to wonder who on earth can afford to go to Butlins?

[ChooChooLaverne]

I've just had a look to see how much it would cost to stay in one of the new chalets they're building at the Minehead Butlins in the summer. The cheapest one available for 4 nights in August is £1275. FOUR NIGHTS!

That price doesn't include food or travel. It sleeps four people. It does look nice but wtf. Am I missing something?

We went to Centreparks in Cumbria at half term and reckoned the whole week including food etc (less an allowance for what we would have spent) come to about £2250. We always go away at Half terms and whatever we do it seems when you do the full cost analysis runs out at about £1750 to £2500. So easy to forget to include all the odd costs here and there

Yes to what everyone says about deals. We have booked to go mid August. For a week two adults two kids silver apartment it was £765. Also got dining plan on top which was extra, but both kids eat free. I don't think that's bad value.

There are also far cheaper options than the Lakeside chalets, which are brand new and look quite swanky (by Butlins standards). A basic or silver apartment would be way cheaper, even in the summer hols. Wouldn't be the best accommodation but you don't go to Butlins to sit in your chalet.

We're going in July- 2 adults and toddler mon to fri shoreline hotel inc food was under 550 but we booked last nov

1 adult 3 kids 24th August for 7 nights with food £850

Booked last August and got a massive discount - my idea of hell but the kids love it

I will take wine

Oh That's minehead in crappy silver btw

I think Butlins is the most overrated holiday there is. You pay hundreds to stay there, then they open the gates for day visitors and you end up queuing for the few rides, meals and the pool slides. I just do not get why people stay there.

I've never queued for the restaurant, the pool or the funfair at Skegness.

Book through Sun £9.50 holidays - knocks a hell of a lot off the price and they do sometimes have school holiday availability

We've just booked a Haven caravan for £500 for summer 2016. Schools finish here a week before most counties so we can get it a bit cheaper but there are still some good prices around.

Seems daft to book so far ahead but it's better than paying a grand a week.

We've never really queued either. Sometimes we'll queue to get into Centre Stage or Reds if the show's worth being at the front for but other than that, no queues.
Then again we've never been in the summer holidays so might be different then.

I'd rather not have a holiday than buy the sun

We go to Butlins at Easter, and the children love it. We got standard self catering accommodation (almost the same as silver) and it's expensive, but not horrendous. I think around 700.

We then go to a very cheap self catering holiday in the summer holiday. We're looking for a cottege nearish the sea for about 300 for a week.

But when we've put in the costs for a couple of days out, petrol for driving around, car parking etc. the difference isn't that great.
The thing is once you're in Butlins there's all the stuff to do there, a lot free once on site and you don't have to drive around. Also the children go off with newly-made friends and you don't need to worry about them because they're on site, only need to be back for meals. So it makes a relaxing holiday.

Agree with deewee Butlins saves the £150 a day you can easily spend in day trips.

We go to butlins every year and sometimes twice a year (in August and again December for their Christmas themed long weekend). Never, ever paid as much as some of these quotes! We always book when there's some kind of deal on, the big offers are advertised on the tv, and sometimes when you go online to book, certain rooms have further discounts. We usually stay in a silver room and have the upgraded dining plan. To think that meals are included, loads of entertainment and activities I think it's really good value for money. Last year we also did a week in a caravan in Cornwall and spent waaaay more because then there's food and day trips to pay for as others have said.