self catering or half board at butlins?

alyssa_mae

Help
Hubby and I have decided to take the children on a long wkend to butlins at minehead. but now we're arguing over wether to go s/catering or 1/2 board. It's cheaper 1/2 board and u don't have to worry about cooking and I refuse to let my children and myself live on burger kings and fish and chips for 3 days which hubby would be quite happy to do. My children are 2 1/2 and 5. can u offer any advice. and also were can I get a good deal booking the hol.

Thanks.

elona

As someone with four kids - go half board - it is your holiday too!!!!!


I got them to order cooked breakfast - then put bread , bacon , sausage not eaten into sandwich box and they had a sarnie at 1p.m. for free.

If hubbie objects - say the fast food is so expensive there will be no drinking money!

I went there with my own crisps biscuits and drinks - it saved a fortune.

Queenie

Half board.

You get your breakfast, you get your dinner - inbetween you get to have FUN!

elona's tip about bagging some of the breakfast stuff for sandwiches for midday isn't a strange one at Butlins either - many, many people do that!

I would also add, even though a lot of the entertainment is *free* there is also an equal number of things you need to pay for - go carts/crazy golf/trampoline's etc., (not to mention the arcade games which always draw the kids) so you would be better off knowing that the only cash you need with you is your cash for entertainment.

In half board, they "provide tea and coffee facilities" - tip: take a small jar of coffee, sugar and a few teabags with you, they provide kettle, cups but only a couple of satchets of tea and coffee! They have a minimart type shop on site, but they are overpriced (IMHO), so, like elona stated, pack your snacks/drinks too!

The only time I've been self catering, it was a huge disappointment - plus, the cooker was faulty, which didn't help! But the kids had a fantastic time
When we went Half Board ... we ALL had a fantastic time

pingu

half board
and if you chose an appartment you get full kitchen anyway so your husband can cook or buy junk (expensive) food if he wants!!

soft dinks (better for kids) and tea coffee is free too on half board unlike when you abroad

beer is expensive though so may be few drinks before you go out!

enjoy you break

alyssa_mae

pingu wrote:

half board
and if you chose an appartment you get full kitchen anyway so your husband can cook or buy junk (expensive) food if he wants!!

soft dinks (better for kids) and tea coffee is free too on half board unlike when you abroad

beer is expensive though so may be few drinks before you go out!

enjoy you break

I was wondering wether we would have a kitchen anyway. My husband is also worried about having to eat at set times but surely there is a number of hours say 6 - 8pm u have to get your dinner. I also plan to do a shop before we go and stock up on essentials like alchol and kids drinks and snacks to save money.

Edinburghlass_2

Its a lot of years since I was at Butlins but if I remember correctly I thought the food wasn't too bad at all and I have to agree with the others, enjoy your holiday too :beer:

Zoetoes

We've been about 4 times to Minehead and done SC & HB. I would say go half board as you can eat all you like and get puddings, drinks etc aswell, it saves a lot of money.

You don't get a kitchen in the HB rooms (we didn't anyway).

Have a great time, the kids will love it!

pingu

alyssa_mae wrote:

I was wondering wether we would have a kitchen anyway. My husband is also worried about having to eat at set times but surely there is a number of hours say 6 - 8pm u have to get your dinner. I also plan to do a shop before we go and stock up on essentials like alchol and kids drinks and snacks to save money.

in apartments on half board you do get the kitchen

you can check the info about accomodation on their website https://www.butlins.co.uk
just get a suppose quote and when they ask you to chose accomodation it gives you the info when you hold the cursor on ?

if i remember it right breakfast is till 10.30 and evening meal is 06.30 not 100% though

give them a quick ring and ask

and it will cheaper to shop before you go

Funkymum

We go down to Butlins quite a lot as day visitors & also for short breaks. Half board is the best option. Breakfast is served between 8.30 & 10.30 and dinner between 4.30 & 6.30 ( Later on the first night). There is always a lot of choice. You can either book a room or apartment.Rooms have no living area or kitchen. Apartments have both.
Hope you have a nice time.
If you go self catering you can always pay to have your dinner and/or breakfast seperatley( That's what we did at Bognor). Dinner is £9.95 for an adult & £4.95 for a child. Under 2yrs are free. Not sure how much breakfast is but it's not as much as dinner.( My daughter is 3 but we always get her in for free!!!)
Funkymum

simes

Yep.. Go half board..
It was significantly cheaper for me half board in the school holidays last year ( probably because self catering is more popular). I have been many times both half board and self catering..
As others have said, the half board restaurants are open for up to 2 hours .They are like food courts now ( just go to whichever counter has something you fancy on it). You can go up as many times as you like. Though this often means if you go in late there is less choice ( especially on puddings).. Tea , coffee and soft drinks are free too.
They always have something on specifically for kids ( fish fingers , hot dogs etc). But they can of course have anything they like .. Just tell the immigrant serving what you want ( its fun playing spot the british staff member in the minehead restaurants )

Funkymum

simes wrote:

Just tell the immigrant serving what you want ( its fun playing spot the british staff member in the minehead restaurants )

It's the same at Bognor!!!!