Any recommended Jersey and Guernsey holiday accomodations? Any tips?

charlearose

did you go to there website direct i spent a week there in august last year in a double room sole occupancy for under 400
they must have upped there prices
try there sister hotel the appolo the raddison as well often has really good deals on if you book in advance

Lifeforms wrote: »

Looking on the Mayfair, for 5 nights in sept. £525! That's just way above my want to pay. As nice a hotel as it looks, too much

Now I'm spending a few days working out the actual days. I think it'll extend to 10 days basically, 5 nights and then 4, with travelling etc after. Thanks for all the help, Really appreciated!

Lifeforms

So I'm booked ferry wise, and am enquiring in a few places for accommodation Jersey wise, but does anyone have any recommendations of main places to stay, or good places they've been for Guernsey?

I'm looking for somewhere with a good bus system (ie regular buses, not one a day) and again not fussed about awesomeness, just B&B, couple of stars+ etc.

I'm getting a fast ferry over to Jersey, and a Slow boat from Guernsey. Reasoning is that I need to stay over night somewhere, so I might as well get most of the day on the island, overnight it to Portsmouth, then straight onto trains home via London. Saves me cutting it short with a morning fast ferry, then staying a night in Poole (again!) or London.

Are there any coach trips for day trips to France? I'm wondering how easy it is to just condor ferry to St Malo, and get to places, I think I went there before, and iirc it's a big hill up to the main walled area?

Tarry

Glad you are getting there now Looks quite regular with this ferry company: http://www.directferries.co.uk/manche_iles_express.htm I got lost in Jersey and found the terminal building, and it's not that fair from the main bus station.

Turkishdreamer

Resurrecting this forum, as seems the most appropriate in relation to my queries.

We are going to Jersey for 5 days at the beginning of October. Having researched travel, day trips, excursions, etc. It would appear to be better, cheaper to do your own thing. Is this the case.

Also there is something called a Jerey Pass, on the face of it, it would appear to be cheaper to buy one of these, rather than pay for individual entrance to tourist attractions. However, as we are going in October will this be the case.

Any recommendationre places to visit, etc, greatly appreciated.

Many thanks in anticipation.

Bo_Peep

Hi Turkishdreamer,

Hope you enjoy your holiday to Jersey! We have just returned from a week there in early September. We go every year so hopefully I'll be able to offer you some help.

We have never looked into trips or excursions - we've always done our own thing as we just like driving around and seeing what we feel like doing that day. One thing that might be worth doing if you've not visited before is the Tantivy bus tours. I think you can do a full day or a half day tour and visits to some attractions are scheduled. Sorry I can't help much more with that question though as, like I say, we've not done them before.

The Jersey Pass is good if you are going to cram in as much as you can during your 5 days. Beware though that once you activate it by using it the first time, you have to use it on consecutive days until it runs out. If I were you I would check first that the attractions you wish to visit are open in October as some may not be and it then might not be worth paying for the pass.

Do you have National Trust membership? The UK membership has a reciprocal agreement with Jersey so you would be able to visit Jersey National Trust properties free of charge, however most of the good attractions (Elizabeth Castle, Jersey Museum, Mont Orgueil Castle) are covered by Jersey Heritage. English Heritage does not have a reciprocal agreement with Jersey Heritage (I'm working on them!) but if you plan to visit Jersey again next year, it might be worth looking at Jersey Heritage membership. You would have to see if you could collect your membership cards from them in person as you are leaving for Jersey within a couple of weeks, I guess.

I would recommend the big attractions like Elizabeth Castle, Mont Orgueil Castle, Jersey War Tunnels, Jersey Pearl and Jersey Goldsmiths. If you are into WWII things, there is the Channel Islands Military Museum in St. Ouen that houses a large collection of occupation memorabilia. Jersey Lavender farm is good, but check opening times on the website first as the demonstrations probably won't be on in October. Jersey Museum is great for getting to know about the history of Jersey and the Maritime Museum is also worth a visit - very hands on and not at all stuffy. Corbiere Lighthouse is worth a look - don't get caught on the causeway though - watch the tides.

You can visit St. Helier to do some shopping, but don't get too excited as not much apart from the jewellery will be any cheaper than in the UK. You could pick up Le Petit Train from St. Helier and have a little trip with commentary along to St. Aubin.

Some of the parishes themselves are just worth driving around for the views. St. Helier is obviously the capital which has the harbour and the town; Gorey has a small harbour and is where Mont Orgueil Castle is located; St. Ouen has the dramatic Five Mile Road beach with lots of beach cafes and surfing to watch; St. Brelade has arguably the prettiest beach and St. Aubin is a pretty little fishing port with plenty of restaurants and marine shops.

Restaurant-wise it depends on your tastes. Loads of chain restaurants in St. Helier; a lovely Italian in Gorey called Seascale; a Harvester-type pub (but better) in St. Martin called The Royal; the Old Smuggler's Inn in St. Brelade for the best scampi and pub food ever; and plenty of seafood restaurants in St. Aubin.

Hope this helps - if you have any further specific questions, just ask.

Bo.

Lifeforms

I had a lovely time over in Jersey!

Had no problems at all, and all the things that worried me, just didn't materialise, or were able to be fixed before they were a problem.

Day trip to St Malo was brilliant, very close to get into the touristy shopping quarters, with lovely buildings, and eateries.
Found lots to do on Jersey, and I wish I had a few more days there as well. Everyone was so nice, and so helpful as well!
I went within the tourist season, and bought the Jersey Pass, as there were a few places I wanted to visit. Also at that point it was quite reduced online, though now it's not, so worked out cheaper for me.

Stayed in Hotel De Normandie, Havre Des Pas. Cheap, but more than adequate, great staff, good breakfasts, good accommodation, and facilities. (though I would recommend eating elsewhere in the evenings)

I'm guessing some places will be on different days/hours outside the tourist season, and things like the buses will be different. I would say life would be easier if I could've done a hire car, but no issues with transports, and would agree to take a couple of the tours. Did the half day, and thoroughly enjoyed it! The full day would've been so much better, and a lot will pick up/drop off at the hotel if they can.
The petite train was also worth it. Frankly the weather was stunning, which also made a big difference.

Places I went, and were worth it:
Lavender farm,
Jersey Peal,
Jersey War Tunnels,
maritime museum,
Durrell park.
Samares Manor
and quite a few of the smaller areas, not including some of the little town/villages to just stop and bask.

So glad I went, and had a fantastic time (also on Guernsey as well, I should add!)

I do have to say, sometimes going it alone does make it cheaper, but the experiences that I got with the coach tours, and other tours made up for the costs of them. Good drivers, with great knowledge on the drives around was a blast to do. They were well worth the cost. The full day one usually does stops (assuming they're running still in oct?) in a couple of attractions. The half day is the same route pretty much, just way faster, way less stops, and less time on the couple of stops we did do.

Doshwaster

Lifeforms wrote: »

Stayed in Hotel De Normandie, Havre Des Pas. Cheap, but more than adequate, great staff, good breakfasts, good accommodation, and facilities. (though I would recommend eating elsewhere in the evenings)

Yes, I have stopped there myself. Fairly basic hotel but for £26 B&B (including a big fry up) what more do you want?

Tarry

So pleased you had a lovely time