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Original poster

Butlins

71 replies

Idiotintraining · 21/04/2022 23:44

Has anyone ever been

We are currently in Skegness one and leaving tomorrow 😢

Anyone else been?

AiBu for thinking its amazing for kids and not to holiday anywhere else

OP posts:
feelinglowandblue · 22/04/2022 07:35

Hi! Yes just got back from minehead with my 2 year old, had the most fantastic time! I’m biased as I am a huge butlins fan and went every year but yes it was great! Clean, fun, so many things to do and the food was excellent! You’ll spend a lot of money if you’re not careful though, do plan ahead with meals if you are going self catering. The shops can be overpriced with toys etc but that’s just like everywhere. The Skegness funfair is really good so take advantage of that. Queuing for the shows is a downside but worth it for some fab entertainment. Just let go, relax and enjoy!

RenegadeKeeblerElf · 22/04/2022 07:37

It's fantastic for littlies but unfortunately as the kids grow up it becomes less and less value for money - all of the free activities are aimed at under 10s, the stuff for older kids is paid for and it really adds up!

feelinglowandblue · 22/04/2022 07:37

O dear I’m new here and sent the wrong reply and don’t know how to delete!

yes yes yes it’s the greatest place on earth and I’m so glad you feel the same! I really find it hard being around people who put butlins down all the time even when they haven’t been. I am such a champion for the brand and always have been. Everyone that I’ve ever taken has had something bad to say about it until they get there and realise that it truly is a kingdom of heaven!! I cry every time I come back. Already booked for two more times this year!!

Waxonwaxoff0 · 22/04/2022 07:38

Yes, we go regularly. DS loves it. Some people on here are snobby about it but I won't turn my nose up at a cheap holiday that makes my kid happy.

Northumberlund · 22/04/2022 07:40

I used to go yearly as a child and remember it being cheap and cheerful. Mucky chalets, grumpy redcoats, corny entertainment - has it got better over the years? I last went in the early 90s as a teen and hated it. Loved it when I was younger in the 80s

Copasetic · 22/04/2022 07:41

I haven’t been for about 6 years but did like it but always came back ill! Those places are terrible places for germs to spread. However, we went for the weekend and had a holiday in Disneyworld Florida booked later on in the year. My 5 year old loved it so much that he was insistent that he didn’t want to go to Florida and just wanted to go back to Butlins! He did feel differently after we had been though! I did say I’d take him back to Butlins soon though after we saw a friend go and it reminded us how much fun it was.

IggyAce · 22/04/2022 07:52

My dcs are older now but we loved Butlins when they were under 10 and have very happy memories of several fantastic holidays.

Ukholidaysaregreat · 22/04/2022 07:52

I bloody love Butlins. Free massive pool, free fairground, free shows! Love it!

nearlyspringyay · 22/04/2022 08:09

My kids LOVE Butlin's , we are fortunate enough to holiday a lot, but it's always butlins that they talk about

JuliaSways · 22/04/2022 08:14

My son loved it, my OH loved it, me and the older kids were "meh" about it.

I personally found it ridiculously expensive for onsite food and drink. We had the meal plan and that was alright I suppose, lots of choice, basic "pub food".

I hated the nighttime entertainment, the club rooms didn't have air-conditioning and were hot, muggy and just unpleasant.

OH is desperate to go back for an 80s weekend. I'd rather spend a weekend sat looking at a dripping tap.

BrylcreamBeret · 22/04/2022 08:15

My family love Butlins op, we have a week booked in October this year (Minehead). There's plenty to do off site aswell, I like going into the town to change it up a bit. I don't understand the hatred of Butlins on here, clearly there's huge snobbery.

JuliaSways · 22/04/2022 08:15

Northumberlund · 22/04/2022 07:40

I used to go yearly as a child and remember it being cheap and cheerful. Mucky chalets, grumpy redcoats, corny entertainment - has it got better over the years? I last went in the early 90s as a teen and hated it. Loved it when I was younger in the 80s

It's anything but cheap, but still cheerful I suppose.

BrylcreamBeret · 22/04/2022 08:16

Also, who said it was cheap? I don't think £1500 is particularly cheap!

Momicrone · 22/04/2022 08:17

Butlins rocks

ladydimitrescu · 22/04/2022 08:24

I personally think it's ridiculously overpriced for what it is. The large indoor dome at minehead never fails to give me a migraine. It's cheaper for us to go to Disneyland paris which is my personal favourite place of all time, and would always choose that.

Philisophigal · 22/04/2022 08:25

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn at the user's request.

femfemlicious · 22/04/2022 08:27

feelinglowandblue · 22/04/2022 07:37

O dear I’m new here and sent the wrong reply and don’t know how to delete!

yes yes yes it’s the greatest place on earth and I’m so glad you feel the same! I really find it hard being around people who put butlins down all the time even when they haven’t been. I am such a champion for the brand and always have been. Everyone that I’ve ever taken has had something bad to say about it until they get there and realise that it truly is a kingdom of heaven!! I cry every time I come back. Already booked for two more times this year!!

How do you afford it. Its really expensive. Is thete a way to get cheaper tickets. Ive been once and i loved it i stayed in thr hotel. Which of the cheaper accomodation would you reccomend. To avoid shouting and drunk people?

oviraptor21 · 22/04/2022 08:29

Same as philosophigal. You'd have to pay me a lot to persuade me to go back. To he fair the kids did like it.
But it was filthy, including the swimming areas. I'm not a clean freak but it bothered me .... a lot.

Duracellbunnywannabe · 22/04/2022 08:30

I looked into a few weeks ago and its seem so expensive compared to a week AL.

feelinglowandblue · 22/04/2022 08:32

femfemlicious · 22/04/2022 08:27

How do you afford it. Its really expensive. Is thete a way to get cheaper tickets. Ive been once and i loved it i stayed in thr hotel. Which of the cheaper accomodation would you reccomend. To avoid shouting and drunk people?

Show quote history

hi! I am very sad and check for cancellations daily! I only stay in west lake chalets which are away from the camp and reall hugh spec but have managed to get three holidays for under £900 this year by checking all the time for different dates and not being bothered about what time of year it is! I get 5% off for being a loyalty member which is something! I used £135 Tesco Clubcard vouchers for the first hol this year which I’d worked up over lockdown (triple voucher) so that really helped. If you really want to go and avoid that type of area then the west lake chalets are perfect and can be affordable if you keep checking! Also when you arrive there are cheap offers in the holiday booking shop but can go within minutes! There were breaks for £90 in fantastic accommodation on offer!

Waxonwaxoff0 · 22/04/2022 08:37

BrylcreamBeret · 22/04/2022 08:16

Also, who said it was cheap? I don't think £1500 is particularly cheap!

It is cheap for me, as a one adult one child family. We only need a twin room, I paid £180 for 4 nights in Feb half term.

VeganGod · 22/04/2022 08:37

My kids enjoyed it when they were younger, I’d say it makes a good holiday for ages 2-8. Lots to do and my kids remember Butlins fondly, we tried them all over the years and they liked Minehead best. I wouldn’t say ‘not to holiday anywhere else’, we had lots of different holidays with the kids that they loved. I didn’t like that there were always lots of young kids by themselves, some parents seemed to think it was ok and safe. The first time we went the accommodation was dreadful but we booked different accommodation after that which was much better.

x2boys · 22/04/2022 08:59

Yes we went to Skegness twice when the kids were little they loved it ,my oldest is fifteen now ,so we have out grown it ,but lots to do for younger children ,it isn't cheap though and we went self catering.

MargaretThursday · 22/04/2022 09:08

We prefer Minehead, but ended up at Skegness this year and I was reminded of the thing we prefer at Skegness-it's smaller! We seem to always end up right at the far end at Minehead, we were right next to Skyline this time and I really loved that.
Don't like the drive as much and sometimes the weather, although this year was fine.
We've been every year except the covid years since dd1 was a toddler and they all still love it, even though even my youngest is mid-teens.

Blindingpeaky · 22/04/2022 09:13

Would any recommend the meal plan? Hoping to book a tots break 😀