|
Friday afternoon June 25th and my daughter has just sat her last GCSE. This last term being exam time for my daughter made us promise ourselves that as soon as she had finished her last exam, we would jump in the van and head off on holiday, to get away and unwind after all the stress that exams bring out in people.
On the Friday we look at the weather report and see that it is scattered showers, forecasted for the next four or five days. This puts a dampener so to speak on the idea of blasting off with the tent, after all who wants to be sat in a tent getting wet and miserable?
THE DEAL
--------
Getting on my trusty computer I log on and type words like, holiday homes, self catering, late holiday deals and other words to that effect. The search engine brings up loads of places for me to look at and the cheapest place for a late deal is Butlins!
There is a bungalow for four nights at Minehead from the 28th June to 2nd July. There are two adults and two teenagers as my daughter always finds a friend to come with us, otherwise she gets bored on her own, the teenagers are 16 years old so are classes as adults too.
As this is a last deal and I book it online, there is a good reduction in the price.
Cost of Chalet for four nights - £372.00
Internet Discount - £5.00
Late Booking Discount - £186.00
Amount to pay - £181.00
Great deal I think and book online with my debit card details, I get a confirmation email which I print off and keep.
As I am booking late there is no time for Butlins to send me my confirmation of booking through the post and I rang the help line number to make sure that the chalet was available first before booking online. I was told it was available and to print off the confirmation email so that I could show the staff at Butlins my reference number when I checked in.
So, booked in we pack and set off the day after to enjoy a well deserved break.
HOW TO GET THERE
----------------
Travelling by car to Minehead.
If your heading north.
Take the M5 to Taunton and get off at Junction 25, then take the A358 and the A39 road to Minehead.
If your heading south.
Take the M5 and follow the signs for the A39 from Junction 24, drive about half a mile along the seafront of mine head and you'll come to Butlins.
You can also type in AA Route planner into your search engine and this will bring up a map and directions for you to follow which you can print off before you set off on your journey.
CHECKING INTO BUTLINS
---------------------
So, you've drove down the hectic motorway, managed to navigate yourself on the right roads and arrive at Minehead.
Butlins is very easy to find, just look for the massive white marquee type skyscraper, which can be seen from the seafront and surrounding roads.
At the gate you will be met by the welcome team, they will give you a booklet of the facilities and entertainment taking place at the camp.
There is also a map of the camp so in the booklet so that you don't get lost. The welcome team then give you directions where you can park your car for free and where you go to check in.
This will be in the skyline, which is the giant white marquee type building you will see as you approach the camp.
You cannot get the keys for your apartment or bungalow until 4pm unless you are a bronze, silver or gold member, but once you have parked up your car you are free to wander around Butlins to explore the campsite, find your accommodation and see what the holiday camp has to offer.
We went straight to the skyline building and to the help desk, as I said before booking last minute online means that you only have the comfirmation email to show at the desk, so we went there to make sure everything had gone through with the booking and that we would have our bungalow available.
The staff were helpful and pointed us to the two desks, which were set up in the skyline building. One desk was numbered 1-14 and the other 14-25. The staff at the help desk gave me the number 15 so I went to the appropriate desk and after a three minute wait in the queue, was given my Butlins pack and map to my bungalow.
Inside the pack you receive two keys to your accomodation, a booklet about the entertainment and facilities, like the one you get on the gate as you drive in and there is also a map of the site so you can find your chalet.
THE ACCOMMODATION
-----------------
There is a good choice of accommodation at butlins it ranges from different prices to suit all budgets. Booking late over the internet can save you quite a good sum of money.
Self catering, this is a good cheaper way to spend your holiday not only does it give you more freedom to choose the times you eat but it gives you a more relaxed holiday with more control on the way you want to do things and the time you want to do them in.
These are apartments available for self catering.
Standard Apartment
This is an apartment which sleeps four people and has 1 or 2 bedrooms, if there is only one bedroom there will be a bed settee in the living room area to sleep on.
There is a kitchenette and shower room, you have to take your own towels and toiletries but everything else is provided.
Silver Apartment
This is the same as the above but you get two rooms instead of the living area turning into a bedroom, again you have to take your own towels but it is kitted out with all the other things you need.
Gold Apartment
This is a little more up market and will cost you a little extra, prices can be got from the Butlins online site, as they vary depending on accommodation type and how you book.
You get all the things in the other apartments as well as a wide screen colour t.v. video, dvd player, hair dryer towels and complimentary toiletry pack.
This sleeps up to six people and has three bedrooms, living room, kitchen and shower room.
Deluxe Accommodation
Then there is the extra luxury if you want it. This accommodation has air conditioning all the extra's the gold accommodation has , a balcony where you can sit and read.
Personal parking places next to the chalet and this sleeps five.
You can also have the accommodation and go to Butlins and pay for half board.
This includes a traditional English breakfast and you can have the vegetarian option too, you get tea or coffee and toast and a choice of cereal.
At the main meal time you get a three course evening dinner.
The prices can be obtained from the brochure, which you can order online or get from the travel agents.
FACILITIES
----------
These are the places of entertainment and are free to get into, you have to show the redcoats who are on the doors your apartment key before you are allowed in, sometimes they don't ask as they get to recognise your face especially if you get chatty with them.
THE SKYLINE
This is not only a huge building in the middle of the camp but it is the place where you find yourself drawn to. It's a bit hectic to say the least and you can enter it from a few different parts of the camp.
You can find Billy the Bear and The hulk and Spiderman all dressed up waiting to talk to and get the younger kids to join in the fun of the clubs and events.
Here is also where you can find all the fast food places and there is something to suit everyone, if you just need to grab a burger or a pizza while your on the go. If you have the time you can go in and sit to eat to give yourself time to adjust to all the mayhem going on around you.
The red coats are there to help if you need to know anything, like which shows are on and where to go at what time.
There is a stage in the skyline where various different entertainments are set up, it has a puppet theatre for the little one's and you will see rollerbladers, clowns selling balloons, numerous arcade machines, pool tables which you can win prizes by putting five or more balls down, people on microphone's shouting to the kids and passers by to get them to play the arcade games.
On the whole this is a very hectic and packed full of people sort of place and if you've gone there to relax, think again.
This is full of mothers with prams, arcade machines, children running about and lots of noise.
THE CENTRE STAGE
This is quite a huge venue where visiting shows come to perform onstage, it's opens from 2.30pm in the afternoon for the children's shows or pantomime right until after 11pm for the family and adults entertainment.
A programme of events is featured in the entertainment brochure you get when you go to check in for your chalet.
There is tables and chairs to sit at and a bar so that you can relax with a drink and watch the shows. Be prepared to get there early if there's something on that you really want to watch otherwise you'll find it hard to get a seat.
REDS
Here is another stage show put on by the red coats, it's a lively show with music and comedy. They also invite children onto the stage for the competitions and to get them involved with the show, prizes of goody bags are given to any child who gets onstage, again get
here early if you want a good seat near the front for your child to have the chance to get onstage.
There is also a bar here for drinks and a children's juice bar.
JAKS
This is the place to run to at night if you need to get away from all the kids on site, as it's a 18 and over bar only.
A good place to retreat to after the madness of the day. It only opens at 10pm nightly apart from Mondays when it's closed.
This is a nightclub sort of place and plays some good tune's to dance away into the early morning, the DJ leads the entertainment.
The drinks are expensive but they have special deals on certain drinks.
A good place to meet like minded people, who are getting away from the kids.
IRISH BAR
This was my favourite place to go as it's not as crowded as the other bars, most people walk past it when it first opens, as they are going to get a place in the entertainment stages.
Every night is Karaoke night so if like me you want a quite time, then early in the evening is the best time to visit this bar.
They have settee's so that you can comfortably lounge around and enjoy your drink before all the wannabe hopefuls fill the bar to sing their little hearts out.
If your into karaoke then it's a good laugh as lots of people who can and lots more who can't get up to perform.
After a few Guinness's you sometimes don't notice who's good or bad.
FOOD & BARS
-----------
Whatever your taste I'm sure that there's something for everyone, although the prices are out of this world, at times it's just good to sit down and have someone else do the cooking and washing up.
Burger King is open from 11am until about 11pm and a burger meal will cost you about £4.99, this is a lot more than the meal deals you can get if you go into town, a burger alone on this camp will cost you £1.49 which again is a tad more expensive than they normally charge at other burger king places.
Pizza Hut again is more expensive than in town and a pizza will cost you around £6.00 or more depending on what you order, I personally refuse to pay this amount for a pizza which can be bought in other branches cheaper, but as people are on holiday they seem not to notice the price difference.
I did notice that this place wasn't packed out any of the times I walked past.
Chick and Kebab.
This is sort of like a KFC with chicken burgers meals at £4.99 and kebabs for a little more, again this place wasn't packed out.
I think out of the three burger king seemed to have the most customers.
Bar Rosso
This was mainly a cocktail bar which sold baguettes and sandwiches, tuna, chicken, ham and others were on offer for around £3.99 which wasn't that bad if you needed to grab a snack, but not really the place you could go for an evening meal with the family.
Harry Ramsden's
We made the mistake of going here whilst we were waiting to check in, after travelling down the motorway and arriving around four o'clock having not eaten. We decided to have an early meal then unpack in the bungalow, ready to explore the camp that evening.
There were four of us and we all bought chicken burger meals at £4.99 each.
When the food arrived it was not looking very appetising, a processed type chicken which was very small and thin was presented on a huge burger bun, with a plate full of half warm chips.
After that we decided not to go there again.
Sun and Moon
Here we thought might be the place to get a good meal, there were lots of people seated in the restaurant and the food looked edible, there wasn't a very good choice of meals on the menu, but it was traditional pub food.
The prices however were not traditional, the cheapest meal on the menu was a vegetarian lasagne for £7.49, which when four adults are eating out adds up to quite a good sum of money .
Then you have to buy the drinks on top of that.
This pub has theme nights and you can get a curry and a drink on the curry night for around £7.00.
There is also entertainment like quiz nights and children are welcome.
Highwayman's Pub
This is a pub by a lake and is on the far side of the camp, a nicely decorated pub with relaxing music and hardly any children.
After the mayhem of the skyline area, it's nice to chill out here. The menu is good and although the prices are still a little high you can eat in a quiet relaxed atmosphere.
It over looks the lake where you can hire a boat and go rowing, ducks and geese are in plenty in this area so if your scared of them don't go near as they see people and swim to them for food or tit bits that might get thrown their way.
SHOPS
-----
When you go self catering it's always best to go out of the holiday camp to stock up at the supermarket. Tesco's is about half a mile away from the site and is very reasonable with it's special offers, another thing to remember is to buy your alcohol from the supermarket too, as you'll be shocked at the prices the bars on butlins charge.
There is a supermarket on the camp but this also is a little dearer than your probably used to paying.
Things like milk and bread are the normal prices but other things are more expensive.
The supermarket called Everydays is open daily and stays open until late.
Newsbreak
This is where you can buy your daily papers from and also sells sweets and gifts. It took me some time to find out where this was situated on the site as it's near the entrance to the funfair and can be easily missed if your not looking out for it.
Jokers Shop
Well, I bet you can guess what this is selling, here you can buy all sorts of joke presents and gifts for friends and family. The prices are what you'd expect to pay on holiday.
Photocall
Here you can get your photo's developed and buy films for your camera if you run out. It also opens daily and there is an express service if you want your photo's done within 24 hours. We didn't use this shop so I can't tell you what the prices were for development.
Toybox
The kids will love this shop as it's filled with teddies, beanies and lots of other toys to either buy for gifts or to play with on the camp.
There are some reasonably priced gifts in here if you look around.
Internet Café
This is a godsend if your having internet withdrawal symptoms, or just want to keep in touch with your emails and business venture's.
It costs around £3.00 an hour which is expensive but worth it if your have things selling on ebay, or family that you need to contact.
FREE THINGS TO DO
------------------
There's not a lot of free things to do at Butlin's even though your made to believe that there is when you read the brochure.
Swimming is free but there is a charge of 30p per locker.
Entertainment is free but the drinks are over £1 dearer than you'd normally pay at a bar or club at home.
Bowling is free for under 16's in the morning as long as there is a paying adult per child and you can bowl for £4 for half an hour.
Outdoor football, basketball and bowling pitches are free but in wet weather these are not worth playing on.
Funfair rides are free unless the funfair is closed due to the weather.
Everything else has to be paid for.
SOME PRICES
£3.00 for half an hour on a pool table two people per table.
£1.50 for a round of crazy golf per person
£3.50 for the Mega zone laser centre per person.
£4.50 per adult, £3.50 per child at the cinema.
All arcade machines are 10p per game for the bandit type machines
Virtual games £1- £3 depending on which you play.
Some machines give out tickets which can be cashed in at the gift shop, but for the amount you have to spend to get a decent gift, you'd be better off going to the town to the gift shop.
HIRE PRICES
Baby Cot £2.00 per day
Baby monitor £5.00 per day
Wheelchairs £ 3.50 per day
Arm bands for swimming £1.50 per day
Adults bike £5.00 per hour
Four seat fun bike £6.50 per hour
Microwave £4.00 per day
Iron £1.50 per day
Vacuum cleaner £2.00 per day
Mobile phone charger £1.50 per day
Hairdryer £1.50 per day
T.V £3.50 per day
DRINKS PRICES
£3.20 for a bottle of Reef, VK and Bacardi Breezer.
£3.50 for a Bailey's and ice.
£2.80 for a pint of lager or bitter.
£2.80 for a pint of Guinness.
£1.70 for a Coca cola.
£1.70 for a Lemonade.
I thought these prices were too much as you can go into town and buy a bottle of reef or other alchopop for £1.
A pint in the local town will cost you £1.60 in most pubs.
MY THOUGHTS
-----------
For a hectic family holiday then this is the place to be, make sure you take plenty of money as it will cost you a fortune and to get extra cash out of the cash machines will cost you £1.50 for a withdrawal.
The bungalow we rented was a very decent size, there were four of us went and we got two bedrooms, a kitchen area and living room area with small colour portable t.v.
All the cutlery, bedding, toaster and kettle were provided for us.
We took our own hairdryer and straightners of course the teenagers remembered to pack them.
The electric in the bungalow was included in the price I paid so it wasn't too bad. The heating was electric and soon warmed the place up at night. During the day there was no need for the heaters as the bungalow was warm.
There was plenty of space in the bedroom too, but my daughter and her friend were not to pleased at the mattresses of their beds. They had the plastic sheet sewn onto the mattress which couldn't be moved and was for little kids that might wet the bed.
These made the beds uncomfortable for them to sleep.
The cooker was electric and although it had to be cleaned properly, did the job of cooking our food at meal time's.
We didn't get a shower in our bungalow, but the bath was a good size.
Hot water was provided from a heater in the bathroom and only gave you about three inches of hot water in the bath before it started to run cold, you can imagine the disgust of the two teenage girls.
For me the place was too hectic, with crowds of people walking around everywhere you went.
If you can imagine Christmas shopping in London crossed with Glastonbury then that just about sums up the mass of crowds around from around 10am till 11pm at night.
Sitting in the adult bar was sometimes a good place to be, just for the quite.
I was not impressed with the prices of the drinks though, £3.20 for one bottle of alcopop and being charged £3.50 for one Bailey's and ice, with prices like that it easily amounted to over £50 a night for all four of us to drink in the bar and that's with the teenagers drinking coca cola.
The one thing that really did put me off was the mass of seagulls which wake you up every morning at 5am and screech, caw, fight and make the most horrible noise in the world until around 8.30am when you decide you have had enough and have to get up to walk to town, or to get breakfast ready.
This spoiled the holiday for me as I came back home more tired than before I went.
There are signs up saying don't feed the seagulls but lots of the children ignore them. I saw a few children trying to throw bread to the seagulls, which dived bombed the kids to get to the bread first.
The kids ended up dropping the bread and running. This seems quite a problem on butlins as seagulls have been known to attack people.
The town was only about 5 minutes walk, which was good for the early morning espresso coffee hit to get you going. After the early morning wake up call from the seagulls you need it.
The beach is right opposite the holiday camp which is brilliant for getting away from the hectic crowds. It's kept clean from litter and has soft sand which is the sort of beach I love to walk along.
Lots of people go to fly kites and windsurf.
You can pay for surfing lessons and hire jet ski's from butlins but I don't know how much it costs.
The shops are reasonable priced in town and the beer is cheaper than here at home, £1.60 for all drinks in some pubs and the food is good to at a reasonable average price of £4.50 for a evening meal.
We went to town to eat out as it's was too expensive at butlins.
The entertainment was very good and for family shows the reds was good, I like the way they included the children and got them onstage to either join in games or sing, this was a good place to go to watch a show as it was clean and lively. It was always packed out so you had to go early to get a seat.
The same went for the other theatre and the shows were very good, after a few drinks you could really get into sitting there and watching the entertainment, you can see the kids love it too as they run around excited.
The karaoke bar was a laugh, as the redcoats pop in all the time to jump onto the stage and sing, after a few drinks you can feel yourself thinking about getting the song book to have a go but I'm not that brave.
The redcoats are brilliant, they always chat when they pass you to ask if your ok and having a good time. You can stop them and ask what shows are on or where to go to eat or how to find something, they wander around smiling and laughing with people and they have a great way with the kids.
Butlins also caters for disabled people and you will see lots of disabled people enjoying themselves at the camp, there are wheelchairs both electric and push along available to hire.
The camp is flat with no steps outside and into most of the buildings so you can get around with a wheelchair very easily.
The entertainment buildings which do have stairs also have lifts for wheelchairs and children in pushchairs.
I liked this about butlins as it caters for everyone.
It seems to me that the design of the place has been carefully thought about for everything a family needs out of a holiday.
From accommodation to entertainment, you can find it all.
I'm not sure if I'd go again, the seagulls dawn chorus put me off as I'm the sort of girl that stays up till 2pm and needs at least a little sleep.
The prices were too high, but now I know that I can shop off the camp if I was to go again.
I have signed up for their news letter via email, so who knows if they offered me another good deal I could be tempted.
If you have small children them I would recommend you to go.
My two teenagers were bored.
There was not a lot for them to do as at such an impressionable age it's not cool to play crazy golf.
Or go to the 13-16 disco where it's half empty. Apart from the fact that there's little kids there, as they told me.
The shows bored them, they were too young to buy drink in the pub and they spend lots of time walking the beach and going up to the town to cloths shop.
I do allow my daughter to drink alcopop as long as she doesn't get blathered and over do it.
So I used to buy them two each a night.
They'd wander around the beach all day, go shopping then go back to the bungalow and have a drink whilst watching big brother.
They did join in coming to the bar with us one night and we had a laugh at the people who couldn't sing on the karaoke.
They even found a couple of other teenagers their age who were also bored and unimpressed with butlin's, so they all wandered around together.
At 16 going on twenty five what else can you do?
Well, I think that's about all I have to say on butlin's.
I may go back and then again I may not.
|
|
