Having recently visited West Wittering beach in Sussex, which even in Winter looks utterly stunning, we headed to Blacklesham Bay on the hunt for fossils. There are 8 miles of continuous beach from East Head (owned by the National Trust) to Selsey. Blacklesham Bay is a popular spot for surfers, due to the strong winds, and families alike.
Being adventurous folk, we love the great outdoors. Of course the winter months do require a little more effort (and clothing!) but those cobwebs don’t blow away by themselves. Last weekend the forecast was for heavy rain but we were starting to go stir crazy indoors. Added to which POD was desperate to go to the beach. She’d been asking when we’re going on holiday every day since she broke up from school! If you took away the monsoon outside, it was the next best thing. Okay maybe not.
Last weekend we made an impromptu trip to the coast. With the promise of temperatures of up to thirty degrees, we left the house at the crack of sparrows in a quest southward to West Wittering. Set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, West Wittering Beach in Sussex is a large sandy beach located a stones throw away from Chichester Harbour.
We don’t exactly have a checklist for our choice of hotel on holiday. We’re not that organised, or anal depending on your outlook. However were we to sit down and think about it (which frankly is what we’ve done for the purposes of this post) this is what it would look like.
Unsurprisingly as parents our top priority for all we do these days is how it will impact on our toddler. Gone are the days of roughing it in the jungles of South America or sleeping under the stars in elephant camps in the hills of Northern Thailand. These days we require accommodation that provides at the very least sanitary and user friendly bathroom facilities and mosquito and giant frog-free sleeping arrangements.
Family Friendly
Anyone wishing to enjoy a relaxed and hassle free holiday will look to stay in a hotel that’s geared up to cater for their offspring. With notable adult only exceptions, most hotels will probably find a way to accommodate you at a push. However if you’d rather avoid the disapproving looks over breakfast as your youngster redecorates the table or decides to throw a wobbler in the hotel foyer, it’s best to seek out hotels that are inherently family friendly. Then you can look smug when someone else’s child plays up.
The Ocean Hotel, Butlin’s Bognor Regis
Butlin’s is positioned as a provider of quality family holiday experiences so you’d expect their hotels to deliver. The Ocean at Butlin’s Bognor Regis doesn’t disappoint. The moment we checked in POD was welcomed and we felt relaxed that she was expected to be seen and heard. She’s not shy at coming forward and will introduce herself to anyone hoping for an answer back.
This began with the Butlin’s Butler who was happy to have a conversation with her about Peppa Pig. (There was a leaflet in the foyer for Peppa Pig world which prompted debate.) He also made her a heart-shaped balloon which she carried around with pride.
This approach continued throughout our three day stay notably before breakfast and dinner at Kaleidoscope the hotel restaurant, where she was greeted by the staff and offered a colouring sheet and pencils to keep her occupied.
In fact all the staff we dealt with in the hotel were happy to interact with POD, from those manning the front desk when we borrowed a Donald Duck DVD to the maid who came to clean our room.
Clean and Comfortable
On the rare occasions we’ve pushed the boat out and paid top whack for a hotel room we’ve enjoyed the luxury. However the majority of the time we’re happy with a hotel room without the knobs and whistles but also minus any unwanted hair in the bathroom, stains on the sheets or uninvited guests lurking in the corners.
The PODFather once stayed in a hotel in Damascus that outdid itself in providing all three. In addition to the bucket sized hole in the floor of the bathroom that served as the toilet. Luckily he and the friend who’d joined him on the trip were able to fall asleep with the help of a soothing bedtime drink. (Bottle of gin.)
The Ocean Hotel, Butlin’s Bognor
Our home for our three days at the end of April at The Ocean Hotel was a Neptune Room which sleeps two to four, has a King size bed in the main room, twin beds in the children’s den and a balcony with a sea view.
First impressions were very good. The beds looked comfortable, the sheets clean and we even had a towel Swan to greet us. . There was plenty of hanging and drawer space, fluffy towels in the bathroom
along with free toiletries, tea and coffee making facilities and a TV in both rooms, so we could catch up on current affairs while POD conducted further research for her thesis on Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom.
Lack of sleep is the enemy of most parents with small children so as inviting as our King size bed looked the proof was to be in the sleeping. Happily we dozed like the proverbial logs before being rudely awakened by the Hello Kitty pyjamed banshee who usually appears around 0700.
Having left the previously cosy calm of the bed to complete my morning ablutions the bathroom delivered a hot shower with good water pressure (if you’ve ever tried to wash long hair under a dripping shower head you’ll appreciate this.) A cup of coffee usually kick starts my day and as there was the opportunity to make one immediately I indulged. Nice clean cups and an equally clean teaspoon.
During our stay the weather was decidedly changeable, we arrived in torrential rain and got sunburned the next day. As a result of this on our first night the pre-set air conditioning was a little bit cold for us and as we were unable to adjust it in the room we asked at reception about upping the temperature. This was done without question or fuss and with a quick and useful explanation that it was indeed pre-set on each floor. From then on we were snug as bugs.
Location
For a short break or even a week away we prefer to have all our destination has to offer within close proximity. In times past this meant choosing a hotel that was ideally located for the Wobbly boot on the homeward leg in the evening. . There are times however when you can be too close to the action as our holiday to La Santa Sports Resort in Lanzarote one Christmas demonstrated. Ever wonder how many Christmas songs there are? You’d know the answer if you’d heard the same festive CD for 6 nights on the trot.
These days our very active but impatient toddler is best served by having activities available almost immediately,
but equally needs to be able to get a good night’s sleep.
The Ocean Hotel, Butlin’s Bognor
The Butlin’s experience is designed to offer accessibility to all activities. The Ocean Hotel is ideally located to allow for swift access to the outdoor fun including the Helter Skelter,
Carousel, Trampolines, and Go Karting
with the restaurants and Skyline Pavilion just behind.
Indeed everything is within a 10 minute walk. However should you wish to chill out on your balcony or have a siesta this is eminently possible without distraction. And if you do wish to venture a little farther you have the added bonus of Bognor’s beach less than a 20 minute walk away.
Disclaimer: As a brand ambassador to Butlin’s, we received a complementary 3 night stay at their Bognor Regis resort. Opinions are our own. For further information about Butlin’s, please visit their website. You can also read the ‘What families can expect from today’s Butlin’s’ post here on PODcast.
At the end of April this year we took a short break at Butlin’s Bognor Regis. The arrival of POD three and a half years ago was, as expected a huge catalyst for change in our lives. Amongst these was the necessity to rethink future holiday plans. We’ve been lucky enough to enjoy some fantastic holidays over the years including trips to Canada, New Zealand and Venezuela.
POD turned three on Christmas Day 2013. Now we needed to look closer to home and incorporate activities that would keep a very active and outgoing toddler excited, engaged and ideally worn out by bed time.
We don’t exactly have a checklist for our holidays but wherever we stay we expect a certain standard of comfort and cleanliness (even in the jungles of South America). We also like to have the opportunity to enjoy good food and plenty of it. We are pretty self-sufficient and happy to work out our own itinerary and discover what our holiday destinations have to offer. However we do expect to be able to rely on staff to fill in the gaps if required.
The English weather is no respecter of holidays and we arrived at Butlin’s Bognor Regis on a distinctly miserable day. Despite the rain first impressions were good. We were welcomed by some very soggy but extremely cheerful Redcoats who directed us to our hotel car park and wished us a happy stay. The excitement was building in the car seat behind me.
The Ocean Hotel promises a premium hotel experience. We were anxious to check in and explore. Having earmarked the activities and shows on offer, using the brilliant Butlin’s app, I made a beeline for one of the Butlin’s Butlers to get it all booked in. Ten very painless minutes later we were all booked and headed off to our room.
Our home for the next three nights was to be a Neptune Room which sleeps two to four with a King size bed in the main area and two twin beds in the children’s den. The room was modern, clean and comfortable.
There was plenty of hanging and drawer space, tea and coffee making facilities, fluffy towels and free toiletries in the bathroom and TV’s in both rooms. Plus a towel swan to greet us on the King size bed. So far so good, we were damp but after a quick change and a cup of (Nescafe) coffee, ready to start our holiday.
Over the next three days we crammed in a huge amount of fun and a considerable amount of food. Thankfully the weather improved so we were able to take POD on the Helter Skelter,
the Carousel, Go Karting (The PODFather channelled Lewis Hamilton to secure a win) and trampolining outside.
We took POD swimming one morning at Splash Water World which more than lived up to its name. Under the impressive canopy of the Skyline Pavilion, POD raced up and down the four storey soft play area which is sensibly split into age groups to avoid larger children.
She got to meet and hug some of her TV heroes and heroines; including Angelina Ballerina, Scooby Doo and Fireman Sam
as well as seeing them perform in their featured shows.
During the day the 10 to 20 minute all singing and dancing shows had her transfixed and happily interacting where appropriate. On our first night we took in the 50 minute Scooby Doo show in the Centre Stage.
POD danced and sang her way through it resulting in a tired toddler ready for her bed, result! Top marks to all the Redcoat performers day and night for their enthusiasm – Shaggy had the voice down to a tee.
In between these moments of unabashed delight for POD we were fed and watered at the various food ‘stations’ available. Included in our stay was breakfast at the hotel restaurant and dinner there or at the number of restaurants on park. Kaleidoscope, the buffet style hotel restaurant offers more food than we’d be able to shake a stick at.
Good quality English fare. If you’ve come to the Ocean Hotel to further your food journey you’re in the wrong place. If you want to set you and your family up for the day with a hearty breakfast or end the day with a tasty and filling dinner you won’t be disappointed.
At lunchtime we enjoyed The Beachcomber pub which provides snacks or a more substantial meal, again good quality, tasty and filling food.
We also sampled the delicious multi-flavour combinations of the Scoop Ice Cream parlour at every opportunity. The crème brulee ice cream was a particular favourite.
Due to an infestation of Brownies (as part of the Big Brownie Birthday Centenary celebrations) we weren’t able to experience the culinary delights of The Deck restaurant which has a more varied menu including a flame grill with food cooked to order, a fresh pasta station and a dedicated children’s buffet counter with options from Annabel Karmel. Our visit also narrowly missed The Diner which opened a few days later to rave reviews.
Throughout our stay the hotel and park staff couldn’t have been more accommodating. In the hotel, on requesting extra milk to satisfy our milky coffee cravings we were instantly furnished with a fistful of extra cartons, no short measures here. The temperature in our room was adjusted without question.
The Kaleidoscope restaurant staff made a point of engaging POD offering colouring materials to keep her occupied and were friendly and professional (even when met with some less than courtesy guests unhappy at having to wait to be seated at breakfast. There is a clear warning that there may be a short wait for breakfast after 9am. It starts at 7.30am.)
On the park there’s no cajoling to enter competitions or being bombarded with things to see and do by over friendly bright coloured jacket resplendent youngsters. The staff are there if you need them and inconspicuous if not. If the guys and girls who performed every day weren’t having a good time they can look forward to long and fruitful acting careers.
Our four day three night break at Butlin’s Bognor Regis was an unequivocal success. We left feeling rested and frankly quite full from the amount of food consumed. Regardless of the weather’s attempts to put a dampener on proceedings we came away with an extremely happy toddler, who since our return has delighted in telling anyone who’ll listen about her encounters with Scooby Doo, Angelina et al and regularly chirps “we’re going back to Butlin’s aren’t we Mummy?”.
If you’re looking for a great value, fun and fulfilling family holiday in the UK, Butlin’s can deliver. For those of you with preconceptions of the brand put them to one side and give it a try. I think you’ll be more than pleasantly surprised.
Disclaimer: As a brand ambassador to Butlin’s, we received a complementary 3 night stay at their Bognor Regis resort. Opinions are our own. For further information about Butlin’s, please visit their website. You can also read Butlin’s Ocean Hotel Bognor – a checklist here on PODcast.
Three year old Sophia Jade Carr of Plymouth has been chosen from over 600 applicants to sit on the Butlins Board of Directors as she is named the official Butlins (High)Chairman.
Miss Carr has been recruited by Butlins to road test their Just for Tots holidays range. Butlins are keen to ensure the long-term success of the breaks, with 70% of guests already booked on to the 4-night term time breaks who have never been to any of the three Butlins resorts before.
Launching in April, Just for Tots are the little breaks with big adventures, where everything from the accommodation and food right through to the entertainment and activities have been designed solely with younger children in mind.
Miss Carr will be accountable for working up a number of recommendations for the breaks based on her experience, which will be implemented across all breaks moving forward to ensure Just for Tots breaks are curated by tots for tots.
The (High)Chairman will hit the ground running in her role, set to put star acts such as Thomas & Friends™ and Angelina Ballerina™ through their paces, whilst trying out Annabel Karmel’s new range of tot-friendly dishes.
Miss Carr will also be closely monitoring a number of key operations and putting them through a vigorous testing process that includes bounciness of the beds, cuddliness of the characters, splashiness of the water and slipperiness of the slides.
Chosen due to her leadership skills amongst her peers, often being described as ‘demanding’ and ‘strong-willed’ by co-workers (parents), Miss Carr’s résumé showcased her impressive capability to be both professional and fun. Miss Carr has the ability to laugh every minute and giggle endlessly, which will stand her in good stead when reviewing Butlins star acts.
Further evidence that Miss Carr is the perfect candidate is her extensive experience within the hospitality industry, having first-hand knowledge of the UK’s top attractions.
Of the new vacancy, Butlins MD Dermot King said: “We can’t wait for Sophia to join the team and shape the future of our Just for Tots breaks. Miss Carr has a skill set that will enable her to review and shape the future of our breaks with her ability to multi-task. We are sure that Miss Carr will add a different dimension to the board of directors and have a key role in creating our Just for Tots breaks.”
For more information on the Butlins ‘Just for Tots’ breaks please visit their website.
Disclaimer: This post is in association with our role as official ambassador to Butlins.
Recently awarded Gold in the Mumsnet Family Friendly Awards, Butlins is launching a unique short break option, designed exclusively for families with little ones. Everything from the accommodation and food right through to the entertainment and activities have been designed solely with younger children in mind.
Held during term-time, to ensure families of pre-school children can escape the holiday rush, these breaks provide little ones with the perfect environment to show parents just what they can do.
Stars such as Thomas & Friends™ and Angelina Ballerina™ will be part of a ‘free-to-play’ entertainment schedule where shows are repeated throughout your break with timings to suit early-risers and early bedtimes.
Helping hands are available throughout the resort too to ensure parents can spend as much time with their tots as possible – without the usual stresses of a family break. Innovations include:
Bespoke meals by Annabel Karmel MBE – to ensure parents never have to hear ‘I don’t like it’, one of the UK’s most trusted experts on feeding families, Annabel Karmel works with Butlins on specially-designed nutritious and tasty meals that will go down a treat with everyone.
Pushchair Porters – a unique service upon arrival to help parents transport their toddlers and belongings from the car to the room with minimum fuss.
Photocall ‘Firsts’ – photo opportunities at attractions around the resort where roving photographers capture the extraordinary moments that parents must not miss, from the biggest smile on the tot’s fairground to when they get up close with their favourite TV heroes
Nap-time Buggy Walks – customised quiet route maps to help little ones drift off through the landscaped gardens and out along the beautiful beaches that neighbour the resorts.
’Just for Tots’ has every hour of the day covered, entertaining little ones at every turn:
Drop-in style activity sessions and shows that are repeated throughout the break – so it doesn’t matter how long your little ones take to get their shoes on or finish their breakfast.
Butlins will be offering “learn-to sessions” so everyone can see their little ones achieve big things like learning to swim and ride a bike.
Wake-up activities every morning for early risers and bedtime stories with favourite characters to end the day.
A pool party for pre-schoolers in Splash Waterworld with the big rides switched off and replaced with water toys to create a calmer atmosphere for your ‘water babies’.
All their favourite TV heroes under one roof to cuddle and watch in specially designed shows that are shorter in length (perfect for easily distracted toddlers).
Everything happens within walking distance of your accommodation at our family-friendly resorts so you can wave goodbye to car seats and ‘designated drivers’.
The first ‘Just for Tots’ short breaks will take place from April 28th at Butlins Bognor Regis and Skegness, with 4-night Monday to Friday breaks running across all beachside resorts (Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness) until September this year.
For more information visit www.butlins.com.
Disclaimer: Post in associated with our role as an official ambassador to Butlins.
There’s nothing better than getting in the festive spirit and enjoying quality time as a family. It’s special for us too given our toddler turns 3 on Christmas Day.
If you’re looking to do something magical with the family this year, Butlins can offer you a guaranteed white Christmas!
It has Christmas themed short breaks at all three of its resorts – Bognor Regis in West Sussex, Minehead in Somerset and Skegness in Lincolnshire from the 13th December. Each resort will be transformed into magical winter wonderlands complete with all the trimmings of a Butlins break.
You’ll love the magical Skyline Snowstorm which takes place in the heart of their resorts at the Skyline Pavilion. Also included in your break is the Ice Rink and Winter Wonderland where every child gets a free gift from Father Christmas.
The Skyline Snowstorm guarantees a white Christmas and there are Christmas themed arts and crafts as well as a traditional family pantomime. Set around a giant storybook, with great costumes, cool sound effects and infectiously funny acting, you’ll see the tale brought to life.
If you’re there on Christmas Day you’ll be treated to a five course Christmas dinner so you can sit back and 
relax. No worrying about cooking or washing up!
You can enjoy live entertainment featuring your children’s favourite TV characters such as Mike The Knight and Angelina Ballerina. You can also make use of the indoor sub-tropical Splash Waterworld and traditional fairground.
Guests visiting over New Year will enjoy a New Year’s Eve party for the whole family with a spectacular fireworks display and live entertainment.
Christmas themed breaks start from only £41 per person, for a 3 night break. You can book online here or call 0845 070 4730. All breaks are priced per person and subject to availability. Entertainment may vary by break and resort and is subject to change.
Disclaimer: We are proud to be a brand ambassador to Butlins and will be taking a complimentary short break with them next year.
