Recommendations for Jersey

[gassylady]

Thinking of Jersey rather last minute looking to go in two weeks or so. I really fancy hotel (someone else to cook) but self catering ok too. 2 adults 1 or 2 kids.

Try The Merton, Peninsula Hotel and Westhill Country Hotel

St Brelade’s Bay and La Haule Manor both excellent.

Thanks busy checking things out

You'll be lucky to get self catering at such short notice (we book a year ahead!).
If you've young kids then anything at St Brelades will be a good location, or the Prince of Wales Hotel at Greve de Lecq which has a smaller, safer beach.

You are right I think we have come up empty handed trying to match accommodation and travel. Try again next year

Have you looked at the Radisson? I would have thought there would be some accommodation available, Jersey isn't Cornwall!

Radisson has great views of the sea and Elizabeth Castle.

No we really have drawn a blank for the combo of dates, number of people and travel. Perhaps next May half term instead

@gassylady

I know this was a while ago, but the summer school holidays really do get booked up early - a lot is gone by March. It's a lot like Cornwall in that respect!!

There's some patchy availability for this August, but more short break than full weeks.

Merton is great for kids, has a fab pool on site. Or Golden Sands in St Brelades is right on the beach - the family rooms sell very quickly there.

Try Les Ormes for self catering. It is expensive but there may be availability.

Or maybe the Oomeroo hotel (it’s in st Helier right near the beach). I’m not sure what facilities it has just thinking of hotels I know. (I live in jersey).

What’s the budget? Hotel de France might have availability - great pool and spa, the raddison is nice and central as is the Pomme d’or.

Premiere inn has just opened in at Helier too - nothing special but it’s there.

Second prince of Wales in greve de lecq - great breakfasts!

There are a few air bibs too which might be worth a look.

Camping/glamping at the zoo? Pricey but even if for a few nights it could be fun!

Or have you looked at staying In some of the heritage sites? www.jerseyheritage.org/holiday

Family stayed in the radio tower for our wedding a few years ago. Views are amazing.

Off the top of my head other hotels which might have availability (although haven’t been to them are)

Mornington hotel (in st Helier but opposite a lovely park)
Greenhills - in the country will need a hire car
Hotel cristina or Somerville hotel

There are a few guest houses in st aubin (harbour reach www.harbourviewjersey.com/) is meant to be nice.

@gassylady also meant to say pm me if you need any further info.

The next 2 weeks or so here will be busy as it’s battle of flowers (carnival) and the fair is here and the open air cinema etc.

Why we have a local on the thread, can you shed any light on the tree near St Johns which has cuddly toys placed in it which seem to change regularly? Every holiday we have fun watching for it.

@TeenTimesTwo ah the TITT! It changes weekly. No idea who does it but we love it. Ds is 20m and has started laughing at it.

It’s been there for years. We know someone who lives in one of the nearby farms and they use is as a navigation point. Ie first right after the TITT then other directions. 😀

TITT = Toy in the tree?

When I first spotted it the rest of the family said I was imagining things. Now we look every holiday. So someone must have such fun. (I imagine it being a grandad doing it to amuse grandchildren).

Yes - Toy In The Tree!

I feel so so lucky to live here. And always feel so happy when people say how much they love coming here.

Do you come for family visits or just holidays?

Just holidays.
DH has been coming for around 40 years and me for 25 or so. We visit more or less every year, either as our main summer holiday, or a half term break. Even in GCSE year we made it over for 5 days over Easter.

Favourites:

• zoo (we have membership, visit every 2-3 days when on island)
• Hamptonne, Houge Bie, Maritime & Tapestry (also membership)
• model plane flying sites (les landes and Portlet common)
• St Ouen's waves

@TeenTimesTwo it’s so nice to hear!! Thank you for coming to our lovely island! It is pretty awesome. I never appreciated it when I was younger but now I have ds I’m seeing more and more that I love about it.

Spent the afternoon with him at Anne port beach today (with dparents as I’m currently 39 weeks pregnant and am exhausted so need some help!) Anne port being around the corner from mont orguile castle. So much fun.

I love Jersey, I relax as soon as we arrive.

The only thing we have found is the eating places have gone more 'up market' over the years, so the light cheap snacks for lunch are harder to find than in the past.

DH and I put some stitches in the 13th panel of the occupation tapestry one year.

Any hidden gems for teens?

www.lesormesjersey.co.uk/activities/jump-jersey/ This has just opened. Literally this weekend.

Depends how old teens are. And how’s adventurous. Next time look up jersey seafaris and/or windmadness.

Seafaris do rib trips out to Les ecrehoes (sand banks about halfway between here and France ish). Which are actually good for whole family.

Windmadness do paddlebord tours, coasterring (I think). Gives a whole new perspective on the island.

We are ridiculously spoiled for food here. Most of the pubs still offer super good food at relatively cheap prices (for here).

I try and avoid the chain places. So no pasty presto or costa. Or Burger King. There are loads of nice cafes in st Helier. But they can be pricey for what they are but then it depends on what you have I suppose.

That looks interesting, though maybe not for our not very adventurous teen.

We have done Seafaris they were great (saw dolphins), planning to book the North Coast tour this time. Maybe also a trip to St Malo as we haven't done that for a time.

We don't do St Helier much, maybe once or twice over a 2 week break. It's more out and about other places. I suspect it isn't so much Jersey, more that DH and I haven't moved our price expectations with the progressing years.

Oh I love st Malo.

My recommendations for st Helier food would be:

Air mex for Mexican street food (near the royal yacht)

Park house (near Howard Davis park next to the Norfolk lodge hotel (I think...)) - Thai food. Best on island.

Other food places we love are:

The hungry man on rozel harbour - best cheese burgers or bacon Sammies ever - a client of mine came over and his taxi driver told him they do the best food. So after our meeting client wanted to go for lunch. He called taxi driver and we went there. In March. In the rain. In suits etc. Best work lunch. 😂

The line up on st ouens Bay - just a caravan type place. But so yum.

Mad Mary’s at bouley bay- do the best crab sandwiches.

Ooh and restaurant Porto. Best Portuguese food I’ve ever had. It’s behind minden street car park in st Helier.

Wow so many nice recommendations. Now I’m really gutted our last minute impulse didn’t work out. BUT lots to check out next year. How is the weather at May half term time - better than UK average?

Weather always better than mainland on average.
We have been in T shirts in October before now.

@gassylady weathers usually fairly good in May and actually probably less busy booking wise.

Depending on where you are in the U.K. too you may have a different half term to us. Which could mean less kids around here as they’ll all be at school!