I'm making a comeback - but my money has gone missing!!!
I'm making a comeback - but my money has gone missing!!!
Member since:22.08.2004
Reviews:18
Members who trust:31
OK, I admit it - I've not been on holiday there, but i'm actually one of them rich ppl that live here!! Well forget the rich bit and then we getting nearer to it.
Thought i would give you peeps a bit of insider info on what to do and where to go...
Ist of all getting here - if you have small children do not travel by the condor fast ferry. Absolute nightmare. When i mean small, i mean between 6 months and 2 yrs... and never attempt to take a pushchair on board as this is a big mistake, also realise there are no lifts. If you are travelling with small children request when you book that they seat you on the lower floor otherwise you will be up and down stairs like nobodies business (Sorry for the little rant )
Anyways by whatever means you get here by remember that driving over here is not for the faint hearted. There are lots of granite walls and small lanes. And if you can't reverse forget it!!! If you hire a car here you'll probably get a fiesta they are the most popular although other models are available - you can even get a new VW beetle convertable! However i will now crash your dreams of looking like a posh resident in your VW beetle... all Hire Cars have a 'H' on the number plate so we can tell that your a tourist!! Driving over here is supposed to be the hardest place in the UK, You will need a decent navigator ( there is a severe lack of signs), be able to control your speed (max speed here is 40 mph, we also have 30 and 20 mph zones and then green lanes where max speed is 15mph, these lanes are usually quite pretty and out in the country parishes. Pedestrians have right of way in these lanes, and if you are going for a walk they are ideal..), as i said before you need to be able to reverse in small lanes and most of all be able to centralise your car in the road!!
Anyways where to stay? It all depends on what your looking for. If you've got money? Go for the L'Horizon down St Brelades Bay.. probably the best in the island and lovely views. If your young? Go for somewhere in St Helier thats where all the nightlife is and taxis aren't very cheap here. If your here for a quieter holiday i would try a small guesthouse somewhere preferably near a beach... just ask if it is near a pub because least you go and have a drink in the evening..
The locals - We are a very friendly bunch of people If you get lost we'll be happy to help give you directions. If you walk into a pub it will NOT fall silent and then everyone stare at you for the rest of the evening, they'll talk to you, give you advice on where to go, what to do etc Sometimes they might even let you into their round!!
We are also quite trusting, it is still known for ppl to not lock their doors (really must get my mother out of that habit!) veg and flowers will be sold on the road side... stuff you don't see in the UK.
Anyways I'm waffling - What should you do and where should you go?
Jersey Zoo - I would recommend this to anyone. Preferably spend most of a day there. Don’t expect to see lots of huge animals. we have none elephants/giraffes/pandas/zebras. What we do have is endangered species. Every animal we have is on the Endangered Species List. Also i should add it shouldn't be thought of as a Zoo... its a Wildlife Preservation Trust.
The most famous animals we have here are the Silverback Gorillas. Well worth a visit just to see them. (you may remember the story of a young boy falling into their enclosure and the dominant male looking after him about 15 years back?)
Another tip for the zoo - if your a large family it can be very expensive to eat at the dodo cafe. Much better to take your own picnic, There are lovely areas of grass that are good for picnics and kids playing. Invest in a cool box, leave in the car, then go retrieve just before lunchtime. Otherwise for a family of 4 wanting sandwiches, juice and crisps it would cost you in excess of £20 at the cafe.
Jersey War Tunnels (formerly Jersey Underground Hospital) for an insight into the Occupation.. It is the largest collection of information on the occupation in the island. It is ideal for a rainy day. Dont waste a sunny day by going in there! You will probably spend a good 3/4 hours there.
Go down to St. Aubins – lovely place popular with locals and tourists. Nice harbour to look at, go for a walk along the sea wall, have a nice meal I love the Temby nice local pub selling good food at decent prices. If you want to go a bit more upmarket there is the Salty Dog expensive but worth it. Lovely sea food. Or The Old Courthouse is good too. Take a look at the small gallery down there, lots of prints/jewellery by local artists. Go upstairs and have a look at the photos of Jersey, some lovely beach shots at sunset..
As for Sunsets – go and watch one. Best place to go is Grosnez castle (a ruin) in St Ouens. Just follow the signs for the racecourse and you’ll find it!
The 2nd Thursday every August is Battle of Flowers day – an annual event in Jersey. Well worth coming to watch floats covered in flowers going down the main Dual Carriageway in St Helier, big event with dancers and bands etc. Entry is roughly £8 each but that is for standing room only. Stand Seats are about £17/18
Also we have the International Air Display in September – where we get lots of planes doing a display over St Aubins Bay, you also have the opportunity to go to the Static Display at the airport usually the day before and after the display. The finale is always a display by the Red Arrows, but expect to see Hawks, Falcons, Nimrods, Harriers, Tornadoes and perhaps some wing walkers and some parachutes! Entrance is free to this event
This is getting quite long now so will wrap up… Beaches to visit? St Ouens Bay if you like surfing, try St Brelades Bay, but at the weekends can be very busy. You can always go to the quiet end which is just as nice where a few a locals venture! Head for the church and pop yourself down on the sand just in front of it. The sand is ok there but if your intending to make sand castles it does turn black the further down you dig… Rozel in the East and Bonne Nuit in the North both lovely little harbour bays. Can be popular with the locals. Personally I would advise you to avoid the beaches on weekends, as that is when most locals go down and you will have trouble parking possibly. It would probably be better to do some shopping or some tourist attractions.
As for nightlife in town? theres loads of pubs/clubs try SportsBar (by the bus station) and get a pitcher of Bubblegum. You'll love it.. Theres La Cala - just reopened, Fridays a groovy bar, SO bar, nice decor, good for an early evening drink, B-Bar funky with beds!!, CHambers - open till 1 live bands often there. You'll find them all there's so many!!
Anyways some good websites to visit for more info are:
NH Hotels, the hotel chain leader in Europe, with more than 300 hotels in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. Enter into our web site and find the best available tariff at all times
Advantages: Close to home, sterling currency, speak english, cheap booze, fags and jewellery Disadvantages: A lot of tourist areas closed in winter, poor road signposts
Advantages: Close to home, sterling currency, speak english, cheap booze, fags and jewellery Disadvantages: A lot of tourist areas closed in winter, poor road signposts
Aug 24th, 2004
exceptional by (2%):
very helpful by (98%):
