Cheap and Cheerful! (Butlins (Minehead))

Member Name: aflynn

Product:	Butlins (Minehead)
Date:	29/08/01 (2533 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good for kids, keeps them entertained, therefore keeps you happy!

Disadvantages: chalets are a bit tatty

We have just returned from a weeks break at Butlins in Minehead and we all had a fabulous time!

Booking

We booked our break quite late – about 6 weeks before we were due to go. The reason for this is because the longer you leave it the better the deal you get. Butlins offer some fabulous deals for late availability. Our break from Monday to Friday half board for 2 adults and 2 children worked out at £340.00.

Bookings can be made direct through Butlins or through your travel agent. You can also make travels arrangements by coach through Butlins and it can be cheaper than taking your car.

Butlins send confirmation through the post about 4 weeks before departure. This will show accommodation details and your check in desk number.

Checking in

You can check in on arrival from 4.00pm. They have moved the check in desks to the main pavilion now, which makes it much easier. Once they have confirmed your details you are handed a [pack that contains the keys to your accommodation and passes for the site. You must keep these passes with you at all times because you could get refused entry into certain areas.

Accommodation

There are different levels of accommodation at Butlins and these are as follows:

Studio

This is the basic type of accommodation. It is available for both half board and self-catering and you get a room containing the main bed and kitchenette, a bathroom and further bedroom.

Gallery

This is the next level of accommodation, which are more spacious. There is a living room and kitchen combined bathroom and bedrooms. There is an option for the Toyland supplement on this type of accommodation. For an extra £90.00 the children’s bedroom is decorated with Noddy wallpaper and Noddy bedclothes. There are two Toyland bumpers packs that contain toys, cups, videos etc. There is also an invite from Noddy to his welcome party of which a pho
tograph is included.

Deluxe

This is the top of the range accommodation that offers separate toilets, showers in the bathroom and a 28” television. The rooms are also bigger and include a patio area with its own garden.

We stayed in a Toyland supplement gallery apartment during our stay and although it was clean it wasn’t the best. The wardrobe in our room fell apart when we opened it! The cot that we had asked for took ages to arrive and then we had to move the bed in our room to make space for it. The apartment was quite damp as well, due to the fact that the windows were quite old and not double-glazed.

Self-Catering

We have been twice now using self-catering facilities and it has been fine. We have usually had cereal and toast for breakfast and then eaten out on the night. There is a brilliant pub called The Sun and Moon which does brilliant pub grub at a reasonable price.

Half Board

This break was the first time we had used half board facilities. When you check in you are given a table number for the half board restaurant that is situated in the middle of the accommodation complex. Breakfast is served between 9.00am and 10.30am and dinner is served between 5.30pm and 7.30pm. There is a set menu for the week but there are choices each day. Breakfast consists of cereal or fruit juice followed by full English breakfast, toast and tea. Evening meals consist of starter – soup or melon, main course (choice included vegetarian option) and dessert. This food is standard fare and won’t win any awards!! But, in fairness it is edible and Charlotte ate it (very important!)


Facilities

Now this is where Butlins comes into its own! For children ages 0-13 I cannot think of a better way to spend a holiday. If the kids have a good time then the parents have a good time and everyone is happy!

Skyline Pavilion

This is a massive canopy that h
ouses most of the facilities within the camp. It is good because it doesn’t matter what the British weather is like outside! There is a centre stage and there is always something going on. This area gets quite crowded especially early evening and there isn’t always a seat available. But the shows put on are good and the kids get to join in. Early evening is devoted to young children with puppets shows and Noddy’s Disco. Later there are cabaret shows that are aimed at a more adult audience.

The pavilion also houses most of the bars and restaurants within the Bultin’s complex.

Bar Rosso – this bar has open seating facing into the pavilion but is not near the centre stage.

Skyline Café – this sells the best cappuccino I have ever tasted!! Also sells snacks, filled baguettes etc but is very expensive.

Burger King – as in your high street version!

Harry Ramsdens – I’m not really a fan of Harry Ramsdens I find the chips too greasy and the fish too dry!! But anyway there is one of these!

Pinewood Studio Restaurant and Bar – We haven’t been in here because you have to be over 18 (we are – kids aren’t) but the food sounds ok but expensive!

Mega Treats Sweet Shop – the bain of my life!! Situated smack bang in the middle of the pavilion and a lure for all kids!

Treasures Gift Shop – this sells trinkets and a lot of Noddy giftware but is very expensive.

Kodak Photo Shop – you can’t do anything in Butlins without someone in a red t-shirt taking your photo, these are then displayed in the photo shop for you to collect – at a price!

Toy Box Toyshop – this comes in handy for buying pencils and colouring books for evenings before bedtime!!

Everyday's Supermarket – this is where you get your grub for the self-catering deal. Although it might be cheaper to
go into Minehead and go to the Co-Op. It is expensive.

Entertainment

There is lots of entertainment available for the kids. There is a puppet show that is on several times a day. Toyland is brilliant, it is a funfair for young children – all undercover with rides such as aeroplanes, train rides and there is a big slide. Most of our days were spent in here!!

Kids Clubs – the Red Coats run clubs for kids in different age groups those start from 5 years up to 14 years. We haven’t used any of these clubs yet because Charlotte isn’t old enough.

Red Coats

Now most of these are in there early twenties and are very good entertainers. Unfortunately they don’t seem to be too good with kids!! (Unfair maybe two or three!) There was an incident in the skyline pavilion one night – a small girl around 8 years old decided to puke all the crap she has eaten onto another girl sitting next to her. As you can imagine both girls were crying very loudly. The Red coat sitting nearest to them just stood there not knowing what to do with a look of disgust on his face! Well you know me I just went steaming in, I got him to clear up the little girl who had been sick (she had the least ‘coverage’) and I cleaned up the other girl. The scary thing was neither sets of parents were around. They had dumped the kids in the pavilion and gone off!! Luckily another Red Coat came to the rescue and took both girls off somewhere. Disgraceful!!

Anyway I need to bring this opinion to an end because the length is getting silly! So all I will say is that if you want a cheap and cheerful holiday in which the kids get entertained constantly which in turn makes them happy and ultimately you, then get yourself to Butlins for a week (Any longer could do your head in!!)

Summary: