Anyone been to Butlins Ocean Hotel?

[CDMforever]

Very excited! Just booked a 4 nite break at Butlins Bognor, at new Ocean Hotel.It will cost half of what we normally pay at Center Parcs (Butlins in Boden as I like to call it) and thats INCLUDING food (we're opting for breakfast and dinner at the hotel). Had lots of positive reports from family and friends.DH still bit sniffy about going to Butlins, though according to reports, the "tattoos and tracksuits brigade" seem to be thankfully in the very small minority.

We stopped in the Shoreline and were very happy, our dc's 1 and 7 loved every minute of it. We only stayed 2 nights but we filled the days and come 8 at night DD1 was begging to go to bed as she was shattered! Accomodation good size and clean, resturant fab, not self service, menu's. Somethings had a slight extra charge but the food was good.

We are trying Butlins in Skegness this year as it is closer and I am dreading it but as long as the girls are entertained and happy it will be fine

we have stayed in the shoreline too and the ocean hotel is newer, so probably nicer because of that.

Food was nice, ents good quality and dd aged 4 had a ball.

Butlins was full of normal people when we went - but then I do own a tracksuit and have a tattoo!

SIL enjoyed a break there recently.
,Mind you, she has a Paul's Boutique bag, so her taste is questionable!
Seriously she had a good time.

Ocean Hotel is great - the rooms are lovely, the kids love 'em. You must try out the spa aswell, i've not been anywhere like it! Wish i'd booked again at Butlins rather than Center Parcs, which i'm being dragged to on Monday and dreading every second. So much more to do at Butlins, rather than rip off Center Parcs.

We are going to Center Parcs too in August and have just started booking activities - it IS a rip off!

Its okay, honest .

I only do the hotel at Butlins. We tend to stay at the Shoreline though.

However, the food in the hotel is actually okay - okay, not the poshest, but good enough to rival the restaurants at CP.

The entertainment for your children is non-stop, and they will have the best time of their lives. However, you will need to buy yourself a good book! My DDs absolutely adore Butlins, and I don't mind it because I actually get to relax too.

However, we do Butlins for the children and CP for us [I'm addicted to the CP Spa ]. And, yes, it is half the price. I paid £450 for 5 days in the hotel with Dinner, bed and breakfast in July (although last week of school term), and that will include all activities - we'll probably need another £200 for drinks, lunch etc but that'll be it, and CP is over 1k for a lodge for 5 days, just two weeks later. Of course, that includes no food and no activities. CP is a con, and exactly the same as Butlins, but just in a nicer setting.

There are some of the tattoo brigade that you mention, but its not too bad.

Have a fab time - my girls adore it there!

Yes, ellokitty, I've calculated already that the CP holiday will cost probably 3 times the price of the Butlins one. I have this fantasy that we will go to Butlins, have an absolutely wonderful time, even better than CP and then feel we never have to go to the CP money pit ever again...... I wonder what the spa at Butlins is like?! Not sure I'll get to go to the gorgeous Aqua Sana this year as now have DS1 aged 12, DS2 aged 3 and DD1 aged 2. Husband is good but maybe not that good! Having said that we are going to be away for my birthday....

I love Butlins. It is chavtastic! Seriously though there are so many activities, swimming pool is ace, evening ents are OK. Children are kept busy which makes me happy

I've stayed there, it's fab. DC loved the room with the lights under the bed, and the disco music playing in the lift. There is a weird snow cave thing in the spa, and a nice outdoor hot tub. Found a review that tells you al about it here DC ask all the time when we can go back, which they don't do about CP.

maybe a weird question but the seperate kids den room does it have a door? just wondering cos 'den' makes it sound like it might be more like a nook iyswim.

Try the caravan park at Butlins in Minehead. It's situated at the back of the resort around the lake and is really quite peaceful. You don't even have to go onto the resort if you don't want to but, if you do, it's just a few minutes walk.

It's nice to see that Butlins (owned by Haven) are making an effort to improve and upgrade the site. The children's play areas are looking really smart and the swimming pool is a real hit with children.

firawla, we stayed in the shoreline hotel and the children's bedroom/den didnt have a door but was round the corner a bit

Def go to the spa in the ocean - 2 hours for £19 was a bargain! i fell asleep...!