Questions for residents of Jersey please

[wejammin]

Hello! We're visiting Jersey next week for a fortnight, there's me, DH, and kids are 10, 8 and 3.
I've researched the attractions and I'm hoping that we spend most days on the beach to keep costs down.
I've learned that we're there during the battle of flowers which looks fab but DC1 is autistic and I think would struggle if the crowds are really big. Can anyone tell me if the floats are parked up somewhere to go and look at between the day parade on Thursday and the night parade on Friday?
If anyone has any other tips or advice on best places to go or eat I'd be so grateful. I'm on a tight budget so good value is important.
Thank you 😌

Hopeful bump...

Hi

There is usually, at people's park I belive it is

If you're on a tight budget I recommend the beaches. The big touristy ones will be busy but if you have a car then check out 5 mile road (el tico, watersplash) as those beaches tend to be quieter than the main ones.

There's a watersplash park at Millbrook which has just opened

There is the zoo, amazin maze, the castles, the underground hospital to visit but none of those are cheap

Food wise, depending where you are staying there isn't alot of cheap restaurants but there are some really nice ones. The Merton Hotel has a lovely menu

Also the battle of flowers is a massive thing. Might be best to avoid St helier thst day completely if your lo doesn't like the noise as there will be hundreds there

It's been years and years since I've been but we always used to go after the battle of the flowers. The floats were always on show to look ay after the event!

Not local, but frequent visitor.

For a quieter/smaller beach I'd recommend Ouaisne. It has a small kiosk & toilets, and parking very close.

My other favourite beach is Greve de Lecq, but there is reduced parking currently so you may need to get there promptly to park rather than rocking up at 11:30.

Another less busy beach is near Green island.

A walk out to Corbiere lighthouse across the causeway is fun, especially if you get there as the tide is going out

5 mile road as mentioned above (St Ouen's bay) has wonderful splashing up waves of a high tide near the Watersplash bar which have always been a favourite with our children (and us).

The zoo is pricey, but you could easily spend the day there. There are very good keeper talks which are worth going to, especially the gorillas as it gets them all visible. The enclosures are good for animals, but that does mean you can't always see everything first time.

We have often taken out Jersey Heritage membership (which may work out cheaper than their offers they to for visitors), but that depends on your budget and interest. But it does mean you can come and go without then worrying about the prices. (However mine didn't like spending hours on beaches so we needed to do other stuff). 2 castles, Hamptonne farm, interactive Maritime Museum are all very good, (plus some other places).

I wouldn't do the underground hospital (now Jersey War Tunnels) with children of your age.

It's a shame that they haven't got the painted Gorillas or similar this year. The gorilla year (2019) we managed to visit all bar 1 of the 40. (The one annoyingly was in an area being set up for a festival and was out of bounds).

You could however watch out for millennium stones of which there are 12, but a couple are in very obscure locations. No doubt you can get a map of locations from somewhere.

I've taken my lot aged 15,11 and 7 to the underground hospital and they enjoy it

There's a massive park up at le quennevais off the railway walk as well with ice creams and food a d toilets there.

Jersey lavender farn

Yy to the heritage sites as well

Le petit train from St helier to St aubins

The railway walk from St aubins to corbiere is nice and then see the lighthouse

Gorey is a great place for fish and chips by the castle

If you have a car I would download the pay by phone app as thats what's used for most car parks here

The fair is over atm as well in people's park

Martime and jersey museums are very good and in town

If you like to go for walks, val der la mere, Queens Valley and St catherines are nice to walk

St Catherine's breakwater is nice for a walk round and epic ice creams are sold there

All else fails there's some brilliant geocaches on the island

& Keep you eye out for dolphins. We saw some off Corbiere a fortnight go.

Thanks so much! This is fab info.

Were camping at Rozel, it looks like the Hungry Man will be a good option for cheaper food. We won't be visiting any fancy restaurants but hoping for the occasional pub meal.

We're also spending a night at the zoo hostel before we leave (so we didn't have to pack up the tent at 5am to make the morning ferry!) And this includes free zoo entry so that's the last day sorted.

Thanks for the beach and playground info, that's the kind of stuff we'll be doing. I've budgeted for amaizin maze, one of the castles and possibly the maritime museum if they get bored of the beach.

All pubs are pricier than I'd like these days, but maybe because I haven't moved with inflation.

The Hungry Man is good, and St Catherines cafe is nice too.

The Royal at St Martins has an outdoor play area, as does Les Fontaines at St Johns, which also has a mini soft play. The Portlet Inn also has a soft play bit but it is completely the wrong side of the island for you!

How are you travelling? Clipper or the FastCat?

The pub at rozel is lovely not sure of prices but was there recently for drinks and the menu looked yum.

your kids might like the amazing maze in st Ouen - mine are 5 and 3 and we have a membership - it can get pricey though. but once in there’s loads to do.

(I don’t think we can take other people in with us on a Friday anymore (as it’s school hols) otherwise I’d have offered to meet you and get you in on “free friends Friday”. )

your 10 year old might like paddle boarding which I think you can hire from long beach at Gorey (the hungry whale I think).

maritime museum was fun with the kids last time I went. The museum maybe not so good but mont orguille castle would be ok. Or Elizabeth castle maybe.

I think there might be a deal for the heritage sites

www.jerseyheritage.org/explore/heritage-pass/

Thanks for this thread. I'm planning this for next year.

@ememem84 thanks for thinking of such a kind offer! Paddle boarding is a good shout - DC1 is mad on skimboarding so we're bringing our skim board which will entertain him.

@TeenDivided those pubs look great, thank you! We've got the car so happy to travel for a place that satisfies everyone's needs.

We're coming on the fast cat I think? The one from Poole. The overnight one was just too expensive for 5 of us because we would have needed 2 cabins.

Just seen from the link above that the pass is 4 for 3 unlimited for 7 days.

I'd definitely think about doing that. Hamptonne is a nice calming sort of place your 10yo might really like. You can take your own picnic in with you, but there are normally cows/pigs/chickens, an orchard and a woodland walk plus old farm buildings. It's a 2hrs place more than a whole day one.

Elizabeth castle you can take the duck over and back which is fun, but there is quite a bit of walking once there. The one o'clock gun is fun though (& if your 10yo doesn't like it you can wander away with him, or use ear defenders.)

Gorey castle often has things on such as falconry displays. More like a 'proper' castle.

Maritime museum - lots of interactive stuff. Can then go across to Liberation Square and see the statue too.

We've started booking in advance for pubs of an evening, it gives peace of mind, but only did it same day. The Watersplash is also good to eat at (avoid Fri & Sat nights VERY busy and noisy)

Ooo the Royal at at Martin is nice as is the 5 oaks pub.

Heritage pass is brilliant, try and get to Elizabeth Castle on the puddle duck

As you're out that end definitely go down to rozel Bay or St catherines

If doing the Jersey heritage sites check what's on when to go on the best days, e.g. Gorey
www.jerseyheritage.org/explore/whats-on/castle-falconer/ Tuesdays and Sundays.

Yes, agree the Royal is nice also if you are buying food from M&S at St Martin (nearest shop to campsite) the tearoom by the village green is also worth a visit. Plenty of parking.
When we were staying there a few weeks ago both the Hungry Man and the tearoom at Rozel had variable opening times, possibly due to staffing, so might be worth checking just before you want to visit.

Brilliant, thank you! The Castle Falconer looks fun.

Anyone know if any ice cream places do dairy free/vegan ice cream? DC3 is allergic to dairy.

I’m watching this as we are going across in September - our kids 4 & 2 by then

can you report bsck after you’ve been OP with what’s worth doing?

at the moment we are def planning zoo. There is jump jersey too at Les Ormes but not sure if that’s pricey or not

We thought the Maritime Museum was quite naff actually. However we did go on a wet bank holiday Monday when it was packed! But everything else is good.

The park off the Railway Walk looks really good and the Off The Rails cafe is now a reasonably priced pizzeria, but it's small so book ahead and it might be a bit noisy. If you are happy to eat your main meal at lunchtime there are lots of kiosks that do really nice food and it is cheaper than eating at night.

Jersey isn't busy though and the "busy" beaches like St Brelades still have loads of space on them. The Battle of Flowers is a huge thing as a pp said so good to avoid but other than that, you won't be overwhelmed with people anywhere. Jersey also has a junior parkrun (I think in St Helier) (and a 5k one, but the 5k one is almost as far from Rozel as it is possible to get but if you have a car it's not an issue (we tend to rely on the buses but they've been struggling for drivers and the service has been cut)).

Enjoy. I bet you'll be back next year!

Agree with others, if you've already got a castle and maybe the maritime museum pegged then if you can stretch to the price of one more the Heritage Pass gives you unlimited access to 4 sites.

There's also the Jersey Duchess which is a boat doing 2 hour tours of the south coast everyday, really informative commentary and they've seen dolphins quite a lot recently.

The Battle of Flowers floats are usually parked on Millbrook Playing Fields between the two parades so you can go see them close up. It's at the Western end of 'the avenue' which is the only stretch of dual carriageway, running out of town.

There's a fair at People's Park until the night of Moonlight Parade, might be a bit much for DC1 of an evening but aside from Battle of Flowers day itself it'll be a lot quieter in the afternoon, it opens at 2pm daily I think.

Not sure if anyone mentioned but there's a new water / splash play area in Millbrook Park too, may be a bit young for your older two, but good fun for the little one, it's right beside where the Battle Floats will be.

To the PP who mentioned the gorillas, they're doing it again next year but with Tortoises

Vegan ice cream at St Catherine's apparently: www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g186230-d3439692-r667184143-The_Breakwater_Cafe-Jersey_Channel_Islands.html]]

So glad you are going go the Zoo, it is the best place over here, and Rozel is beautiful. Check Ransoms Garden Centre. It is nearby and the tearoom is lovely - the menu is online. Gorey Castle is also close and worth a visit.