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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Please tell me Butlins is better than Haven

90 replies

OlderMummy1 · 15/08/2014 10:50

We are staying with friends in Wales and went to a Haven park yesterday just for the day to use the swimming pool. As we walked into the swimming pool we were greeted by the sight of a bloke on his hands and knees, butt crack on display, shouting "I told you you'd fucking drop it" at his 3 year old child

The place was awash with these types of people, shouting profanities at their kids, swigging lager at 11am.

We then had a 6 year wee on the side of the pool, mum just looked on and then left the puddle there, didn't even tell anyone!

Finally we watched a little kiddy show while having something to eat and the whole thing was toilet humour, not just the odd thing which I know the kids like, but really really crass.

Now I am very worried. We are booked to go to Butlins for the Just for Tots break in a few weeks. Will it be 5 days of this??

OP posts:

MrsItsNoworNotatAll · 16/08/2014 00:11

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.

MrsItsNoworNotatAll · 16/08/2014 00:12

Committed not commented. Stupid phone!

MrsItsNoworNotatAll · 16/08/2014 00:12

Committed not commented. Stupid phone!

SistersOfPercy · 16/08/2014 00:15

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.

pippitysqueakity · 16/08/2014 02:03

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

DraggingDownDownDown · 16/08/2014 04:23

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

AmandaTanen · 16/08/2014 06:36

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.

PunkrockerGirl · 16/08/2014 07:29

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.

lilliebobs2011 · 16/08/2014 08:11

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

myknickersknackersknockers · 16/08/2014 08:12

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!!

melika · 16/08/2014 08:24

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.

dashoflime · 16/08/2014 08:32

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.

dashoflime · 16/08/2014 08:32

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.

hellsbells99 · 16/08/2014 08:34

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

Trickydecision · 16/08/2014 09:12

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.

dashoflime · 16/08/2014 09:19

Ahahahaha! Typewriter at the entertainment! Thats fantastic!

goingloombandcrazy · 16/08/2014 09:20

Tricky that's funny!

I prefer haven to butlins but this_year was our last.

Smell of smoke in air and children hitting my children and parents ignoring has just made holidays tiresome.

TeaAndALemonTart · 16/08/2014 09:39

Haven is much better than Butlins.

Except the one near Hastings.

hamptoncourt · 16/08/2014 10:05

Haven much better than Butlins, sorry.

But look on the bright side OP, at least you didn't book Pontins

hamptoncourt · 16/08/2014 10:06

tricky I still do work for the WEA

Sirzy · 16/08/2014 10:09

I am off to greenacres on Monday and love it, beautiful site.

ClashCityRocker · 16/08/2014 10:15

I've been to haggerston castle and Skegness.

They were both fairly rough, but Skeggy was better, in the same way it would be better to have a toe get gangrene than a finger.

That said, these things are what you make it. You could make a game of it OP - the first person to spot fifty home-made tattoos wins!

Nah, in all seriousness, there is a bit of a rough element in most places. The entertainment in Skeggy is fab, and loads of activities for the DCs. It might not be the most relaxing break, but the kids will love it and I'm sure you'll have a laugh.

ClashCityRocker · 16/08/2014 10:16

Also, I expect the just for tots break might be a bit gentler than the run of the mill.

lecherrs · 16/08/2014 10:51

We went to haven this year, and I would say Butlins (Bognor) was much better that the haven we went to.

I found haven to be much more money grabbing. For example, at butlins, when we had breakfast with the characters we paid for the breakfast, and then the characters cam round, said hello to the children, played some games and left. When we did the same at Haven, we paid for the breakfast, and then the characters came in, and the children could line up to have (and buy) a photograph of themselves with the character. It was totally commercialised and at very opportunity they were promoting the photos for sale, or t shirts to buy etc etc. whereas at Butlins, you can have your photo taken with the characters to buy them - but you have to choose to line up, and you go to them. They don't invade on your holiday iyswim.

Also, at butlins there are the arcade machines, but they are out of the way, and you can avoid them. Whereas with the two havens we went to, you couldn't get to the entertainment without going through the arcade area.

I have found that when we have been to butlins, you can go and spend very little money all week as almost everything is provided for you. I went with a friend last year, and for the five days I spent no more than £100. But at Haven, everything costs. Even the children's funfair which is free at butlins was £2 a go at haven, and it wasn't anywhere near as good. The girls wasted so much money there.

I wouldn't do haven again, but I would do butlins. Better value for money imo.

StripyBanana · 16/08/2014 10:54

Park resorts... beginning of the season (not holiday time) ... Isle of Wight... it was lovely!!! I completely went with low expectations and it was fine. Kids loved it.

I'm tempted now to try a butlins but this thread makes me swing both ways....

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