Have just come back from a four day break at Bultins in Minehead we stayed in Gold Accomodation and ate in the Yacht Club. We are a family of 2 adults and 2 children (Son 10 years Daughter 6 years). We have visited Butlins every year for the last 6 years and have stayed in all the Accomodations and almost done everything there is to do at Butlins, therefore i thought it was about time to wrtie a good old review about it and let you know how great it is! Here it goes...........................................(first of all we were booked in for Deluxe and eating in Ocean Drive but they rang us two days before saying Deluxe were being refurbished and wasn't finsished so had to offer us gold with Yacht Club, £40 cash and £50 on site vouchers to spend)............so here it goes again...............
~~~~~~~~ GETTING THERE ~~~~~~~~
Travelled from Warwickshire took us about 3 and a half hours to get there, arrived about 11am nice and early. We always like to set out early so (A) We dont hit loads of traffic at the dreaded Bristol part and (B) We can enjoy Butlins earlier! yay. Standard and Silver can check in about 1ish i think but you can't get into your room till 4pm. Gold and Deluxe you can get your room card at 2.30pm, now when i say that time i mean that time to the nearest second. You can walk in at 2.25pm and they all sit there behind their little computers tapping away as if your not there, im sure they do it on purpose to wind me up and then as if by magic 2.30pm comes and they come alive like robots just awoken and do the little Butlins smile and greet............then you get your map and key card.
~~~~~~~~ ACCOMODATION ~~~~~~~~
STANDARD - I'm not at all posh or stuck up (although dont get this mental picture in your heads now that im all chavvy......im just normal if you know what i mean?) but anyway Standard yes ugh...........gives me shudders just thinking about it, its small, shabby, stinky, the three s's never again is all i will say. You are so far away from the resort you need to get a taxi!
SILVER/SILVER
PLUS - Now these are a bit better, bigger and cleaner. nice kitchen area and the bathroom had a lovely shower in and was really clean. We had a lot of room and were quite close to the Skyline. I think the Silver Plus bungalows are the best value for money and it's a bonus that you havn't got people above you banging around.
GOLD - I'm not as keen on the Gold as the Silver Plus to be honest, they are two storey buildings with metal steps leading to the top floors. Although it was clean and had a nice shower and kitchen it didn't seem spacious enough. You can park quite close-ish on the Gold car park too. Nice tv and dvd player in there, although i thought id got foggy eyes at first then i realised it was the tv.................doesn't pick up the channels very well im afraid. We were on the ground floor thank goodness but the only thing is you'd be sitting there at night and hear loads of footsteps above you, you know like when your at home and kids are running riot, i kept thinking "whos that upstairs" then remembered i was in Butlins............lots of other people living above us *tsk* silly me. We also thought in Gold you are a little far away from the resturant although you are close to the Skyline and other parts of Butlins. I dont know if it's just me as well but i found myself singing Spandau Ballet's "Gold........always believing you are......de de de de de...."
DELUXE LODGE - Now we were expecting a lot from this accomodation, they are opposite the pool and you get parking at the side of the lodge, nice and private....bonus. Nice big kitchen area and the bathroom was lovely, big corner bath with shower. Main bedroom lots of storage overhead as well, then another twin room and one with bunk beds. Living room nice and big with patio doors leading onto a decked balcony with table and chairs. Wasn't as clean as i had of expected smelt a bit fusty and i thought the decor looked a little worn, they are in need of a refurb! Everything was fine in our lodge until one night about 11pm the electric cut off, hubby had to go and get someone, kids were going crazy sitting in the dark. Then hubby comes back with torches............yes torches so the kids were waving them round like lunatics whilst everyone else in the other lodges were coming out thinking we were burgalars! got it sorted in the end, went to fusty bed thinking................................trust us.
DELUXE HALF BOARD - This is my favourite, you get your own parking space and even have a bottle of wine and choccys on arrival........me sorted. Beds were made up and the room and furniture was fab, really clean and spacious. We went in this accomodation during warm weather so made the most of our patio area which was a god send for the kids to play on whilst we were getting ready. You eat in the Ocean Drive resturant or you can upgrade to the Yacht Club with the Deluxe apartment which i will review in a moment. Because you are half board you dont get a kitchen but you are equipped with a little fridge and kettle.
~~~~~~~~~~~ FOOD ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OCEAN DRIVE SELF SERVE RESTURANT - Not keen to be honest, really hectic lots of dirty plates left on tables and the food wasn't that tasty.......bit bland.
YACHT CLUB - Loved this place, as you walk up to it there is music playing on speakers......makes you feel all posh (see above) couldn't resist doing a little jig on my way in every night. Great layout of the tables you pick any you want and then get your own food. Drinks are self serve cold, hot chocolate and tea, coffee. Staff were friendly and as soon as you had finished they took your plate away. They had a great range of food: Full English Brekfast Fruit Platters Salad Bar Cereal and Porridge Ice Cream machine for the kids Roasts of the day Gammon Kids Choices.......Nuggets, fish fingers, mash etc Indian and Chinese Jacket Spuds Lots of hot and cold puddings
As you can see lots to choose from and it was all nicely done!
Other places in Butlins sold food but we found it pricey two muffins and four drinks cost £12.00 could not believe it........as in Victor Meldrew. Sun and Moon offer a good choice but takes ages to come out and our son was sick after eating there so sort of put us off going back. Burger King and Pizza Hut are the same all over only difference with the Burger King here is you get pigeons flying in..............free. We have found the best way is to eat at Yacht club as we dont spend as much, we just have a little snack like crisps or something to tide us over till dinner at 4.30pm.
Well if it's entertainment you want then youv'e got it here. REDS and CENTRE STAGE have the main acts on like Chicco, Same Difference, Nutty Noah (the best!), circus and magic shows pantomimes and lots of other stuff. People do queue up for ageeeeessssss to get a good seat which we never have done, we just go in each one to see which has the less people in. SKYLINE do a few shows too and there are loads of chairs to get a good view, sometimes you wish you could cut yourself in half to go into each so you dont miss out! HOTSHOTS is great with bowling, pool, golf, and air hockey, they have big screens in there as well..........bonus for the blokes when the footys on. MINI GOLF isn't that great but worth a try. DRIVING SCHOOL is good fun and they get a little licence at the end! BOBS YARD great for the little uns Teacups, Ladybirds, Slides and lots more for them to go on for free. MAIN FAIR is outside and aimed for the older kids Waltzers, Umberellas, Horses, Cage, Pirate Ship and a couple of others all free. GO KARTS were brilliant my Son loved it beat his Dad as well. CINEMA not too bad although carrier bags on the back of seat acting as bins made me look twice, thought i were going mad but they really were there for bins! LASER SHOOT OUT total waste of money costs £12.00 for two people and you are in there like five mintues..............dont waste your money. BIKE HIRE we always hire a Chucklevision bike every year, and again like a mad woman i hum the tune going round, ringing the bell waving to everyone that passes. However on the way back my face is purple i can't smile, hum or even talk you need a iron lung. I usually free pedal half way back without hubby realising because i can't pedal anymore, oh and this time my coat fell off the back and everyone was shouting to us so we had to stop and run back to get it.........gave the bike thing back and thought..............trust us. OUTDOOR FORT was a great play area for the kids also another area at the Sun and Moon. TRAMPOLINES these are fab! although they are £5.00 you do get a good go, i coudln't look my daughter was going so far up in the air, the guys were great learning her to flip over etc. SWIMMING POOL although a bit crowded is still brilliant with slides and a area for little uns. Wave machine and lazy river was fun and i loved the jacuzzi, we were in there that long i was shrivelled like a prune. Family changing lockers are not big enough, be aware to take small bags. BEACH is just over the road from the fair and this is lovely because you can have a little stroll into Minehead which is lovely and have a day out. SLOT MACHINES are everywhere in fact there is too many we did win some teddys but probably put in about £100 but it was fun trying.....honest.
There are lots more things to do and see but as i can't feel my fingers anymore! I hope i helped you if you are thinking of going here and if not im sorry. Thanks for reading!
Forgot the price sorry, cost us £300 for the week that was for Deluxe half board we did book whilst there because you get a better deal, sorry about that i forgot the most important.......TRUST ME!
It seems that no matter how old or new the accomodation is, or what type, it all has that musty smell. x
lazza123 29.03.2008 10:02
Great review. It is about 20 miles from me, so Have no need to go, although you can get day passes I believe. The only time I now go to Minehead is on the Steam Railway!! Larry
chocs59 29.03.2008 08:51
Everything needed was in this re-view. you really deserve this E.
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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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Review of Butlins
Advantages: Great fun, not too expensive, not too far to stagger back to your room after a boozy night out! Disadvantages: Aimed at kids therefore a regression of age takes place; it could be months before I reintegrate into society!!!
minxette 24.09.2001 ·
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Review of Butlins
Advantages: A quick and convenient short break, lots of fun and plenty for your money. Disadvantages: Self catering is an expensive alternative if you eat on the camp.
MandyMinx 22.05.2003 (30.06.2003)
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Review of Butlins
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
Mar 28th, 2008
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