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!

I've been to the Minehead 3 times in the last 7 years.

First time was music weekend for a hen do. I had a laugh but it was loads of married people on the pull and very rowdy drunken behaviour.

Second time in a private caravan with the kids in half term. Entertainment was great and the kids loved the pool, arcades and fair.

Third time was a proper music festival for indie music lovers. Was drunken and very friendly but felt very safe.

I just wouldn't bother unless with children or for a specific event. Try Hoseseasons for a lodge break. Might be a bit far for you but Landal Gwel an Mor in Cornwall is fab. We got a lodge with hot tub with a sea view.

We went for a long weekend with two aged 3 and 7.
The kids LOVED it and it was by far one of the easiest and stress-free breaks we’ve had. We booked the dining plan as well which made it really easy.

Also liked the fact 90% of the activities/facilities/entertainment was included, unlike centre parcs and places where you end up spending the holiday cost again on doing stuff.

It was definitely ‘for the kids’ more than anything though!

Yes people need to realise that Butlins in 1975 doesn't compare with Butlins ,now whilst it isn't for everyone most kids love it and it certainly isn't dirty well skegness wasent anyway ,.

If you get bad weather and wanna spend £1500 keeping kids entertained like we did then go ahead! It's ok if you have nice weather but it's very busy, very loud and just full of people not looking after their kids.

I've been to Bluestone in Pembrokeshire a few times with our DC and absolutely love it. I also think it works as a child-free break you can rent a small cottage or lodge that's perfect for two. The lodges are far enough apart that you can't hear your neighbours. You've then got the gorgeous Pembrokeshire countryside and beaches to explore.

I've never been to Butlins and never would. I admit that this partially based on snobbery. I think the type of people it attracts would not be my kind of fellow traveller but also on the fact that two separate friends have been to the Minehead one and cut short their breaks to return home as they found it so horrific.

We went in October half term. Stayed in a caravan and didn’t pay for any additional activities. Cheap as chips holiday. It’s as expensive as you make it.

We've come back today from Butlins Minehead after a weekend indie music festival. The chalet we had was a deluxe with a patio. It was clean,comfy and warm. We ate at the on site pub and the food was lovely and reasonably priced given that it is a holiday place. As pp's have said you get what you pay for.

danmthatonestakentryanotheer We’re back today as well. Was our first and already planning next year 😀

My kids absolutely loved it, we've been on some pretty great holidays and they keep going on about Butlins.

I wouldn't do s/c though, we went to Bognor and it looked awful. I definitely wouldn't do it without kids.

It's one of the oddest places I've been too - you literally get people from all walks of life. It was great for people watching.

No, it’s awful. I’d rather stay at home.

We won a long weekend there. It was mainly awful - grotty gold standard apartment, lots of drunk adults at all times of day, and unbearably noisy in all the communal areas. The food was better than you'd imagine though, and the swimming pool was good.

We would never go back, even if we won another break there.

Second Crowhurst Park near Battle. Lovely lodges. Bar and restaurant are meh. Swimming pool is ok.

The children love it,

We also regularly do 5* holidays, c parks, skiing.

Our annual Butlins trip is their favourite holiday. I’ve seen much worse behaviour at C Parcs ( And c parcs pools are really filthy)

It is what it is, a holiday for children.

DefConOne

Glad you enjoyed it. We've been to all 5 and this year's was the best so far....see you next year.

We’ve been to the one at Bognor for the past 2 years for the just for tots weeks and they are great. The hotels are lovely and you can choose a dine around option where you have breakfast at the hotel and then get vouchers for the different restaurants for your evening meal. Our DC seem to prefer Butlins holidays over the holidays we have abroad.

I'd say Butlins is more for families with children. Hoseasons have some nice sites and aren't very expensive. We stayed in a lovely lodge with a hot tub once there was a nice restaurant on site and a swimming pool as well as being located near a few good places to visit for the the day!

As much as anything, these threads usually just show that there is a chasm between people who view "entertainment" as a good thing, and those who'd rather chew their own arm off than attend it. Never the twain, generally.

I was really sceptical when my friend first suggested it but we've now been 4 times together with our 4 children (primary age) and are booked again. Silver accommodation is fine (gold only really adds towels and room service which isn't necessary). We've only ever added dining package (premium), which bumps up cost but saves hassle and gives you more of a break. It is basic accommodation unless you go for the £££ Lakeview but there is loads for kids to do and they absolutely LOVE it.

Park dean also do nice cheap accommodation which would suit adults more than children.

Alconleigh it is not entertainment anymore. It is not inactive watching, It’s workshops, shooting practise, zip lines, spa, nerf wars, swimming, football training, crafts, fencing, go carting, or softplay.

Lots of outdated ideas about Butlins. Everyone agrees it’s a great place for kids, but some people would rather drag them off to what they like doing instead, and make the kids fit in.

I remember looking up mumsnet threads about buttons when we were considering booking our holiday, a poster put about center parcs being better and more upmarket and added something about children dressed in ‘Boden and Joules’ there 😂 As if your own child is going to notice/care about that sort of thing!

People smoke everywhere in Center Parcs, that’s what I noticed, it was surprisingly smoky. Its marketed as more exclusive because of the price of getting in and all I thought was that it was a wood cladded Butlins in the forest but activities aren’t free. No difference in clientele at all. Layout similar. Format of holiday actually quite similar (activities spread out over the park) with restaurants/shops/games in the middle. I think people pay the money for Center Parcs to feel better about it but it’s a very similar holiday.

I have been to skegness a couple of years ago which was ok, accommodation was ok but the food wasn't very good. I recommend going to bognor regis in one of the hotels. Very clean, amazing food and I've never seen it rowdy. We are going back to bognor next year. My advice though is to get it when there is an offer on. We have just got a break for 3 people, 5 days, food included for £500.

We didn't enjoy Center Parcs and spent way more on activities than we do at Butlins, our accommodation smelled like drains, and they weren't particularly accommodating of additional needs. I noticed the smoking too whereas at Butlins its confined to the smoking areas which are screened off. Butlins accommodation has always been clean and on the one occasion it was below standard they sent someone straight out to sort it. They've also been amazing with DS needs including letting us access our accommodation early (12pm instead of 3pm) so he has access to a quiet space after the journey, ground floor room at no additional charge, and all of the staff are very tolerant.

Are you taking about taking a break soon, or next year in the summer? Butlins only hosts its "weekenders" over winter. Music weekends, darts is on next weekend etc.

I returned from Shiiine On at Minehead yesterday. My third year in a row. It's adults only and an amazing weekend.

As a PP said. Don't book any less than a gold apartment.

Do bear in mind, not all the facilities are open in the winter. But it was all about the music anyway.