Families' BlueSkies thinking

Butlins launched the scheme in Minehead in Somerset

When you can buy a holiday timeshare abroad with guaranteed sunshine, what makes a family sign on the dotted line for a week at Butlins for the next 30 years?

The company launched its BlueSkies timeshare scheme at Minehead, Somerset in an attempt to attract people who perhaps would not have considered a Butlins holiday before.

The company said it was not targeting any particular demographic for their timeshare and believe anyone who enjoys holidays is a suitable investor in the scheme

BlueSkies offers holidaymakers the chance to stay at apartments near its main resort.

Families wanting to spend a week away at the seaside resort every May for 30 years would have to pay a one-off fee of about £6,000 plus an ongoing maintenance charge of £40 a month.

'Sea view'

Each year members of the scheme will receive an allocation of points. They can be used to buy a week in high season or perhaps two or three weeks off-peak.

The apartments which have one, two, or three bedrooms, are fully kitted out and have balconies overlooking the sea.

After initial apprehension, the Greenway family - with their six children - from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, decided it was a good investment.

Dave Greenway, 46, was persuaded to have a look for himself by his then fiancée and now wife, Amanda, 35, who had seen the development while on her hen weekend.

Mr Greenway said: "I wasn't really sure what to expect.

"I had visions of chalets, not being allowed out of the site, big events where 'you will enjoy yourself' and the larger-than-life red coats.

Amanda found out about the complex on her hen weekend

"But we came as a couple several years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it, now we are married we come with the parents and our children.

"It's only a few hours down the motorway to Minehead - you've got a nice beach and there is plenty to do at the complex.

"It's so good for the children - ours are aged between six and 17 and there really is something for everyone. They have a free reign and are completely safe to wander around the grounds.

"You don't need hot glorious sunshine to have a good time."

Despite the cooking facilities in the apartment, the Greenway's have opted to go half-board.

"We don't come on holiday to cook. The children like eating out and there's a big choice of things to eat in the restaurant.

"It gives them a chance to try out things we don't have at home," Mrs Greenway said.

'Hi-de-hi'

"I used to come to Butlins with my parents for about eight or nine years. Things were a lot more basic and things were not so clean then. The entertainment was very 'hi-de-hi' and there wasn't much for children to do.

"Now the children have so much to do on site or we can go out onto the beach and play cricket as a family.

"It allows myself and Dave to spend quality time together

"And it is so nice to sit down for a meal that you haven't cooked yourself," she added

Ray Smith said he liked the flexibility of timeshare arrangement

For the Smith family from Birmingham it was a question of economics. They had been thinking of buying a holiday cottage or caravan, using money from an inheritance but found this was not cost-effective.

"We were looking at renting a three-bedded cottage in Wales but this was coming in at £1,700 just for two weeks."

They also liked the idea of the freedom having a base would give them and the time it would save.

"On holiday the last thing we want to do is spend ages travelling to and hanging around in airports, said Ray Smith, a 49-year-old trainee church minister.

Change 'phenomenal'

"We don't like having to do things by the clock and aren't bothered about lounging around in hot sunshine," he said.

His wife Angela, 44, a full-time housewife, said the couple did not even need their arms being twisted by the salesman.

"The change here has been phenomenal - they've kept the best parts of the resort and added luxury accommodation.

"We're talking of leather sofas, flat-screen televisions and the like.

"But what we like is the flexibility we get - we can cook in the apartment and we can eat breakfast in our pyjamas if we want."