Sun holidays start again next Saturday

tazandtommy

Where can I find the dates the holidays are for?

Tia

springdreams

Brighty wrote: »

Not been on one of these before, but have a priority code. Gonna try for skeggy butlins, but if we can't get in there, any recommendations for parks in the North Yorks or Durham or lake district areas?

Cheers

Brighty

The trick to getting a popular park such as Butlins is to put in other parks in your selection which are equally popular, so all the Butlins sites, Parkdean Warmwell, Hoburne Cotswold, Haven Hafan y Mor, Hendra Holiday Park, and the like, as well as the park you want, and then the dates you want and other popular dates (usually the bank and school holiday dates). Doing this will improve your chances of getting what you want.

Have some alternative choices available so that if you do not get the park and/or dates that you want, you have a fall back to use instead of having to go through the list of parks again whilst trying to get your booking done quickly so as not to miss out.

Avoid anything with the word Pontins in it .... you will have no difficulty getting a booking there as these are the worst of the worst parks. It is better to stay home than go to Pontins.

springdreams

tazandtommy wrote: »

Where can I find the dates the holidays are for?

Tia

In the second post of this thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5009119

springdreams

This thread, which has regrettable been closed so new reviews cannot be added, provides a number of reviews for the parks covered by the Sun holiday promotions

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2590033

millerose

springdreams wrote: »

Avoid anything with the word Pontins in it .... you will have no difficulty getting a booking there as these are the worst of the worst parks. It is better to stay home than go to Pontins.

That's a bit harsh! We went to Pontins Prestatyn last August direct through their website. We were in the top accommodation. It was very clean, bedrooms, kitchen and bathroom were spotless. Floor smelt of bleach and had just been cleaned. Kids had a great time at the new skatepark, playground, pool and football pitch. Fantastic beach a stones throw away. Lots to see and do in the area. My children enjoyed the character shows in the evenings and the shop was reasonably priced. No complaints from me.

However, we also went to Butlins Skegness paying direct through their own website this year. We opted for silver accommodation an apartment. Checked in and as soon as we opened the door we were greeted with the smell of sick. Beer bottles, broken glass in sink, dirty plates, crisps on floor and underwear in bedrooms. It was disgusting. In fact not only was it not cleaned it was also a health hazard. We found everything at Butlins was 'paying', activities, cinema, some fun fair rides, skyline stalls etc. Beach was too crowded and parking was a nightmare.

Guess which holiday my children liked more? Yep Pontins. Okay it might not look up to much but a holiday is what you make it. We also spent less at Pontins because there wasn't the temptation of extras such as hair braiding, tattoo, photos, character shop, sand art etc.

Thumbs up for Pontins.

springdreams

millerose wrote: »

That's a bit harsh!

No its not!

Apart from my own horrific experience of Pontins, Cambersands here are just a handful of posts with a contrary view to your own:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/65834380#Comment_65834380

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/65768227#Comment_65768227

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=65690170&postcount=966

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=65569990&postcount=5

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/65419959#Comment_65419959

So perhaps the only Pontins that isn't a nightmare rather than holiday is Pontins Prestatyn. I note that you were in the top accommodation though. Sun holidays are highly unlikely to allocate top accommodation, so maybe bottom of the rung is not up to the same standard as top ...

For myself I will avoid Pontins.

The advice as always is to research your park before booking on a site such as Tripadvisor.

markstokeshughes80

hi was looking at going either haven primrose valley or butlins Skegness for a week in half term, which park would you recommend.
I was leaning towards butlins as I heard all the fair rides and everything is free were in haven its extra, but do you have to pay for entertainment passes for under 5's with butlins though as we have two kids who are 1 and 4.
I looked on sun holiday brochure with all parks in and with haven its says under 5's free for passes but with butlins it doesn't, so would my tow kids be charge for passes.
was also wondering if we book a week holiday by booking two separate holidays one fri-mon then other mon-fri would we have to pay for two lots of entertainment passes for each holiday or would it be possible to be cheeky and say we didn't need them for the mon-fri and just used are passes that we got for the fri-mon or are the passes dated?
any help be great cheers

essex_boy

Under 3's have free entertainment passes at Butlins.
No idea if the passes are dated at Butlins,I'm at Bognor Butlins for a week starting Monday so could let you know on my return if no-one else can answer.
At all Haven sites I've been to you just flash the cards when entering the entertainment complex,swimming pool,they've never checked the dates.

markstokeshughes80

essex_boy wrote: »

Under 3's have free entertainment passes at Butlins.
No idea if the passes are dated at Butlins,I'm at Bognor Butlins for a week starting Monday so could let you know on my return if no-one else can answer.
At all Haven sites I've been to you just flash the cards when entering the entertainment complex,swimming pool,they've never checked the dates.

thanks are the passes free for under 3 with sun holidays or is that if you booked direct. we were looking at booking as soon as sun holidays becomes available sat night/sun morning so hopefully we would of booked something by time you came back cheers if anyone else can help be great don't mind paying for 2 lots of passes if we need to but just thought if we could be cheeky and reuse passes from fri-mon break would save us a little

essex_boy

I've been trying to find the info but can't
I'm certain that I saw that Under 3 yrs through Sun entertainment passes are free at Butlins.