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Holidays

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

Original poster

Anyone been to Butlins in Minehead?

27 replies

hecticmum · 03/02/2008 19:16

We weren't going to go on holiday this half term but I've seen a cheap deal for Butlins in Minehead, but we've never been to any Butlins before. Is it nice there (and does it get manically busy at half term?), and also is the nursery any good? A little relaxation time for us adults would be nice but I'm a bit 'iffy' about using childcare I've never even seen.

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bristols · 03/02/2008 19:19

I have been a few times but only to the 'adults only' weekends in my days pre-babies (I can just about remember them..!) Hopefully this'll keep your post bumped and someone who has something useful to say will be along in a while.

ScoobyDoo · 03/02/2008 19:21

One of my friends went to butlins in bognor not minehead but she said the whole butlins thing was awful & she could not wait to come home.

1 thing she did say though was the kids enjoyed it so that was a plus.

Original poster
hecticmum · 03/02/2008 19:21

Thanks Wow, 'adult-only' holidays, I think I just about remember them!

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Original poster
hecticmum · 03/02/2008 19:22

Oh, ok SD, so the kids'll have a wail of a time but I should grit my teeth? Hmm, may have to think carefully about it then

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Leslaki · 03/02/2008 19:27

we hated Butlins in Skegness but actualy liked it at Minehead!!! We did the beach in the morning, then soft play before everuything opened and the whole Bob the builder thing is so much better in minehead - loads more room. Felt we could escape the trashy parts at Minehead but not as easy at Skeggie!!! Kids loved it and it was a good fun break. Night time is awful!!! We did mini disco which the kids loved then left as the site of over tired kids and paralytic parents trying to sneak in vodka in baby bottles was getting too much! The evning entertainment was as you'd expect so we went back to apt and put kids to bed then drank wine and watched dvds. most foul thing was the plastic mattresses!! Urgh! And the hairy shower!!!! I took cleaning wipes with me tho and was glad I had!

Anyway for a cheap holiday the kids love, go for it. If you need to escape then there is plenty to do in the local area. Go for it!! We had a good week. Tescos just next to park so you can stock up. Food at Butlins bnot great - Pizza Ht is the luxury choice!!! Kids love t - you get peace and ge a good giggle at some of the clientele!!!

ScoobyDoo · 03/02/2008 19:30

To be honest i think any kids are going to love butlins, it has so many kiddie things it makes it look good, you may have to grit your teeth, are you just going for a few days?

missnevermind · 03/02/2008 19:31

Hi my kids are 7 and 9 and love it.
I enjoy it as we go full board. The food is just like plain home cooking all self service. You do not have to think about entertaining anybody.
I enjoy it, but I am well aware that I am a million miles away from some peoples tastes on here
Book for the 3/4 days break. If you find it awful its only a few days, if you enjoy it you can always go back again.

Original poster
hecticmum · 03/02/2008 19:37

Parents sneaking vodka in baby bottles? Sounds like the pubs round here. Can easily cope without the evening entertainment but the hairy shower sounds dire, thanks for the wipes tip!

Yep, the deal is only a 4-night Mon-Fri one so stuck to a whole week, and then we can do the normal days out on the two weekends. I don't exactly have high tastes so it sounds like I should be ok. Even one night in a 5-star hotel (to do with work) left me wishing I could have stayed in a B&B and had the extra cash to go shopping!

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Original poster
hecticmum · 03/02/2008 19:37

Sorry, NOT stuck to a whole week

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misdee · 03/02/2008 19:51

i havent been to butlins minehead for many years.

we are going to skegness in june, kids are really looking forward to it, so am i, as it will be the first summer holiday we've had as a family for a very long time.

Leslaki · 03/02/2008 19:57

Hectic mum - you'll have a great time!!! And so will you misdee - every family needs a good old fashoned tacky holiday every once and a while!!! kids are happy so you will be too!!!

Champagneforlunch · 03/02/2008 20:04

We went to Minehead in Oct and I was actually pretty surprised that we enjoyed it as I really wasn't looking forward to it. It is easy enough to go out for the day and there is plenty to do in the area, you can walk into the town from the camp. There is a burger King and Pizza on site which saves you from the food although breakfast and the steak pie were quite nice. Tescos is also across the road if you are self catering.
The chalets were basic but clean and you don't get a chance to spend much time in them anyway.
We were there for the mon to fri and actually found we could have spent an extra couple of days and still not been bored, don't think we even went to the funfair.
Dd does still ask to go back every time she is asked what she wants to do during the weekend.

Original poster
hecticmum · 03/02/2008 20:09

Thanks for all the replies, sounds worth doing then! Misdee - hope you have a good time, we're off to Germany in the summer and it'll be the first time the kids have been out of the UK and one of the very few summer holidays they've had, always just seems far too expensive and crowded (read, easier to stay at home!).

The deal is DBB but Tesco would be brill for light lunches/snacks and anything we forget to bring .

Thanks everyone - anyone used the nursery at all? DS will be almost 4 so not haven't got the worry of a baby but a couple of hours just for dd or even one evening to ourselves could be good.

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isaidno · 03/02/2008 20:15

my dc age 3 and 4 have loved it - we've been past 2 years. DH and I like it too! Chalets are basic, but fine - last year we had silver which was much better than standard.

Minehead is a nice seaside town too.

admylin · 03/02/2008 20:18

Minehead, brings back memories! I was there 30 years ago, I suppose they've made a few changes since then!

Original poster
hecticmum · 03/02/2008 20:59

Ok, so a vote for a silver chalet, its only a few quid more than the standard so will go for that then

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sarahpea · 23/04/2008 16:19

hectic mum - how was it? i've just booked to go in June, was the silver apartment ok?

scorpio1 · 23/04/2008 16:24

i have been and stayed in 3 bedroom silver, was nice. havent used the childcare as i dont know them iyswim. pool is good.

sarahpea · 23/04/2008 17:06

thanks for that, really looking forward to it which is really sad thats kids for you!!

Gunnerbean · 27/04/2008 15:41

I have been to Butlins Minehead on a day pass during a half term break and have never stayed there.

I am not what you'd call typically middle class myself but I can tell you that the majority of people at Butlins Minehead will be, errm, now how can I put this politely,...chavs and mostly from Birmingham area by sounds of the accents

Sorry but there's not really any other way to put it.

Your kids will love it, ours did, but then they don't really look out for the sorts of things that adults do. They loved the pool (but were toally oblivious to the awful changing rooms), the rides outside, the soft play area and the entertainment put on by the red coats in the central pavillion, which included a magic show, singing dancig etc which was all very interactive.

We were very disturbed by a girl aged about 15 who was minding her younger siblings. She almost physically assaulted one of the red coads who was overseeig the soft play area because she was convinced that antoehr child had punched one of her siblings inside the playframe. She was shouting and swearing at the top of her voice and it was all very scary.

Oh, and yo can only buy burgers, chips, fish and chips, fried chilcken and chips, pizzas etc there.

If you're happy to accept all of the above, grit your teeth for your children's sakes and be prepared to not make eye contact with any other adults whilst ensuring that your children do not get into any scrapes with other kids you should have a great time.

Rachmumoftwo · 27/04/2008 16:00

Do your children like trains? There is a steam train that runs from Minehead station to Bishops Lydeard, a really pleasant journey, with lots of stops along the way and you can pay with Tesco clubcard deals!

TwoToTango · 27/04/2008 16:51

I'm going to Butlins Minehead in July and I'm from Birmingham (not a chav though)

Went to Butlins Skegness last year and it was great - loads for kids to do.

Grav1 · 28/04/2008 19:48

We went to Minehead during the second week of the Easter holidays and had a great time. Kids loved the clubs. Dd went to every club for the 9-12's and ds enjoyed the football training. We all tried archery and unfortunately left it to late to try the fencing. As mentioned before the half board food is all plain home cooking with plenty of it and plenty of choice. The accomodation is basic but is clean and if there are any issues they are usually sorted pretty quickly. There is plenty of entertainment all day and we always found something to suit us all. We have been to Bognor as well and actually prefer this but it is further to travel. We would like to try Skegness and were wondering if any of you could give us your opinions on it.

TwoToTango · 29/04/2008 16:06

Thats good to hear Grav1. We went to Skegness last year and absolutely loved it. Sounds pretty much the same as you've described Minehead. Loads for kids to do,accomodation basic but clean - only had one issue of a missing grill pan and it was resolved within less than half an hour. Plenty of entertainment, we loved Titan, the wrestling and the Capt Pugwash show as pretty good.

We wanted Skeggie but were too late (Sun hol) so going to Minehead.

Grav1 · 29/04/2008 20:45

I am sure that you will enjoy Minehead. I am sure that the entertainment will be much of a muchness. Can you tell me what the pool complex is like in skegness? I assume that the flumes are there e.g. black hole, space bowl and rafts but are there any ordinary large slides? We usually go half board but did one year do a self catering sun deal. There are lots of restaurants, in minehead itself, within walking distance.