Right, anyone that's reading this, with either small children, middle age children or Nanny and Grandad OAPs- I am now going to give you a review of the main rules of how to do Butlins...and survive feeling like you have had a holiday!!!!! In a nutshell...myself...hubby.....son(8) and my mum and dad(63 & 65..65 being with ankle arthritis) booked a two silver apts half board(we weren't staying together!!) Myself, Hubby and son have been to Butlins Skegness since son was 3, fifth time there...OAPs have not been on hols in 18yrs...seasoned pro's that we are got through it unscathed!
1) Check in: Why queue?? you do not need to join the giant snake protruding from the door at your place of check in...if you are early, go back later and check some stuff out, we were a little late coming on the national express...walked straight in got our keys...then us and OAPs were off!!
2) Going Half Board....again..Why queue?? There are optimum times to go for breakfast and dinner, while the restaurant is do-able, the best times for breakfast are 8-15 to 8-50 for turning up for a seat, you miss the earlies and also the people that can't get up in the morning. Dinner is best eaten around 4.40, get in there before the ten past five rush, that way you are sat down at the seat of your choice and not herded round like cattle banging chairs into all and sundry! I appreciate these times may not suit everyone, but if you have had a good breakfast, not eaten much during the day...you are ready believe me!!
3) Ah Yes, the entertainment....we hit a busy time here with people like Chico and others from britains got talent..and Stephen Mulhern from ITV on the Wednesday...the endless snakes that start at Reds from 5.00pm..basically people join there due to the herding instinct, unless you want to be RIGHT at the front ALL the time, you do not need to join the snake....you just need to turn up at the time the venue opens, follow the rest of the people in that have queued for an hour and pick your seat...we did this with Chico and all had a good view, the only thing is that when in Reds and its busy, the rule is leave a person on your table at all times!!!! This will save you from the latecomers "great chair kidnap" when you hear the wails of "is this seat taken???" and if you are not quick enough little Jimmy has come up behind you and tried to pinch the one right next to you..to which the correct response is "OI" Only joking but they do try it! The only exception to this is the Stephen Mulhern show that EVERYBODY wants to go and see this year, you will need to queue for that as the whole holiday camp is to Reds , they put one of the britains got talent on in centre stage(the other less popular venue for families) and there was no chair kidnap in there!
4) Daytime Activities: Again avoid queues, you have much other stuff to do on holiday than queue....Kids footie...Just turn up at correct time....Panto...Just turn up...you can see at all angles...and when I say just turn up...I mean probably about 15 mins before the off....a reasonable time to be redundant and standing about! Kids clubs...about 15mins before, in the pavillion..it all depends on how big your kids are, but you will be amazed at how small they can make themselves to go and sit RIGHT in the middle!
5) If all else fails, you can get into the pool at anytime..never a queue...the front room is good for families and OAPs(they normally left us to go there...and then we gave the chairs away to the kidnappers in Reds) and I know a holiday is only as expensive as you make it, but if your kids want to "have goes" on things it can be an easy way to while away ten mins! Thanks for reading, I hope along the line this helps someone have a good holiday!!!!
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queuing up at 440pm to eat an evening meal to avoid a crush sounds like my idea of a hell holiday
sandra102 09.08.2008 22:56
We went last summer for the first time wish you'd written this review then as we made a few of the mistakes you mention - still enjoyed it though, best bit for the kids was the free funfair.
headcase44 09.08.2008 22:28
The Minehead Butlins sounds just the same..... Manic place and I have lived here quite a few years and only gone in to the place about 6 times.... Very good review. Thanks. J.
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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
Aug 9th, 2008
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