

Not our normal holiday but took our boys for the just for tots and it was absolutely brilliant! They absolutely loved it, really really good.

Went to skeg with my three year old in Feb. Was pretty overwhelming in some parts with the sight of arcades and (really expensive) junk food everywhere, so tantrums to navigate, but overall she had a great time and it was nice not to have to think about how to entertain her for a week- everything was all there on our doorstep. Soft play, fairground, swimming all day long. Hotel room was basic but what more do you need? Friends had a self catering apartment and it was slightly better. Have a good sleep before you go though!

Went to mine head a couple of years back, it’s not the best holiday I’ve had but there were still some covid restrictions so I think that clouded things a bit and there was another personal reason ( nothing to do with the place)

the chalet was nice and clean, lots to do with the kids, we didn’t eat out but it looked nice.

We went mon to mon, Min to Fri was busy and full of families with kids, chalets weren’t quiet but nothing compared to the weekend crowds, awful, pissed, noisy.

we came home early.

I do prefer haven, in the caravans but everyone’s different

We had several holidays at Butlins in Minehead when DS was younger - age around 6 to 12, so around 10 years ago now. We always had a great time. We normally had a silver or gold apartment and part self-catered (there are supermarkets close by) or we ate out in Minehead . Think we went for the catered option just once - I think it was a special offer and included - it was OK but I probably wouldn't pay the full price for it .

This. Enjoy!

We went to Butlins Bognor for the first time last year and it was good, we all enjoyed. Good pool that we all thoroughly enjoyed (although absolutely stinking, filthy changing rooms like I've never seen anywhere but meh, kids need germs and I have low standards). Kids liked the arcades and shows, food was OK, room was clean enough. The evening entertainment had a bit of a 90s community vibe I thought - kids running wild with cans of pop and bags of crisps whilst big groups of adults got tanked up. It was a bit nostalgic of when my dad used to take me to the pub 😂 But very cheerful and a nice atmosphere.

BUT when I say good, I mean just that - it was enjoyable but nothing I'd rave about. We had basic room only comfort accommodation and the higher of the 2 food court plans (premium?).

I'd certainly go again if I was able to pick up another £200 for 3 nights type cheapy weekend (5 of us). But I cannot fathom the people who spend a fortune year after year in the height of summer as their main summer holiday and rave about how wonderful it is - I think if you went with that expectation you'd be disappointed. Bluestone is far far better imo, as are several independent caravan sites we've been to with a good entertainment complex.

I think you'd be hard pushed to find a kid that didn't have fun at Butlins! There is wall to wall fun aplenty. Great play areas, loads of day and evening entertainment, soft play, fairground rides for small and older kids, beach within walking distance, swimming pool with slides. Plus there's extra stuff you can pay for like craft sessions, go karts etc. We stay in the lakeside chalets (Minehead) but when we started going to Butlins used the silver apartments which were fine.

We're at Minehead currently.
We've been since dd1 was 2, so around 20 years and they love it every year.
If there are issues with accommodation, tell them. I reported an issue at 7.30 last night, and it was repaired by 8.30.

We went every year when the DC were aged 4 to mid teens and they LOVED it. Then more recently DH and I took our now adult DC and the DGC for a long weekend to celebrate a big birthday and enjoy the nostalgia and we all had the best time ever. The accommodation used to be pretty basic but we stayed in one of the hotels most recently and it was fine.

I’ve never been but I’m planning to as all I hear is good things about it.

Everyone I know who has been once has been multiple times afterwards or are planning to.

I think it’s very telling when people want to go back.

How old are your kids OP?

We booked a comfort plus apartment at minehead Feb half term, me, DH, DD (6) and DS (1). They bloody loved it. The comfort plus apartment were fine if you only use it as a base (and I'm a bit fussy) the beds were comfy, place was clean and couldn't hear the people next door or noise from the complex. There's so much to do, always shows on, swimming, beach, park, free funfair rides, arcades etc.

It was my DH first time and he thought it would be a bit "chavvy" but it's just a great family place. Don't cancel it, your kids will love it! Have fun

We've been self catering and in the Hotel.
Self catering was obviously not as nice but it was fine and it could be loud in the evening when people came back from evening entertainment.
Hotel was fab and Dd really enjoyed it and the staff made a big fuss of her for her birthday.

It is a children's holiday, don't expect to find it relaxing but the children will love it. Do take ear defenders or similar if you have children who struggle with noise. If it's any of the children's birthdays take a birthday badge as they staff make a huge fuss which is lovely. Do the character meals if you can.

@rootsandwings89 3yrs old (twins)

Thanks for your comments. Good to hear comfort plus apartments are OK x

We've been to Minehead just after Christmas for 4 years. Our gold apartment was clean but quite small but you don't spend much time in there. It's mega busy when we go (massive queues for the pool slides & evening main shows) but no doubt it will be quieter in Sept. We also went premium half board and the food is amazing