Not what you'd expect!
We first visited Butlins in 2011 when our son, Cameron was 4 years old as we knew he'd love the term-time break that specifically caters for under 5's with entertainment such as Thomas the Tank Engine, Bob the Builder, Barney etc. We chose Bognor Regis resort as we liked the look of the Shoreline Hotel which again is more for families with younger children. We knew Cameron would enjoy it but what we didn't expect was to enjoy it so much ourselves! In 2012 we went back to Bognor Regis resort and chose the funky Ocean Hotel that caters for younger and older children alike. Again, we were blown away by the lovely hotel, fabulous entertainment and general facilities and knew we'd be back one day.
When the third hotel The Wave opened at Butlins Bognor Regis we knew we'd love it but as Cameron was now a bit older we'd need to go in school holidays so that the entertainment was age appropriate. So we booked The Wave for Easter 2014 for 7 nights. As we were going for a full week this time, we chose a 2 bedroom apartment within the hotel and upgraded to a high floor with sea view. On walking into our apartment on the 6th floor we were blown away by the size of it! A massive hallway with lots of storage led to a smart bathroom with colour change shower. Next to it, a twin bedroom with views over the park, a flat screen tv, hairdryer and lots of personality followed by our room with Kingsize bed (very comfy!), flatscreen tv, another hairdryer and a balcony which went around the corner of the hotel and was also accessible from the living room. The open-plan lounge included a dining area and small but bright kitchen with all the mod cons and even a miniature dishwasher. The lounge area looked out over the park and the sea and although we were in a central position, the room was incredibly peaceful. A large corner sofa and an aquarium theme made it family friendly. A massive benefit with the apartment was the individually controlled air-conditioning in each room so the children's bedroom can be a different temperature to the adult bedroom and lounge etc. making sure everyone is comfortable.
On previous years we'd done the dining plan but this year we'd decided to opt for self catering. This didn't mean I did the cooking (although it was well equipped if you wish to), but that we ate in various places both on and off site. On site there are restaurants within the Shoreline and Ocean Hotels, an onsite pub with beer garden, a pizza/pasta restaurant, Turners restaurant (for a more upmarket feel) plus Burger King and a whole host of other snack bars. An American Diner was being built while we were there and looks set to be popular. A new addition this year was the ice-cream parlour which was certainly a hit with us. All the usual activities such as the huge Splash Waterworld complex, crazy golf, go-karts, bowling, fairground, climbing wall, zorbing, football coaching, archery, fencing etc. were on offer plus extra Easter activities. We enjoyed the springtime farmyard with lots of animals to pet and learn about plus the Easter Egg hunt around the resort.
Even though the resort was at capacity while we were there, it never felt over crowded (something I'd been concerned about with visiting in School Holidays). We got to see all of the shows that we wanted to and take part in all of the activities too. The popular shows did generate queues but we'd bought Fast-passes in advance (highly recommended) so we just walked straight into each venue before the doors opened to the rest of the holiday makers. In school holidays the entertainment goes up a gear and caters for all ages. The only problem is deciding which shows to see as there are so many to choose from in varying venues. We loved seeing TV favourites Dick & Dom so much that we went back later in the week and watched their show again! Titan the Robot, Scooby Doo Show, Wrestling, Pantomime, 3D Animal show, Olly Murs Tribute, Robbie Williams Tribute, comedians and bands were all of the entertainment we managed to fit in and there was much more than that available! The Bob the Builder shows etc. were still on for the younger guests by 7 year old Cameron is now "much too old for that" although I did see him sneaking a look as we walked past one of the shows!
Thoughtful touches such as deckchairs and picnic blankets around the resorts well tended gardens make it possible to have a family picnic whenever you wish. Happy, friendly staff on hand to help with whatever you need: Bicycle hire, character breakfasts, spa day at the Ocean hotel - it's all possible!
Our hotel was a delight to stay in and offered a peaceful haven after a day of activities and entertainment. The on-site Soho Café bar at Wave Hotel offers snacks, coffees, soft drinks and cocktails and is a great place to sit and watch the world go by while the kids play on Wii, Xbox, Nintendo DS and a whole host of other technical wonders in the games zone. Easter was made all that more special with complimentary Easter Bunny food to leave outside our door plus an Easter Egg left in its place the next morning.
Yes, Butlins is full on fun and exhausting at times but it's also home to modern, clean hotels at a high standard, an array of dining choices, entertainment galore and happy kids! What more could a family want out of their UK holiday.
I'm passionate about Butlins (and UK holidays in general) so if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask me and I'll gladly talk you to death!!!