Family Holiday in Sri Lanka - 5 Top Places to Visit

Photo by Rajiv Perera on Unsplash

When I was a child and I'd dream, my Mum would always tell me 'there is a whole world out there to explore Michelle' and now I realise how right she is. As a teen and then in my twenties I kept my travels safe and pretty domestic, mainly travelling within Europe but then the beginning of this decade saw me taking some life-changing trips to Ethiopia, the USA and Belarus, and now my eyes are open and I want to see more and more places.

I often spend quiet afternoons at home researching new destinations and dreaming of where we will visit in the future. Of course there are now three tweens/ teens to be factored in to our travel plans but that's OK, I find them really great companions to go on adventures with.

One of the destinations I have been musing just recently is Sri Lanka, which is around a ten hour plane journey from the UK. The island is small enough that you can fully cover it in a two week holiday and it has fantastic diversity, from heritage sites that speak of the country's Buddhist roots, to national parks with amazing animals and lush green tea plantations.

Family holiday at Butlins Minehead

If you read my other blog you'll know that we were lucky to be staying at Butlins in Minehead last week for the massive Christian festival Spring Harvest.  This week is of course a little different to a regular Butlins week but there are many things that are exactly the same and our family do holiday at Butlins when it is purely Butlins so I feel qualified to tell you a little about what it is like.

I'll start by saying that we love Butlins, it is not for everyone. It is pretty full-on and you can literally fill your day from the moment you wake to when you drop in bed so I would say to be careful and to pace yourself. This is supposed to be a holiday so some planned in down time is really important for my husband and I. Rather than just go with the flow we tend to plan our day ahead to make sure that we do those things that are top of the lists for our three children.

So what are our favourite bits about staying at Butlins?

I asked all the family and this is what they had to say -

The husband - 'I love the funfair rides, now our children are that bit older it is so much fun to take them on the dodgems and waltzer. The new funfair make-overs at Bognor and Minehead have been really successful'. of course the rides (with the odd exception) are all included in the Butlins experience too and that makes them even more tempting.

Miss M - 'The Skyline gang are my favourite, they do the best shows and are really friendly'  I wrote a full review of the entertainment available at Bognor last year and it will be very similar for each of the sites. We do always find the entertainers to be completely kid friendly and nothing seems too much effort for them.

Miss E - 'When I'm older I'm going to go to art University so I love the arts and crafts best' and here is an impressive line-up of crafty activities that your children can get involved with and most have no cost at all. of course if you make an expensive item to take home, such as a printed t-shirt then there might be a small cost.

JJ - He was torn in many directions as there is loads he likes but in the end he decided that food would come top of his list 'as it is sooo awesome'.

Me - Probably my favourite part is all the family going swimming together and being able to laugh on the lazy river, relax in the whirlpool and jump the waves, whilst the kids can enjoy the flumes but I also enjoy having an alfresco drink whilst the kids play in the park too. Or letting the kids go off with my husband to play the penny machines while I enjoy a latte and a good book.

In fact there is so much more I could tell you as there is tons going on at every Butlins, you won't be bored and you won't be disappointed I'm sure.

Disclosure: I am a Butlins Ambassador and I am being offered a break in May to review the Bognor Regis site. My family paid for this holiday but Butlins kindly upgraded us to Gold. I have not been instructed what to write and I remain honest.

It'll be snowing at Butlins this Christmas

As you know our family loves Butlins and we go to one or more of the resorts every year but we have never yet had the fun of going at Christmas time. Each of the three resorts are open with Christmas themed short breaks starting from 13th December.

It does sound like you will have a fabulous time if you choose to visit - you can enjoy everything included in the price of your break, there is an Ice Rink, Winter Wonderland - where every child will get a free gift from Father Christmas, the Skyline Snowstorm - meaning that snow is guaranteed at Butlins, Christmas themed arts and crafts, and a traditional family pantomime.

If you are there for Christmas Day you will all be treated to a 5 course Christmas dinner and of course this means that you don’t have to worry about cooking or washing up - perfect! Then those lucky guests who stay over new year will enjoy a fabulous party and get to enjoy a firework spectacular.

Thee will of course be all the normal fun of Butlins too, with the indoor splash waterworlds, fun fairs, Bobs Yard and loads of family shows and entertainment with popular characters such as Mike the Knight and Angelina Ballerina.

Christmas themed breaks start from only £41 per person, for a 3 night break. Book online at www.butlins.com/Christmas 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.

Don't be sad if you can't visit Butlins this Christmas you can still join in with their superb advent giveaway. Like them on Facebook and then keep an eye every day for the chance to win great prizes like spa hampers, theatre tickets or an Xbox.

Disclosure: I am a Butlins Ambassador and in May next year I will visit the Bognor Regis resort to review a family holiday. As a family we truly love Butlins and pay to visit each year as well.

Review: Butlins Minehead - Silver Bungalow

We enjoyed staying at Butlins Minehead over Easter and I was so pleasantly surprised by the standard of silver accommodation nowadays that I l felt I had to blog and share with you.

I have stayed at Butlins at least 20 times now, so I am no stranger to what they offer and one of the things I love about Butlins is that they are continually updating their accommodation, but I feel this last upgrade has been a real steep improvement.

Butlins offer standard, silver, gold and deluxe accommodation and for what we stayed in being the second to bottom grade I think it presents amazing value for money.

Have a look -

Things we loved -

• Modern furnishings
• Iron and ironing board in each chalet
• Newly refurbished bathroom with a great power shower
• Heated towel rail 
• Comfortable beds and really decent duvets and pillows (and enough of them)
• Comfy leather sofas x 2
• Good heating in the chalet, which we could control and was included in the price
• Large dining table, big enough for 6 to comfortably eat at
• Hairdryer in the drawer in the bedroom
• Towels were provided
• The kitchen is really well equipped with cutlery, crockery, cooking utensils etc - all of a good quality too
• You get a welcome pack on arrival with tea/ coffee etc and also washing up cloth, tea towel
• Flat screen TV in the lounge
• Really well lit outside at night time

 and a peek into the kitchen -

What could be improved?

• The outside of the chalets still do look very 1970's and some need maintenance attention, our door was a little rickety
• A couple of the wardrobe doors do not close properly, they are built in and just need planing off so they fully shut
• At times the TV tuning was a bit out and we had a bit of fuzz, however I know from our experience whilst I was there that if I had reported it to reception someone would have been round quickly to sort it out for us.

I can happily say that we would most definitely stay in a silver bungalow again, as the standard you receive for the price you pay is very good.

I'm rating the Butlins Minehead Silver Bungalow accommodation as 9/10

Take a look at another article of mine over on Mummy from the Heart, helping you choose from all the accommodation options.

Disclosure: I have a relationship with Butlins as I am one of their Mumbassadors, which means I will review their new hotel at Bognor Regis in May. However my family paid full price for this break and my review is honest and impartial. Butlins were kind enough to upgrade us from standard to silver accommodation.

All of the fun of the fair at Butlins Bognor Regis

In May my family and I are off to Butlins Bognor Regis to stay in the new Wave Hotel, I am very excited and the kids have no idea as yet that we are going but after our recent week at Minehead they are begging dh and I to take them to 'the real Butlins'. By that they mean the full Butlins experience, when all the shows are on. Often we are at Butlins as we are attending Spring Harvest and the services are limited at Spring Harvest request.

One aspect of the 'real Butlins' that we really enjoyed this year at Minehead was the traditional British fun fair. JJ loved the dodgems and the girls enjoyed the trampolines.

Bognor Regis should be even more fun as the funfair has just been refurbished and relaunched. There is an abundance of traditional fun there now and the ride I am really looking forward to enjoying is the Chairoplanes - that is if they are wide enough to take my bum!

there are loads of other great rides and attractions too - Carousel, Helter Selter slide, Dodgem cars, Paragliders and on and on...  I just know we will have a ball

Take a look at this short video about the new funfair at Butlins, Bognor Regis.

Disclosure: I do have a relationship with Butlins as I will stay at the Bognor Regis resort to review our family's experience in May. I have not received anything to post about the new funfair.