4 nights Butlins or 7 nights Haven?

[YouMightKnowMe]

I am lloking for a short break to get away from life for a bit (DP and job...but taking DCs with me).

There will be me and 3 DCs aged 4-9.

I can go Butlins 4 nights midweek for £400. Loads for kids to do if it is wet (taking into account next weeks forecast). But it is only 2 bed so i would have to share with DD and there is no option for DP to come (although at the moment I have no intention of him coming it might be nice to have the option)

Or 7 nights Haven caravan for £600 and I would have 3 beds so wouldn't need to share and could put DP on booking just in case I wobble (even if he only comes for a couple of nights and I still get space). DDs are v familiar with Haven. It is a whole week not 4 nights. But I would probably be a bit more dependent on weather to make it easy to entertain Dds on my own.....

I have been to both this year, and there is no comparison between the two ime!

Butlins (Minehead) - lovely staff, very very clean, loads to do that's included in price (waterpark, softplay, fairground), beautiful grounds, hanging baskets of flowers everywhere, beautiful beach across the road. Someone was sick and the cleaning staff masks descended with red and white tape to cordon it off and clean it up thoroughly.

Haven (Craig Tara, Scotland) - horrible, rude staff, have to pay for extra for everything, filthy dirty, fag ends and dog poo EVERYWHERE, pots originally for flowers empty and full of fag ends, nasty stony beach that you can't sit on. Weirdly, someone was sick there as well. The staff ignored it, and when I pointed it out to two different members of cleaning staff they both shrugged and walked off. Some seagulls ate it in the end.

I would never, never, ever set foot in a Haven camp again, but Butlins was really good, I was very surprised (although accomodation was shabby on outside, but spotless inside and very comfortable).

Could you borrow one of those blow up firs/junior air beds for your dd? I took ds's Ben 10 bed to Haven so we didn't have to sleep in the lounge, and it was fine.

Hadn't thought about blow up bed.

Butlins is a lot better offer as it is half price, but was basic accomodation (bronze?) Haven was only a couple of hundred quid off...but was a whole week of freedom.

I am familiar with Haven and have been to several parks, and haven't generally had the experience you describe.

I just don't know whether to go for what is essentially a bargain at Butlins (compared to list price) although only 4 nights or slightly more expensive 7 nights in nicer area of country (Skeggy v N Wales)...

Ooh, North Wales v. nice, that might sway me if I didn't hate Haven so much! Hope you have a great time, whatever you decide.

Its all about Devon Cliffs Haven! Ive got a van there and go every 6 weeks ish.
Haven't been silly brave enough to risk butlins yet!

I feel like I am deciding between Tesco Finest at half price so seemingly a bargain but a small portion and short sell by date.....or Tesco regular with a small discount but with a nice meaty portion and good date.

I think that haven is going to win.

I've done both, and would not do Haven again.
We went to Devon cliffs and hated it. We do Butlins most years.

I found that Haven has got all the worst features of Butlins (very commercialised, slot machines and yards of fizzy pop everywhere) but without half the facilities of Butlins.

The evening entertainment is quite bad at Haven. It is entirely aimed at the children, and the 'red coats' equivalents do not really look after the children. Whereas at Butlins, they look after the children and will bring them back to you if there is a problem and will entertain the children when the main entertainment is not on. Plus, the entertainment is actually not that bad. For example, this year there was a sing a long Abba party, and whilst that's not exactly my thing, listening to Abba I can handle - whereas the evening entertainment at Haven was awful.

Further, we have done character breakfasts at both. I found haven all it amounted to was going to sit and have your picture with the character, whereas at Butlins, the character came round to your table, sat with us, and they didn't try to sell us anything. With Haven, I got the feeling they were always trying to sell us things - all the time.

Also, Haven doesn't really provide much during the day, so you have to pay out to go out and do things, whereas at Butlins, pretty much all you will be paying for is coffee and cakes for you.

Good luck with your choice, but I'd do Butlins. Much better value for money imho.

butlins wins anytime try ringing you may get another deal if you ask to stay longer