Butlins Bognor Regis

CrystalNici | Jan 3, 2011 |

4 Comments | Rating: 2

Pin It

Pros

Fantastic family entertainment, amazing amount of things for the children to do, staff friendly and extremely helpful, facilites clean and well maintained, plenty of choice of activities for all ages. Apartments clean and spacious.

Cons

Small bathroom and not enough coat hangers in the wardrobes or storage space for fold up clothes. Equipment in the kitchen was a little sparce, could have done with a sharper knife and a larger saucepan. Next time will be taking our own... or maybe indulging in half board!

Full Review

Well Christmas and New Year at Butlins Bognor Regis and what a fantastic experience that was. Although it seems expensive at first glance, the value for money was stupendous. The apartment (self-catering) was clean and spacious (except for the bathroom - which was a bit tiny). Upon arrival we were allowed to check in at the gold reception (due to being wheelchair bound and asking in advance - they were very helpful) where I was greeted with coffee and a mince pie. Into the apartment to discover that the table had been dressed with a tablecloth, crockery, cutlery, glass wear, crackers, a christmas card and a selection box. How delightful, what a wonderful lift at the very begining of the holiday. Once we were in and unpacked the children had been invited to go and visit Santa so we set out into the amazingly decorated winter wonderland. Enormous fir trees everywhere with beautiful lights twinkling in the dusk. fake snow adorns every surface, but the actual weather has cleared now leaving it warmish, but stunningly pretty. The children where ushered into a big room filled with people, a large screen tv, with christmas messages from the redcoats, and a wardrobe. As a disabled person I couldnt get into this part of the show, but a redcoat guided me to the next bit where I awaited my children, but I didnt miss much as the nippers where soon brought into me. They walked into the wardrobe, past the fur coats into a Narnia-esque landscape with a grotto in it. After a short sketch by a redcoat, Frosty the Snowman and Rudolf, the children where lining up to visit the man in red. Professionally photographed, which you could purchase later, they had no problem with you photographing or filming the event yourself. All three children received a gift, the 13 year old wasnt forgotten and received another selection box!

Christmas eve had myself and my daughter in the skyline pavilion at 11.30pm (we snuck out and left the husband with the boys!) drinking scrummy hot chocolate and participating in a Christmas carol concert. At the stroke of midnight they paused the concert and we received the first official Happy Christmas greetings of the day! It was truly magical.

There is so much positive to write about this holiday I hardly know where to begin! Christmas lunch at the Sun and Moon restuarant was a 5 course delight. They didnt stock decaffinated coffee, so the manager himself went to costa to get me some, twice and didnt charge me! The food was incredible, the staff super friendly and helpful, the table beautiful, the children happy and stuffed... bliss!

There were two enormous firework displays on Christmas Eve and New Years Day, I have never seen one so fantastic. I know it didnt really compare with the huge displays you see on television on New Years Eve, (or in person if you are lucky enough to go) but they were still incredible.

Outlet shops (to buy the swimming trunks my Husband had forgotten), places to buy trinkets for the girls, toys for the children. Somewhere to get your hair done or a fake tan. Amusement arcades galore, (we were all addicted to winning tickets by the end!) a bowling alley with pool tables (and loads of air hockey tables dotted all over the place - to my son's delight), eateries, (I can highly recommend the Yacht Club for a special buffet meal, reasonably priced, all you can eat buffet, with wine, squash and juice included in the price!) There was a cinema, but we didnt have time for that. The swimming pool was incredible and was never as packed as I imagined it would be.

And there is a nursery for the children, who were happy to take my eight year old for a couple of hours, even though he was technically out of their age limit, when I explained about his special needs.

Which leads me to the piéce de resistance, the Ocean Spa at the Ocean Hotel. For £19.00 per person we indulged in 2 hours of amazing spa therapy (I am going to write another review just about that), while the kids were safetly looked after. Hot tub, hydrospa, snow cave, disco showers, sauna and steam room. Free fruit and iced water, dressing gowns and slippers and products provided, all you needed to do was turn up with £19.00 and a swimming costume for 2 hours of unadulterated relaxation bliss. Truth to tell I was a noodle by the time we came out!

New Years eve at Centre Stage, listening to the Sounds of the Underground, amazing singing and dancing, followed by King meets Queen, a fantastic show with the music of Elvis Presley, and Queen, that paused only to go to the Big Ben counting down into the new year, balloons and silly string everywhere (small boys fast asleep on the floor - goodness only knows how!). Myself and my oldest daughter hoarse from shouting and singing, needless to say, it certainly beat seeing the new year in at home!

And so, now we are home, over flowing with fantastic memories and already saving for next Christmas. And if the children are a little reluctant to be going back to school tomorrow... well who can blame them!

In Closing

I would highly recommend spending Christmas and/or New Year at one of the amazing Butlins holiday camps, Bognor Regis in particular. For a cheaper break go self catering (dont take an iron, but do take a sharp vegetable knife and a wok!) Or for some amazing luxury and a real break go half board on the camp or at one of the super luxurious hotels. And dont forget to check out the spa, play some bingo and save those tickets. And if you are going for Christmas 2011, look out for a lady in a wheelchair, surrounded by three children and an exasperated husband. That will be us!

Did you like this?

Yes

Flag

Pin It

Comments

Jan 4, 2011 8:27am

tweetyp72
wow so glad you all have a great time,we go to butlins 2/3 times a year and went for christmas 2009 and it was the best ever.
my 2 boys had such a great time and as its also my youngests birthday on xmas day it really made it extra special for him too.
sadly we couldnt go for xmas in 2010 but we are saving hard for this year.