Are Butlins right to refuse bookings from solo travellers?

[KimberleyClark]

This woman used to take her son, he has grown out of it but she still wants to go on her own but Butlins Skegness won’t accept her booking on “family breaks” - she can only go on the adults only weekend breaks. Safeguarding reasons apparently.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9eerp43v12o

YANBU - ridiculous
YABU - they are right.

No, they're not. I imagine they charge more for couples and groups and single bookings are loss making.

They're reasoning is safeguarding, but that's nonsense considering any member of the public can just stroll onto a butlins site on foot.

Why?

Well they're not saying that she can't go at all, just not on the family breaks, so can't see the problem.

Whilst I feel a lot of sympathy for her, it is right of Butlins to have this as a blanket rule.

Unfortunately those with ill intent ruin it for those who are genuine.

OP

Do you not understand the definition of "family breaks"??

Presumably if she really wanted to go alone she just books as a single parent with a tot and not take one. Butlins family breaks aren't for adults alone, there's nothing there for them.

Plenty of solo travellers go on cruises which are family friendly. Perhaps the cruise lines should ban them.

Would you be complaining if a family were trying to get children into an adults only hotel? Or a 60yo trying to book on a 18-30 holiday? It’s a single person trying to book a family holiday. There are others she can book

Of course butlins is right. She doesn't meet the criteria for a family break.

The same as a 20 year old wouldn't be allowed at an over 65s only event.

They are right imo. Expecting to go on a Butlins family break as a single adult is a no.

I feel so sorry for her.

Op, why are you being ignorant??
"family-friendly" is very different to "family breaks" - I hope you now realise you are flogging a dead horse!!

Imortnatly as others pointed out - its their site they make the rules within reason

How would I feel if I went on a family only break and then noted there were many singles around - or if we went on a couples break and noted there were singles or families

Please accpe the facts

Presumably she doesn’t want to go on an adults only break because she wants a family vibe. I do feel sorry for her.

This is ridiculous. Fair enough of they don't want a load of rowdy adults there at the same time but then they can just say no adult groups. Saying it's because of safeguarding is stupid because most paedophiles are known to the family. If there are any paedophiles at Butlins they will most likely not be going as a solo traveller.

There is a difference between family friendly, and family only.

Most cruise lines that cater for children do not explicitly ban children though. They just make it clear that they are not geared for children. It’s up to you if you think your child would like it.

Safeguarding is a poor reason, but any company is allowed to say "this is for families" or "this is for over 65s" or whatever. Butlin's is not saying she cannot visit at all, ever, just that she is not eligible to book the family-only sessions.

She isn’t travelling as a family so of course she can’t book onto a family break.

Other people’s families aren’t there to provide her with ambience or an atmosphere. She went with her child when they were of an age. That time of her life has passed and we all have to move on.

This is blatantly untrue.