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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Summer break - Butlins??

11 replies

Kat283 · 23/03/2022 10:13

Hi everyone,

My husband and I want to book a break away for us and our two daughters in Aug during summer holidays. Our daughters will be 6 and nearly 3.

The last time we went away was pre-covid and before our eldest started school so this is our first encounter of school holiday costings.

We’ve never been to Butlins before but I’m tempted as it seems to cater for the girls, who I know would love the pool, fair and soft play.

But it’s going to cost us around £1000 and when you start reading reviews, they’re obviously mixed. But it’s scaring me a bit as it’s a lot of money to spend and I just desperately want everyone to have a nice time!

Was wondering whether anyone could reassure me?! Or suggest alternates?!

OP posts:
ChoiceMummy · 23/03/2022 19:03

Personally, I would use my money elsewhere.

If wanting to stay in the UK, I'd look at a caravan park tgat has entertainment. You're likely to have a far higher standard of accommodation. Some have amusement parks or water parks on site as well.

Alternatively, I've often stayed in cheaper accommodation like travelodge and had lots of lovely days out. This gave me guaranteed accommodation standards but at a really affordable price, sometimes £29/night.

Appleseesaw · 23/03/2022 19:10

In your shoes, I would want to know the situation now with booking activities. I went last year and everything had to be booked in advance. That’s ok, but there were nowhere near enough activities to go round. We ended up with not that much to do. The toddler soft play was closed, which wasn’t ideal as I have a toddler. We went pre covid and it was much much better.

I also think that the food in the on-site restaurant has deteriorated.

XmeansX · 23/03/2022 19:14

I loved it at Butlins with my 11 year old. When after ducts and has to prebook shows but it was easy in the app. Food is fine

All I’d say is in you have a window in the front door and you’re bed is near the door they have 85,000 watt bulbs! It was like trying to sleep in a football pitch with floodlights until I saw someone had but a towel over the door and covered the window.. brilliant

BendingSpoons · 23/03/2022 19:26

We went for a weekend when DD was 4. She had the most amazing time. We booked the pool in the morning and did the funfair in the afternoon. We did have an issue with the shows being booked up. I went on to book straight away but clearly the people staying for a week had been able to book earlier and there weren't many tickets. This might have eased now as this was 2020.

As an adult I was more ambivalent about it. The activities were great but the accommodation (apartment) was basic. The bed wasn't amazingly comfortable, although it was fine. Apparently the hotels are nicer. The food was decent. We didn't use the bars/nightlife.

We are going again this summer as DD (and now DS) with absolutely LOVE it. But we are going for a weekend in July over an Inset day so paying quite a bit less. For me, 3-4 nights is sufficient as I think I'd be a bit bored for a week. Although you could also explore areas nearby.

sittingonacornflake · 23/03/2022 19:38

Butlin's Minehead staying at bayside or west lakes chalets (done both in last 6 months) makes for a fantastic family holiday. So much entertainment and activities to do and the accommodation is really decent and comfortable.

Roselilly36 · 23/03/2022 19:40

We had some lovely trips to Butlins when are children were little. The hotels were fab.

SpellitwithaY · 23/03/2022 20:28

Butlins is an amazing holiday ar that age I have 2 6 year olds and we have been going since they were about 2.

I was a bit sniffy about it before our first visit but we had so much fun! It's great for kids and as long as they're happy you are too. We haven't found the restrictions too bad either. Go for it.

Minehead is our favourite as the beach is so nice but due to distance wouldn't go for less than 7 nights, Bognor has a better pool and is closer to us.

Original poster
Kat283 · 23/03/2022 21:04

Thanks everyone for taking the time to read and comment.

I think we're going to give it a go. The main thing for me is that the girls are happy. I've been reading up and a lot of people are saying the hotels are nicer than the apartments, and we had planned to stay in one of the hotels.

I guess you don't know unless you try!

We're planning Mon-Fri so sounds like there should be enough to keep us busy.

OP posts:
SpellitwithaY · 26/03/2022 09:31

Weve stayed in silver, gold and tge one up from gold the seaside apartments which were great. Wouldn't want to go less than gold again but silver was ok. I prefer to have the housekeeping as I'm on holiday and don't want to clean 😁

GougeAway · 26/03/2022 11:53

We stayed in a private caravan at Butlins Minehead. It was really nice and quiet. Much cheaper than booking direct with Butlins but with all entertainment passes etc included. Worth considering. Really important to have separate bedroom for the kids for us so never did hotels. Also doubting you would get a Travelodge for £25 a night in August.

Funf · 26/03/2022 20:43

Everyone must go at least once, our kids loved it so we where happy, choose the accommodation well its worth the extra for better.
Having said that we have had similar trips on some of the Caravan parks in the past, they do cater well for the kids, its never cheap but usually memorable for the right reasons.
As people have said I would pre book as much as you can a nd take paper evidence of your bookings just for piece of mind

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