vividventures

Hotel Review

Overview:

Jersey is a British crown dependency and the largest of the Channel Islands lying just 12 miles (19 km) west of the Cotentin peninsula of France.  The island is about 9 miles (16 km) across and 5 miles (8 km) from north to south.  From May you can book flights to Jersey with Jet2, including holidays from Leeds Bradford Airport.

Location:

The Club Hotel & Spa is offered by Jet2holidays and is located in St. Helier, the main town on the island.  The hotel sits in a quiet, yet central position five minutes walk from the town centre and just slightly further to the sea.  St. Helier is a delightful town with cobblestone streets and attractive squares creating a continental flavour.  With a wide range of high street stores, small independents, cafes and bars it’s a lovely place for a stroll.

Arrival & check-in:

We flew to Jersey with Jet2holidays from Leeds-Bradford airport taking just under an hour and took advantage of their free transfer to our accommodation.  The Club Hotel & Spa is a stylish 5 star boutique hotel boasting a Michelin starred restaurant. We were greeted by a friendly member of the front desk team who welcomed us to the hotel and speedily checked us in.

The Room:

My deluxe room on the third floor was stylishly furnished, of a good size and decorated in a calming, neutral palette.  With a large, floor to ceiling window the room was flooded with natural light and after a day of sightseeing I found it relaxing to laze in the comfortable armchair soaking up the last of the day’s sunshine.

The mattress on my king size bed was heavenly and I was fast asleep in seconds, tucked beneath the crisp white bed linen with my head gently resting on the soft, plump feather pillows.

All rooms are fully air conditioned, have large wall mounted televisions, mini bars, a well stocked hospitality tray, safe and iron & board.  The en-suite came with both a bath and shower, fragrant Elemis toiletries, bathrobes and slippers.

Dining:

I enjoyed breakfast each morning in the hotel’s Club Café where I helped myself from the buffet before ordering hot dishes from the waiting staff.  I varied my choices, one day opting for a traditional cooked breakfast, another soft boiled eggs and on the final day blueberry waffles.

These were all cooked to perfection and along with my essential early morning cappuccinos, a great start to the day so it is no surprise that the hotel has been awarded an AA Breakfast award.

Located on the ground floor of the hotel and with its own private entrance, is the Michelin starred Bohemia restaurant and bar which due to other commitments, I didn’t have an opportunity to dine in.  With its rave reviews, it’s definitely one of Jersey’s foodie hotspots and somewhere I’d love to dine on a future visit to Jersey.

The Facilities:

Pools and Spa: There’s a beautiful outdoor pool with a waterfall and a sun terrace to laze on summer days.  Indoors there’s a second pool within the hotel’s Spa alongside a thermal suite comprising a salt cabin, herbal steam room, Rasul mud room, sauna and treatment rooms.

Gin Honesty Bar: A cosy lounge where guests can try different gins from tasting notes.  Guests can choose and mix their own, writing down in the book what they have had with their room numbers.  Alternatively, for those preferring full service you can head down to the Club Bar on the floor below.

General: The hotel has a large car park so if you decide to hire a car during your stay, you can leave it on-site.  Wi-Fi worked well throughout the building and I found it to be fast and reliable.  With room service and 24 hour reception, everything is on hand to ensure an enjoyable stay.

Out and About:

Attractions:

Jersey War Tunnels – explore the war tunnels and discover the true story of life in Jersey during the German occupation.  Learn about the hardship, heartache and heroism from the locals who experienced it.  Dug deep into the hillside, the 1,000 metres of tunnels were occupied for five years bearing witness to the Nazi regime.  These tunnels have been brought to life providing an interesting and thought provoking self-guided tour.  I suggest wearing a jumper or coat as it can be quite chilly 50 m underground whatever the time of year.  Jersey War Tunnels.

Jersey Museum – discover the history of the largest of the Channel Islands.  Start with a viewing of the film ‘Story of Jersey’ then continue upstairs to follow the timeline journey of the island from its earliest days.  Learn about Jersey’s link with the English Crown despite the island being so close to France.  Jersey Museum.

Elizabeth Castle – this island fortress lies just off the coast of Jersey in St. Aubin’s Bay.  Getting there is an adventure in itself as you ride on an amphibious duck boat across the beach and bay.  The castle defended Jersey for more than 400 years and covers a 15 acre site.  Climb the ramparts for spectacular views and explore the museum and battlements to learn about castle life during German occupation during World War II.  Elizabeth Castle.

Mont Orgueil Castle (also known as Gorey Castle) – a medieval castle whose history stems from the Norman Conquest.  Follow the 200 steps to the top and be rewarded by some of the best views in Jersey.  Discover the hidden treasures and gruesome stories of castle life through information boards and murals.  If you time your visit for a Saturday morning (as we did) then you can enjoy castle top yoga with gentle breathing, stretching and mindfulness techniques in a stunning location.  Yoga in Jersey – Kalimukti.

La Mare Wine Estate – visit the island’s only vineyard in the parish of St. Mary.  Located in the stunning setting of a large 18th century farmhouse.  Book a tour of the vineyard which includes a behind the scenes tour of the winery, distillery and chocolate kitchen.  Sample generous tastings of their impressive red, rosé and white wines.  As Jersey enjoys a mild climate and sits on the same latitude as Champagne, conditions are ideal for the production of wines, especially sparkling.  Whilst we were there we enjoyed a delicious lunch in their fabulous Vineyard Cafe.  Their seafood platter with a glass of Rosé was just perfect for a warm, sunny day.  La Mare Wine Estate

Visit the Ecrehous islands – enjoy an exhilarating two hour RIB boat trip from St. Catherine’s Bay out to a small group of islands and rocks situated six miles from Jersey.  Although close to France the islands are part of the Jersey Coastal National Park.  Waterproof jackets are supplied as there’s a chance you might get wet during the 20 minute journey.  Cruise around the reef spotting varied birdlife, seals and if you are lucky bottle nose dolphins.

We didn’t see the latter, but enjoyed the trip immensely.  We moored on one of the uninhabited islands for 45 minutes to explore rock pools, stroll along the pebble beach and pick shells.  None of the islets have permanent residents but there are several fisherman’s huts scattered around.  The Ecrehous Islands are Jersey’s hidden secret and for a thrill seeking sense of adventure I’d recommend adding the excursion to your itinerary.  Jersey Seafaris.

Overall:

The Club Hotel & Spa is the perfect base for holidays this summer to Jersey.  Tucked away on a quiet street yet only a five minute walk from the centre of town it’s an oasis of calm on the beautiful island of Jersey.  All staff I came into contact with were friendly and courteous and with it’s well appointed rooms, good food and luxurious spa it’s definitely a winner in my book for a relaxing stay in the Channel Islands.

Details: The Club Hotel & Spa, Green Street, St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands, JE2 4EH

During our stay we were guests Jet2holidays and as always all views and opinions are entirely my own.

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