Still working all hours as we are still short staffed (just cant seem to get and keep the staff!!)
Still working all hours as we are still short staffed (just cant seem to get and keep the staff!!)
Member since:09.10.2002
Reviews:21
Members who trust:9
I had always gone to butlins as a kid. Filey as it was the closest to us, but we did spend one year at Minehead. I remembered having a great time every year so this year, after not having a holiday for over 20 years, decided to book a holiday at butlins, Skegness.
I booked over the telephone and found the staff I spoke to very helpful and polite. Paid my deposit using my solo card and when the confirmation arrived a week later paid the balance. All paid by April so I had no worries about that.
A week before we were due to leave I recieved a letter asking me if I wanted to upgrade from a studio apartment to a gallery apartment. After talking it through with my family (husband, 18 year old daughter and her fiance) we decided to stay with the studio apartment. It would have cost us an extra
£5 each. That's all!!
As Skegness was so far away, almost 500 miles, we left home on the sunday and stayed at my sisters (100 miles away) overnight. We left on monday morning at 9am and arrived at Skegness at lunch time. At the gate we were told to follow the blue line to the check in and that we could pick up the keys at 3:30pm
We left the car in the car park and looked around the site. The main area was the skyline pavilion. As my nephew described it a huge circus tent. There was plenty in there to keep anyone amused if the weather was too bad.
Went back to check in and there was a huge queue to get the keys, but this soon dwindled. However if you have small children this could be a downside. Once at the check in desk a redcoat took us outside and explained where our apartment was. We had a little trouble finding it via car but it didn't really take that long.
The apartment was adequate, after all, we didn't expect to spend much time in there. Ours was an upstairs apartment, the stairs on the outside of the building. Two bedrooms, one double room, one twin bedded room. The living area was two settees and a t.v., kitchen area with fridge, cooker, sink unit and cupboards. A breakfast bar with 4 high chairs was the eating area. All the heaters worked and really warmed the place up quick. Bathroom was a little crowded but everything was clean. My daughters fiance is tall, almost 6 foot, and he found the shower a little small for him. When we arrived we had to make up our beds and we found that we had no double sheets, however a visit to the housekeeper fixed that problem. Also the light in the landing didn't work, again a word with the housekeeper and that was fixed too. We all went off to look for something to eat as no-one felt like cooking after the long journey.
We tried Harry Ramsdens. A little more expensive than I was expecting but a decent meal all the same. We also tried Burger King and the Skyline Cafe. Burger King, same prices as any other Burger King and the Skyline Cafe was most impressive. My daughter likes plain cheese sandwiches and usually can't find them on sale anywhere. Skyline cafe sold them. Also their jacket potatoes were excellent and decently priced too.
The shows on Centre stage were excellent. 80's tribute, swinging blue jeans, Jaki Graham etc. A bit crowded but enjoyable nontheless. We didn't try out Reds as we enjoyed Centre stage so much.
A bit dissappointed with Jumpin' Jaks but did we did go the night they had no entertainment, just the disco so maybe our fault.
The skyline pavilion had some great entertainment. Circus and my favourite, American style wrestling with the 'original Undertaker' whom the kids loved. There were WWE goods on sale after the matches and again the prices were reasonable.
The pool was brilliant. We were in every day. 3 chutes, the space bowl and the raft ride along with the different pools made it very enjoyable. Communal changing rooms a bit off putting but you get used to it.
The funfair was dissappointing but the kids play areas were good.
The post office and shops had everything we needed for the week. The prices were not too bad, but where I live things are not cheap anyway. The post office even took a £1 note. (Yes, I'm scottish)
We left the camp once to go to Fantasy Island, where we had great fun. The Market there was also very good.
The redcoats were brilliant. They really seemed to have fun with the kids and sat and spoke to the parents and other adults too, so they were not purely for the kids. I remembered the redcoats when I was a kid and they are just as good now as they were then.
The weather was not great, but it didn't rain either so I should be thankfull for small mercies.
The amusement arcade, funworks, was always busy and I thoroughly enjoyed the prize bingo there. Which is high praise as I work as a bingo caller. The games were not expensive and the prizes were tickets that could be exchanged for gifts at the prize shop. Some of the gifts were basically tat, but there were some good things too. The only thing is that most people tend to wait until the end of their holiday before exchanging their winning tickets so the queue is very long and takes quite a while to get down.
All in all a very enjoyable holiday. I intend to go again next year.
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Have never been to Butlins myself (always holidayed in Ireland) - but it sounds like you had a ball! Great op....Debsx
Collingwood21 03.11.2002 14:46
I have never actually been to Butlins, but I must admit this sounds quite good. Skegness might be a bit far away though, as like you I live quit far north.
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Advantages: Great fun, lots to do, well themed, brilliant location, very atmospheric Disadvantages: Expensive on site, get fat from all the drinking and junk food.
Trixie_Firecracker 12.05.2005 (12.05.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Butlins
Advantages: Lots to do, great fun family entertainment, good standard of accommodation Disadvantages: Limited choice of food outlets for self-catering guests
Nov 3rd, 2002
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