To ask about Butlins...

[bertiebassett]

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!!!

[ShiftyFades]

We went to Minehead with DS (3.5 at the time) in May this year.
I chose it because: Fireman Sam shows, Bob the Builder shows and Thomas the Tank engine show.
For DS (Sam is his absolute favourite) it was the most fabulous time, ever.
For us: the smile on DS's face was worth every penny.
We stayed in Gold self catering apartments.
The staff were lovely. We ate in restaurants in the evening (4 nights)
The accommodation was better than I expected (I had very low expectations)
The only bad bit was the upstairs "show room / stage" (can't recall the name). We only went in there once (meet and greet with Sam on our first night) and the stench was vomit inducing. They sell shite hot dogs or something and because there's no ventilation the smell ends up being: sweat, smelly feet, spilt beer and rotten food
We just didn't go back into that room. There was no need as the main shows (listed at the top) are in the Pavilion's main stage and that's fine.

I can see how it'd be costly for an over 7 / teenager, but for a little one it is absolutely fantastic
Even had to have a lunch time nap every day as he just did so much.
Pool was great and open all day until about 5.

I was pleasantly surprised by Butlins and wouldn't hesitate to take DS there again.

[PenisVanLesbian]

Points out the kind of person I am? If you mean not covered in tattoos, shaven headed and pierced wearing england shirts and drinking cans of tennants, then yes, and fairly happy with that.

And if if makes me stuck up to not want to eat slop and sleep in a prison cell style chalet covered in fag burns, cobwebs and dog hair, then sure, call me that too!


How about you let people know what opinions they are allowed topknob, and we'll go from there?

[freddiefrog]

My experience of Butlins was as per Penis and Growlithe. Horrible place.

It was 10 years ago though, and friends who have been since have said its improved.

Once bitten twice shy I guess.

I'm not a lover of butlins/centre parcs/pontin type holidays where it's all under one roof type thing, ive never found it any cheaper than renting a cottage for a week

[crappypatty]

Great for kids, a cheaper way to do skegness sc is to stay in the caravan site across the way.

It was a five minute walk but only cost £367 for a 7 days during whit holidays, passes were included.

[topknob]

I haven't at any point said you can't have an opinion I have merely pointed out what a snob you are !!!!!! Holidays parks have varying seasons, when did you go?? Which park did you attend? how long ago was it?? none of this has been said yet you feel it is fine to cast aspersions on other people who visit the place and pay a lot of money to do so.

[notactuallyme]

Depends doesn't it. If your idea of a good time is slot machines, drinking all day, shabby funfair and queuing to use a swimming pool, go. The evening ents aare a laugh for kids, but you will have to queue for about two hours to see anyone decent and then bundle to a seat. If you usually chill out by the pool at a spanish villa, you will hate it.

[PenisVanLesbian]

You still haven't pointed out what is "snobby" about not liking a filthy crappy overpriced holiday park. Its not snobbish dearie, its reality. Most folk don't. Knock that chip off your shoulder and cop on.
I cast aspersions only on those who I actually saw there, no-one else, so don't put words in my mouth. How much you pay to go is no-ones business either.

Are you on the payroll or something?

[seb1]

Can it be any worse than centre parks aka hell on earth

[ShiftyFades]

Should add that my pre-child holidays were all 4/5* ones in far flung places like Singapore, Vegas, Jamaica and such like.
But I chose Butlins because I can't afford to go abroad my DS would rather watch Fireman Sam, meet him and meet Norman.

I dot expect to make it my lifetime holiday favourite but until I go back full time, this type of holiday will have to be adequate.

We are going to a caravan park on the Isle of Wight soon, I'm keen to compare it to the hustle and bustle of Butlins.
Fwiw, dH doesn't want to go back... But he's dreaming of WDW... I'm the realistic one hold the savings account in our house

[topknob]

penis no not at all, I just point out the obvious ! And I did clearly point out where you were a blatant snob ! How long ago did you visit and which park?? You seem not too keen on letting us know that information.

[JustSpiro]

I think you're being a little unfair PVL - it may have been your experience that it was a 'filthy, crappy overpriced holiday park', but clearly not everyone thinks so (and I should add that neither DH or I are 'covered in tattoos, shaven headed and pierced wearing england shirts and drinking cans of tennants' ).

It's not everyone's cup of tea - granted. Personally I quite like the fact that it's not too 'right-on', and don't have a problem with my DD being off her face on late nights and candy floss for 4-5 days of the year .

We have friends who went to Minehead and visited us at Bognor and said Bognor was better - cleaner, newer and more activities and entertainment on offer.

The first time we went we stayed in the most basic 'chalet' type accommodation. It was very basic and a bit dated, but it was spotlessly clean, warm and comfortable and tbh you don't see much of it anyway. We had two years in a Gold apartment and this year stayed in a Deluxe apartment, both of which were lovely.

The queuing is a downside, admittedly. If you want to get decent seats for the main evening entertainment you need to be queuing from about an hour beforehand which is a pita, but if there's more than 1 adult it's easy to take it in turns and they often have Redcoats wandering up and down occupying the kids with magic trick, hula hooping etc so it's bearable.

[Growlithe]

topknob I'm not a snob but I wholeheartedly agree with Penis

I went to Minehead in July 2004 in a 'Silver' bungalow. The accommodation was in a concrete block, and was dirty inside.

We were self catering, but with view to eating out. The best food we could get was 3rd rate over priced 'pub grub'. Other than that it was chippy food.

We had our 8 month old DD with us. Admittedly an older child may have had more to do but as said before we didn't want to hang around because people were loud drunk, and obnoxious, even around their own children.

Things ay have changed now, but there are so any other holiday options within the price range I'm not taking any chances.

OP - have a look on Tripadvisor for recent reviews

[nokidshere]

We were at but ins in mine head two years ago. Premium Gold accommodation with food included. Cost for two adults and two children for 3 nights was just short of 900 quid.

It was gruesome!!! Rooms were small, grubby and dirty. Walls so thin you could hear everything. Food was edible at best.entertainment was dire - the carpet in the place where the stage was was so disgusting you could feel your shoes sticking to it. And after 8pm it was full of loud, drunken stag/hen do's leaving puke all over the place for the next morning. Lovely -NOT!!!

[omfgkillmenow]

Ive been to butlins in skeggy. It was ok but, the first apartment we had had an ant infestation and we had to move apartments. The second apartment was fine. But they did lock the gates to the beach at like 6 or 7pm which means no late night strolls along the beach. The water rides were ferociously busy, so much so we couldn 't be bothered waiting in the half hour queue and there were no spare seats at the outside pool, i got into a big fight with a guy who was "saving seats" for his family who still didn't appear half an hour later. Its cheap and cheerfull, but if you can at all afford it, go for centreparcs instead.

[omfgkillmenow]

@seb1 i have been to centreparcs Whinfell like 7 times and always found it great..we go a girly spa break in cheapest month (jan) its like £40 a head for accommodation, and a kids break in june which is £100 a head for the 4 days but the pool is free and you can stay all day theres supermarkets in penrith you can stock up and the parcmarket isnt that dear!! Maybe you just don't have waterbabies like mines are...

[mumblecrumble]

We went to Butlins for second time this year. We found it super clean, super fun and spent next to nothing while we were there.

I really do think it depends on what you want and what you do. We saw people throwing money into slot machines.... fine if you like it.... not for us.

Swimming was brilliant - didn;t really do flumes but loved the different pools and found changing areas very clean (I am a bit germ phobic - it was clean!).

I was made redundant so cheap was important for us. We took some easy to heat up meals i cooked double of the week before. Did this most nights but had fish n chips (£3.50 each for small fish, chips, drink and a side) and the buffet which was expensiveish but a real treat.

Entertainment was constant... and we loved it. DD aged 3+11 months LOVED it. Saw brilliant shows, loved all the music and had so much to do that me and DH were really happy too. Very relaxed - for example watching shows in skyline tent, sippin gon drinks while DD danced on the dance floor about 3 mteres away

What i was most pleased about was the amount pof planting adn greenary on site. I suspected it would be plasticy and tacky but it wasn;t.

If you want alazy, adult holiday in the sun - its not for you.

If you want some real fun with DS and enjoy watching him smile all week - it may be for you.

try it.... we did and loved it.

[JustSpiro]

I think mumble and a few others make a good point that half the fun of Butlins is seeing your DC's have a great time.

Although it is geared towards kids rather than adults - that is what makes it relaxing. Entertaining them is so effortless as there is always something going on, and it's laid out so that parents can enjoy a coffee/drink whilst still being able to keep and eye on them whilst they are occupied by someone else (i.e. the Redcoats).

It's a shame to read of other people's negative experiences, having always had such a good time there ourselves. I wonder if it's just the difference between sites or we've been exceptionally lucky?

[GrassIsntGreener]

No complaints with Skeggy Butlins exactly but it wasn't something I'd rush back to. Dd (3 at the time) loved it and yes the children were well catered for, but it was all so fake.

Just constant noise and lights and forced entertainment everywhere. At Skegness in the main complex you are surrounded by it. Our best day was taking a nice stroll along the front and dd playing in the sand despite the wind and rain. We go to beaches a lot, almost fortnightly in the summer and most definitely prefer ones without all the commercial stuff.

[omfgkillmenow]

I can't believe these people comparing centreparcs to butlins!! Butlins you stay in a block of flats essentially, at centreparcs you have a villa. Having been to both I would say that yeah, I would go back to Butlins but was a 7 hour drive for me and that was the killer, it was half the price, not the same standard but still fun and the kids had a great time, my teens went to the fairground a half mile away at night time had a blast. Centreparcs is pricey by comparison, but then you cannot compare the two. Centreparcs has serenity and the feeling of total security. Butlins has fun and shows and a pool but not nearly the quality and cleanliness and calmness of centreparcs. Aslo at butlins there is more of a "laddish" type whereas centreparcs is all families or couples or in our case girls out for a spa break. Butlins does have a spa, we went and it was ok, but not the AQUA SANA but then it was like a tenth of the price so there was no complaints. I got may haircut at the butlins spa and it was a good job, and not expensive at all. depends what you are looking for. Butlins isnt as clean, but its not FILTHY by any means and the redcoats really work hard, you see them during the day at the kids shows then nighttime serving food, so you cant fault them. I think the price says it all, and what to expect. Ok Butlins bhad its downsides but it was £275 or so for a week, I could barely live in my own house for that so who am i to complain?

[GrassIsntGreener]

I'll add that we love caravan holidays and really rate Haven. There isn't as much going on but still plenty, and the evening acts aren't as good but still entertaining and not as loud as Butlins in our experience - Butlins was far too loud at night for the audience dd hated the volume and she's a loud thing!

[Growlithe]

I love watching my kids having a ball. Every holiday we've had since we've had them has been geared towards it.

Just don't want to see them having a ball amongst a load of lager louts, worrying that if our child looks the wrong way to one of their children my DH will have to sort it out

[gimmecakeandcandy]

So is Skegness better than Bognor?

Been to Bognor as like the hotel - but skeggie doesn't have a hotel does it?

[TheHumancatapult]

I not covered on tattoos or have any piecerings or a drinker and still looking forward to Butlins well my kids are and long as they enjoy all that matters . And to be honest a week sat round a villa with a pool Is not my idea of heaven either . I laugh at those that say we been yo Spain/Portugal etc and then instead of exploring the area they spend all time at villa or on a beach .horses for courses and all that

Most holidays are to suit my children though we did mange one in Wales involving Romans and castles that everyone enjoyed


On and Centreparcs in Jan the pool can be full of older teens whe are intent on being silly and pushy and swearing we did that last year and infact the staff eventually had to intervene due to behaviour and language .. Infact said we would not ho back that time of year

December is calmer

[OHforDUCKScake]

We went to Haven last year and in comparisson, Butlins this year was absolutely brilliant.

Haven was awful (but we had fun), Butlins, theres so much to do. I say do it!