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Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

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Original poster

To ask about Butlins...

133 replies

bertiebassett · 25/08/2012 17:47

I want to have a short break with just me and DS (aged 4) before he starts school. I noticed that Butlins have some good deals on first week in September...but....
Is Butlins (Skegness) ok? I'm a bit of a snob used to quite high standards...

Feel [embarrassed] to ask this really!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
bertiebassett · 25/08/2012 17:48

I mean Blush !!!

OP posts:
BlackberryIce · 25/08/2012 17:53

It's as good as anywhere surely?

creamteas · 25/08/2012 18:00

When my DC were younger, we did Butlins. They loved it.

They were happy, so although it wasn't what I would chose, I could relax and enjoy it too.

So I would say go for it.

AKissIsNotAContract · 25/08/2012 18:01

The one in Bognor is a shithole. Maybe the Skegnesss one is better though.

PenisVanLesbian · 25/08/2012 18:04

yabu to ask here.

It's not as good as anywhere. What does that even mean? A two star hotel is not the same as a 5 star hotel. And Butlins is about as much fun for a holiday as Hull bus station.

MisForMumNotMaid · 25/08/2012 18:06

I hated it at the Minehead one. The accommodation was clean and functional enough but the food (premium) was canteen slop on a plate. Activities were very busy, the pool was barely open unless you were paying for extra activities and every where you turned they were asking for money for activities.

Have you heard of Gulivers world? There is one in Warrington that has a hotel ( new so clean and its getting good local reviews) just opened and there is a theme park and a splash zone place nearby that might be just right for a four year old. My two DS's love it but we have family in Warrington so stay with them when we go.

dlady · 25/08/2012 18:09

We went 3 years ago. We stayed in a Silver s/c apt and it was really nice. We also had breakfast and evening meal and that was fine too. There was plenty to do on site, we only left a couple of times to go to the beach.

QueenSconetta · 25/08/2012 18:11

You get what you pay for I think. We stayed in a hotel at the one in Bognor and it was fine. There was so much to do.
However if you want good seats at the shows etc then that might be a challenge if its just you and DS. We found it was really only possible to get good seats if one of us kept the table and one of us entertained DD.

It was very busy but we enjoyed it.

BlackberryIce · 25/08/2012 18:12

Well according to MN. Cornwall and Cotswolds are crap!

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 25/08/2012 18:14

Skeggy is the more most updated one, we go a lot with my compulsive cleaner sis and even she hasn't moaned.....minehead otoh is a bit if a hole.

MammaTJisanOlympicSumoWrestler · 25/08/2012 18:15

Minehead one is lovely. We get a free pass and visit quite a lot in the holidays.

BeeBee12 · 25/08/2012 18:15

Butlins is fantastic.Go fir premium foid though and its really nice.Kids love it and to me there is nothing more fun than the kids having fun.We are going again soon and I cant wait.

neverquitesure · 25/08/2012 18:16

Honestly, we hated it.

My well-meaning PIL pursuaded us to try in in place of our usual Centre Parcs long weekend and we were so disappointed we only made 2 nights then found a B&B near Alton Towers for the remainder of our break. We went to the Skegness one.

I suppose it depends on your expectations and what you like though. The accommodation (self catering chalets) were actually very comparable to Centre Parcs internally, but without the privacy, great views and soundproofing (you could easily hear neighbours). The beach was actually very lovely, but not visible from the concrete jungle park. The resort centre was basically flashing lights and arcade machines, although the one children's show we did see was very good. Our then 7 year old also loved the disco and our young toddlers liked the shabby Bob the Builder rides.

So not all bad, but wild horses couldn't drag me back!!

HauntedLittleLunatic · 25/08/2012 18:18

It's butlins.

Imo it was better than Minehead.

You do need to be aware tho that half the pool is currently closed due to refurbishment.

BlackberryIce · 25/08/2012 18:21

Burkina sounds popular then, if this thread is anything to go by!

BlackberryIce · 25/08/2012 18:22

*butlins

NovackNGood · 25/08/2012 18:27

I've never been but, it's butlins...it's not going to be high standards at all is it.

Vagaceratops · 25/08/2012 18:28

We love it - use our CC to book a 'free' weekend every year.

Its not Mark Warner, but if you go in with high expectations you are going to be disappointed. Premium food is a must imo, but if you are looking for something to keep your DS entertained you would be hard pushed to find better.

numbertaker · 25/08/2012 18:29

Went back for first time since childhood, hated it.

Debeez · 25/08/2012 18:29

I suppose it's down to what kind of holiday you expect.

We love Butlins. It's affordable and so geared up towards the children, all the entertainment was included, swimming and games and the like. We had a lovely time. Saying that I don't mind staying in more basic accommodation which I know can put people off.

reddaisy · 25/08/2012 18:37

We went to Butlins in Bognor and it is an absolute disgrace. We left early and we were staying in supposedly gold accommodation. We got offered a free return trip and we turned it down. I would rather have no holiday than go back. It was like living in a ghetto.

reddaisy · 25/08/2012 18:39

A travelodge is basic, Butlins accommodation should be ripped down and rebuilt. If I was you I would book a travelodge somewhere nice for a few nights and do daytrips to the seaside. That would be far better imo.

Vagaceratops · 25/08/2012 18:44

Bognor's hotel is very nice.

gimmecakeandcandy · 25/08/2012 18:57

The ocean hotel at Bognor is really lovely, I would recommend it if you stayed there rather than the chalets. Your child will love it.

DeWe · 25/08/2012 19:29

Butlins Skegness is our favourite site, although we go more often to Minehead now, as we need a 6 berth, and at Skegness that means someone sleeping in the Lounge.

Don't go for Silver accomodation over standard. It means you get a toaster and a microwave but little more, for about £200 per week more. You can hire them for about £50 for the week from Butlins Confused

It's great for the children. they're Bob the Builder land if they're small, and the funfair if bigger, the sea shore (at Skegness it's private for Butlins only), the swimming pool...

We've been every year at Easter for nearly 10 years now and they all look forward to the next year's visit from the time we leave.

We do our food shop at a local supermarket, which is cheaper than on site.

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