I have to admit that before I became a mum, the name Butlins was barely on my radar.
Of course I was aware of the uniquely British holiday resort, but it never occurred to me as somewhere I would actually go.
Then the munchkins arrive and not only do staycations seem a lot cooler and frankly, kinder on your wallet, but the thought of a budget break where your family’s every needs are catered for sounds immensely appealing.
There’s a nostalgic sweetness to the Butlins web site, with its vintage-style snapshots conjuring up carefree days by the seaside.
I was instantly struck by the amount of family entertainment on offer, such as the February half-term line-up of Sesame Street Live, Dick and Dom and a Jackson 5 tribute show.
If you’re looking for Easter breaks with the kids, at Butlins you could enjoy everything from crazy slides at the famous Splash indoor water world to a host of Easter-themed treats including egg hunts, bonnet parade and spring farmyard visits.
Browsing the menu of activities — unlimited fairground rides, silent disco, fencing and appearances by the likes of Mike the Knight and Bob the Builder — I had flashbacks to the good times we had at Camp Bestival last summer.
And of course you don’t even have to cart a tent with you as Butlins provides a variety of accommodation from cheap and cheerful rooms to rather swanky looking suites and apartments.
The Gold apartment promises a contemporary kitchen with microwave and dishwasher, widescreen TV in the lounge and Egyptian cotton sheets on the bed.
And check out their new Wave Hotel and Apartments, featuring exclusive Kindle library, free wi-fi, interconnecting rooms and the Games Port, a separate room stacked with video games. My 7-year-old would never want to leave!
I also like the sound of the different dining plans available, with healthy options and buffet style catering — plus if you book early, you might even snag a Kids Eat Free deal.
Tasty.
Visit www.butlins.com to check out holiday offers and fun family breaks to suit your budget.
