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?

Im afraid that is exactly what my impression of Butlins would be, which is why I would avoid at all cost. I didn’t think anyone would need to read the reviews to know this about Butlins though as its got a pretty dire reputation.

Go to Center Parcs if you want a much nicer choice of weekend away (been many times and never heard the language mentioned above). The most ive heard is a few parents getting stressed in the swimming pool changing rooms (anyone who has been with young kids will understand)😀

We went to Butlins in Feb last year. Was fine. I felt perfectly safe there alone with DS.
The entertainment is busy, but it's fine.

Looking at going back for a few days later this year just as a cheap place to stay, and swim with the kids and go to the beach.

Eh you must have known Butlins is for rough people though right? It’s not a secret

cheap places often attract chavs

I’ve never been as we always went camping when we were kids so we missed out on Butlins type holidays but friends went to Minehead Butlins a few years ago and left the following morning due to parents being pissed, loud swearing and noise at night & the state of their accommodation. Her words were ‘you wouldn’t put a dog in that room!!!’
God speed OP!

Its my kids favourite holiday choice (and we love it) and they’ve been all over Europe in nice hotels. I dont think you can compare Butlins and Center Parcs in anyway (but fair enough if its just not your thing).

We have a pontins at one end of our coastline, we've seen awful events in the local press. It's closed thankfully. At the other end Haven Leisure (used to be Butlins) is fine. Clean, food ok a bit boring. But beaches great. Pool awesome.

Sometimes our grandchildren go for the odd long weekend with mum and dad. It's only 30 miles away, the kids love it. They do deals which my daughter keeps her eyes out for though.

Ive never been to Butlins but have been to a similar sort of place on the Isle of Wight with my Dcs. DS1 is autistic (14 now) and he really loved the entertainment. I needed his ear defenders though and the first time we did not quite get all the way through it. But he still talks about those times now with alot of joy. So i hope so so much you all have the most lovely time.

We've been to the Skegness one a few times. We've never had any problems with accommodation in the seaside appartments. It is quite loud in the main areas but lots of children there have additional needs and some wear ear defenders. The food is not great (like wetherspoons I guess) but the play park is excellent. Definitely get VIP pass if you can afford it, and book in your activities 4 weeks before.

That’s just not true. I took my kids just before Christmas. The changing rooms were tatty but there was always someone cleaning. The pool was fine, no rings of dirt to be seen.

First of all.its not cheap.and neither is it rough ,have you ever actually been ?🙄

Butllins really doesn't have a dire reputation
Its certainly not everybody, s Cup of tea I really think some people commenting have never actually been or assume its like Hi de Hi.

Friends went to an expensive place once it was filthy. She cleaned it up herself. It's hard to get cleaners in school holidays I'd think they're under a lot of pressure.

We’ve been to Minehead a few times and dh took dd to Bognor without me twice all at weekends or during holidays, mainly in the October break. Never had any issues with the people. The accommodation is basic unless you go for the new style chalets / apartments.

The only incident was when dd was about 7 and got a stomach bug but the rest of us were fine including my friend’s ds.

Personally I would go op.

I’m amazed you’re only realising this now, OP.

I’m not from/don't live in the UK and have heard so much about Butlins and the type of people it attracts.

Ours was really cheap, to be honest. It is term time though (I am currently on maternity leave) so maybe it’s more expensive in school holidays?

@x2boys it is cheap. Factually it’s cheap.

Cheap places often attract cheap people who are unfortunately more likely to be rough.

If you've never actually been, you can't really comment.

Theres’s so much to do at CP without spending money. The pool is completely free (and I cant imagine there are many pools better than the CP pool in the UK). If the kids are young, they can spend hours and hours playing in the playgrounds, down on the beach by the lake. We take a car full of shopping and only go out for dinner once. Love walking/cycling round and just being away from it all. We usually book one activity (for example climbing) and just enjoy the peace of no cars and being away from it all.

It's so cringe when people describe others as "rough". Reminds me of Hyacinth Bucket, people who think they're better than others when they're not.

It isn't cheap though
Have you ever been?

Butlins is fine OP. You take it for what it is. I used to go a lot with DS and I've never heard anyone calling their kids "little cunts" there.

People on this thread who has never been really have no authority to say what it's like or isn't like.

This. I was doing quotes last night and Skegness, for four night so essentially three days, was nearly £1400. That was the cheapest apartment available, catered, with three adrenalin passes.

So.you don't live in the UK and have never been to Butllns 🙄

I think you’ll find I can comment on what I like. Weird that you think it’s up to you to moderate what others post.

I have been to Butlins Skegness twice (last year). The kids absolutely loved it and want to go back this year. The swimming pool is great fun but far to busy for us and the chlorine level is phenomenal. It was so bad that the kids and me ended up with dry patches of skin and it smelled of urine. We tend to avoid it.

The shows are fun but busy though we go in Scottish school holidays and have never had to queue for long. We always pre-book every activity 4 weeks in advance we can and I pay for extra passes for things like pottery painting, archery, Lazer tag, crazy golf, bowling etc. They have apps that tell you what's on. Skyline is busy and has people turning up early for shows to find seats. There is definitely an element of people sitting drinking but everyone I met has been pleasant. I have never heard any child called a c_nt thankfully. I would be appalled if I had.

The kids absolutely love Sky Park but there are definitely a couple of feral bullying kids left to there own devices at it. You have to be on your guard for them. I am not shy and told a couple of kids to behave themselves and leave my kids alone or I would be getting Butlins staff to find there parents and having them escorted out of the Sky Park. They stopped immediately though I suspect nobody has ever told them off before based on the shock on there faces. These kids exist everywhere not just at Butlins. You are as likely to encounter them at an all inclusive in Spain as Butlins.

I would recommend getting a gold apartment. They are in a quieter area though definitely not as clean as I think they should be so take wipes etc. They are spacious and you can cook in them etc.

I have never eaten in the food courts but did buy lunch out one day on site. It was nice and the staff are great.

We have had great holidays at Butlins but do make the most of all the activities. It's better to go to the fairground as soon as it opens as it's quieter then.