To ask if you'd recommend Butlins holidays if you've been?

[lorettalemon]

My friend and I have been thinking of having a few days away but are on a bit of a budget and would prefer not to go abroad this time.

I haven't been to a Butlins before but the self catering options, to save a bit of money, fun activities and the fact it's not terribly expensive looks really promising. I've heard some people make quite snobby remarks about it and suggesting it's awful.

I'd be very grateful if anyone who has been can tell me what it's really like - is it as clean and smart as it looks on the website? Is the food in the restaurants and cafes nice? What sort of people go - as in could it be a rowdy party place, or is it a nice environment?

Thank you in advance!

Well I love it, but you get what you pay for. We always get a modern apartment and premium food package (the one that includes dine around and a drink with dinner), and my 2 year old loves it. Everything is really close so not loads of walking about, and they have loads of entertainment. Yes most of it is rubbish but the kids disco and most of the evening entertainment is good. You do end up spending quite a bit extra in activities and treats (£2.50 for 1 scoop of icecream in a tub) and drinks but with having young children we end up playing board games or watching tv and drinking in the apartment when the kids go to bed. It does tend to attract some hard to deal with people though

I've been going to butlins for 10 years and love it....the shows are fab and won't get them elsewhere also the amount of stuff you get for your money is worth it. I love it that much that I bought a caravan on Skegness Butlins site this year which I find better than staying in Butlins own accomodation....if you would like any help or info just ask 😁

Ive been on loads and loads of adult music weekends - all different genres and they are brilliant
Going again in Dec !
Ive stayed in some of the best hotels in the world as well and Im no snob and Im not a chav either.
Id recommend the Seaside apartments ( ive stayed in all 3 resorts in them ) and they are often closest to the pavilion.

It's heaven on earth for children: the activities are great - free workshops in arts and crafts, circus skills, etc and then a nominal fee really for a climbing wall, mini Go Ape, etc. Evening entertainment is fun too - lots of tribute acts (Little Mix, etc) and pantomime and so on. Pool is good too. Have been only to Minehead though. It's not exactly a relaxing holiday (!) but it's perfect for under 12s or so. But it's only somewhere you'd go with kids

Went to Skegness back in 2008 and again for a further 3 years. Didn't go again for a while. We went again in 2016 and every year since. We asked the DCs if they wanted to go again next year (oldest is 14 - will be 15 next year) and they did so we booked again. We go during term time and book for the following year while we're there.

Never seen it to be dirty. Always had a lovely time. Last year was the first year we had food in and it worked out cheaper than eating on site and easier than cooking. I pay monthly and its just like a bill that I've been paying for a few years now. We are going for 4 nights in June, staying in a gold apartment with all you can eat breakfast and evening meals. This is for 3 adults (as DS will be 15) and 2 children. We are paying £46 a month.

I think when we stop going we will miss it. Can't imagine going without children though. There are so many other places I'd go for an adults only break. But in answer to your question, yes I would recommend Butlins. Have only been to Skegness though (that's far enough away as it is)

We've been on two adult only weekends and had a blast. I know that if we went as a family, the kids would love it, the husband would not lol

Never been to butlins but have been to a haven park for a cheap unexpected few days. Mobile home was spotless, entertainment was ok (hall was a bit smelly!), pools indoor and outdoor (heated) were fab and lots of activities(some free) .

I've been to Butlins Minehead.
We did the cheapest accommodation. It was basic but clean and comfy.
The swimming pool was epic! Free fairground rides were also good and the entertainment was reasonable quality. The kids were entranced by the puppet theatre in particular. Playareas are nice. The one by the pub especially
The beach is good and there's some nice coastal walks. If you want to get out of the resort (and you might) then you could get an ordinance survey map and explore Exmoor. There are neolithic tombs and wild ponies. There's a cool neolithic bridge called Tarr Stepps which is good for a day out.
Theres a bunch of places to eat on the resort but tbh they could all do with being better quality or cheaper or both. Go self catering and get yourself to Lidl is my advice. There is a dining hall option but we didn't try it. It might be better/cheaper I'm not sure. There's a pub in Minehead that has a huge adventure playground in the beer garden. It's called The Hairy Dog.
My only real complaint is the cynical upselling at every opportunity. If you have kids with you it's a good idea to manage expectations early on. Tell them they can have one sweet treat, one activity and one pound for a claw machine each day. I wish I'd done this from day one!
In terms of activities and spend options my little girl went dotty for the "fairy princess makeover" (exactly what you'd expect from the name and we all liked the bike-car thingys.
Overall I'd recommend.

Our daughters were saying, in the check in queue for a flight to the USA, that they would rather go to Butlins. We cured them of that wish, we took them for a long week-end!

Went for the first time in October 2019, what a waste of time and money we stayed Monday to Friday and have a 1 and 7 year old, booked a meal plan food was ok but samey stayed in a fairground apartment, was clean, ended up spending about £1200 in 3-4 days to keep the kids entertained and ourselves, felt like we had to watch our stuff 24/7 no relaxing, just not our thing much rather drive to France and stay with eurocamp much better option In my opinion

Have you thought of a Haven holiday in somewhere like Weymouth? Probably quieter than Butlins or Pontins but less frantic. You’d stay in a static caravan which is usually very well equipped, and there’s a bit more space between you and your neighbours.

I’d recommend it but it is not a holiday for you. It is entirely for the children of around 10 and under. There is nothing at Butlins remotely for the adults. Yes there are shows. Are they any good? Variable. Certainly not worth the money you’ve paid to get in. There’s a spa, ok great but who will have the kids while you’re in there. You spend the entire time running from kids show to kids show, activity to activity and that is great - for your children. The accommodation is hit and miss. The people are pretty standard there, you’ll get a lot of people moaning about chavs etc but I have seen worse behaviour at Center parcs. All this is fine, if you want a holiday for the children. We do so we’ve been 4 times.

Comparison with Center Parcs etc, those are places you go where the whole family can have some fun, it seems like it’s more for the kids but actually isn’t. Most of their time is spent being pulled along behind you on a bike or you being fleeced for activities.

Eurocamp is way better than both these options but obvs if you want a U.K. break and have small children, Butlins is alright.

Yetanotherwinter you sound like a really nice person....hmm

I think she sounds like a really honest person.

I think she sounds like someone who isn’t willing to suck it up to take her children on a holiday they will totally love, but she will have to endure for their benefit. Not everyone can be so unselfish but some people actually pick a holiday their children will enjoy more than they will, rather than dragging them along to all holidays where they’ll hate the heat and be bored off their faces.

Butlins isn’t for everyone, same as laying on a beach burning to a crisp isn’t for everyone. Doesn’t make anyone a scroat, I’ve seen far worse behaviour at posher places than Butlins and it’s because the adults couldn’t abstain and put their kids enjoyment first.

Without kids would definitely recommend the live music weekends. We've been to loads and they are brilliant. We self cater and go for the best accommodation we can and always have a fantastic time.

Honestly I’d rather stay home. Sorry OP.

Some of the people posting on here saying how bad it is have obviously not been since then 1980s or 1990s. These days, Butlin's is a lot better. The hotels at Bognor are lovely. The Seaside apartments are very nice if you're self-catering.
If you're looking for other alternatives, my husband and I went on a Park Holidays holiday in July this year and stayed at Solent Breezed in Hampshire. The caravan we stayed in was AMAZING! Fully kitted out kitchen, lovely surroundings, a bar that had an outside area that looks out over the Solent, it was brilliant and really well priced: www.parkholidays.com/our-parks/hampshire/solent-breezes/holidays?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=HP-SL-Hampshire-Holidays&utm_term=solent%20breeze%20caravan%20park&utm_content=s_dc|pcrid|279870246179|pkw|solent%20breeze%20caravan%20park|pmt|e|slid||pgrid|9102269231|ptaid|kwd-11619711071|prd||&gclid=CjwKCAiA_MPuBRB5EiwAHTTvMVGU0FJuD2iGhNUd3xVW31FVLOBA3xpiYkrko47aP-24P3vQn2eDuRoCAfIQAvD_BwE - might be worth considering if you're looking for something a bit quieter....

I've done some absolutely amazing holidays with my family all over the world, 5* resorts, Florida etc so I know that Butlins doesn't compare to them but honestly it's nothing like some people on here are saying. It's far superior to Pontins & Haven etc. It's perfect for a few quiet days away as long as you go in term time you'll love it. There's certain "toddler" weeks you won't be able to book without a young child but otherwise just have a play with dates to find one to suit. I don't know anywhere else that has enough free things to do for 6 of us for £175 - swimming, arts/crafts, sports, shows day & night, beach etc

You’ve asked on the wrong forum - you won’t get genuine answers from people who have been there, you will get all sorts of shit stirring and negativity.

We’ve been twice this year - it has been amazing for the kids, so much to do. The quality of the shows is wonderful and they love all the characters. I wouldn’t go without kids though.

I love Butlins.

I have taken my 6 year old DS on some amazing holidays - New York, 5 star hotels in Cape Verde, a trip to Lapland last year.

Where does he always ask to go back to?

Bloody Butlins.

We go a couple of times a year, we've been to all 3. Minehead is our favourite but Skegness is closest so we go there the most.

I went with the family a few years ago and really enjoyed it.
It's great for the kids! So much entertainment and they loved every minute.

I wouldn't go just with adults but I don't think that's what it's for.

It's not center parks it's butlins.

Kids loved it, we needed a holiday to recover, continuous noise

When I took the DC (aged 3-6 ish) it was OK for a short break
Would I go just adults? No

It is what it is. We used to go to Skegness when our children were very small. They absolutely loved it. Gold self catering accommodation is the way. Go to the swimming pool first thing as it gets fucking awful.

Be prepared for lots of rowdy people in and around the accommodation blocks overnight. They have dance competitions around the year so loads of groups staying.

We also booked the overhead bar thing (can't remember what its called) you sit upstairs away from the masses.