Tag Archives: Travel Blogger UK Cheshire

Our Visit to Butlins Bognor Regis

December 14, 2019 By in Travel Tags: , , , , , , , 6 Comments

We visited Butlins Bognor Regis over the October half term break. It was our first time visiting a Butlins resort so we didn’t really know what to expect. We have heard a lot about Butlins Bognor Regis in particular, which is why we opted for this resort. I have previously written about our stay at Ocean Hotel in Butlins Bognor Regis so do have a read if you are interested in hearing all about the hotel and how we found it. Now for the resort itself, when we got there, our first impression was good. It is a huge seaside resort located in Upper Bognor Road, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO21 1JJ, and there were all sorts to do.

 

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The Fairground

The kids were excited to get on the rides, so that was our first stop. They had so much fun going on the many rides over and over again. We the grown ups enjoyed the rides as well. There were rides for everyone. My favourite was the Sizzlers and the Dodgems. The queues were not long at all, which was great. The only issue I had was the staff. Many of them didn’t look like they wanted to be there, which affected the level of service we got. There was also confusion on whether some kids could get on rides based on their heights. Some days they were allowed, other days they were told they were too tall or not tall enough. Getting on some of the rides was dependant on who was on duty that day, which was a shame.

 

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The Beach

We visited the beach and played there for a bit. It was fun for some minutes but there was really nothing much to do at the beach apart from taking pictures, watching the sea and playing with stones.

 

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The Spa

We couldn’t use the spa which was annoying as we planned to relax and unwind there at some point. It was fully booked with no availability for the whole week.

 

The Pool

The pool was fun. The kids really enjoyed splashing around and the water slides kept them very busy. We got there early so the changing rooms were not packed yet. It was all fun and games until everyone (including us) in a section of the pool was ordered out of the pool by the staff without any explanations. It looked like the staff were looking for something in the pool but they didn’t offer any explanations which was not good. I found the staff at the pool quite rude to be honest. Many of them looked like they couldn’t be bothered to offer any sort of help.

 

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Live Shows

This part was the most frustrating. We planned to watch a few of the live shows  That was the main reason why we decided to spend half term at Butlins. There were a few shows that week and we were looking forward to watching Sleeping Beauty and Paddington in particular, but we didn’t watch them. The queues were very long and there was no guarantee we would get a seat if we managed to get it. The thought of watching a live show with 5 children and not sitting comfortably put us off, so we didn’t bother.

There was the opportunity to buy extra fast pass tickets for the shows but we decided against it. Butlins was costing us a fortune already, and the extra cost of buying fast pass tickets for live shows would have been too much. You would think the organisers of the live shows will ensure there were enough seats for everyone, especially as it is not a cheap location for a holiday with kids in the UK.

We did manage to watch a few shows like Telutubies, Billy and Bonnie, Mr Men Little Miss and more. My niece enjoyed them but the other kids were too not interested.

 

Softplay

The children really enjoyed the softplay. My son spent hours in there and loved every bit of it. The staff at the softplay were really good. They were on top of everything in there and did a good job keeping an eye on the kids, as it was really busy.

 

The Arcade

The arcade kept the children busy. They loved the challenge of winning something and spent quite a few coins there. But all the fun stopped when we tried to retrieve what we got and we were told by the very rude attendant that our tickets have been used already. This was impossible as we only just collected it from the machines. The machines were obviously faulty or hers was but she didn’t look interested and she was very rude. I was happy I gave her a piece of my mind. If we really wanted to cheat, we won’t be cheating for sweets after paying a fortune to be at Butlins. I also witnessed her being rude to our customers, and I wondered why most of the staff looked miserable doing their jobs.

 

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Overall, I was very dissatisfied with our stay at Butlins Bognor Regis. It was far below my expectations and I don’t see us ever returning to this particular Butlins resort.

Have you been to Butlins Bognor Regis? How was your stay? Please share your experience in the comment section below. I would love to hear all about it.

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Thanks for reading this post. Have a lovely weekend.

Our stay at Hampton by Hilton Blackpool

May 31, 2019 By in Lifestyle, Travel Tags: , , , , , , 15 Comments

We just got back from our holiday. We spent our half term week in Blackpool and it was a lot of fun. It was our first time visiting Blackpool. We have heard a lot about the lovely place and have been dying to visit. It took us a little over an hour to get to Blackpool from Cheshire, and we enjoyed the short road trip. We have stayed in Hilton Hotels before, it is usually our preferred hotel chain so we kind of knew what to expect with Hampton by Hilton Blackpool.

 

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Check in and first impression

We got to the hotel for 3pm, which is peak time for check ins, so we had a short delay. There were 2 people at the check in desk so it took a bit to get the check in done. When we finally got the room keys, we headed to our room. We were on the first floor, so we didn’t have to go to far up, which was great.

 

What we liked

We got a room on the first floor with a great view. The view was amazing and we enjoyed it. I really liked the shower cubicle. It is a lot bigger than your average shower cubicle. We also liked the room size. There was plenty space for our luggage, shoes and all the extra baggage. It didn’t feel cramped like some other hotel rooms we have stayed in.

I also found a particular staff member extremely helpful. She was in the restaurant and she went above and beyond at dinner time and while we were having breakfast as well. I have forgotten her name now, but she made our stay very pleasant and I hope she gets the recognition she deserves for her amazing customer service.

 

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What we didn’t like

We found the room quite dusty. My husband complained about this and asked for the room to be properly cleaned on the next day but this didn’t happen. The room was still very dusty especially the curtain area and my husband ended up with a cold thanks to the dust.

The room didn’t have a fridge and there was no room service. This made our stay very uncomfortable as we had to go down for everything. I like having a fridge when holidaying especially with the kids. There is always a snack or a drink left unfinished we may want to store in the fridge. Also, room service is a hotel essential for me, as we usually prefer eating our dinner in the room.

There were hardly any toiletries left in our room. The bath wash was never topped up, but thankfully we had ours with us. There was also no shower cap, which was a pain, and only 1 toilet roll was left for a family of 4 to share on our last day. The towels were not white, they were cream and I didn’t really like that.

We also found it a little tricky to find a parking space as Hampton by Hilton Blackpool parking space is really small. But we found a good spot in the end.

 

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Overall, our stay was good. We enjoyed exploring Blackpool. I will be sharing a post on all what we got up to soon. We visited Pleasure Beach and Nickelodeon Park. So look out for my next travel blog post.

Have you ever stayed in Hampton by Hilton Blackpool?

What to pack for a hot weather holiday

April 26, 2019 By in Fashion, Travel Tags: , , , , , , , 24 Comments

The proper weather is almost here. We enjoyed some sunshine and a proper heatwave over the Easter break, which was very nice. The weather is not a bit wet and chilly, which is expected in spring. But last week’s heatwave has left me even more hungry for summer. I am seriously looking forward to the lovely sunshine and being able to show some more skin, but not the hay fever bit. Has it the weather treating you at your end?

With the summer holidays close in sight, I have been thinking of places we could go with the kids. When it comes to a hot weather holiday, you have to make sure you have packed the essentials, especially when you are holidaying with kids. Forgetting the important items can put a strain on your holiday. Spending the holiday money on buying essentials you have already at home can be very annoying. Which is why you have to ensure you pack smartly for your holiday.

 

 

Hot weather holiday image

What to pack for a hot weather holiday

Here are some essentials you will be needing for a hot weather holiday –

 

Sunscreen

Don’t forget to take Sunscreen. It is really important you protect your skin from the sun rays, especially when you are out and about in the lovely sunshine. Whatever you do, don’t forget your sunscreen, and make sure it is dry before dressing to avoid getting marks on your clothing.

 

Dresses

Having a couple of dresses with you while holidaying in a warm climate makes a lot of sense. Dresses are easy to wear and style up and down. I find them very comfortable in the summer months, which is why I take them on holiday with me in the summer. It also saves me more space in my suitcases. Instead of packing a top and a skirt or pair of jeans for a day, I just take a dress.

They are also multi-tasking, as I can slip a sundress over my swimsuit and seat on a beach or by the pool. I can also wear the sundress with a pair of sandals while exploring my holiday location.

 

The Right Footwear

You need to ensure you have packed your flip-flops for the beach and your sandals and flats for exploring. A stylish pair of gladiator sandal is always needed. Good to take more than 1 just incase. If you are going to be doing more of sitting on a beach, then all you will probably need more than  1 flip-flops.

Having the right footwear while on holiday is very important. Wearing uncomfortable or inappropriate can mess up your mood for the whole holiday. You won’t want to explore in sky-high heels for long, you won’t be comfortable.

 

 

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Sunglasses and Hats

I pack at least 1 pair of sunglasses for each one of us. I also make sure we have our hats. These are hot weather holiday essentials. Leaving home without them would be horrific. Always check to make sure your sunglasses protect against UVB and UVA rays.

 

Swimsuit and Swim Bag

I like taking a couple of swimsuits with me for myself and the kids so we have options. Our swim bag goes on holiday with us every time, so we can carry them when they are wet. I always make sure to give them a good rinse with some detergent after every swim to prevent chlorine or salt build-up while on holiday.

 

Go Maxi and Free

I like to wear maxi and free dresses while on holiday especially, when it is warm. They keep my skin covered and they feel very comfortable. Packing a couple of maxi dresses for your holiday is great. Go for maxi dresses with thin straps to show off your shoulders and back.

 

Do you have any summer holidays booked?

 

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