All information in this blog post is correct as of the publishing date, 04.02.19.
All kinds of people choose to book Jersey holidays for all sorts of reasons, from busy professionals who want to recharge their batteries with a relaxing spa break to extreme sports enthusiasts keen to take on the island’s rugged yet beautiful natural landscape. The largest of the Channel Islands has also long been a popular destination for couples to get away from it all and share some quality time; in fact, it was so well-visited by newlyweds in the 1950s and ‘60s that it was given the fitting nickname of ‘Honeymoon Island’!
If you’re thinking about choosing Jersey for a last-minute Valentine’s Day break, you’re in luck: this loveliest of locations is now home to more romantic hotels than ever before, all of which have their own unique features that make them perfect for enjoying with that special someone. Below, we have picked five of our favourites for you to cast your eye over and compare.
La Place Hotel (4*)
Price: From £63 per person per night
Size: Boutique (38 rooms)
Setting: Countryside
We start our recommendations with La Place Hotel, which can be found deep in the Jersey countryside but is still just a short journey away from the pretty harbour village of St. Aubin. Now is a particularly great time to visit La Place, as it has recently been the subject of a major refurbishment, meaning this popular hotel is currently looking its very best!
The area of land that belongs to La Place is extensive (there are also several holiday cottages within its grounds), but the hotel’s centrepiece is a grand, 17th-century house. Its amenities, however, are very much up-to-date, with the stylish, contemporary décor and sumptuous bedrooms creating an overall impression of traditional values with a modern twist.
Quite apart from its enviable location and flawless appearance, however, surely the best feature of La Place is its fantastic customer service. You just need to take a quick look at a selection of the hotel’s recent reviews to realise that its staff are absolutely dedicated to helping each of their guests enjoy a relaxing and memorable stay. The last thing you want during your Valentine’s Day getaway is to worry about your room not being quite right or any facilities you wanted to use not being available, and the team at La Place is known to go out of their way to fix any small issues that may arise as soon as possible.
Enjoying good food and drink is, of course, a vital part of any holiday, and La Place will certainly live up to your expectations in this regard. With a restaurant, bar and lounge bar, the hotel provides a dining experience which would be ideal for couples who love to eat well but are keen to avoid places where the food and service can verge on the pretentious. From luxurious afternoon teas and locally-sourced seafood dishes to an extensive wine cellar that would keep any connoisseur happy, everything about the cuisine at La Place is a wonderful combination of discerning quality and relaxed informality.
Chateau La Chaire Hotel (4*)
Price: From £60 per person per night
Size: Boutique (14 rooms)
Setting: Countryside
Chateau La Chaire is so intimate, hidden away and traditional in its appearance that it would make other boutique hotels seem like huge city centre resorts! The fact that this hotel is a favourite spot for local couples to dine and enjoy a walk around the pristine grounds should tell you all you need to know about how perfectly suited it would be for your Valentine’s Day break.
Originally built as a home for a local gardening enthusiast, Chateau La Chaire benefits from being set amid eight-and-a-half acres of glorious, privately-owned gardens and woodland. February may not be the warmest time of year, but we can guarantee that wrapping up and braving the elements will still be well worth it here. And, if you really want to warm up, you and your partner can make use of the complimentary mountain bikes the hotel offers to its residents and get exploring – just remember to bring them back before you check out!
Much like La Place, Chateau La Chaire is comfortably nestled in the tranquil countryside but is also just a stone’s throw away from the water (in this case, the charming Rozel Bay), meaning that you can easily discover the very best of natural Jersey every day you are here. The coastal scenery that is readily accessible from the hotel is perhaps more rugged than you may have expected, and visiting it is sure to live long in the memory, as will the spectacular views across to the French mainland.
In what you will realise is a common theme with Jersey’s most romantic hotels, the food available at Chateau La Chaire is worth the price of your stay alone. How many places have you stayed at before where the on-site restaurant is the proud holder of three AA Rosettes? The menu at La Chaire restaurant changes every day but, as you would expect, the emphasis is on fine, locally-caught seafood, with local meat and veg also playing worthy supporting roles. If you would rather take your meals in a more relaxed (but equally high-quality) setting, however, you can make your way down to The Rozel – a traditional country pub owned by the hotel itself and the only establishment of its kind in Jersey that is recommended by the Michelin Guide.
Greenhills Country House Hotel (4*)
Price: From £68 per person per night
Size: Boutique (33 rooms)
Setting: Countryside
The next choice on our list is as deep into the Jersey countryside as it gets but, thanks to the island’s compact nature, it is still only a 10-minute drive away from the nearest coast. Guests and trade experts alike regularly name the elegant Greenhills Country House Hotel as one of the best hotels in the Channel Islands, not just for the quality of its amenities but, equally importantly, the friendly, welcoming and attentive nature of the staff. For this, and many other reasons, Greenhills would be a great choice for your Valentine’s Day break.
Some accommodation options in Jersey, whilst highly regarded, are arguably better suited for visiting in the summer months. This hotel, however, is perfect for a cosy winter break, with its roaring log fires, heated swimming pool and in-room coffee machines (available in selected rooms and suites) just a few of the many features that make Greenhills the ideal place for you and your loved one to get cosy. With so much to recommend it, you wouldn’t even need to leave the hotel to enjoy a great holiday!
Something we would recommend that does require venturing outside, however, is exploring the truly beautiful gardens that surround Greenhills. Many hotels have pleasant outdoor areas, but only a small number can claim to have gardens that have won awards – they can at Greenhills, though, and a quick stroll through the expertly manicured lawns will leave you in no doubt as to why this is the case even in February, when spring is yet to fully bloom. If being right in the heart of the great outdoors is important to you, you could also book a ground floor room with French doors that open right onto the garden.
It’s not just the garden that’s award-winning, either. Another Jersey hotel whose dining quality is confirmed by its AA Rosette status, the Greenhills Country House Hotel is home to a kitchen which is popular with locals and visitors alike as much for its versatility as its quality. As well as the main restaurant serving fine lunches and dinners from a menu that changes every day, guests can also choose from an extensive breakfast menu (delivered straight to your bedroom door, if preferred!), indulgent afternoon teas, and an excellent selection of ‘light bites’ that are available all day, every day.
L’Horizon Beach Hotel & Spa (4*)
Price: From £78 per person per night
Size: Standard (105 rooms)
Setting: Beachside
The final two hotels we would recommend as being perfect for a romantic break are closer to the coast than the countryside – in fact, the L’Horizon Beach Hotel & Spa is just about as close as it could possibly be to the beach! Directly overlooking the glorious St. Brelade’s Bay, this excellent hotel may not be ‘boutique’, but it is nevertheless still a great place for couples to get away from it all.
As well as its amazing sea views (which can be enjoyed from most of the bedrooms), L’Horizon’s premier highlight is probably its health and leisure facilities, which would struggle to be bettered anywhere in the Channel Islands or beyond. As well as an indoor swimming pool – certainly a selling point if you’ll be staying in the middle of February! – the hotel is also home to one of the island’s leading spas. Whether you or your partner just want a quick rejuvenating massage or the pair of you want to treat yourselves to a full spa day, the facilities at L’Horizon are sure to have exactly what you need to guarantee your most relaxing break yet.
And, of course, no romantic getaway would be complete without you also being able to enjoy some top-quality food and drink – and, as we have already shown, Jersey’s hotels have this in spades! Another hotel that is notable for both the quality and choice found in its eateries, L’Horizon’s main restaurant (The Grill) has been awarded two AA Rosettes and features a daily-rotating, seafood-focused menu. Those who prefer a more relaxed setting, meanwhile, can head to the Atlantic Room, where the food and ambience are more laid-back but no less exquisite.
Alternatively, the newly-renovated Terrace area features a menu that has been specifically designed with al fresco dining in mind – and you will be pleased to hear that it can even be enjoyed during your Valentine’s break, thanks to a retractable roof, ambient lighting and powerful heating. Or you could just settle down in The Lounge for an evening of cocktails and live piano music. What could be more romantic?
Grand Jersey Hotel & Spa (5*)
Price: From £71 per person per night
Size: Standard (123 rooms)
Setting: Beachside
If you are looking to enjoy a luxurious romantic getaway in Jersey but are part of a couple who would rather be in the heart of the action than hidden away in a countryside retreat, then the Grand Jersey Hotel & Spa should be perfect for your requirements. The only 5-star hotel in the island’s capital of St. Helier, the Grand is lavish, beautiful and overlooks the stunning St. Aubin’s Bay – and its guests have included the likes of the Queen, so you know that you’ll be in good company!
This luxurious hotel has all the amenities and features you would expect from a 5-star establishment, including fantastic dining options, a champagne lounge, and a luxury spa and gym where you can work off some of that indulgence.
The Champagne Lounge is especially worthy of discussion, as it offers an experience that you and your partner are sure to look back on fondly for many years to come. Choose from a wide range of delicious champagnes and cocktails before settling into a comfortable chair and gazing over a wide horizon punctuated by the golden beach, the sea and the striking 16th-century Elizabeth Castle.
As for the various places where you can find something to eat at the hotel, the absolute highlight is the extraordinary Tassili restaurant. Boasting no fewer than four AA Rosettes (which is only bettered in Jersey by the five held by Bohemia, also in St. Helier), Tassili offers something a bit different from most other dining venues on the island. Inspired by the expert palate of head chef Nicolas Valmagna, Tassili serves up an adventurous menu that includes dishes based on both Jersey’s proud culinary heritage and that of nearby France, from where Valmagna hails. Tassili is also hosting a special Valentine’s Day event this year, offering diners the chance to devour an amazing seven-course tasting menu; if you are interested, we would recommend making a reservation as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.