Things to do in Jersey

[CushionsandCandles]

I have given up on our foreign summer holiday (which was rolled over from last year) and have spent the last two days miserably trawling the net for options and finally booked a week in a lovely self catering cottage in Jersey (fluke cancellation).
I'm nervous on lots of grounds.....
Should we fly or ferry?
Will it be ridiculously busy for a small island?
Do I need to book a hire car as they are pricey?
Or do you think we could survive on taxis and I've heard electric bikes can be hired?
Can anyone recommend activities, restaurants, places to go etc?
We have two children aged 10 and 12 who live to surf!
(Please tell me I haven't made a big mistake booking this.......)

Hi we've been numerous times and went last year. Had a great time. We are due to go back but jersey have stated that Scotland is amber so since I'm not double vaccinated we're not willing to do 5 days of our holiday in self isolation. They do have a number of red zones from the uk too so check that as even if you are double vaccinated if you live in a red zone you have isolate for 10 days on arrival! It seems much more complicated than last year when it was just a test on arrival!

We had glorious weather last year and it was like being abroad. There are numerous beautiful beaches and surfing is an option at St Ouen's but possibly others too. There is a fantastic zoo in Jersey and we had planned on doing the Jersey Seafaris this year if we had been able to go back. I've done Jersey War Tunnels a couple of times which are very interesting so just depends if your kids are into that sort of thing.

I have always hired a car in the past and enjoyed exploring the whole island but the prices this year were just ridiculous so wasn't going to bother and just plan through the buses or taxis. Our boys loved the pool at the hotel anyway and we could walk to a decent beach so a car just didn't feel essential.

Ps I would fly as ferry takes forever !

It can be busy but not overly so and the worst bit is the traffic along the front at St Helier but it's nothing like a uk city for volume. The speed limit doesn't get over 40mph.

Thank you so much

We went to Jersey a few years ago and got a weekly bus pass. The bus services were excellent and went to all the key sites. I usually drive everywhere but Tbh some of the lanes in the centre of the Island were very narrow so I wouldn’t have fancied driving anyway. Remember the island is so small, even travelling from end to end doesn’t take long.

We went to Jersey zoo (original conservation pioneer) , the War tunnels ( more interesting than you would think , but get there early especially if it’s raining) , the Castle (loads if nooks and crannies to explore rather than a manufactured ‘tourist experience’, a walk along the coast, a bus trip around the Island, Jersey pearl.

Hi!!!

War tunnels are a must. As is the zoo. Samares manor is nice for a walk around the grounds and the castles are great too.

Fly over. Hour flight ish depending on where you fly from.

Look into laneez surf school. Or little Joe’s for the kids.

My top restaurants are salty dog in st aubin. The muddy duck (also st aubin).

For pub food try the Tipsy in St. Peter or the goose.

I live here. So am slightly biased but it is beautiful. Send me a message if you want more info.

Lots of things for children to do - surf lessons at St Ouen’s (quite a few different schools), lots of child friendly activities and exhibits at the museums (the maritime museum is particularly good) so take a look at the Jersey Heritage site, Gorey Castle is great for exploring, Elizabeth Castle is worth a visit just for the boat trip out, paddle boarding, cycling around the coast, climbing at Les Ormes, go ape type activity at Valley Adventure.

Good restaurants - El Tico, Lazin Lizard, The Boathouse, The old Court House, Crab Shack, Oyster Box, Mark Jordan, Sumas, Noya Shapla - food is great in Jersey.

It’s never that busy, particularly the beaches (even St Brelade’s).

Fly not ferry. Hire a car - parking is very cheap.

Yes to the zoo and the war tunnels also.

That's all really helpful. Looks like we may have landed a good option!

Great cafes at the zoo and La Hougue Bie (a neolithic site that is definitely worth a visit) too.

Yes!

And the driftwood at archirondel.

And the hungry man in rozel for bacon rolls. Mmmm.

CushionsandCandles I’m on my way back home, it’s lovely here. I recommend visiting Brelades Bay. It’s no masks here except for on public transport and medical places.

I bought a pass that allows you to visit four attractions for the price of three so we did that and also went to the War Tunnels. The castles were really good, one included a little ferry trip to get there. We viewed a lighthouse too.

Just a word of caution on Jersey if you have already booked. The whole of Scotland is red and England turns read from 29th June. This means that unless you are fully vaccinated you need to isolate for 10 days on arrival (regardless of whether you test negative at the airport). Madness but there you have it.

If parents are fully vaccinated then children and adults only need to test at airport and wait the 12 hours or so until test results.

Oh and the second dose must be 14 days before you travel to Jersey.

Imagine this May scupper a lot of plans for British travellers over the summer.

England turns red that should say

This is a few posts down on jersey gov Twitter on the jersey.gov site

@Pootle40

Just a word of caution on Jersey if you have already booked. The whole of Scotland is red and England turns read from 29th June. This means that unless you are fully vaccinated you need to isolate for 10 days on arrival (regardless of whether you test negative at the airport). Madness but there you have it.

If parents are fully vaccinated then children and adults only need to test at airport and wait the 12 hours or so until test results.

Oh and the second dose must be 14 days before you travel to Jersey.

Imagine this May scupper a lot of plans for British travellers over the summer.

It’s a nightmare. Although apparently next week the gov are talking about making exceptions for travellers (which got us back into double figure cases in the first place….)

But it will kill the tourism industry

Thanks @ememem84 - when you say they may make exemptions do you mean in relation to islanders who go travelling? I haven't cancelled my booking yet but I think I will as there is no chance of 2nd vac in time and cases in Scotland are going up amongst the unvaccinated so I don't see jersey returning us green. We had such a fantastic time last year so very sad not to be returning

@Pootle40

Just a word of caution on Jersey if you have already booked. The whole of Scotland is red and England turns read from 29th June. This means that unless you are fully vaccinated you need to isolate for 10 days on arrival (regardless of whether you test negative at the airport). Madness but there you have it.

If parents are fully vaccinated then children and adults only need to test at airport and wait the 12 hours or so until test results.

Oh and the second dose must be 14 days before you travel to Jersey.

Imagine this May scupper a lot of plans for British travellers over the summer.

Thank you Pootle40

Thanks for the heads up. We are both fully vaccinated and kids 10 and 12 so my interpretation is that we should be okay?
I have been trying to book an internet shopping delivery for the day we arrive until we get a test result but can't seem to.
Is there a supermarket which delivers on the island?

Best thing is to be double vaxed and get a PCR test within 72hrs of travel. You can walk through the airport from a red zone with you covid neg cert then 👍

My dad booked his at his local Boots x

@CushionsandCandles

Sorry forgot to answer your groceries Q

Co Op do delivery and they are mega efficient. I can order in the evening on a Sunday and it will arrive 8:30 Monday 👏👌 Some sections are a little limited so you might look on OrderIt.je too (they’re speedy too but limited on different things to coop so I do both!)

jeshop.channelislands.coop/

@CushionsandCandles food delivery in Jersey is quite different to the UK unfortunately. The Co-Op delivers but I’ve never used the system so not sure how it works other than you order online: the Jersey Co-Op has a different online presence to the UK one. M&S will also deliver but you have to give them a ring to arrange. Again, you need their Jersey branch which is a franchise run by Sandpiper, an umbrella company. They have a website where you would hopefully be able to find the number. There are also large farm shops who will deliver; try Holmegrown.

@ememem84 not sure what you mean by exemption for travellers?

We went for a mid week break at half term to Jersey and stayed at St Brelades Bay.

We took the fastcat from Poole which was actually really busy but well organised. Arrival at St Helier was well organised with PCR tests quickly administered by a really lovely team. We then drove direct to our hotel where we self isolated for about 5 hours until our all clear came through. Luckily just after room service has been delivered for dinner!!

We had a great time - walks, touring the island in our car, delicious meals out, hired electric bikes (over 14 years only) and cycled for about 20 miles on them. Also did jet skiing, morning runs on the beach and just generally switched off.

Well worth the isolation period on arrival!!!

@TwinMum35

Best thing is to be double vaxed and get a PCR test within 72hrs of travel. You can walk through the airport from a red zone with you covid neg cert then 👍

My dad booked his at his local Boots x

I would if I could. Only DH has been double vaxxed.

@Pootle40

Thanks *@ememem84* - when you say they may make exemptions do you mean in relation to islanders who go travelling? I haven't cancelled my booking yet but I think I will as there is no chance of 2nd vac in time and cases in Scotland are going up amongst the unvaccinated so I don't see jersey returning us green. We had such a fantastic time last year so very sad not to be returning

This is something that’s being thrown around apparently. Just that there might be travel exemptions. No idea what though.

If I’m honest it’s a shambles.

Dm desperately wants to go to the U.K. to visit grandma. However she’s afraid of being contact traced. Dh was this last week so we’ve been in isolation because of it. Bloody awful.