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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

Opinions on Butlins please

18 replies

Bubbaloo · 25/02/2008 16:03

We normally go to Haven every year,but for a change we thought we'd try Butlins at Bognor instead.
Just wanted some feedback from those who have been before,please and is it really as 'action-packed' as they make it out to be?

Tia.

OP posts:

TwoToTango · 25/02/2008 16:58

We've been to Butlins Skegness -went last year on a Sun holiday and it was fantastic. Great shows - captain pugwash, wrestling (DS loved it), I Spy Titan (excellent), Jetix show etc., etc., Just wish we had gone for longer to fit everything in as we like to go off site as well. Obviously things like food on site and drinks in the pubs are expensive but we go self catering and mainly eat out in cafes/pubs and them buy out own bottles of drink to take off a night.

Skegness have a small fair on site which is free.

I've been to a couple of Haven sites - Wales, and Doniford Bay and would pick Butlins every time.

Mumcentreplus · 25/02/2008 17:05

I've been to Butlins Bognor ...we stayed at the Shoreline Hotel...it was brill we had a 3 & 4yr old they thought it was fantastic and all they want to do is go back there!...we went for 4 days ..some things onsite are expensive (food & Drink - would recommend all you can eat brekkie in the hotel though)but as TTT said you can venture into town and eat out...all the rides are free apart from a couple (bumper cars)...great shows and activities..you have to make the most of it...I recommended it to a colleague at work and now her DD is addicted too!

TsarChasm · 25/02/2008 17:12

We used to do Haven quite a bit when dc were younger. Went to Butlins at Minehead once. Personally I hated it but the dc quite liked it I think.

Haven entertainment is there if you want it but Butlins is very in your face all the time. It was quite an onslaught of relentless Noddy and noise. Also terribly grubby in places especially our apartment.

Mind you I wasn't in a great frame of mind at that particular point in my life so maybe that tainted things a bit. Preferred Haven on the whole though when we used to have holidays along those lines.

Janni · 25/02/2008 17:15

My kids and their friend ADORED Butlins and because they were happy it made for an easy holiday. It's not luxurious, it can be tacky, but it can be great fun.

mysonsmummy · 25/02/2008 17:16

when you go to butlins bognor you wont believe how much more there is to do for the kids. it is within walking distance to the beach. both haven and pontins cant compare really. the swimmining pool is fantastic with slides, lazy river and climbing frame. all very modern not the cold square pools i have found at the haven and pontins ive been to. we are going at easter on a sun holiday again and cant wait.

Mumcentreplus · 25/02/2008 17:18

if you don't want it grubby stay at the hotel. ...Chalets scare me (shudder)

TsarChasm · 25/02/2008 17:24

Yes, be very afraid of the chalets

dustystar · 25/02/2008 17:27

I loathe butlins but the kids loved Bognor and there's loads to do.

choosyfloosy · 25/02/2008 17:30

had a hen night at Bognor once - had a great time. a couple of the hens then stayed on with their kids and came home raving about it. It seemed very noisy and full on to me but an absolutely great laugh. wouldn't myself go for longer than a long weekend. Bognor itself isn't beautiful but a very enjoyable town and you are right there in the middle of it. Bognor Paperback Exchange is fantastic bookshop. Most of the beaches round there are fab too, less so Bognor beach itself but try Middleton on Sea which is about ten minutes away or Pagham which is really special and lovely to swim at though shingly! HTH

isaidno · 25/02/2008 17:39

We've been to Butlins Minehead twice in the past 2 years. The DS (age 3 and 4) love it. We are going again in October.

The pool and the fair are brill for the kids. Minehead is a nice seaside town, and right on the doorstep.

We stay self catering. The first year we had a standard apartment, which was fine except the shower was grotty. We stayed silver the following year which was more spacious, and a better standard generally.

DH and I like to be able to have an early drink in the evening, but we generally go back to the chalet about 9pm because the kids are tired. The evening entertainment is very similar to that at Haven.

NaughtyNigel · 25/02/2008 17:46

Did butlins a couple of yars ago with the DDs aged about 7 and 9.
Chalet was grotty. Pool was good and free. most other activities were extra expense. entertainment all laid on but my DDs didn't get it at all - they're not joiners bless em.
it was very cheep for a weekend in the spring but never again.

soontobealone · 25/02/2008 17:59

we did a butlins sun holiday at skegness last year and it was the pits. The chalets were decidely rough and mould grew on the walls, we managed to move to one which was very slightly better but it was dreadful and I counted the hours to going home.

Original poster

Bubbaloo · 25/02/2008 18:12

Thanks.
It sounds like the majority of you enjoyed yourselves,or at least the children did.
I've looked at the online brochure and have also ordered one to be posted so think we will go ahead and book ourselves a week in the summer,but maybe go for the silver accomodation seeing as they're more roomy.

Last question: Bognor or Minehead? Anyone been to both of them?

OP posts:

thornrose · 25/02/2008 18:13

I hated Butlins Bognor, my dd 7 didn't really enjoy it either. I think the childrens activities are more suited to 3 - 5's, Angelina Ballerina, Thomas the Tank Engine type shows. You have to queue for about 20 minutes for the childrens activities as its's first come first served, you can't prebook. We queued for 45 minutes for a Basil Brush live show in the evening (although it was fun).
If you have to eat "on site" the food is awful, not a good restaurant there. The chalets are horrid too.

isaidno · 25/02/2008 22:05

TBH Bubbaloo if you like Haven it's not an awful lot different at Butlins. It can be busy, it can be tacky, the on site catering is not michelin starred. I'm sure you will have a fine time.

bonkerz · 25/02/2008 22:10

we did haven and pontins when kids were younger and hated it. Have doen butlins since and my kids adore it. Minehead is really good. bognor was good and the nursery there is brill(we only used it for one morning but it was nice to have some free time without the kids). We are off to Skegness in may. We always go silver because we find standard very basic and not great with young children. We also like to use hoseasons and go to smaller caravan sites independently owned.

Original poster

Bubbaloo · 26/02/2008 14:52

Thanks.
Think I'll wait til the brochure arrives and have at look at the 2 to see which looks more suitable.
Have a feeling our boys will love it,especially seeing as they have Pingu and Barney etc there.

OP posts:

Leslaki · 01/03/2008 12:23

Minehead is by far the best!! Kids area is biggera nd roomier and the fab beach is on the doorstep. Go for Gold if you can and take some cleaning wipes!! tesco is just across the road! Kids love it and it's a fun holiday. Just has very obvious elements of tackiness!! Just watch out for the plastic coated mattresses!!! YUK!!!

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