Premier Guernsey and Jersey Fly-drive

We’ve crafted this trip assuming you’ll depart Southampton for the short flight to Guernsey. Flights are available from a number of alternative UK airports and we can easily make relevant changes as you wish. Once on Guernsey, collect your rental car and within 15 minutes you’ll be entering the gates of your hotel.

Your Accommodation on Guernsey

Presenting a quite wonderful place in which to begin your trip, your accommodation on Guernsey overlooks the capital St Peter Port and is the island’s only five-star hotel. The last word in elegance and comfort, in this fabulous 18th-century structure you’ll find a hugely appealing selection of dining both indoors and out, a fine spa, splendid outdoor pool and sumptuous accommodation.

What to See and Do

Guernsey’s relatively compact dimensions cover just twenty-seven square miles, but within this you’ll find near-endless places to explore. Of course, the coastline is an ever-popular draw, its selection-box of hidden coves, intimidating cliffs and wide, sandy beaches easily explored on foot on a well-defined ring of pathways. Pack a picnic and a bottle of something special, find yourself a secluded spot and while away the afternoon. Capital St Peter Port has a pleasingly independent feel to its tangle of backstreets, filled with shops and cafes, all leading to its lively harbour and historic Castle Cornet. Not far away the remarkable residence of Victor Hugo stands frozen in time as the celebrated author left it. All across the island, evidence remains of German occupation during WW2, including the chilling underground hospital and coastal fortifications.

You’ll wish to take your time over the extravagant breakfast at your hotel, setting yourself up for the day ahead. Mid-morning, meet with a friendly local and take a gentle stroll of discovery around the island capital. There’s no better way to lift the lid on this endlessly fascinating place than to spend some time doing so with our carefully chosen guide. Home, over the centuries, to wealthy shipbuilders and merchants, Town (as it’s known to locals) enjoys an architectural mix of Georgian and Regency styles, enriched by Parisian influences brought by French emigres. Its busy harbour, terraces and gardens are sources of bewitching detail, all brought to life by your guide.

In the afternoon, continue exploration at your own pace, perhaps with lunch at a local restaurant, or choose to disappear into a book by the pool at your hotel.

An unhurried day to spend as you wish, perhaps taking to the roads around the island. With a speed-limit of 35mph (lower in built-up areas) driving here is a relaxing pursuit, so pretty much perfect for the unfamiliar visitor. And it’s virtually impossible to get lost, as all roads lead eventually back to St Peter Port. Potter your way around the coastline and you’ll find yourself never far from an ancient fort, a Neolithic Dolmen, a plunging cliff or WW2 fortification. We’ll provide enough information to help you make the most of your time.

An easy travel day ahead, setting off at a civilised hour and bidding farewell to your Guernsey hotel. The drive to the airport couldn’t be simpler, dropping your rental car and checking in for the 20-minute flight to Jersey. Keep your camera handy to capture some of the wonderful views as you fly, touching down on the west of the island near vast St Ouen’s Bay. Again, it’s an unfussy process to pick up your rental car and make the drive of a little over 15 minutes to your hotel.

Your Accommodation on Jersey

On 18 acres of mature garden and wood, your accommodation on Jersey is a handsome, restored manor house, corners of which date back as far as the 14th century. Each magnificent suite is individually designed, blending fine detail at every turn with beautifully integrated modern convenience. Award-winning dining and a recently installed state-of-the-art cellar provide the opportunity for rare culinary indulgence, while the heated outdoor pool invites an early morning dip.

What to See and Do

Jersey’s compact dimensions – five miles long and nine miles wide – make it an ideal place in which to spend a few days, the ability to cover much of the island in short time a satisfying side-effect. St Helier has the feel of a small seaside city, with one or two familiar names sitting comfortably alongside a rich array of independent restaurants and shopping. Away from the island capital, you’ll find dramatic, rocky coastline dotted with lighthouses and castles, as well as forts from several centuries of sometimes alarming activity. The story of Germany’s WW2 occupation, for example, feels like history you can touch, and is a much referenced tale throughout the island. For a more sedentary approach, find a sun-kissed beachside café and luxuriate in a leisurely seafood lunch before working it off with a lengthy stroll.

Your full day of exploration on Jersey includes one of our favourite ChanneI Islands experiences. Setting-off time is tide-dependent, so you may have the morning or afternoon to fill at your own pace, perhaps at the staggering War Tunnels Museum or taking in the dramatic lighthouse at La Corbiere. As ever, we’ll make sure you’re well equipped with information. Making your way to La Rocque harbour on the island’s southeastern tip, meet a unique local guide and set off on this fascinating beach walk. With one of the world’s longest tidal ranges, Jersey doubles in size at low tide, revealing beaches simply teeming with life. Your much-experienced guide brings this unique landscape into sharp focus, giving rich context to the ecosystem and its role in the life of the island.

You may decide to stay put this morning, feet up by the heated pool, insulated from island activity beyond the walls of your hotel. Later, perhaps take in nearby botanic gardens or clamber the mediaeval battlements of wonderful Mount Orgueil Castle for panoramic views of the east coast. Then, in the evening, treat yourself to a fine-dining experience at your hotel, a fitting way to round off a magical trip.

Relax over a luxurious breakfast this morning, before the short drive to Jersey airport and your return flight to the UK mainland.