{"id":26751,"date":"2016-09-25T21:38:18","date_gmt":"2016-09-25T20:38:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chopsybaby.com\/magazine\/?p=26751"},"modified":"2023-10-03T14:45:51","modified_gmt":"2023-10-03T13:45:51","slug":"review-butlins-astonishing-family-science-weekend-september-2016-reviewed-by-chopsy-baby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chopsybaby.com\/magazine\/review-butlins-astonishing-family-science-weekend-september-2016-reviewed-by-chopsy-baby\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Butlin’s Astonishing Family Science Weekend September 2016 – Reviewed by Chopsy Baby"},"content":{"rendered":"

Astonishing, interesting and entertaining are three words I have never used to describe science in my life. Not, that is, until we went to Butlin’s<\/strong> in Minehead<\/strong> for a special Family Science Weekend.<\/strong> Hopefully, my children will now never equate double chemistry, physics and biology with dreary, boring and detention after a weekend in which clever, brilliant people brought science alive for a new generation of wide-eyed and totally engaged youngsters.<\/p>\n

So what’s it really like staying at a Butlin’s resort?<\/strong>\u00a0There are three Butlin’s resorts all in the UK. We went to Minehead, a beautiful location set on the West Somerset coastline. It has easy transport links for cars and is well serviced by public transport. The familiar Skyline Pavilion is a landmark that can be spotted on the coastline, even from\u00a0some miles away.<\/p>\n

Family breaks are exactly that. Butlin’s booking policies list specific terms and conditions to ensure that the right people are coming to the right breaks at the right time. You will never accidentally wander into a stag and hen weekend because the computer will always say no. Lead guests must be on the electoral role and checks on this are made. Security on resort is tight and safety is usually excellent.\u00a0The resort is clean, very well organised though occasionally rules can be very rigid.<\/p>\n

The great thing about a Butlin’s weekend is that there is plenty of activities for all ages and they are mostly inclusive. There is no need to pay out extra unless you really want to. Occasionally it can be more tricky if you have a child in the birth to five years bracket and one in the five to nine years. Interests and needs are different and compromise necessary when children can be tired and fractious.<\/p>\n

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\"Brainiac
Photo: Brainiac Live! Balloons, ear defenders and fire – a winning combination<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What’s the accommodation at Butlin’s really like?<\/strong> \u00a0Last year, to great fanfare, the resort unveiled a new series of chalets at Minehead. Don’t be fooled by the word chalets, for these modern apartments are lavish affairs in a village setting with lakes, landscaping and everything you could possibly need.<\/p>\n

We stayed in West Lakes Village, Gloucester 22. Boasting a modern kitchen, bathroom, patio doors onto a green and bedrooms you would wish at home, this is nothing like the rows of basic accommodation to be found elsewhere on site. It is mind blowingly luxurious and absolutely perfect for a week’s stay.<\/p>\n

It is of course expensive. But, if you are after that one holiday blow out per year it’s perfect. All year around. Housekeeping, complimentary toiletries and towels are included. We couldn’t find fault during our stay at all. Perhaps if nit picking, there was no chalk for our blackboard planner. \u00a0I’m sure some would have found its way quickly had it been raised to guest services.<\/p>\n

This outstanding accommodation does create a rather two-tiered holiday system at the resort. It’s a world away from the basic Surfers Point rooms which are functional, usually clean, yet tired. The Bathroom Door Handle Incident of 2014 which took place in one of these rooms has finally reached ‘funny story’ status. That is now the panic of how to raise the alarm from the toilet has alleviated somewhat. However, even these basic rooms come into their own if you are looking for a last minute bargain get away and would prefer to pay your pennies into extra activities rather than accommodation.<\/p>\n

Plantation Quay has also undergone redevelopment recently. The Gold accommodation looks nothing like its previous prison block design with outer metal staircases. They are now enticing holiday apartments with fresh colours and new play areas.<\/p>\n