Butlins, Skegness Review

Overall Rating

Got back yesterday from a week at Butlins Skegness. Thirteen year old daughter enjoyed it. 11 month old son enjoyed it but, he wouldn't know any different. Stayed in Silver apartment with bed and breakfast. Chalet floor was absolutely filthy - in the end managed to get it wet vacced, after son had come out in a rash all over him. Housekeeping supposedly came in each day but seemed to choose one item that they'd do each day ie. one day they might empty the bin, another day put a glass away. Despite repeatedly requesting they hoover, they never did. Even asked them to lend me a hoover but they wouldn't do that.

Didn't see one show in Reds or Centre Stage, couldn't say what they look like inside, queues began about 2 hours before they opened. Butlins staff didn't stop people from taking chairs from the Pavillion so they could comfortably sit waiting to reserve about 20 seats per person in queue. Maybe if they had to stand for 2 hours they might not be so eager to queue so early. Butlins should introduce a ticket system so each guest has a chance of seeing at least one show per holiday, as it was large family groups just took it in turns for one to sit outside for 2 hours to then get loads of seats.

A faulty car alarm was going off outside our apartment for 2 full nights and nearly 3 days. Butlins staff said it wasn't their problem - they don't take car reg. details as it would be too much work. A member of the security team said they couldn't make an announcement about it because 'it was against data protection', I guess every supermarket in the country is breaking the law then, as they regularly announce car registrations. He then questioned whether I work in a supermarket in a sneering tone - very strange man. I asked the people in guest services to print a note on their computer and photocopy it and give it the housekeeping staff to put in each chalet in Starfish Quay - they were supposed to be going in each one to clean anyway! This would also be an incredible amount of work according to them! The best they could do was put a note on the offending car - such genius, unless the owner was completely deaf, they obviously were not using the car on their holiday. In the end I went to the toy shop bought felt tips, paper and cellotape and put up signs in the main locations - including Guest Services where you can usually find more queus of people waiting to complain! Within 10 minutes the owner saw the sign and sorted it. In the meantime the head of security was on the case after 3 long days and tracked the chalet number using the town on the tax disc. No sleep for 2 nights and finally peace!

To sum up unhelpful staff, dirty carpets, not housekeeping as I know it, rude people, filthy changing rooms at the pool and I won't be back!

Members' Comments onAndiii's Review

• butlinphobic on 19th Aug 2009

  I found this review very helpful because...we had a similar experience ourselves a very dirty rude place to go and we paid (too much) for the pleasure my sympathies to you and your family.