Message Forums

We've just got back from a McFly weekend at Butlins Minehead.  I promised my son when he was in hospital with Cellulitis that we would go.  We had already been in the May half term and he'd seen the posters advertising McFly.  I'd wanted to go to the Isle of Wight in the May half term but dh changed his job and couldn't get the holiday so suggested we go to Butlins without him.

I love Minehead but we stopped going about 5 years ago because it had just became much too expensive to stay there.  The holiday costs enough as it is but once there we were having to spend and spend on all the rides and extra activities.  With 3 kids it just became too much.

Though we had a good weekend - McFly were brilliant and as an added bonus we also got to see Lucie Jones from X Factor and she really is an Excellent singer, i was actually pleased that she was voted off last week otherwise it might have been Jedward we'd seen, god forbid lol - i missed my caravan.  We had a lovely spacious apartment with 3 really good sized bedrooms, a living room with dining table and chairs and a kitchen even though we were on half board but it wasn't as lovely as my brand new caravan.  I hate cooking so going half board was such a luxury but we spent the same amount this weekend as we would on a weeks holiday in our caravan.  The view we had from our apartment was of the hill with the skyline pavillion in the foreground so absolutely no complaints there lol.

The room had been hoovered and roughly cleaned but wasn't what anyone could call clean, the sheets were clean but not very iykwim.  The floors in the dining halls were so sticky that i don't think they ever get cleaned and this was all over not just under the drinks fountain, the cutlery was still dirty and to find cleanish plates and cups could take forever.  I'm not an obsesive cleaner and have a cast iron stomach but stuff like that would be enough to put off anyone lol.

The kids love the rides and swimming pool and we made use of them but you have to pay to use some of them and it wasn't open on the Saturday due to adverse weather.  So we spent an awful lot of money on paying for rides that looked good and were placed in area's where they were in your face so of course kids want to go on them.  The amusements are another rip off, they give out tickets making kids want to win more so that they can go and choose a prize that are worth a couple of quid.

I now know why i love my caravan.  I clean my caravan when we get home and i know that it is clean, i can choose not to go to greedy sites that are just after you for your money and i know that my caravan has absolutely everything that i might need in it because i have put them in the caravan so that they are there when we are away in her.  Loads of times this weekend i'd say "i've got some in the caravan but not here".  All i have to pack for a weekend away is our clothes and if we forget a coat then i've got a cagoul in the 'van just in case lol.  Plus with my caravan i can go anywhere i have always wanted to go to.  Just wish i knew when we were going to go away in her again.  It probably won't be this year now as next week is ds's birthday and then its Xmas so need every spare penny for that lol.

We went to Butlins for my very 1st holiday when i was 10 and everything apart from food and drink was included in the price.  I wish it was still the same as i have such great memories of holidays at Butlins.  We spent as much time as we could at the swimming pool and funfair but the kids do want to go on the paying stuff as well and they are so expensive.  They would like to have gone on the high ropes thingy but at £42 each it was just not going to happen.  We can go to Aerial Extreme for about £18 for the exact same thing but lasts much longer.  They love the fizzy slush puppy type drink so even buying 1 of those drinks for each of them is expensive.

Well we've voted with our feet and won't go back because our money can be better spent on going away more often in our 'van for the same amount of money

Not a difficult one - we went to Butlins in Bognor May 2008, staying in the Shoreline hotel B & B for the week, in the Nelsons Staterooms (the bigger rooms with big balcony overlooking the sea - might I add the £700 for 2 adults, 8 yo & baby, for 4 nights was paid for by Tesco deals) The robes, slippers etc that we were supposed to get in the room were unavailable - they had no suppliers.

Yes the pool was good, when it was open ( as we were in early May not school holidays, the opening times seems quite short).  The flumes mostly were not working due to staff shortages as it was not school holiday time.

The room was dirty and the furniture was very well used and carpets stained.  The fridge was so noisy we had to turn it off at night.  The kettle and tea making tray was disgusting. The 10 pin bowling was booked out for a local school in the mornings so we could not use it. The food was pretty dire (breakfast ok in the hotel). Entertainment was limited for family with kids ages we had. Glad we took lots of dvds.

The funfair I think was the same one that was there when I went as a child in the early 80's.

Give me a caravan holiday anyday - unfortunately we had booked Butlins before we had bought our first ever caravan.  We've learnt our lesson now!!

They probably are the same rides in the funfair from the 80's lol.  I think once you've experienced your own caravan there is no going back lol.  We paid for both our holidays this year at Butlins with our tesco deals, there is no way we'd have been able to afford to go otherwise lol.  But Butlins just seem so greedy now that once there it is just too expensive for what you are actually getting.  The funfair and pool are only open 10am - 5pm even in the school holidays.  Years ago they were open to at least 8pm and no rides in the funfair were charged for.

Once upon a time Butlins was there for your pleasure and entertainment but nowadays its run to give as little pleasure as possible for maximum profit

For me it is Caravan every time.

You cannot fault (for the price) Seacroft CC site.  Outdoor pool, bar / resturant if wanted, full serviced site, really friendly wardens and all for about £30 a night for all three of us (compared to £30 each for similar non caravan sites) during the summer holidays.

Butlins are now owned by Bourne Leisure, the Same company that bought Haven/British Holidays.

we only ever go to Haven sites in the caravan, 7 nighs £120 as long as you go remembering its not a quiet CC, its fine.

The seacroft site looks nice but we went to Sherringham last year. 

Butlins seemed to go downhill once Bourne Leisure/The Rank group took it over.  We've been to Haven sites when we could use our tesco vouchers.

Quote: Originally posted by ashwellgirl on 19/11/2009

---

The seacroft site looks nice but we went to Sherringham last year. 

Butlins seemed to go downhill once Bourne Leisure/The Rank group took it over.  We've been to Haven sites when we could use our tesco vouchers.

---

I prefer Sherringham as a place to Cromer, and it is a easy drive - parking when you get there is another matter however!!!  More importantly, the fish and chips we got this year in Sherringham were much, much nicer than the ones we had in Cromer last year.

The beach at East Runton is an easy walk from site.  Granted, the beaches aren't as good as the one at Woolacombe, but it is a lot easier drive from where we store in Essex!!!

The only thing (possibly) stopping us going next year is that we have been 3 times already and there is so much more of the UK to explore!!!