Surf Cat

But I have a confession to make this wasn’t my first trip to Jersey. In fact, we love the island so much we try to get back as often as we can.

Our first holiday in the Channel Islands was almost 10 years ago, and at the time we stayed at the Merton Hotel in St Helier – so it was appropriate that a decade on we try it again to compare the experience.

Back at the start of our Jersey adventures we used to fly – a quick and easy trip out of Exeter Airport – but in recent years we’ve been taking the ferry from Dorset and it’s fair to say we wouldn’t go back.

Condor operates a service from Poole and Portsmouth, so if you’re in or near the South West the ferry port is very convenient. If you’re travelling from further afield there are plenty of hotels around the ferry port – so you can get a fresh start if your sailing is an early one.

The joy of taking a ferry to Jersey is being able to take your own car – packed with as much luggage as you need and no tricky baggage problems.

You roll on this side, sail across and roll off in Jersey ready to go.

The journey takes about four to five hours, but there is plenty to do on board from going up top to enjoy the stunning views and wildlife to enjoying a meal or snack in the restaurant or coffee bar. There’s a fully stocked duty free shop and a children’s area with films.

Seats are comfortable with tables and reclining options and if you book a place in the Horizon lounge there’s extra comfort, an exclusive cafe area and incredible panoramic views. There is wi-fi on board as well as plenty of places by your seat to keep your devices charged.

The added convenience, space and luxury as well as the views and the relaxing journey means a ferry to the Channel Islands is THE way to travel.

We enjoyed a breakfast on the way out which was filling and substantial enough to set us up for the day ahead.

Arriving in Jersey you’ll find nothing is very far away – there’s nowhere in the island you can’t get to in less than 30 minutes.

The Merton Hotel was a short drive from the ferry port on the edge of the main town, St Helier.

The three-star hotel is large, friendly and ideal for families but also popular with couples and older visitors.

It’s Aquadome swimming pool is a key attraction – indoor and outdoor swimming areas, a lazy river, a flume, toddler and children’s sections. Having stayed in a few Jersey hotels I can say the Merton’s is the best for family swimming. The only downside is you’ll struggle to prise the children away. Fortunately there is a cafe next to the pool so while they swim you can grab a snack and a drink.

Next to the pool is a brilliant artificial surf machine where children – and adults – can try surfing and bodyboarding under expert supervision without going anywhere near the sea.

Our two  – aged 15 and 11 – loved their half-day on the Flowrider.

Inside, the hotel has a number of restaurants, a sports bar, an American diner and an entertainment venue.

Breakfast is a huge buffet-style affair with everything you could want and all hot, fresh, tasty and filling – full English, continental, fresh fruits and yogurts, porridge, pancakes. Very satisfying.

You can also fill lunch boxes from the breakfast menu for a small charge if you’re planning a picnic.

We also tried the diner, which was quiet but served good food – burgers, hotdogs, shakes, and had a drink in the lounge bar where live music is played each evening.

The entertainment was…entertaining. Tribute acts, cabaret, magicians, comedians, children’s shows, bingo and quizzes, discos. We spent a couple of nights there, with reasonably priced drinks, and saw among other acts an Ed Sheeran and an Abba tribute.

Good fun, and all a few minute’s walk from your room.

The hotel also has a games area, although most of the machines were out of order the week we stayed. When it’s up and running it’s a mix of arcade machines, pool table and other family-friendly ‘seaside’ fun.

The atmosphere at the Merton is relaxed, friendly and the venue feels fresh, modern and welcoming. The rooms were clean, big enough to spend time in, modern and airy with a perfect sized bathroom – highly recommended.

Now to the main attraction, Jersey itself. It is a truly beautiful island, just off the coast of France but as British as you could want. In a way it’s like stepping into a slightly different reality where everything is like being at home only a little bit different.

They still use pound notes, and imperial measures. Apparently Safeway stayed on the island when it disappeared from the mainland. At the same time you won’t find Asda, Sainsburys, Lidl or Aldi and while some of the shops say Tesco on the door – they aren’t actually Tesco.

It all feels very nostalgic.

We started with a trip into the centre of St Helier – parking is plentiful, easy and cheap across the island – and you can stock up on food, picnics and essentials at the impressive St Helier market.

There is a huge range of shops, some familiar and some unique.

The island is crammed with places to eat – from restaurants to little cafes. We wanted a Jersey ice cream so wandered into a little cafe off the main street called Yogolicious. A great place for a quick lunch.

Then on to the rest of the island. Across the week we visited some of our favourite places and some we hadn’t been to before.

We always try to get to the museums in Jersey – the Jersey Museum and the Maritime Museum. Both fascinating, great for children but also for adults and will keep a whole family entertained for a good few hours.

They are both interactive and multimedia so will keep even the most active of children focussed.

We also always visit the Jersey Way Tunnels, a moving and powerful exploration of Jersey’s wartime history when the Channel Islands were occupied by Nazi forces. This is one not to miss.

Over the years new multimedia elements have been added and it is a true immersive story-telling experience which is accessible for all.

Samares Manor Gardens are also on our must-do list – not huge but packed with different areas and fascinating plants. A great place for a picnic or for a cafe stop with a children’s play area.

Jersey Lavender is also always worth a visit, to find out how lavender is grown and the oil distilled. Again, a great place to eat and the children love it. You can walk round the large fields and the smells are incredible.

On the list of new places we visited were Jersey Pearl – a place to buy pearls and pearl jewellery with a few displays and activities. From there you can drive down the five-mile road along the western shore of the island, through the dunes, all the way to the south coast.

We also visited La Mare vineyard for the first time – having figured our children were too young for it before. In fact the vineyard has activities for children, and a good-sized play area as well as ponies.

The working vineyard which produces a variety of wines, cider, spirits and chocolate is a fascinating place to visit. The guides are knowledgeable and friendly and will take you on a guided tour from grape to glass – including a chance to sample the drinks.

You can also walk around the vines and orchards on your own, having something to eat in the restaurant then stock up on everything you’ve tried in the shop.

Well worth a visit if you want to learn more about wine making, explore a vineyard or sample top-quality local produce.

A few minutes beyond La Mare is an area known as the Devil’s Hole, a natural cliff formation which provides stunning views as you walk up and down to the hole – a large tidal pool where the sea rushes in. There are some tragic stories around the area, told on information boards, as well as some incredible wildlife and views. We’ll definitely be going back.

If beaches are your thing Jersey has plenty of them – the most beautiful is in St Brelade’s Bay. A vast stretch of fine white sand, on a warm summer evening it feels like the Med and after a stroll along the beach we tried one of the dozen nearby eateries.

For those who love heritage, Jersey is living history. The island is filled with castles, buildings and fortifications dating from the prehistoric to World War Two.

We’ve visited several castles and heritage sites before and would recommend Mont Orguiel, Hogue Bie and Hamptonne, but this year was our first trip to St Elizabeth Castle off St Helier.

Cut off when the tide is in, you can either time it right and walk across the stone path through the rockpools or catch the amphibious boat/bus there and back.

The castle itself is huge having been expanded through the centuries to defend Jersey from all enemies. There are living displays and characters available who will tell you the old stories.

At the far end of the outcrop is the hermitage where the monk who became St Helier lived. His story is bloody, and fascinating, dating from a time when Jersey was covered in trees and no more than half a dozen people lived on the island.

The displays are informative and easy-going, explaining how and why the castle was built and grew, what life was like for those stationed there, the history of the gun.

As for the rest of Jersey, there are also parks, woods, reservoirs, adventure activities, play parks and children’s attractions such as Amaizin! and Tamba to keep young ones entertained for a whole day.

We enjoyed walking along St Helier’s seafront to the outdoor pool, past a little shack selling Thai food, along the beach.

We enjoyed driving across the island to see the landscape subtly change.

And we enjoyed the glorious sunshine and welcoming nature of the island.

If you’re looking for a sunny break, a little foreign but very familiar where you don’t need a passport but feel like you’ve really been away – something for people of all ages and interests – this is Jersey.

CONDOR FERRIES

Condor Ferries operates a year-round service to the Channel Islands from Poole with its fast ferry Condor Liberation, alongside a conventional ferry service from Portsmouth. To book and check current prices, visit or call 0345 609 1024.

MERTON HOTEL

The three-star Merton Hotel sells itself as the resort that has it all. It features the Aquadome swimming complex, games centre, fitness centre, restaurants, bars, sports bars, diner and entertainment lounge.

There are multiple places to eat and relax as well as all the hotel facilities you would expect.

The hotel is next to Howard Davis Park on the edge of St Helier, easy to find and access with plenty of parking.

Prices start from £127. For full details and to book visit