Butlins at Xmas

kerrymay

Hi everyone,

I just managed to book a weekend break at Butlins Bognor Regis with the Sun Holiday promotion - Fri to Mon starting on the 18 Dec which is the first day of my kids school hols so that's good! We haven't ever stayed in the self catering apartments before - have stayed in the hotel a couple of years back - and never stayed at Xmas time.

Just wondered what to expect from the accommodation and what it is like there at Xmas? Also, any mse tips to make sure I'm not bankrupt before I come home. Hubby not coming so hoping to do it cheaply - no bar bills to take into consideration for one thing!

TIA xx

mad_mand

We are off to the xmas fantasy at skegness and have done it before.The atmosphere is great !! The accomodation is very basic but its fine for the amount of time your in the appointment Not sure on the cooking facilities as we normally eat out most of the time or go half board. The kids get to see father christmas on the saturday morning, everything is based around chrtistmas all the shows etc. I believe theres reindeers and other animlas this year. This link may help you.

http://www.butlins.com/offers-and-late-deals/break-detail.aspx?BreakId=4019&Type=nonh&BreakResort=Bognor%20Regis&BreakDuration=3&BreakStartDate=01%20Dec%2009&BreakEndDate=31%20Dec%2009&Month=12&Year=2009&Resort=bognor%20regis.

not sure if that link will work but heres some info of butlins website.
Christmas Fantasy


Resort: Bognor Regis Date: Fri 18th Dec 09 to Mon 21st Dec 09 Spend Christmas with us we'll take care of everything! There's magic everywhere, from the Skyline Pavilion's giant tree to carol singing, festive shows and of course the traditional panto.

Our Resorts transform into a beautiful winter wonderland full of sparkle and snow. The kids can visit Santa in his magical Grotto, meet Bjorn the life-like walking Polar Bear, enjoy a magical snowstorm or cuddle some farmyard animals.

teacherandmum

if you can upgrade i def would. even just to silver as standard isn't really that pleasant in our experience. Have been to minehead for last 4 years for some part of the christmas break and it;s always been excellent.

noyman38

I always refused to go to Butlins, I thought it would be awful. Eventually I was talked into taking the family (we have 2 young girls) to Minehead we loved it and keep going back, so much to do and the site is very clean. My 7 year old prefers it to Spain.

I would strongly recommend going in Silver or Gold, they are clean and comfortable, not 5 star hotel standard, but acceptable.

If you want to watch the cash, take snacks and pop with you if you are walking round the site, don't buy much food from the on site shops and if you like a pint take your time in the shows and have a G&T at your room when you get back.

One tip the pool is busy during the holiday periods, read the info they give you (not many do), the pool is open at night a couple of times a week for a few hours. Not many go, I spent nigh on two hours with with my eldest on a great slide, we were the only ones on it for an hour. Great!

We will be at Butlins over XMAS as well, looking forward to it.

tori.k

how did you find Christmas at Bognor?, we went to Minehead and it was bl*ody awful dispite having an good break there in may...least its put the kids off going back again

Rachie_B

we were at Minehead for a 3 night break fri 18th Dec
the kids really enjoyed it,thought the panto was brilliant and the present and selection boxes a nice surprise

we were upgraded for free too,so that was a bonus esp as we had booked a cheapy with the SUN!

Would do at that time of year again

dmg24

tori.k wrote: »

how did you find Christmas at Bognor?, we went to Minehead and it was bl*ody awful dispite having an good break there in may...least its put the kids off going back again

Can you qualify what you have said? Not really fair to state the above without explaining why you feel that way.

tori.k

dmg24 wrote: »

Can you qualify what you have said? Not really fair to state the above without explaining why you feel that way.

We been to butlins Minehead quite a few times (twice this year) and been watching it go downhill, Ive stayed in better standard accomadation years ago then the silver+ we had this time around, the whole place reeks of damp and is so dirty it was beyond a joke, the accomadation you expect wear and tear, and can turn a blind eye to badly patched holes in walls and doors, but blood left spattered across one of the bedroom ceilings and the light switches black with grime etc etc the whole place hasnt been cleaned properly in a long time, and this is coming from someone who's not the most houseproud of people,
I sat in the skyline watching a maid chewing her nails then serve up hot dogs none of the food service people wear gloves, and the dining hall was filthy plates left on tables food over the floor, we ended up going to the hairy dog or the duke in minehead town for food.
i worked at minehead in 94 as a waitress most of the accomadation now is no better then the old staff sheds they knocked down.
and if i get slated as a well its cheap what do you expect, 1k for a 4 day break i expect a clean room if nothing else.

I just asked out of curiosity to see if Bognor was a big a dump as Minehead or was it just that they had sunk all mineheads money into the blue skys hotel?

Rachie_B

did you complain ?

we only ever book standard or silver,usually with the SUN holidays as I would never ever spend stupid money on a UK wkend / midweek break!

silver has always been fine,for the amount of time we spend in there! refurbed shower rooms and leather sofas etc

we self cater usually so cannot comment on the dining rooms

It's not my ideal holiday ( usually have a good time once we are there though!) but our boys LOVE it! and if they are happy ....

but if not satisfied then complain!!

tori.k

It was expensive as we were their for Christmas day, they know how we felt but they couldnt really offer us anything better then we already had as so many had complained about the Damp, and id already spent the first night cleaning the one we had thru. we had good and bad holidays before and Butlins is a hit or miss kind of place for most people we will just vote with our feet and go elsewhere.
My kids like your's do love the whole hi-de-hi thing why i was curious if the other two site were just as run down as minehead

emma-uk

tori.k wrote: »

It was expensive as we were their for Christmas day, they know how we felt but they couldnt really offer us anything better then we already had as so many had complained about the Damp, and id already spent the first night cleaning the one we had thru. we had good and bad holidays before and Butlins is a hit or miss kind of place for most people we will just vote with our feet and go elsewhere.
My kids like your's do love the whole hi-de-hi thing why i was curious if the other two site were just as run down as minehead

I stayed in the Standard Accommadation at Bognor back in Oct and was pleasently suprised at it's standard. Large corner leather couch that folded out into a double bed, wide beds in the bedroom and clean. Our only issues were the lack of shower (which is the norm in STD accommodation) The remote did not match our telly and nor did the replacement and the fridge door came of when opened. Annoying I know but housekeeping were great when we called and all sorted within 30minutes! The resort was clean asn well maintaned although the pool water was cold and a lot of kids looked a bit blue!! Compared to the standard chalet we stayed in at Haven the month previous this was a palace:rolleyes: