Butlin's Holiday

This past week we’ve been to Butlin’s Minehead. 

We have been every year since DD1 was 2yo. I always thought Butlin's was an expensive holiday, and couldn’t understand how other families could afford it (and I still have that opinion if you come at certain times of year). However, we initially used our Tesco Clubcard Vouchers towards our first holiday, and we haven’t looked back since. If you go to Butlin's yearly, then you become a Bronze Member which gives you money off. We’ve found that Bronze membership, plus booking in the January Sales for term-time holidays (yet another benefit of HEing) means that we can afford to keep coming back each year. Usually we come during September, as the schools are back so the prices are cheaper, but the weather is still warm at the end of summer. Tbf to Butlin's, there is enough going on indoors that even if the weather is atrocious, there is plenty to do and not get bored. However, as DD1 is off to school in September, we thought we could fit in one last term-time holiday to Butlin's. I don’t know if we’ll ever be back again.

There are different grades of accommodation at Butlin's, and we’ve stayed in most of them. Our very first year we stayed in a silver apartment, 3 storeys up. Not the wisest move with a 2yo and a pushchair! Since then, we’ve always paid extra for patio (it’s only £15 extra!) as that way it’s guaranteed to be ground floor.

I would also recommend always going for the most expensive accommodation that you can afford. One year we managed to get into the Blue Skies Apartments, that look out to sea. That was lovely, however, we ended up all crowded in one room at night so wasn’t the most comfortable. The apartment was set up so the children were sharing the sofa bed in the living room, however I was still breastfeeding DD2 at the time, and DD1 didn’t want to be alone; hence we were all cramped in one room. The following year, the prices for that accommodation rocketed, so we have not been back.

Last year, we tried the new Lakeside Chalets at Minehead. They were great, and felt really big and airy due to the high ceilings. A slightly further walk back at night (but not unpleasant, and the whole site is walkable, so wasn’t a big deal), and our balcony was out over the lake itself. My husband wanted to go back there, but I couldn’t justify the cost over a Gold Apartment.

We have stayed in a Gold Apartment this year, as we do most years. We get 2 bedrooms, a bathroom, and a kitchen/living room, that comes complete with fridge, mini freezer, oven, microwave and dishwasher. There is a Tesco’s en route to Butlin's, so we stop there on the way before we check-in to buy food for the week. Though it may not seem like a ‘holiday’ if we’re cooking our own food, actually I prefer it to the dining plans that are on offer. We tried them one year, but found the times you got given to eat were too restrictive, and meant the children couldn’t do some of the activities they wanted to. So instead, we stock up on easy-to-cook meals and eat out a couple of times in the restaurants here. This year we have eaten in the Firehouse Grill which is a Nandos-esque chicken restaurant, and today we ate in The Diner, a 1950s style American diner that serves burgers, ribs, waffles and huge milkshakes.

The entertainment on offer is brilliant here. It’s all singing, all dancing, live action etc. (In comparison, last year we went to Menorca in an All-Inclusive hotel and the entertainment were miming to the songs.) There is always a choice of what to do or where to go. When the children were younger, we were running around here and there, keeping the kids entertained, and as it’s almost all included in the price you want to make the most of it. Now our girls are older, things are generally more relaxed. I haven’t even had to make my usual drink for the week! (You are not allowed to take your own drinks into the evening venues as there are bars open. However, they do sell bottles of coke on site. I have discovered that should you refill a 500ml bottle in your apartment, you can take those into the venue. And they don’t even check whether it just contains coke, or whether it also includes malibu…) The extra activities they want to do, though, does cost more. Today they did the High Ropes course, and I had pre-bought (because it’s cheaper to buy in advance) All-Action Passes which allow one free turn (each) on the Bungee Trampoline, Go-Karts, Crazy Golf, Bowling and American Pool. And I’ve not even mentioned the swimming pool with flumes and lazy river that’s included in the price, nor the fair ground where all the rides are free. And the beach is literally on the doorstep outside the resort, with the town of Minehead a short walk away.

This week has gone really quickly, and I can’t believe we have to be checked-out of our room by 10am tomorrow! The girls are sad to be going home, as they are at the end of every holiday. And I’m sad to think this may be our last Butlin's trip. At least I know the girls will look back at our time(s) here and have lots of happy memories. Who knows, maybe we will be able to squeeze in more trips here in the future?