anyone been to butlins? What is it like

[giveitago]

We want to be away for easter and center parks is over £650 and butlins isn't.

Anyone been to butlins? Is it OK? We'd do self catering.

I visited the minehead one on a day pass with our family and have booked bognor for half term. I remember it being tacky and dirty when we were dragged along as kids so wasn't expecting to be pleasantly surprised when we went last year but I was. Yes, still kinda tacky but then it's meant to be to an extent My ds loved it though, the redcoats were super friendly and provodided good entertainment. Self-catering is probably the best option as, although there are places to eat, most of it is your bog standard junk (but then that's part and parcel of a short break for us to an extent!) Some things are extra to pay for eg, some rides outside/bouncy castle slide thing etc.

Overall I enjoyed Butlins more than I expected too and left wishing we had booked to stay there instead of the Haven caravan park we were in.

Thanks for that - I was dubious but it sounds OK for a weekend - by sea - lots of things for kid to do etc. But heck - it ain't that cheap! I'm going to talk to husband and hopefully book. We would go self catering.

Went to Skegness on very last minute deal (so cheap). Don't do the food, it's dire and you'll end up buying stuff anyway. Apt was basic but clean. Kids (2 teenagers) loved it as change if scenery, plus on site fair and pool. Overall was enjoyable change and worth the money. Tues to fri was enough though.

I love Butlins.

Bognor is lovely, went in October and stayed at the Ocean hotel- it was brilliant, and my DCs loved it.

Skegness my least favourite. Not as nice as Minehead and Bognor- not horrible, just a bit less to do I thought. (shame as it's the closest to me!)

If you go self catering, it's well worth upgrading to at least silver accommodation. The standard is very...well, standard!

We went last year to the Bognor one. It was ideal for our lads as everything was on one base, which meant that Ds1 especially didn't get overwhelmed or upset at too many changes. We also booked the lads in to the evening childcare/nursery for 7 years and under for a couple of hours and I will say that they were absolutely fantastic. We explained about the lads' needs and they gave Ds1 1-1 attention and Ds2 2-1 attention and took things like having to change Ds2's nappy whilst he was trying to run away from them to get at the light switches in their stride. The hire shop also went out and got a stairgate for us after we'd forgotten to bring ours and their hire list which mentioned a stairgate was out of date.

Sounds all good to me! I think I'll go for it - but just for the weekend thing - that will do for us and I know ds will love it. He was moaning that he wanted center parcs but I'm just pretending it is.

Got to say the last time we went to center parcs the accomodation was v. dirty and staff just didn't want to know at all. So I'm sure Butlins will be a more reasonable alternative.

Urgh. We went, fooled by the adverts and stayed at the hotel. Lovely - then we walked down into the main area - a huge tent like thing full of slot machines and pubs. Huge queues in the morning to get into the swimming pool, mass bundle to get seats for Chico or somesuch, and very regimented entertainment - seems to stop for scheduled lunch/ dinner breaks.
Would never go again, altho the dcs loved it.

I live next to Bognor Butlins and really wouldn't reccomend it, its grubby and the loacl area isn't great. (Maybe its because i live there!)

Minehead Butlins however is lovely, loads for the kid to do, the apartments are clean and comfortable.

We went last October in gold accom.

it was horrible.

we have complained about the cleanliness, food and general experience.

we went with friends and whilst the kids had a nice time, we adults didnt.

everytime we went in the pool it was freezing and the boat ride thing wasnt open the whole time.

never ever again. pleased we done it as kids had kept on and on, but we will never go back.

its a chavvy holiday camp.

stick to centre parcs and pay the extra - by the time you have paid everything extra at butlins it will work out the same cost wise.

Minehead was hideous when we went two years ago. We had silver accommodation which was sub standard to say the least mould in the shower room stains all over the carpets and a smell of damp. I have to admit we upgraded to gold and were full board and have to say the gold accomadatuon which was like a flat rather than a chalet was fine and the food was actually quite nice and much more relaxed like a self service canteen with plenty of choice and all freshly cooked and not sat there for hours.
I have to say whilst dh and I weren't keen as someone else said the entertainment is quite rigid and not a lot for adults to do unless you like playing the machines and drinking but the children loved it.
Now if you ask the 4 yr old and 8 yr old where they want to go they say butlins!

We went Minehead last May, Mon-Fri break, we had silver apartments, which in the brochure looked wonderful but i have to say were not great at all, mould, ants galore in every room, carpets filthy, sticky sofas, nasty aroma, one damp bed, i could go on! I am not really a fussy person normally but this was just someones elses filth not cleaned, put me right off from the start. My DD's loved it, entertainment was good, lots of activities to keep busy with the children all holiday, nice beach, lucky to have nice weather, on the last day though, Fri morning both DD's came down with sickness and diarrhea, worst journey coming home...ever! Then to top it off both DD's had threadworms the following week, coincidence or not it has put me off Butlins for life!
Maybe i was just unlucky