There's something about Jersey that feels as if you're stepping back in time. It's all twisting lanes and small villages with tea shops. But if you want a bit of top-notch luxury from which to enjoy its 'quaint' appeal, two hotels are well worth investigating
The Royal Yacht is a new luxurious hotel in St Helier (it only opened in July 2007). There's a nautical feel about the place, but it's not over the top, and doesn't make you feel as if you should sing sea shanties. The reception area is small but nicely decorated, and the rooms are bright and airy.
Jersey is sunnier than mainland Britain and the hotel takes advantage of the climate by providing an outdoor restaurant and popular champagne bar. And the rooms at the front of the hotel benefit from balconies, beautifully furnished with steamer chairs and chaise-lounges.
The rooms are warm and inviting and decorated with muted colours. And the bathrooms are superb. There's even a television above the bath. There's a feeling of being spoiled, and it's addictive! I'm told the philosophy behind the hotel is one of guilt-free, healthy selfishness, and I certainly didn't feel guilty enjoying the soothing atmosphere of the place.
Pamper yourself
There's also a spa area - called Spa Sirene - and fully-equipped gym with a personal trainer. And it is a lovely place to chill. There's a big vitality pool, separate hydrotherapy pool with a bubble rack, Jacuzzi, full thermal suite with sauna, steam room and aromatherapy steam room. There are even mini Jacuzzis just for your feet! There are also five treatment rooms for some extra pampering.
I tried their signature Smell the Flowers facial which was a total treat. After a short, relaxing neck and shoulder massage, my face was scrubbed clean using poppy seeds as an exfoliant.
They are really gentle but surprisingly affective, although do have the disadvantage of getting everywhere! My face was then massaged with hot stones and crystals. The whole thing finishes with a hibiscus shell mask, which contains extracts of everlasting desert flowers. The mask sets solid on your face and is cracked off, in one piece, leaving you squeaky clean and totally relaxed. I really recommend it!
The treatments use natural products, including some made from sea water, in keeping with the marine theme. Rich in minerals, it's said to increase cellular turnover and stimulate the production of elastin and collagen. The sea water is used in the Smooth Sailing facial.
Eating and drinking
As for restaurants and bars, The Royal Yacht does these in style. There are three restaurants, Restaurant Sirocco on the first floor with a balcony and serving traditional meals in a chic and stylish setting, Cafe Zephyr, an al fresco, informal restaurant with a brasserie menu, and The Grill which serves old favourites like steak and chips in a relaxed setting. On the Friday night we visited, all were popular and doing good business.
The hotel's four bars cater for everyone. There's the POSH champagne bar with its outdoor seating, The Drift which regularly hosts live music (the Cuban Brothers were playing when we went), and The Cabin, a more traditional snug bar, all of which are also open to non-residents, while The Lazyjack lounge bar is only for residents.
Unfortunately, the area around the hotel does let it down. Although there is a promise to convert the disused bus park directly in front of the hotel into a park, at the moment you look out over a vast expanse of tarmac, which also seems to serve as a meeting place for the town's kids.
The contrast between the luxury of the hotel and the reality of the surroundings was a bit strange, and we had a bit of a Marie-Antoinette 'Let them eat cake' moment while sipping champagne in the POSH bar before dinner! But overall, it's a lovely place to stay.
The Club Hotel
The Club Hotel and Spa is a smaller set-up with just 38 rooms and eight suites. Again, there's an emphasis on comfort and luxury and the rooms are well equipped with really comfy beds with duck-down duvets and Egyptian cotton sheets.
I'm a sucker for a designer bathroom and these easily met my expectations. Ours was equipped with a huge shower (big enough for two) and beautiful bath with shower attachment (perfect for rinsing off the essential oils from my head massage), and generously stocked with delicious smelling toiletries. These, and other hotel luxuries like fluffy bathrobes, are all available to buy online at www.feelunique.com.
Our deluxe suite had a separate, very inviting lounging area with a large sofa and huge flat screen television. Sadly, we looked out over a main road, so didn't have much of a view.
The hotel's spa is small, with a relaxation area (with just four beds), pool, sauna and steam room. The pool was too chilly to wallow in, and not really long enough for exercise. But there is an outdoor pool with a small decked area if you visit during sunny months, or are feeling particularly brave. The treatments are lovely.
I tried their signature envelopment which started with a full body massage using salt and mineral oils designed to draw out toxins and relieve tiredness. I was then being covered in a mixture of mud and seaweed, and wrapped in warm, cosy blankets. While the mud drew out all the impurities in my skin, I enjoyed a dreamy facial with a hot stone massage, and a treatment designed to revitalise tired eyes.
I came out floating on air, but was disappointed that all four beds in the relaxation room were occupied, and as our room in the hotel wasn't ready until 3pm, I had to face reality sooner than I'd have liked.
Eating and drinking
The Club Hotel's restaurants and bars are also friendly and inviting. Bohemia, Jersey's only Michelin-starred restaurant is in the hotel and has a busy bar area. It's got a relaxed feel and the food is truly delicious. My only complaint was that the meals don't come with vegetables, and my order of a side salad to go with the main was viewed with suspicion! If you do want to eat here, I would recommend you book at the same time as booking the hotel, as it is a popular venue.
The hotel's other restaurant, The Cafe Club, serves breakfasts, light lunches and dinner in an informal environment. Be warned, there is an additional charge if you choose a cooked breakfast. There's a large and welcoming lounge area, with a terrace, for coffees and snacks, and an Honesty Bar from which you can serve yourself drinks, leaving the money in the till.
The Club Hotel and Spa has a late check-in, rooms are guaranteed by 3pm, which is a bit annoying if you arrive in the morning. My tip would be don't book your spa treatments until you're sure you'll have access to your room as it's a bit of a disappointment after a lovely relaxing treatment to have to face the communal lounge, with no opportunity for private preening!
Outdoor space seems to be at a premium in St Helier, but the Club Hotel benefits from a car park (you're left to your own devices at The Royal Yacht, although the staff will take your car and park it in one of the town's car parks for you).
Need to know:
The Royal Yacht
Weighbridge
St Helier
JE2 3NF
www.theroyalyacht.com
Tel: 01534 720511
Check-in by 2pm
Check-out by noon
The Smell the Flowers and Smooth Sailing facials last one and a half hours, and cost £90 each.
The Club Hotel and Spa
Green St
St Helier
JE2 4UH
www.theclubjersey.com
Tel: 01534 876500
Check-in by 3pm
Check-out by noon
The signature envelopment lasts one hour and twenty minutes and costs £85.
All toiletries can be purchased from www.feelunique.com