To be worried about Butlins?!

[Burlee]

I’ve booked a few nights at Butlins in May - I used to go as a kid.

Last night I saw on their website that part of the pool in closed which was the main thing we were going for so I checked the trip advisor reviews to see if anyone mentioned it - OMG the reviews!! They were so bad they were actually funny! One person saying that the people who go there are tough as toast and it’s not unusual for parents to be calling their kids “little cunt” etc - kids running around absolutely feral, people queuing for 6pm entertainment from 2pm - everywhere smells of urine - half the rides don’t work - the accommodation is like a run down council flat - WTF have I done!

Anyone been recently and can tell me it’s not this bad?

We went to Minehead Butlins a few years ago - I caught awful conjunctivitis from the water in the swimming pool. The pool was filthy - hairs on the floor around the pool, and general dirt and grime. Never again.

Your logic sounds like mine! Anywhere with an indoor pool and stuff to do - and I relax better away from home and it’s distractions.

I've never been to Butlins but I think some of you commenting on centre parcs have never been either. Everytime I've been there's been stag and hen parties. Swearing, drinking, adults on the play parks at night, smoking cannabis...

We can’t afford centre parcs and i have never been. However, I do believe you. I think the standard of people’s behaviour has gone downhill in the last few years and what they are paying doesn’t seem to make a difference.

I think the ‘communal’ aspect of these places brings out the worst in people. Which is why we never do all-inclusive places either, whatever the ‘star’ of resort.

We've pretty much visited yearly at Easter time for an Easter break as my Mum finds it easy to get to and see us and her Grandchildren. I have never ever seen this in the Longleat one, the one we felt a little was like that was near the lake district. As my DC are older they would notice as they go and do things on their own at night so go for a swim, cycle, bowling, they would definitely highlight anything like this as my eldest who is 16 is always saying how 'dead' it is at night.

Also, if you were that way inclined i.e smoking and drinking excessively, why would you choose center Parcs as a hen/stag do place.

Firstly I hate posts like this as you don't know till you try. He's a few parts need updating but everytime we gone love it. Skegness has a wonderful park, a funfair and masses of things to do for everyone. It does get busy in the school holidays so be prepared for lots of people but that adds to all the fun

Agreed and I've been posting to say so - in my experience Center parcs (and I have been three times now I come to remember the third) has no shortage of shit behaviour.
Can't comment on Butlins as I haven't been but not going back to CP, it's overpriced shit.

Went on a Haven holiday in Scotland a few years ago. A bit like Butlins I suppose. Accommodation was fine, very clean, there were a few rough kids in the playground picking fights with mine and others, the staff were made aware. Overheard a bit of a late nighter in one of the caravans at night, but that was it, it didn't affect us really. Don't worry about it - if there are troublesome people there, speak to the site staff.

We've always had a great time when we've been to Skeggie. Pool is good, entertainment quality is excellent and accomodation is functional but we were barely there much. The fairground has been revamped recently and the skypark is absolutely fantastic, especially as it gets dark and lights up. You pre book activities and shows about 2 weeks before via the app. You do queue for shows but we went about half hr before and just accepted we'd be sat further back, we could still see. I don't go on holiday to spend it queing! There are a few people a bit rough round the edges but nothing I hadn't seen at any other caravan parks or locally. We kept ourselves to ourselves. You'll have an amazing time and your kids will love it!

Butlins is a bit rough but so is Center parcs to be fair.

Kids absolutely adore both and they make for easy stress-free breaks in my experience. Love the dining plan at Butlins.

Center parcs friends with two young daughters sat out one evening at their lodge. The lodge adjacent with hot tub were having loud sex, friends had to dash in to ensure that windows were shut 😂

I have never witnessed stag or hen dos at Center parcs or Butlins though?

i thought CP make it difficult for groups of adults to book unless spa break. And there’s not really any late night entertainment and booze is extortionate. Butlins does it’s own adult only party weekends outside of family times.

We took the kids when very young to Bognor and Minehead full board. Think it worked out cheaper than staying home. They adored it the beaches were nice we swerved the adult entertainment but kids loved it.
Much preferred it to CenterParks the accommodation is ropey but its cheap as chips.
.

When I was growing up Butlins used to be the upmarket version of Pontins. I’ve only been to Butlins at Bognor for a day trip which was fine but as a child I used to go to Pontins in the 70s and decided to take my own children in the 80s and had a shock as it was so run down. I think through a child’s eyes the places are fun and exciting but for the adults unless you want to spend your time drunk you will definitely notice the shabby smellly rooms and chavvy behaviour

Because they have a spa, and have come activities aimed at adults and older teenagers. So there’s definitely an adult market for CP - I’ve never been as an adults group but know people who have. It’s often discussed as “better for teens” than some activities type places - if you like go kart/ quad bike type things, Segways etc.

I found the people at Butlins very friendly especially staff.
Center parks can be a knob head play ground people who are trying activities for the first time or riding a bike for the first time in thirty years

I have been to CP and seen the type of behaviour people describe. It was when the World Cup or euros were on. People drinking in the bar bit and then coming down to where the play park was to smoke.

I had someone ask me in a threatening way if I was from the opposing country (can’t remember which but want to say Bulgaria or Albania maybe?) which I’m not and I wasn’t saying anything at all about the football, I was standing quietly watching my kids. So it was a bit odd!

I agrée re Butlin’s staff - couldn’t be lovelier!

CP staff also very nice though.

We like Bluestone in Wales best as an activities place but as the prices have gone up I’ve noticed some idiots who don’t know how to behave- not many. Their staff also phenomenal.

There will no no queues in term time.

Fair in Skegness all done up and nice and new as is the new sky park.

swimmers is absolutely fine and no worse than the overpriced centre parts.

entertainment great for kids.

Are there people, you wouldn’t necessary mix with- yea definitely but never saw any problems and the children love it.

We live quite close to one of them. We went for a day trip once and it was awful. Quite a threatening atmosphere - I was swoen at by another parent because I was standing with my kids near the carousel and she thought I was trying to skip the queue. It's grubby, I've never seen so many people smoking, and there's no way I'd get in a pool with some of the people there.
The kids have never asked to go back and we wouldn't anyway.

I know an adult who went for a Company Teams event for the reasons you say but it isn't set up for drinking as there are pretty much no bars to go to so if you want an excessive drinking and smoking Hen/stag do, you definitely wouldn't pick Center Parcs, we have been going annually to meet up with my Mum and in those 16 years give or take have never seen this, in fact last year i was walking back to our lodge and went past a family, the Dad of which said i shouldn't be walking around at 10pm in tne dark on my own! If people are drinking in their Lodge and others notice it, then that is pretty nosey as they are not doing it openly.

Generally though I'd say post COVID there has been a bit of a change in visitors, more people with dogs that walk along with them on long leads, expressing their dismay at you riding a bike past them. I've noticed more upset about biking riding near pedestrians, failing to realise that it is an outdoor activity holiday, the bikes being a big selling point in the past. So many

Thanks so much for this. The live show was fantastic- really brilliant with Joel presenting & very professional. We saw it as Glasgow Hydro & it was SO good. I wouldn't want to drive all the way there just for an hour of substandard entertainment. If it was nearer I would take a chance, but our nearest would be Skegness & it's a 5 hr + drive.

DS has ASN & he just wouldn't understand why it was so different. I'm really upset they've stopped the live shows!

Went to center parcs and it was expensive and the clientele was a bit rough.

Butlins when we went was much better in comparison! We went on a little tots break, kids loved it, entertained all day long. The dining plan was fabulous and I had the largest poached salmon I’ve ever seen in my life, great salad bar.

DH is a snob, he’d rather ski than anything else and even he admits butlins is good fun, and the kids adore it. Always asking to go back (they never ask to go back to New York!).

I've only ever been to centre parcs as part of adult groups (mainly old uni friends for a catch up). We take loads of alcohol with us, we enjoy cooking and socialising in the cabin, the pool is free, we use the spa, go on bike rides and do a few activities. Sharing as couples worked out cheap for us.