Butlins review thread. Non-testers: Tell us what makes the perfect family holiday in the UK and you could win a £200 John Lewis voucher NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

This thread is for the ten lucky MN families who are going on a Butlins holiday over the next few months.

Butlins say “We have been providing family breaks for nearly 80 years, and although we’ve changed with the times, many people still believe that we’re old fashioned and run down. We’re looking to change these negative perceptions and show Mumsnetters that we’re a 21st century holiday destination, which offers brilliant family breaks at great value for money”

Testers are visiting the Skegness, Bognor Regis and Minehead resorts – check back to this thread to find out how they are getting on.
We have asked testers to add feedback at least twice - before they go and when they get back home.

Non testers: Butlins would love to know what makes the perfect family holiday in the UK. Everyone who adds a comment will be entered into a prize draw where one Mumsnetter will win a £200 John Lewis voucher, so that they can get stocked up for the holiday season.

Please note: comments may well be used by Butlins on social media and elsewhere. Your MN name will not be used.

Testers – please share on this thread your overall opinion and experience plus your responses to the following questions.

Before you go

• Where are you going? How far it is from your home?
• Who is in your group?
• Have you ever been on a Butlins holiday before?
• What are you looking forward to most? What are the DC looking forward to?
• How was the booking process?
• What are your perceptions of Butlins?
• What made you apply to visit Butlins?

When you are back

• Overall opinions from you and others in the family
• Describe your accommodation
• Describe your dining experiences
• Did your break meet or exceed your expectations?
• What activities have the kids enjoyed?
• What activities/entertainment did you enjoy as a family?
• Was there anything that surprised you about your break/Butlins?

How would you rate/ describe...

• Food
• Accommodation
• Activities
• Entertainment
• The Butlins team
• Things to do for adults
• Things to do for children
• Things to do as a family
• Would you return/ try out another Butlins resort?
• What did you think about the value for money – especially compared to other family holidays?
• Any other comments?

Please also do add a review on Mumsnet to the Self Catering pages.

Thanks
MNHQ

PS We've 'highlighted' the testers posts on this thread so we can see them!

a perfect holiday in the uk has to have a good accommodation with breakfast and mod cons, good indoor activities where you do not have to pay extra, to keep kids entertained if the weather is not good, some relaxation facilities for mum (after all she is also on holiday not just the kids|).
a nearby theme park would be excellant, maybe a nearby beach!. an all inclusive break is best, so it is paid for in advance and you can just enjoy yourself.

What makes the perfect family holiday in the UK?

• A clean, dry, place to stay with somewhere to cook and a shop nearby.
• Empty roads driving there (!!)
• Friendly fellow holiday-makers.
• Free or low-cost activities for adults and children.
• in the countryside, away from towns and cities.

Non-tester:

I have 2 types of perfect UK holidays that I have been on with my family growing up.

1. Camping in the Yorkshire Dales! Camping in actual tents, using those tin utensils and a gas fire and building a fire and roasting marshmallows. Taking loads of loo rolls! Rope swinging over rivers. Fishing in the streams. Jumping off waterfalls and into the pools below. Rock climbing. Exploring caves. Just enjoying and exploring the wide outdoors! LOVED IT.

1. Haven Holidays to Bideford Bay, Devon. Clovelly. The Milkyway. Duck Pool Beach. Late night jaunts along the coast, racing the tide as there were 3 cut off points when the tide was in. Chalets, big converted barn, apartment over the shop. (We're a large family). Eating breakfast on the beach and staying for fish and chips for tea time. Outdoor swimming pool. When we went to Haven, we never did the whole entertainment stuff. We used the pools and mainly used the site as a base for other days out.

We've yet to go on our own little holiday with our little one but I'm a firm believer that all one needs for a jolly good holiday is a beautiful beach, buckets and spades, ice creams, fish and chips, towels, lots of sun shine, smiles, seeing new places and a family friendly kind of accommodation!

Non-tester: fun activities for all the family but with all inclusive bits thrown in like swimming and play parks. Car free zones, lots of choice over things to eat out at, childrens' activities a crèche and a babysitter facility available all in a secure environment.

The main part of a Uk holiday is the weather . After that it would have to be somewhere that can accommodate different ages keeping everyone entertained. Also nice accommodation is a must.

A perfect holiday in the uk = plenty of good quality time with my family; loads of activities we can do together as a family; activities that don't break the bank; an indoor area to cater for our often wet weather; ran living accommodation, feeling that you're children are welcome somewhere. :-)

clean

A perfect family holiday is one where everyone spends good quality time together, outdoors, playing games and generally having fun and unwinding together away from everyday busy life.

A perfect holiday in the UK with children is one with safe and secure accommodation, where parents can relax knowing that their children are happy and entertained. A mix of local activities for all weathers is vital, as are family friendly restaurants with good quality food and varied menus.

Non-tester.
For me the perfect UK holiday would be the weather. Just dry enough and warm enough that you can get out and about. And having the people around you that you want to - trying to get my husband away from the farm is a nightmare, so having him come away with us for a proper family holiday would be wonderful

Non-tester
Perfect holiday: a lovely view, great weather ( or good activities when it's raining), clean accommodation with good facilities, family & friends, wellies, fish & chips & wine! Not necessarily all in that order...

Non-tester

My perfect holiday would be:-

Balance of ideal location with privacy and yet near to facilities for all ages (ie holiday site near shops/amusements but just far enough away from nightclubs/pubs/bars etc)

Great weather (Plans for wet days, just in case)

near a beach and shops.

Lots of interesting sites to see or amusements.

No alarm clock for OH to get up for work!

non tester. For me the perfect family holiday is somewhere where we're all together prefarably a tent in a empty field. Within distant of rock pools too would be good. What else do you need!

Non tester.

Friendly people.
Good heating if needed, lots of hot water, really terrific bathroom, maybe jacuzzi, power shower, hot tub. Hair dryer. Great pillows and bed, lovely bed linen. Nice smellies, soap, bath stuff. Thick towels.
Excellent food.
Top notch coffee at breakfast, with lots of choice for breakfast, so we can feel pampered and not have to eat stodgy and grease. So.. Choice of non. Dairy milks, gluten free options, veggie options, non sugar laden jams, free range eggs etc
The 'good old' English breakfast is not always that good..
Afternoon tea! With really nice cakes and linen and china.

No little signs stuck on everything.. In all seriousness, I have found it desperately awful to go to places full of petty instructions all over the place. "Please do not light the candles"..., honestly....why have candles?! That's just one example. "Climbing here results in Danger of falling" is another...

Also, no TV blaring at the bar, and no radio blaring at breakfast.

As many trees as possible!

The perfect UK family holiday is safe, secure surroundings (so I'm not constantly worrying that my daughter is going to hurt herself), plenty of family entertainment and activities that can be done for all ages and finally, something must go wrong....

Our best holiday memories have come from something going ..not to plan..
Raining when camping
Getting lost when exploring

These make the best memories

• Where are you going? How far it is from your home?

Skegness - 140 miles/3h 30

• Who is in your group?

Me (33), DH (38), DS1 (3) & DS2 (8 months)

• Have you ever been on a Butlins holiday before?

Nope, none of us have.

• What are you looking forward to most? What are the DC looking forward to?

Really looking forward to having a break that is designed to meet DS1's needs. Happy DS=happy family! He's excited about generally going on holiday, plus all the characters on the just for tots week, the swimming, potential for visiting a beach...

• How was the booking process?

Haven't heard anything from Butlins yet! Would be good to have more details of the room/apartment (not sure which) and the dining package as I have a few dietary needs, DS1 is a typical 3 year old faddy eater and DS2 is weaning onto solids so no idea what there'll be for him, plus if there's no kitchen in our accommodation that could be interesting!

• What are your perceptions of Butlins?

Honestly? I'm not sure what to expect. There is the slightly downmarket image and I like to imagine think of myself as more the Center Parcs type . I'm a sling wearer (out of convenience, not because I'm making a statement!) and a friend joked we'd be the only people there with one, which got me wondering if I'll have that much in common with the families there. That sounds very judgey but I want to be honest! If this was AIBU I'd be ripped to shreds for that...

• What made you apply to visit Butlins?

We were planning on having a short break in the Autumn (probably a cottage or last minute Center Parcs) and thought this looked like it could be fun! Plus DH is deliriously happy at the thought of a free break!

Non tester

We have had holidays in the UK for the last few years. It's important to us to have a nice place to stay as with young children, we spend a fair amount of time in the accommodation. Interesting surroundings and places to walk, play, discover etc, a good clean swimming pool and nice, reasonably priced places to eat are also important to us.

Non tester : what makes a perfect family uk holiday?
Having just ventured into the world of mobile caravan holidays with my family...it would definitely be a lovely caravan site, that is clean, welcoming, friendly staff who are happy to help with anything and fab playground facilities for my 2yr old daughter! That is the start of a perfect uk holiday.

A bucket and spade on the beach and my little one is content for hours!

For me the perfect family holiday is in a fantastic location with plenty to do around it which is easy to access and not more than 3 hours travel in the car. The accomodation provides everything we will need for the week - bed linen, towels, washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher and is friendly and safe for small children. There is enough space for us all to sleep comfortably, it has wifi and we are not sitting on top of each other in the communal spaces. We like lots to do right on our doorstep without too much travel to get there and a range of adult, kids and mixed activities. In particular we like things we wouldn't usually do like heading to the beach rockpooling, arts and crafts places with unusual twists.

• Friendly people, but not a lot of people. We just came back from a camping trip where there were only a few tents in the field and it was so peaceful and quiet. It was amazing.
• Things to do in the wet and dry nearby
• beautiful scenery
• good accommodation, whatever type it is

For me, the things that make a perfect family holiday include a peaceful location, comfortable beds (cotton bedding if possible), towels (including beach towels) provided, toys for the children (so we have to pack less), washing machine and tumble dryer available, and a location near different sorts of attractions, to appeal to all the family.

Luxurious extras would include a pool (shared) - preferably heated, somewhere were I could get a massage or spa treatment, a playground for the children, and maybe an on-site restaurant for when we can't be bothered cooking. Oh, and a basics pack on arrival - tea, coffee, milk, bread, butter, cereal, etc.

The nicest cottage we ever stayed in left an afternoon tea tray set for us, with scones and jam, and clotted cream in the fridge.

Non tester - it's the chance to do and see different things especially as a parent of teens. It offers the chance for us all to to go out for a walk as a family without them being embarrassed!

Non tester what makes a good holiday for us is day time and night time entertainment for kids. A good choice of food at a good price.
Everything already here for baby like cot high chair plus games in the room and tv with dvd and play station or xbox .
Its nice that beds are made ready for when you get there and towels also info on everything that goes on at the complex and a guid to good restaurants and bars in the local area.
Been able to hire bikes is also a good idea

None tester - always something to do whatever the weather, whatever the age so that I never hear the words 'I'm bored'