As I was going to be at TheMads we decided to make it a family break and take the children to Butlins, now I have never ever been to Butlins and the last time MadDad went was over 35 years ago, so I think we had preconceived ideas.
We stayed in the Shorline hotel and I have to say I was super impressed with the size and layout of the rooms. The boys room area had junior bunkbeds and a TV and DVD player, which showed children's TV channels. The room had a big fridge and also tea and coffee making facilities. It was perfect. The only issue we had was that our package didn't include breakfast and that would have been £30 for the four of us in the hotel, but that didn't put us off, we took advantage of the large fridge and had cereal and milk!
The first thing the boys wanted to experience was the pool and experience it we did! In our two days at Butlins we spent more time in the pool than anywhere else. We were wrinkly prunes, but the boys adored it and so did we. Maxi got to go on 3 of the slides as he was the right height and Mini enjoyed the children slides and also the white slide too. My only gripe about the pool is that there is nowhere to hang your towels in the shower area and we like to wash our hair after being in the pool. During the days we either spent our time in the pool or the play area outside. The boys didn't go on any of the rides at all, although they did spend an hour in the indoor soft play.
I have to say I was pretty apprehensive about the entertainment. I had visions of young children being entertained whilst the parents all had a drink and left them too it (not that there is anything wrong with that, its just not my cup of tea). Well I needn't have worried. The little ones entertainment is in the pavilion and there is a stage in the centre and a coffee area where parents and children can sit.
The boys had so much fun, they watched Barney, acrobats and got involved in all the drumming. If they are happy, then we are happy and as parents of young children neither of us want to have a hangover, so a nice coffee went down fine with us.
We ate at Papa John, which is a pizza place and offers a buffet service between 5 and 7, which was perfect for us and the children. It meant they could have as much salad and pizza as they liked (it was £7.75 for adults and £3.75 for children)
So my verdict, well I am going to leave it to Maxi this time "Can I live here Mummy?"
