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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask for opinions of Centre Parcs v Butlins

126 replies

homeishere · 20/05/2019 16:08

Hi all, plans for 1/2 term have changed (tradesmen in meaning we have to go!). Looking at Centre Parcs (Longleat, been before, know what you get) but it’s £1200 for a two bed lodge for me, partner, 3yr old and 1 yr old.

Butlins (never been) in Minehead is £400 for a Silver Apartment. Two bedrooms.

Seems like you get a lot more for your money at Butlins, but which is better for a 4 day break? Any advice gratefully received.

OP posts:
Original poster
homeishere · 20/05/2019 17:38

Good point Islands.

But so too was the one about staying in at night, which we certainly would be.

Looks like a silver bungalow is the best accommodation left. So I suppose at least you wouldn’t have anyone above or below you.

OP posts:
ichifanny · 20/05/2019 17:39

Honestly can’t even be compared completely different holidays , I love Center parcs butlins is a dive .

x2boys · 20/05/2019 17:40

Me Islands and I didn't think it was that basic either ,perfectly comfortable with everything we needed .

Gth1234 · 20/05/2019 17:40

Personally, I think a lot of accommodation is over priced. £1000 for a weeks self-catering for a family is on the high side.

The only thing that doesn't cost at CP is swimming. We have been to CP a few times and enjoyed it, but it's not cheap.

I bet you could stay at a nice seaside mobile home park, all with excellent entertainment for a competitive rate. Loads of choice.

melissasummerfield · 20/05/2019 17:41

@Abbazed no im assuming that normally parents of children that young keep to their sleep routine, so when they have gone to bed at 7pm you will normally sit with your other half in the accommodation and have a drink/watch a film etc and given the option of doing this in basic butlins or nice CP, I would choose CP Confused

iolaus · 20/05/2019 17:44

At your kids ages I'd pick Butlins - we went when ours were between 5 and 3 and they loved it - all their fair rides etc were free etc as well as the swimming

CP the pool and accomodation is nicer - but they want you to pay for every little extra there - and we aren't the type of people who could stay in the park the entire time - and felt we were getting evil looks for daring to drive off site

PositiveVibez · 20/05/2019 17:48

I've done both center parcs and butlins. I am working class if that has any bearing on going on holidays, but can honestly say that I don't think you should go to Butlins OP.

It sounds like you will spend your time being disgusted by working class people.

When we went to Butlins in Bognor Regis, we stayed in the hotel and it was lovely.

The staff are great with the children. The shows were great. Diversity were on when we were there and they were fab.

but I would rather know before going if it’s a more ‘do you want a smack?!’ type of place

All I can tell you is that it was clean, friendly

fun, dd had an absolute ball and I never heard anyone say 'do you want a smack' so not sure if it's 'that type of place'

Amummyatlast · 20/05/2019 17:53

I’m definitely on the snobby side, but I would choose Butlins over CP any day. There’s so much more to do for kids (lots of free shows, activities, fun fair, playgrounds, etc.). CP is just boring and expensive.

We were last there for Easter and I was concerned that I might be more ‘wild’ than it had been for the just for tots break we did last time, but it wasn’t. It’s very family orientated.

Rostbif · 20/05/2019 17:59

We love Center Parks with the kids. We went to Butlins once about 10 years ago, and hated it. Really bad food, and all the 'cabaret' style shows really made me cringe. It was super chavy. That said, the kids don't care if it's chavy, and they loved eating nuggets and chips for every meal 🙄

Littlemissdaredevil · 20/05/2019 18:01

I love CP but I think Butlin’s is better for little ones. I’ve heard Pontins hasn’t been renovated since I stayed there as a child in the early 90’s!

I stayed in a silver bungalow last year and I would recommend over an apartment as you don’t have anyone above you and you have a little fenced off patio which the kids can play on and not escape.

I would also advise getting a dining plan so that you don’t need to cook two meals a day. IMO the food court is the best for young kids as you don’t need to wait for food as small children can be impatient!

IKnowYouAndYouCannotSing · 20/05/2019 18:02

I’m a Center Parcs girl through and through, been going since I was literally a baby myself and love a nice CP break and always will.... buutttt last year we won a holiday at Butlins Bognor. I did not hold out much hope and was a total snob about it before we went, however our 4yo and 1yo had the BEST time. They loved it. The hotel was lovely (was the top one, can’t remember what it’s called) and they loved the little shows and things and we loved that everything was included. We had the full dining package too which they thoroughly enjoyed. They definitely got more out of it than they had got out of CP the school holidays before.... I think essentially CP is for us, Butlins is for them.

That said I’ve heard less than great things about the silver accommodation and when we walked past some of the silver chalets there was an air of Prisoner Cell Block Bognor about them, so I would probably do my best to avoid those. And looks around, takes deep breath it is a bit chavvy, which is fine, we are from Essex, we know the score, but it’s not Pilates and woodland trails, more pints and disco dancing competitions, but that’s alright- it’s for the kids!

doleritedinosaur · 20/05/2019 18:16

I’d book Minehead, there’s loads to do for your DC, swimming, shoes, soft play, fairground, trikes etc plus there’s West Somerset Railway which is a day in itself & several National trusts nearby if you have membership, there’s a castle that we spent a day at too.

So definitely plenty to do.

Islands81 · 20/05/2019 18:22

Also if you’re going for a whole week, I think you’d get cabin feverish (literally) at CP. A long weekend is more than enough time there! Especially at the prices they charge for absolutely everything. Yesterday we did CP as day visitors, we did pottery painting x 2, aerial adventure x 2 and had a one meal (4 people including one child, and the adults only had a light meal). And we spent £160! That was with being organised and taking our own picnic and drinks etc.

In and around Minehead there’s quite a lot to do if you want to get out and explore, whereas around Longleat, other that well...Longleat, there’s bugger all. From Minehead you could go on the steam train, visit Tropiquaria, dunster castle etc. And you wouldn’t feel like you HAD to stay at Butlins, as it’s cheap. If I’d paid £1500 for a week at CP I’d be milking every last second out of it.

Ionacat · 20/05/2019 18:28

Another vote for Hoseasons here. It really doesn’t have to be just Butlins and CP. We’ve had several breaks with Hoseasons and it’s much cheaper than CP. We went to Ladram Bay over Easter - lovely site with its own beach, restaurant, take away, swimming pool including splash area and play area including a small soft play for the little ones. Very quiet at night apart from the seagulls on the roof. There was entertainment but we didn’t bother with it.

Haffiana · 20/05/2019 18:31

I am genuinely posh, and would never, ever go to CenterParcs. I don't know anyone who would go there either.

I have been to Butlins though on a couple of occasions (one was a fantastic hen-do) and had a great time!

NerrSnerr · 20/05/2019 18:52

We've done both and prefer Butlins with young children as there's so much included. They love the rides and the shows that go on throughout the day. The first time we went we used Silver accommodation and the doors were noisy snd it was a bit tired so we now book seaside apartments.

Reallyevilmuffin · 20/05/2019 18:54

Butlins hands down. Love it. Go all the time, great value for money

Goldenbear · 20/05/2019 18:55

I'd say Center Parcs but I haven't been to Butlins so what do I know! I am not 'genuinely' posh as I have a working class Swedish great grandmother but my husband is the real deal and accompanies me and the children to Center Parcs.

IgnoranceIsStrength · 20/05/2019 19:01

We had a silver apartment and while you get what you pay for that does include a patioed area for kids to play on and decent sized lounge/dining area. My kids absolutely loved it and oldest one always asking to go back. It was a bit naff but i would say loads of "nice families"

Youwanapizzame · 20/05/2019 19:09

We went to Butlins minehead last year. I was not looking forward to it. We stayed in a silver seaside apartment. Thought it would all be a bit chav.

I was soooooo wrong. We loved it they loved it just brilliant. We're going twice this year! 😁

Youwanapizzame · 20/05/2019 19:09

Don't go to Pontins fucking dreadful

kalopali · 20/05/2019 19:54

The Butlin’s Just for Tots weeks are fantastic, very middle class demographic. I wouldn’t want to go during ‘normal’ times though, I can imagine it’s busy, lots of drinking and lots of chavs. The Seaside Apartments are fine, quite basic but very clean as is the whole site (Minehead), I’d go as far to say the whole place is really well looked after. For young kids there is almost an endless amount of things to do so I can see that being better value than CP. My understanding of CP is that it’s designed to extract money from you at every opportunity.

Nofilter101 · 20/05/2019 20:21

As a child we went to butlins and we went to centre parks, both several times. Honestly I remember butlins more. Went a few years ago to butlins with work and it was actually OK, we paid 84 pound for 3 days. Sniff at that of you want to.

Original poster
homeishere · 20/05/2019 20:41

Thanks again for the comments. Butlins looks like the winner.

OP posts:
Curly01 · 20/05/2019 21:02

I have just done Butlins with a 3 year old and a 1 year old as they loved it and honestly I did too! We have also done centre parcs in the past and I think my kids would have been bored there this time around! They loved all the little shows and the swimming at Butlins!
I really did not know what to expect from Butlins but it really was not chavy there was a few “chavy” looking people but then I saw exactly the same at centre parcs. I honestly do not get why people think that Butlins is for the working class and centre parcs for the middle class and I sometimes think people only go to centre parcs to say that they do 🙈. I wouldn’t knock Butlins until you try it! We have booked again for next year the kids loved it that much!