Advice on where to stay in Guernsey

[Flyingarcher]

Have booked flights! Now need a nice hotel. Four nights in total. Just me and want a bit of a treat - perhaps not just b&b - a decent restaurant on site for a couple of evening meals would be good. Possibly a spa as fancy a couple of treatments but that isn't an absolute must. Have been told the bus service is fab so not really intending to hire a car.

Any suggestions as to hotel/locations gratefully received. I do like quiet as well.

I've only been to Guernsey once for a long weekend, business related jolly - and to add to that, it was probably about 30 years ago

But we stayed at the St Pierre Park www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/stpierrepark just outside St Peter Port.

My favourite is the Fermain Valley. It’s a bit further out of town than the St Pierre Park but they will happily shuttle you into town (or to/from the airport) so it doesn’t matter. It’s in a gorgeous spot, has pool, sauna and private cinema (no treatments I don’t think) and good food in its restaurant. Lovely staff too.

Just seen from their website that the Fermain’s main restaurant is closed for lunch & dinner until May. When are you going?

Bella Luce is in St Martin which is a lovely parish for walks and it has a spa. It has a decent restaurant on site and there’s also a lovely country pub opposite called Les Douvres (that also has rooms but they’re probs not as nice as Bella but probs less ££). In that area (all within walking distance) there’s the Captains Pub, Hotel Jerbourg (good for cake and coffee with stunning walks/views nearby) and you can also probably walk to the Fermain Valley (which someone above mentioned). If you get there you can then walk into town along the cliffs which is beautiful and go via the Fermain Beach Cafe which is a lovely setting with good food (though check opening as it’s seasonal).

Someone above mentioned St Pierre Park. That’s nice, it’s spa is lovely and the restaurant -19, not Mint, is wonderful but it’s not in a picturesque location as such (though walking distance to St Peter Port).

If you want in town then OGH (has good spa), Duke of Richmond or La Fregate are lovely. Great restaurants in town: Le Petit Bistro (French), Tinto (tapas bar), Rosso (pizza), Red (steakhouse and cocktail bar). But do book. Octopus also nice but crap service. Coco Mini Brasserie great for coffee and croissants. Slaughterhouse is a lively bar but drinks ££

Hope that helps

This is brill. Am going in April and am ridiculously excited! St Pierre Park poss has the edge but did like the look of Bella Luce too.

@LarkDescending, I used to go to the Fermain Valley when it was La Favorita, then owned by Simon Wood many years ago with my late husband. We loved it, such a beautiful spot, with cliff walks. I love Guernsey, with its slow pace of life, and beautiful coast line, it looks as though the current owners have made a super job of updating it.

Rocquettes? Or grand mare if you have a car and are happy being away from St. Peter port.

Try to get a day trip to Sark - it is a beautiful island.

Jamiecooks has summarised it well, although I've found that the service in octopus has improved. The Hook is a good place for sushi.

Bella Luce is gorgeous but the pool at St Pierre Park is lovely if that appeals?

Fermain Valley is best of those suggested if you are looking for peace and quiet.

Agree about the day trip to Sark.

Thank you so much. Was thinking about Herm or Sark as a day trip.

Only there for four nights and five days - looks like they will be full ones!

Both Sark and Herm are fab. Not much open in Sark these days but have always found food at La Sablonnerie (little Sark) lovely plus gorgeous peaceful setting. Most people head to Stocks on Sark which is nice but I personally wouldnt rate the food.

Herm good - make sure you visit the little chapel there and Shell Beach (if weather good). If it’s a blistering hot day The Mermaid Tavern will be rammed with a great buzz about it - perfect for a cold beer or cider!

Another nice little lunch place in St Peter Port is Cafe Delices (near old market place and opposite New Look), think fabulous french crepes (savoury and sweet) though you can’t book. If you want Chinese then China Red is your place - just a short walk along the Esplanade from town and voted in top 5 Chinese Restaurants in UK I believe. A good Indian is the Taj Mahal (along the front near m&s) - the Patilla Beef is amazing.

Also in town good for a drink/views is The Terrace - not far from bus terminus. It’s outdoor and does nice Thai food too though is self service and very busy on a sunny lunchtime. Also worth a mention are Gusto (Italian near town post office but also do a take out express along the front) and a pub called The Swan (on St Julian’s Avenue bear to the big roundabout) - great burgers in there and pretty kicking on a Friday night.

Craft beer place called Golden Lion just up from Cafe Delices if you like craft beers and poss worth heading up to Copenhagen (by Hotel de Havelet so not far from Octopus) for a drink on their outside terrace if it’s nice as some good views there. Food a bit hit and miss there.

You can also do a Rocquettes cider tour and Annette Henry does walking tours of Guernsey. Also worth doing is one of the puffin rib rides. All should be easy to find on the internet.

Quaint little tea room out by the coast is Cobo Tea Rooms who do fab cakes. And a country pub out in St Saviour who do a good Sunday roast is Fleur du Jardin (spa there also - Lavender rooms). Also great for cake (and food generally) is The Kiln at Oatlands. There’s also Rebecca’s Chocolates there - hand made chocolates on Guernsey.

Not sure when they start doing it but lots of hotels offer, during the warmer months, “dip n dine” so you can use their pools and have a meal - quite lovely really. Some I can think of who do this are Fleur du Jardin, Penninsula, The Farmhouse.

Hope you have a really fabulous time!

Oh and sorry - The Beach House our at Pembroke do, in my opinion, the best carrot cake on the island!!!

Ps agree with PP re Hook - they also do other stuff in addition to Sushi and have had 2 great meals there recently

And sorry for the millions of posts but I am just so pleased people are booking to come to Guernsey. It truly is a fabulous place. If you like it and come back in the Summer look out for the Castle Nights at Castle Cornet - live music/theatre and you take a picnic - truly wonderful atmosphere.

And Herm also has two ale/cider festivals a year so if you came back with friends that would be a fun thing to do

@jamiecooks thank you so much. Am insanely happy about this. Am still massively dithering about place to stay. Old Govt House is too expensive. St Pierre looks good, has nice grounds and has decent spa plus treatments (although not the be all and end all) plus restaurants look good but no sea views ( obs). The Fermain looks lovely with the views but one restaurant is shut but then again, loads to eat elsewhere (Guernsey = seafood).

Dither dither!

DP and I are looking to visit in May, he has forebears buried there. It looks stunning.

Just looked at Fleur Du Jardin. More dithering! Just a bit concerned that it might be out of the way a bit (not really bothered about hiring a car).

Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh.

Wish someone would decide for me!

Yeah Fleur a bit out of way. Personally I’d stick to town or St Martin. Reckon St Pierre Park only about 30 min walk to town, if that. And the Spa is lovely. And 19 Restaurant is wonderful - the cheese beignets as a starter and their treacle tart dessert - OMG!!!

If you like seafood La Nautique restaurant is consistently good. Or Roc Salt (out in Vale) though apparently under new management with a new menu so no idea what it might be like! Oh and I’d highly recommend Richmond Kiosk (a little beach kiosk out at Vazon) for a bacon buttie or a currywurst and chips!

I've stayed in a few hotels in St Peter Port with work - my favourite is Duke of Normandie, especially if you can get a room around the courtyard. Have also stayed at the Moore's Best Western (great location but a little dated) and Duke of Richmond

The other restaurant at Fermain valley is still open. It’s called Buho and is a Mexican restaurant. Really nice. So there would still be a restaurant on site. Fermain valley is also on the bus route to down I think it’s about 6-7 mins on the bus to town (or a very lovely walk all down hill. Then get the bus back UP the hill)

Fermain is lovely and the best views too

Bella Luce also very expensive so will rule that out.

Nice decisions to be making though! Like the look of The De Havalet.

Hotel de Havelet is lovely and a cracking location for town.

Had a superb meal at Hook last night so would definitely recommend.

I've booked the St Pierre as it was the cheapest for decent sized room. So looking forward to it as work is mad busy and I am trying to fight off fatigue coming back.