Tales of the unexpected with The Boy, my pride and joy.
There is such an abundance of activities and shows taking place during a stay at Butlin's that no-one could ever claim they couldn't find something to do! Sports clubs, outdoor games, funfair rides, soft-play, swimming, indoor funfair, bowling, a pool hall, shows for all ages and all tastes, the list goes on an on.
However, there are a few activities which take place which are quite easy to miss; the crafting sessions are one, and the other is a circus skills lesson with The Skyline Gang.
When the above guide plopped through our letterbox a few weeks ago, I actually squealed with delight.
More ridiculously excited than is decent for a grown woman to be, I've been looking forward to our forthcoming holiday for a very long time now. We booked it back in September, shortly after discovering that we'd been chosen to be Butlin's Ambassadors, and after a very long and extremely cold Winter, a week's break on the south coast is just what the doctor ordered! It helps that we'll be going with another Ambassador family (and very good friends) with whom we can enjoy what Butlin's has to offer.
I'm the type of person who works best in short bursts and with something to look forward to; I need to know that in a few months time I'm going to have this reward for our hard work, or that weekend break to look forward to. As The Boy is getting older, and therefore more physically capable, there were many options for Easter breaks this year, however we decided to book an Easter Butlin's stay for various reasons. One of which was the weather (Easter has been beautifully sunny for the past few years, and I'm still hopeful of a fair weather stay), and the other was the range of activities available, both indoors and outdoors.
New this Spring is the outdoor traditional funfair with a helter-skelter, carousel and flying chairs (there is an indoor funfair for younger children); The Boy is going to be in his element! It's just as well these are included in the price because I know we're going to be spending a great deal of time up in the air if he has anything to do with it. Other outdoor activities that we're looking forward to are children's play area, driving school, and adventure golf, and as the resort is right on the beach we can't wait to go and 'plop' some stones in the waves! Indoor fun is going to include bowling, indoor funfair rides and softplay centre, and the numerous shows (I Can Cook and Mike The Knight live shows, puppets in the Castle Courtyard, shows on the Skyline Stage, etc).
One of the reasons that I'm really looking forward to next week though is because I do want to show Butlin's off to people. Before I went to Bognor Regis for the first time in December 2011 I was under a misguided memory from my ten year old self of my year six trip to Pwllheli where we stayed in stereotypical terrached chalets. But that was in 1988 and times have changed (as much as I might not want them to have), Butlin's with it. The Bognor Regis resort now has three hotels alongside the traditional apartment or chalet accommodation, and offers a wide range of family weekend breaks which cater for all.
We'll be staying in the Ocean Hotel, which has a boutique hotel feel to it, in a Neptune room.
As you can see the 'room' (feel more like a mini-suite) had a main bedroom with a seating area, and this leads around to the twin bedroom, neither have doors but they do have enough privacy to watch television in an evening and not disturb The Boy while he is sleeping. The Ocean also overlooks the coastline (and therefore resort) and is a wonderful hotel to stay in.
There'll be plenty more detailed information from me in the next few weeks about the resort. I'm so excited!
When we went to Butlins for the Tots100 Christmas Party back in December of last year, I was pleasantly surprised at how it broke all my misconceptions of the famous holiday camp. Imagine Hi-de-Hi, big groups of lads or lasses on the razz, and redcoats with bobby socks. Well that's nothing like Butlins of 2012 (or 2011 as it was at the time) at all! The Bognor Regis resort had two hotels along with the normal self-catering accommodation and I didn't see a group of drunken adults there (apart from the Tots100 bloggers that is!).
As a result of our fabulous trip, I've had it in my mind quite a lot when thinking about British holidays, I enjoyed the entire trip and as it was cut short I felt short-changed in my experience. I wanted to go back! Which is why I filled in the application form at the Britmums Live! blogging conference in June to see if I could be selected as an ambassador for the brand.
Yesterday they announced the selected bloggers, and instead of the intended 20 they chose 40! And yes, I was one of them!
Hurrah!
So for the next year you will see a lovely bright red Butlins heart in my sidebar pointing you in the direction of the Butlins website. If you're considering a British holiday I cannot recommend them highly enough; the hotels are excellent and there is a range from family to boutique, there are activities for everyone (bowling, cinema, mini-golf, funfair, soft-play, swimming, adventure) including action activities or spa treatments, there is a range of resturants (pizza, pub, classic British restaurant) and they are always in the best of the British locations.
I'll be visiting them at Easter time next year and we can't wait to share all the fabulous family fun we'll have. Until then, thank you Billy Butlin!
