Butlins Skegness, need to spend as little as possible?

wiggywoo9

Can you pick which days you want a dining plan then? That'd work quite well, is it normally very busy? We're going in 2 weeks so not holiday time.

notanewuser

wiggywoo9 wrote: »

Thanks, I believe its just a kettle. He likes to eat pasta, anything like spaghetti or nuggets, fish fingers, things like that. Does anyone know where there's a shop nearby, prerably a Tesco or ASDA?
The dining plans are all self-serve and I have trouble doing this on my own with a pushchair in tow and a toddler desperate to escape! Is it worth it? It says under 2s are free on dining plans but does that not mean he's restricted to baby food or does he have a choice?

I didn't know you could pick days for dining, I thought it had to be the days you're there?

No idea - not been to Butlins for over 25 years!

Just seems a bit pointless paying for the days when you're arriving and leaving.

Worth a phonecall to ask though.

iammumtoone

Hi

I am going to butlins skegness on 13th May, just me and my 5 year old. We have booked an apartment.

We go every year but this is my first time taking him as a single mum.

There is no supermarket within walking distance, there is a bus stop just at top of the road outside the entrance but I sorry I can't help with where the buses go to. I have found that the onsite supermarket is fairly reasonably priced considering it has a captive market. Eating out on site is expensive the only cheap options are burger king or there is a fish and chip shop.

Your best bet is to go into the dinning areas but I do feel for you with a toddler I understand how it is being on your own. These places do get busy and you will have to queue for your food. There will be plenty for you to and your son to eat (your son will have choice of the whole range).
If you can stretch to the extra they have premium dinning areas where it would be easier for you on your own with a child as they are not so busy and I believe they may have table serve (but not sure).

I would suggest you maybe visit the dinning areas a couple of times during your stay. You do not always need to book you can ask if they have available places once there but this is not guaranteed. The other nights you can have burger king or fish and chips. Budget friendly if not necessarily that healthy but wont hurt for a few days.

Please do not worry about all this you will be fine and have a lovely time my son always does, there is plenty to do all of the activities are free. Make sure you take some fruit shoots and keep filling them up with squash, you can take these (hid in a handbag) into the evening entertainment as well (will save you buying expensive bar drinks)

You can rent a microwave I am not sure if this is allowed for the rooms only but is certainly worth asking as this would help. You could then cook not as easy as with a stove but you would certainly be able to get by for a few days. If you plan on eating in your room remember to pack plastic plates, dishes etc as I don't think they will be included in room only.

If you need to know anything else please ask, you can PM if you want.

narabanekeater

you can pick and choose your days for the self service resturant. If you walk to the main entrance theres a bus struaght into Skegness. From where you get off walk striaght towards the train startion (8 mins tops id say) and theres an Aldi and Morrisons. Also on that Road theres Heron for cheap goodies. In the main shopping centre theres also a Home Bargains.
You can walk from the Butlins beach bit to Ingolmells which is a lovely walk or again theres a bus there. Ive always found the staff to be really helpful so if you need any help ask.
Theres loads of free things to do onsite like Bobs world and shows. If you need any extra help please message me. You can certianly hire Microwaves onsite and from my poor student days to can cook some things in kettles

mrsgreenwood_2

im going to skegness butlins monday. i enquired about their dining plans, and having meals only 2 or 3 days instead of the whole time we're there and they said that we would have to have them for the duration as we were unable to pick certain days?

**Patty**

Walk up to Fantasy Island & the market....theres loads of small cafes & pubs that do food.

Or go out the back gate & walk down the promenade towards Skegness......again, loads of small cafes that do food.

For breakfast, i'd go to Asda before you go & buy individually wrapped croissants & pancakes (4 for £1) & take a bottle you can pre-mix squash & take it out & about with you

millerose

mrsgreenwood wrote: »

im going to skegness butlins monday. i enquired about their dining plans, and having meals only 2 or 3 days instead of the whole time we're there and they said that we would have to have them for the duration as we were unable to pick certain days?

Not true You can just turn up at the dining halls and pay as a non half board diner (if theres room). Its about £7-8 adult for an evening meal but it is buffet style.

If you are room only then the room will be teeny, with just a kettle, heater and tv. Take packet dried foods such as pot noodles, mugshots, instant mashes. Instead of yogurts that need a fridge take those ambrosia custards/rice puddings/jellies as they don't need chilling. For breakfast buy those Kellogg's variety boxes, crossiants/brioche rolls and buy a pint of milk from shop. You will need to bring picnic knives, spoons and forks, cups, bowls etc and you can wash up in the bathroom sink. We take a sandwich toaster and make cheese sandwiches and omelettes - yes just crack the egg whisk and pour onto the sandwich toaster - no oil no mess.

The pizza place onside do a all you can eat buffet lunch, which is a good deal and worth it to try.

The nearest Big supermarket is Tesco in Skegness town 5 miles away. Butlins is near Ingoldmells about a 10-15minute walk. Here is Fantasy Island with rides/shows for kids, a weatherspoons style pub, big outdoor market, amusements and a small McDonalds as well as various touristy shops. Worth a walk or bus trip if it's a nice day.

Hope this helps x

wiggywoo9

Hi in case anyone else needs to know, I contacted Butlins today. You cannot book the dining plans in advance for the days you want, it has to be the full holiday. The dining plan on the day though, is £7.95 for breakfast, £11.45 for evening meal, but it is buffet-style, and under 2s eat free (not restricted to baby food either, still have full range of buffet) which is pretty good if you've got little ones (or hungry boys). You could probably blag this too if they're a teeny bit older, save some money!
The premium plan was something like an extra £2-3 for breakfast, another £4-5 for meal. Hope this helps someone!

One question for people who've been though, would it be possible to take in a small snack-box and put some food from buffet in for lunch or snacks? I know it's sneaky, but I do it with Ikea food when my son hasn't finished!

wiggywoo9

Sorry to bump this thread, but anyone have any idea of things to pay for on resort?
We'll be doing mostly the stuff thats included, like beach, swimming, kids fair and play area. I'm doing the standard dining when we want it cos my son eats free. I just need an idea of other costs?

I'd guess lockers, things like that? Any ideas?

efesbaby

the only extra things we paid for, was a coffee round about lunch time,didnt really need any food as full from breakfast n not long till tea. Then change for the amusements and money for a drink in the evening when we watched the panto. We planned our days around the shows so between them and swimming there was hardly time to do anything else.
The only other thing i can think that we bought was a "be my bear" (like build abear but cheaper) and that was a treat at the end of it, just to remind her of our good holiday.