Butlins, Skegness Review

Overall Rating

Spa, pool, layout, free rides, Hire staff.

could be closer to skegness, meal prices could be cheaper, bowling after 12pm extortionate

We arrived on the 26th June and we travelled as a family of 5. 4 adults and 1 infant of 16 months. On self-catering Silver.

The accommodation was clean, tidy, lots of dishes, pots and pans. But take a chopping board and a wooden spoon, then your set. It did feel damp but with our accom being next to the sea, it meant it took the full force of the sea mists which, unless butlins pay to put a de-humidifier in each apartment, which could end up pointless, its to be expected. You did get used to it and it quickly disappeared on a warm clear day.

I would say the only down side I found was at check in (which we expected to be busy) we were given a 2nd floor shallay. While I have no problem with the stairs, the 1st flight is on the outside and the 2nd are on the inside, through your main door. But there is nothing at the top to stop infants and toddlers falling down them. And as we were travelling with an infant I would have expected them to think that part through. But we just made sure doors were always closed and managed.

The pool was fantastic. We went twice but didn ' t realise the 2nd time that toddlers/infants didn ' t have to stay in the toddler area. There was much to do and its nice to take little ones round the rapids (gentle) and keep the family together which I found my toddler loved. I would say for what is free the price is great. We booked 9 months in advance to take advantage of the 50% discount so got 1 week for £120.50 per head inc. insurance. Very good.

There is a soft play area, its almost hidden but will worth finding for toddlers. With so much out of bounds for children that young its one place they can go mad while you follow them.

A special shout for the hire staff. I was amazed by them. We took a DVD player for the evenings, as we didn ' t want to go to reds or centre stage. Am sure the entertainment was good but we wanted to save money of booze so brought our own and had nights in with cards and film. But while they are slowly changing all the TV's to digital, ours wasn ' t yet and didn ' t have a scart so the hire staff, who had stopped renting dvd tv's, rented us a tv for the day price, for a week. Extremely impressed.

Prices varied. Lunch could be expensive but drinks weren ' t too bad. Ice cream was good value I felt and there was a restaurant with all you could eat pizza and pasta for £7 per head. We did stuff ourselves one night LOL. The supermarket was reasonable. Tho they did have their expensive things. £1.09 for 2 iced finger buns is rather pricey.

Ingoldmils is a short walk down the pier. Well worth a visit. And carry on to the next village, a short walk but delightful for a short trip.

Skegness is further then you think. We walked over half way but gave up in the end and took the bus. I would recommend trying to walk it. Its a very nice walk in the sunshine and I loved walking all we could as we were eating so much ice-cream.

There are lots of shops in skegness, I lovely town. The seal sanctuary is well worth a visit. Seems pricey to get in at £6.50 per adult, but the kids will love all the seals, alligators, butterflies, flamingos and the petting zoo where you can feed the goats and sheep. (And give them a good stroke while you do)

The fish and chips is cheaper closer to the sea front and nicer from the round a about just b4.

Butlins has a cinema, bowling, pool, laser tag. all at cost but you can enjoy all of those for £10 a head, which when priced separate its £5, £4.75, £3 and £3 that ' s a great deal. But there is a bowling deal of 1 hour for £12, no matter how many people, between 9am and 12pm. We found this good value.

There is a nursery. The 1st hour is free which you are expected to stay with them so the staff can be sure your children are happy with them. This has to be on a separate day to when you intend to leave the children with them. Sessions are from 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 5pm. Sessions are £5 for 2 hours and only 1 session per day. But if you wish to stay with your children, sessions are free and you can stay as long or short as you want.

We are hoping to go again next year but with an underoccupency charge for self-catering on families smaller then 2 adults and 2 children we really nee to find people to go with us. This charge is waived for half board but with breakfast from 6am to 8am and dinner 4pm to 6pm, this is useless for me and I would never pay. Am still in bed at 8am and like my dinner at 7pm the earliest. Stretch both times out by another 2 hours and think butlins would have more takers.

There is also a Spa. This is unique to the skegness butlins. The spa experience is £20 for 3hours and it was well worth it. Absolute bliss. Towel and dressing gown supplied, Pool, sauna, steam room, whirlpool, bucket splash, Atlantic storm shower and free tea, coffee and juice. If you can, to get away from the children for 3 hours of me time, an absolute must!