Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

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

Original poster

Butlins Skegness! Any tips!

36 replies

FTM2022SS · 17/07/2023 21:31

We have just booked Butlins Skegness for the end of September, 2 adults and our DS(will be 18 months!)

Actually looking forward to it but never been before so looking for tips and tricks!

We have a 'gold apartment' which I think is at 'The Keys'?! And have booked a premium dining package which sounds like buffet breakfast and buffet tea! Will probably use for breakfast but happy to change it up for lunch and dinner!

What should we pack? What should be make sure we don't miss out on? Is the pool warm?

TIA! X

OP posts:
Ukholidaysaregreat · 17/07/2023 21:33

The pool is amazing! The fairground for little kids is amazing! If you need a day somewhere else Skegness Nature land is good or Gibraltar Point! Have a great time! I love it!

Original poster
FTM2022SS · 17/07/2023 21:37

Ukholidaysaregreat · 17/07/2023 21:33

The pool is amazing! The fairground for little kids is amazing! If you need a day somewhere else Skegness Nature land is good or Gibraltar Point! Have a great time! I love it!

Oh yey! Glad to hear the pool is good! And thanks for the day out tips!

OP posts:
notapizzaeater · 17/07/2023 21:44

You can't change 'tea' it's breakfast and tea - though we never needed lunch as we'd eaten so much at breakfast. The gold apartments are generally quieter (we always go for them) the pool is brilliant and the kids entertainment is great.

gingerrcat · 17/07/2023 21:50

I'd love to take dc but dh says it's chavvy however just reading this about 'gold' apartments and buffet food it can't be that bad can it?

What age child is it suitable for?

notapizzaeater · 17/07/2023 21:56

gingerrcat · 17/07/2023 21:50

I'd love to take dc but dh says it's chavvy however just reading this about 'gold' apartments and buffet food it can't be that bad can it?

What age child is it suitable for?

We started going age 3, DS is 20 we still go ! He prefers the pool to CP - it's bigger and has better slides / rapids. Tbh we don't do much of the entertainment now we're adults

Ginola2345 · 17/07/2023 22:03

Go with an open mind. We went when our two were both little about 15 years ago and it was a long drive to get there but in the first hour I really hated it and just wanted to leave. For the same reasons mentioned by @gingerrcats DH.

But it actually really grew on me. It was perfect for little ones and we have some really fabulous photos and happy memories (we actually went twice in the end). The food was lovely and Butlins was a really good holiday.

Our favourite times were the quieter times on beach messing about in the sand, paddling in the sea and DS going on his first donkey ride. We saw Bob the Builder, Angelina Ballerina, Power Rangers etc etc. We didn’t go to the really late shows (which were meant to be good) and instead we got the kids to bed at a similar time to when they go to bed at home so they weren’t too grouchy the next day and we enjoyed a glass of wine in peace.

We took our two before they started school.

Strawberryfieldsforever12345 · 17/07/2023 22:26

I mean this as a butlins fan btw! Antibacterial wipes- the whole apartment!
wash cutlery plates and cups glasses on arrival!
sounds obsessive but just imagine who stayed prior and If they really cleaned up well or rinsed to check out . Hand sanitizer for the buffet…. Over a thousand people all touching same stuff …. I got the trots after staying and doing the dinning package . But the food was hot and great and a total bargain
drink cartons and snacks save a fortune in between

gingerrcat · 17/07/2023 23:02

@Strawberryfieldsforever12345 my dh would say that would happen from eating the food at many buffet type places- especially butlins!

I may look at a haven holiday instead.

Op I feel inspired, thank you for posting!

Original poster
FTM2022SS · 18/07/2023 06:06

Strawberryfieldsforever12345 · 17/07/2023 22:26

I mean this as a butlins fan btw! Antibacterial wipes- the whole apartment!
wash cutlery plates and cups glasses on arrival!
sounds obsessive but just imagine who stayed prior and If they really cleaned up well or rinsed to check out . Hand sanitizer for the buffet…. Over a thousand people all touching same stuff …. I got the trots after staying and doing the dinning package . But the food was hot and great and a total bargain
drink cartons and snacks save a fortune in between

Thank you! I am like this anyway 😄 whenever we stay self catering but will definitely give everywhere a clean! Hopefully hot foot and clean hands will stop anything like that happening!! How equipped are the apartments?

OP posts:
Fundays12 · 18/07/2023 06:21

We are not long back and had a great time. We had never been before but my kids aged 11,6 and 3 all loved it and said it was the best holiday ever. We ended up booking to go back in October while there.

We had a gold apartment. It was a good size and had a dishwasher that was handy. I agree with previous comments that you need to clean it. I brought wipes and disenfectant and cleaned round. My middle Childs asthma was bothered by the dust in his room so I wiped down skirting boards and make sure you wipe inside cupboards before putting clothes in as ours were dusty.

We never took the dining package so can't comment on that. The kids loved the pool but the chlorine levels are very high in it and it made me and 2 of the kids skin itchy and blotchy as we have sensitive skin but we just started making sure we showered down really well in the apartment after and had a quick shower at the pool to as soon as we got out.

The keys are a bit away from the entertainment walk wise but quiter. Sky park is great for older kids though maybe not as good for toddlers but some of it will be ok. There are other little parks around Butlins to. The shows are good. We watched Peppa Pig, PJMasks, a Butlins version of a Disney mix up in skyline which you don't need to book. We also watched ABBA tribute and Animals versus dinasours which did need pre booked. The kids did loads of activities including soft play, pottery painting, the funfair rides, crazy golf, Go karts, archery, Lazer tag, rock climbing, swimming, bowling and were never bored.

You will get log in details for the app 4 weeks before you go. I recommend booking any shows or activities like soft play you fancy then as things to fill up quick.

Fundays12 · 18/07/2023 06:23

P.S The app shows ages on activities these are minimum recommendations so if your child is younger you can still book things like pottery painting. I bought the extra passes for me and DH so we also took part in all the activities and had a great time.

Questionsforyou · 18/07/2023 06:27

You go on to the app about 10.two weeks before you go to book your activities. Don't wait for an email.

People queue about 45 mins in advance for the shows (that they've booked!!) But this last time we went we just joined the queue at the back as it was going in, and we always got good seats.

You can request ground floor gold apartment if you don't want to lift the buggy.

Original poster
FTM2022SS · 18/07/2023 06:39

gingerrcat · 17/07/2023 21:50

I'd love to take dc but dh says it's chavvy however just reading this about 'gold' apartments and buffet food it can't be that bad can it?

What age child is it suitable for?

I guess this is a bit of the perception but we are going mon-fri for £350 including food, Center Parcs which we enjoy was going to be £950 + food and I genuinely think think this suit our little one more!

OP posts:
Original poster
FTM2022SS · 18/07/2023 06:46

Ginola2345 · 17/07/2023 22:03

Go with an open mind. We went when our two were both little about 15 years ago and it was a long drive to get there but in the first hour I really hated it and just wanted to leave. For the same reasons mentioned by @gingerrcats DH.

But it actually really grew on me. It was perfect for little ones and we have some really fabulous photos and happy memories (we actually went twice in the end). The food was lovely and Butlins was a really good holiday.

Our favourite times were the quieter times on beach messing about in the sand, paddling in the sea and DS going on his first donkey ride. We saw Bob the Builder, Angelina Ballerina, Power Rangers etc etc. We didn’t go to the really late shows (which were meant to be good) and instead we got the kids to bed at a similar time to when they go to bed at home so they weren’t too grouchy the next day and we enjoyed a glass of wine in peace.

We took our two before they started school.

Thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
FTM2022SS · 18/07/2023 06:51

Fundays12 · 18/07/2023 06:21

We are not long back and had a great time. We had never been before but my kids aged 11,6 and 3 all loved it and said it was the best holiday ever. We ended up booking to go back in October while there.

We had a gold apartment. It was a good size and had a dishwasher that was handy. I agree with previous comments that you need to clean it. I brought wipes and disenfectant and cleaned round. My middle Childs asthma was bothered by the dust in his room so I wiped down skirting boards and make sure you wipe inside cupboards before putting clothes in as ours were dusty.

We never took the dining package so can't comment on that. The kids loved the pool but the chlorine levels are very high in it and it made me and 2 of the kids skin itchy and blotchy as we have sensitive skin but we just started making sure we showered down really well in the apartment after and had a quick shower at the pool to as soon as we got out.

The keys are a bit away from the entertainment walk wise but quiter. Sky park is great for older kids though maybe not as good for toddlers but some of it will be ok. There are other little parks around Butlins to. The shows are good. We watched Peppa Pig, PJMasks, a Butlins version of a Disney mix up in skyline which you don't need to book. We also watched ABBA tribute and Animals versus dinasours which did need pre booked. The kids did loads of activities including soft play, pottery painting, the funfair rides, crazy golf, Go karts, archery, Lazer tag, rock climbing, swimming, bowling and were never bored.

You will get log in details for the app 4 weeks before you go. I recommend booking any shows or activities like soft play you fancy then as things to fill up quick.

This is great! Thank you for the tips!!

Do you need to pre-book swimming??

OP posts:
letshaveachangeshallwe · 18/07/2023 06:53

Arrive when it's light, the apartments are quite hard to find if it's hard

Questionsforyou · 18/07/2023 08:41

You don't need to pre book swimming.

Fundays12 · 18/07/2023 08:58

No swimming is free flow but tends to be quiter after 3pm so we went then.

otherwayup · 18/07/2023 09:11

gingerrcat · 17/07/2023 21:50

I'd love to take dc but dh says it's chavvy however just reading this about 'gold' apartments and buffet food it can't be that bad can it?

What age child is it suitable for?

He sounds nice 😳
I'd go without my dh if he had that nasty attitude.
Butlins is such a great family holiday op, you'll have a great time!

RoseBucket · 18/07/2023 09:17

It’s completely set up for children they’ll have a great time. The beach is also surprisingly nice.

I went years ago with friends and our children and we were quite judgy when we arrived and ended up going three more times. It grows on you. We had a great time!

You’ll also end up with the Skyline gang (if it’s still the same) theme tune in your head for days (weeks) afterwards.

MissAtomicBomb1 · 18/07/2023 09:20

Ah you will have a great time OP, it's perfect for little ones. The comments about it being for chavs are 20 years off the mark and the same people who turn their noses up are the ones who would happily go to center parcs! 🤷🏼‍♀️
Take your spare change for the arcade machines. Mine spent lots of time on the 2p pushers. If you go to watch a show in the evening then down load the b-line app. You can order drinks to your table to save queuing at the bar. We found drinks & ice creams etc really reasonably priced.

gogomoto · 18/07/2023 09:49

I've got adult friends who swear by butlins, they do the theme weekends at minehead and say they are a brilliant laugh but classy not so much. Food is filling if basic (but so are many buffets at hotels on the Med unless you are paying £££). You get value for money, just don't expect 5 star luxury.

We have done the haven sites which similarly are fun for little ones and they have entertainment for all but you need to go with the right mindset, not be sniffy and superior about it, better quality than many package hotels too

gogomoto · 18/07/2023 09:55

@MissAtomicBomb1

So right, I suppose the fact you are paying a small fortune for centreparcs, it keeps out the riffraff, you get the "right" sort of people. Grrr hate that attitude!!!

We arguably are very fortunate, can afford 5 star exotic holidays, liberal elite etc on the class index yet nothing we like better is a few pints and a covers band, pretty sure we would love butlins, I fancy the 80's weekender, or maybe the northern soul! Hate snobby attitudes, they are so try hard.

Off to ride on motorbike Grin

otherwayup · 18/07/2023 11:37

gogomoto · 18/07/2023 09:55

@MissAtomicBomb1

So right, I suppose the fact you are paying a small fortune for centreparcs, it keeps out the riffraff, you get the "right" sort of people. Grrr hate that attitude!!!

We arguably are very fortunate, can afford 5 star exotic holidays, liberal elite etc on the class index yet nothing we like better is a few pints and a covers band, pretty sure we would love butlins, I fancy the 80's weekender, or maybe the northern soul! Hate snobby attitudes, they are so try hard.

Off to ride on motorbike Grin

I've been to centre parcs and couldn't stand it.

The peace and quiet was completely destroyed by the most hideous and loud performance parenting that I've ever witnessed.

It was everywhere! I spent most of the week cringing for people 😂

TeapotCollection · 18/07/2023 11:46

Fantasy Island theme park is very nearby in Ingoldmells, your kids would love that

Swipe left for the next trending thread